I have to confess something right off the bat… I was one of those Instant Pot people who only used it for rice for the first year that I owned it. I’m cringing just thinking about what I was missing out on. I mean, it’s incredible what that one appliance can do. And for the massive amount of space it’s taking up in my pantry, I should have been using it for so much more all along. Like Maple Smoked Instant Pot Potatoes.
Fortunately for me, my SIL is much more adept at getting the full delicious function out of her appliances. She brought AMAZING potatoes to dinner once that were made in the Instant Pot and I couldn’t stop eating them. I didn’t even know the Instant Pot had a steamer basket option. Oh, the magic I was missing. But that’s the point of this post and these potatoes. To shout from the rooftops what I wish I’d known all along – a pressure cooker makes the best (and easiest) potatoes ever.
The thing about potatoes from a pressure cooker is that they’re silky smooth. In that complex-looking machine, every single potato gets cooked to perfection. They literally melt in your mouth. You can eat them straight out of the steamer basket – which is what we normally do. Or you can fry them in olive oil for a crispy, golden outer shell. Think, restaurant-worthy potatoes, in about 5 minutes of actual hands-on cooking.
What do I need to cook potatoes in a pressure cooker?
You need a steamer basket insert, and preferably one that’s approved for your specific pressure cooker. I found this green silicone steamer basket at a store close to home. It just happened to be in the aisle with measuring cups, or I never would have found it. Yay! Before buying one, check to see if your model of pressure cooker came with a steamer basket. Some brands came better accessorized than others, straight out of the box.
It’s a very simple silicone insert that holds your potatoes up off the bottom of the pot so that the water can get underneath. My model requires at least 1 cup of water for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure – however be sure to check your manual before cooking. (I usually put 1.5 cups of water just to err on the side of caution.)
These Maple Smoked Instant Pot Potatoes are:
- Sweet and smoky
- Soft and silky
- Fry up to crispy golden brown perfection
- Cook perfectly every time
- Easy to make (the pressure cooker does all the work)
- Mouth wateringly delicious
Looking for more sides with your mains? We’ve got you covered.
- Roasted Kale with Lemon and Garlic
- Cornmeal Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Creamy Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Dill
So here they are, our Maple Smoked Instant Pot Potatoes. If you give them a try, let us know what you think in the comments. We’d love to hear if they were as easy and delicious for you, as they are for us. We hope you love them as much as we do – Enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Maple Smoked Potatoes – Instant Pot
Equipment
- Instant pot or pressure cooker with steamer basket insert
- Mixing bowl and spatula
- Sharp kitchen knife and cutting board
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 4 Yukon gold potatoes, rinsed and cubed ~900g
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
- ¾ tsp Sea Salt
- ½ tsp Liquid Smoke
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl and toss well to coat evenly
- Place the steamer basket into the metal pot of your pressure cooker and add1½ cups of water (Check your owner's handbook to ensure your steamer basket is approved foruse in your pressure cooker, and confirm the minimum amount of water needed inyour specific model for the pressure cooker to pressurize safely.)
- Add the potatoes to the steamer basket and lock the lid into place on the pressure cooker with the valve set to "sealing"
- Turn on your pressure cooker to cook on high for 5 minutes
- It will take up to ~10 minutes for your pressure cooker to pressurize, and then 5 minutes to cook
- Once your pressure cooker beeps to signal the cook cycle is complete, let it depressurize on its own for 10 minutes (with the Instant Pot it will begin to slowly depressurize on its own after the cook cycle so no need to do anything but watch the time)
- After 10 minutes, place a kitchen towel over the valve on top, and carefully turn the valve to open it and release the rest of the steam *NOTE: The steam is dangerously hot. Place the towel so that it completely covers the valve. Touch the valve through the towel only, so that the steam releases directly into the towel cover and does not come into contact with your skin.
- The floating valve on top of your Instant Pot will fall when all the steam has been released, signaling that it's safe to open the lid
- Your maple smoked potatoes are ready to enjoy!
- Optional for Crispy Potatoes: Heat 1-2 tbsp olive oil in a non stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the potatoes to the frying pan, flipping every 2 minutes to ensure even browning on all sides. Once the potatoes are crisp and browned, they are ready to enjoy!
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