Sweet Potatoes

You might only eat sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving, but they are full of nutrients that make them worth having all year long. One sweet potato gives you 400% of the daily vitamin A; it helps keep your eyes healthy and your immune system, your body's defense against germs. It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys. 

Sweet potatoes are rich in the following: 

  • B vitamins
  • Vitamin C
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorus
  • Potassium
  • Thiamin
  • Zinc

 Natural compounds called carotenoids give sweet potatoes their rich color. Carotenoids are also antioxidants, which means they have the power to protect your cells from day-to-day damage. 

When cooking sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot, start with similarly-sized potatoes to guarantee they are all evenly cooked. Add a trivet and water to the Instant Pot. You'll start by adding one cup of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot, which is what creates the steam (and therefore the pressure) that cooks the potatoes. A trivet or steamer basket is just as important, which keeps the potatoes elevated above the water. 

And last but not least, use sweet potato size to determine cook time. You can cook any size of sweet potatoes in your Instant Pot. To get the tender, creamy potatoes you crave, plan a shorter cook time for small spuds and a longer one for the larger ones (more on this below!). 

Small sweet potatoes (6 to 8 ounces): 12 minutes under high pressure

Medium sweet potatoes (8 to 12 ounces): 18 minutes under high pressure

Large sweet potatoes (12 to 16 ounces): 25 minutes under high pressure

 

Preparation

Ingredients

  • 4 sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup water

 

Preparation

  • Pierce the potatoes with a fork. Wash and scrub 4 similar-sized sweet potatoes, then pierce each one with a knife.
  • Set a heatproof trivet or steamer basket in an 6-quart Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. Prepare the steamer insert and add water. Add 1 cup water and place the sweet potatoes on the trivet.
  • Cook under high pressure for 12 to 25 minutes. Lock the lid on and check that the valve is set to seal. Set to cook for 12 minutes under HIGH pressure for small potatoes (6 to 8 ounces each), 18 minutes under HIGH pressure for medium potatoes (8 to 12 ounces each), and 25 minutes under HIGH pressure for large potatoes (12 to 16 ounces each). It will take 7 to 10 minutes to come up to pressure.
  • Open the pressure cooker and remove the sweet potatoes. Naturally release the pressure. When the cook time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure.

Enjoy!!