Perfect Instant Pot sweet potatoes each and every time, with perfect, creamy insides. A time chart based on the width of your sweet potatoes ensures they are perfectly cooked each time.
While I love a baked sweet potato and the convenience of a crock pot sweet potato, sometimes we just need to get it done quickly, right? Enter Instant Pot sweet potatoes. Ready in a fraction of the time, and they come out perfectly creamy, each and every time!
The thing is, there are way too many 'one size fits all' Instant Pot sweet potato recipes out there, and can we be real? Not all sweet potatoes are made the same, so why should the cooking method be?
After being constantly disappointed by under-cooked sweet potatoes, I set out to test dozens of sweet potatoes, until I came up with a formula so that you can have perfect sweet potatoes as well.
Reasons you'll ♡ Instant Pot sweet potatoes
- they cook in a fraction of the time as the oven
- they are perfectly tender and creamy
- they are hands off...set the button and go on with your day while they cook!
Recipe Video
Want to see exactly how to cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot? Watch this 1-minute video! You can find more recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!
Measure the width of your sweet potatoes
In my experimentation, I discovered that the cook time of your sweet potatoes is completely dependent on the width of your sweet potatoes.
After testing dozens of sweet potatoes, I came up with the following formula:
- small (2 inches or less in width): 15 minutes + 10 minute natural pressure release
- medium (2-3 inches in width): 30 minutes + 10 minute natural pressure release
- large (3-4 inches in width): 60 minutes * + 10 minute natural pressure release
* honestly, depending on what you're going to use those gargantuan sweet potatoes for, you're probably better off cutting them into cubes to cook faster
How to cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot
A few simple steps stand between you and your perfect sweet potatoes:
- measure (or estimate) the width of your sweet potatoes
- scrub sweet potatoes, and prick with a fork 4-5 times
- place 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot insert (or 1.5 cups for an 8 quart Instant Pot), and place the trivet on top
- arrange your sweet potatoes on the trivet
- place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to 'sealing'. Pressure cook for the time indicated on recipe card based on the width of your sweet potatoes
- allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully release the remaining pressure
Ta da! Perfect sweet potatoes
Which Instant Pot works the best?
You can cook sweet potatoes in a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot with no change to the cook time. The one thing that does change between the two sizes is the amount of water you add to the pot.
- add 1 cup to a 6 quart Instant Pot
- add 1.5 cups to an 8 quart Instant Pot
I have not tested in a mini Instant Pot, and am not sure if the sweet potatoes would fit. If you have tried, would you leave a comment below to let us know how it worked for you?
FAQ
Can I cook regular potatoes using these cook times?
No, regular potatoes require a different cook time. See this post for Instant Pot Baked Potatoes.
Can I stack the sweet potatoes or do they need to be in a single layer?
My testing was done with a single layer, however in theory, you should be able to stack them up without additional cook time. If you find that your sweet potatoes need additional cooking time, you can simply put the lid back on, add more time, and the pot will come back to pressure really quickly.
Is it better to use the 'steam' or the 'manual' setting to cook sweet potatoes?
I've done it both ways, and it worked fine either way. The steam setting simply cooks from full power straight away, since it assumes there is just water in the Instant Pot and there is no risk to burning food in contact with the base.
Wondering how to use up your sweet potatoes?
Whether you use your Instant Pot sweet potatoes as twice baked sweet potatoes, in hummus, breakfast burritos, or any of the recipes, using the Instant Pot to cook them ahead definitely makes your meal prep go a little faster.
- Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Smoky Sweet Potato Hummus
- Freezer Sweet Potato Taquitos
- Freezer Sweet Potato Waffles
- Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
More Instant Pot Recipes
- 7 Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
- Instant Pot Chickpeas
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
PERFECT Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2-4 sweet potatoes
Instructions
- Measure or estimate the width of your sweet potatoes.
- Scrub sweet potatoes, then prick 5-10 times with a fork.
- Add 1 cup of water to the insert of a 6 quart Instant Pot or 1.5 cups to an 8 quart Instant Pot.
- Add the trivet to the Instant Pot and arrange sweet potatoes on the trivet.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and set the valve to 'sealing'.
- Make sure your Instant Pot is set to 'high pressure', and select manual (or 'pressure cook', depending on your model). Then set the timer depending on the thickness of your sweet potatoes: small- under 2 inches: 15 minutes, medium- 2-3 inches: 30 minutes, large- 3-4 inches: 60 minutes.
- When timer beeps, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes before releasing the rest of the pressure.
- If for some reason your sweet potatoes are not fully cooked through, place the lid back on the Instant Pot and add an additional 5-10 minutes. Your Instant Pot will come back to pressure quickly.
Tips:
Video
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Karen Stoloff says
When done the sweet potato almost falls apart in the pot when I lift it. I was told to cook it for less time. I cooked it for 22 minutes-it was about 2 1/2".
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Karen, the cook time really depends on the size of your sweet potatoes! You may need to adjust it slightly if you have smaller sweet potatoes and would like them to be less cooked. For example, for small (2 inches or less in width) we recommend 15 minutes + 10-minute natural pressure release. I hope this helps!
Nita says
I have two med size sweet potatoes I would like to cook in my instant pot. I also would like to warm some ham to go with. Pot in pot. Would it get dried out by the time the potatoes are done?
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Nita, Unfortunately, we have no experience cooking ham in the Instant Pot so we really can't say how this would turn out. It looks like cook time varies based on the size of your ham. Here's a great post to give you an indication of how long your ham might take. If the cook times line up, it could work!
Mark G. says
Worked perfectly! I cooked one 2 1/2” potato in my 6 quart using the times exactly as stated in the recipe (30 min/10 NPR). Peeled and mashed easily.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Mark, that's awesome! We're so glad that you enjoyed these Instant Pot sweet potatoes. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a rating and review!
Rachel G says
Easy peasy recipe and the sweet potatoes turned out fantastic. We did 30 min cook time with the 10 min release for 3” potato’s. Mashed with salt, pepper, garlic, onion and cinnamon with butter. We wanted mash and the skin came right off of these spuds. If you want them less cooked then by all means go with less time. Cheers!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Rachel, so glad to hear that this recipe was useful and that the sweet potatoes turned out to be so delicious! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a rating and review!
Clancy says
Followed the instructions re: size and this recipe cooked them for wayyyy too long, they’re complete mush.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Clancy, so sorry to hear that it didn't work out for you. What size of sweet potatoes did you use, and for how long did you pressure cook them? We'd be happy to help you troubleshoot - as others who followed these instructions have had success!
Kathy says
I was wondering if you have ever cooked the sweet potato in the ip WITH the ham?
Denise Bustard says
Hi Kathy! Unfortunately I have not tried this, hopefully someone can chime in if they have!
Aaron says
Like others in the comments, I too followed the directions and got great results : ) It was also my first time cooking sweet potatoes! I also liked how the directions were cut in dry in the list, some other cooking things on the web could take note of.
Matt says
I made as directed and the potos were light, fluffy in texture. Perfect. Thank you!
Denise Bustard says
Hi Matt! I'm so happy to hear the sweet potatoes came out perfectly. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a review, I really appreciate it!
Joanna Gray says
Mini works the same. Just less water used. Only way I cook sweet potatoes.
Denise Bustard says
Thanks for reporting back, Joanna!
Sharon says
I have the 3qt mini Duo Nova. I did a sweet potato that was 2-1/4". It was done in 15 minutes with a full Natural Release. Tonight I will be doing an acorn squash!
Denise Bustard says
Hi Sharon! So happy to hear it worked for you in the mini. Good luck with the acorn squash!
Kar says
Hi! Would this work if I just use regular cooking pot woth water? Sorry we dont have much instant pot here in our country. Hope you'll reply. Thanks!
Denise Bustard says
Hi Kar! If you are looking to steam or boil sweet potatoes, you might want to cut them first. Here's a post with a whole bunch of ways you can cook them: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/how-to-cook-sweet-potatoes/
Ana Rosa says
Thank you so much for this recipe, it turned out perfect. I used 1 cup of water for two medium sweet potatoes in my 3 Q Instant Pot (35 minutes HP + 10 NPR), and they were delicious!!
Denise Bustard says
Hi Ana! So happy to hear it was a success for you, and that's great to hear it works in the 3 quart IP. Thanks for reporting back 🙂
Heather says
Your instructions don't mention whether you are cooking on low or high pressure.
Denise Bustard says
Hi Heather, it's high pressure.
Moriaelini says
Thank you for this comprehensive guide! One of my husband & my favorite weekend (and now quarantine) lunches is steamed sweet potatoes with hummus, cheese, taco sauce and a dollop of sour cream. Sounds weird, tastes like heaven. But the sweet taters I get at sprouts come in such varying sizes that it is difficult to parse how long to cook them. This guide is PERFECT.
Denise Bustard says
I am so intrigued by your lunch, and am so glad to hear this guide was helpful for you. Thanks so much for your review, Moriaelini 🙂
Stephen says
I did three sweet potatoes and followed the instructions to the T. Absolutely brilliant result. Thank you...I am new to Instant Pots and also to cooking in general. So, getting a proper result is most satifyinf.
Denise says
Hurray! Happy to hear it worked well for you, Stephen. Thanks so much for reporting back 🙂
Mary Barker-Damour says
Hi, I usually boil my sweet potatoes on the stove and then peel them . Can I just put them in the water to boil and then set my meatloaf on the trivet on top of them so it will all cook together. Or will my potatoes by soggy by being right in the water.
Denise says
Hi Mary! I have not tried cooking the sweet potatoes right in the water. It is possible they may cook quicker in the water...but if you try it, would you let us know how it goes for you?
Cheryl says
Very helpful!! Thank you for taking the time to figure out the timing for all different sizes. Any particular tips on how to freeze these cooked sweet potatoes?
Denise says
Hi Cheryl! I am happy you found the post helpful! You can freeze whole sweet potatoes after cooling by wrapping in parchment or foil, then placing in a freezer bag or meal prep container. You can also freeze mashed sweet potatoes in a freezer bag or meal prep container. I have a general 3 month rule for the freezer.
Cindy G. says
This is exactly what I needed! I had some large sweet potatoes, and I didn't want to cut them up first. Sixty minutes was the perfect amount of time. I ate one for dinner, and have two more ready to go for the next two nights. Thanks for taking the guesswork out of it.
Denise says
I'm so happy the cook times worked well for you, Cindy! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it <3
Lori A says
Thanks for this great recipe. The pictures and clear instructions are so helpful. I made it last night with some small sweet potatoes, followed the directions as written and they came out perfectly.I put a small slit in each one with a paring knife and had no problem with exploding potatoes. Nice!
Denise says
Hi Lori! I'm so happy to hear you found the post helpful and that you ended up with perfect sweet potatoes! Thank you so much for reporting back 🙂
Valerie says
Question...every time my husband cooks his sweet potatoes and adds the extra time, they blow up. Any ideas? He uses a fork to poke holes in them and also puts the cup of water in.
Denise says
Hi Valerie! I'm so sorry, I've never personally had this happen. Sometimes the skin spilts but I've never had one explode. Other than poking holes, I'm at a loss. You are cooking on manual high pressure and not a different Instant Pot setting? Are you using an Instant Pot or a different type of pressure cooker?
Debbie says
You might try putting one clean slice down the sweet potatoes. Just deep enough to cut the thin skin.
Victoria Pearson says
This happened to me as well, using large sweet potatoes at 60 minutes, I think next time I will try them at 40-45 minutes instead!
Donna coulson says
My sweet potatoes are too large can I cut them up to fit the pot?
liz says
Yes, you can half them if they are large and do 15 HP and 10 min NR.
Denise says
Yes, if they are too large to fit the pot, consider what your end goal is for them. I would halve or even cube. Good luck!
Pam says
Thank you so much! I just cooked the sweet potatoes that I'll be using in my sweet potato casserole for tomorrow's Christmas dinner. I measured them, followed your timing instructions, and threw them in my IP. I got busy doing other things, and before I knew it they were done. They were so soft and moist, and the skins just came off in sheets with a little tug of a fork. They mashed up beautifully and are now in my fridge awaiting all the fixings that will be added for this favorite holiday dish. Perfect! [2 1/2 - 3" potatoes, cooked 35 minutes, 10 min NR = VERY soft potatoes -- perfect for mashing, but too soft to serve whole and stuffed]
Denise says
Hi Pam! Isn't the Instant Pot so convenient! So happy to hear you enjoyed this method. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Meg says
Science! Thanks for taking the time to see how long different sizes need to cook. I normally smoke mine. Making for thanksgiving tomorrow and my smoked ones were too small. Needed to add more, so thank you for taking some of the guesswork out of the equation.
Denise says
I'm so happy you found this post helpful, Meg! I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving.
Barbara McNichols says
Great post especially since different size potatoes were addressed! Problem is, I want the potatoes firm enough to peel and slice (1/2 - 3/4") for a holiday casserole, rather than soft enough to mash or eat as though baked in the jacket. Any timing recommendations for that? Kind of a newbie to IP cooking so I am unsure. Thanks in advance!
Denise says
Hi Barbara! I'm so happy you found this post useful. I am not sure if these potatoes would work sliced in a casserole; since the Instant Pot steams them, they do end up quite moist. I worry they would be too soft to slice. Good luck!!
Linda says
I made a whole pot of sweet potatoes today. They were medium size. I wanted them firmer for a sweet potatoes casserole too. Since the instructions above say 30min + 10 min natural pressure release for soft potatoes, I took the time down to 20min + 10 natural pressure release. Since I had six potatoes, I had three on the silicon trivet and three on top of the bottom three. All six cooked evenly and the flesh was firm yet cooked through and the skins still slipped off so easily! I have a 6 quart instant pot, as a point of reference.
Deb says
TY Linda, that is what I am wanting to do as well. I got a bunch of sweet potatoes and didn't have a chance to make them for a dinner, so I'm gonna IP them and then freeze whatever I don't use. but your post was very helpful! 🙂 <3
Andie says
I stacked 14 (!) Small and XS sweet potatoes in order to batch cook for a Thanksgiving recipe. I am doubling a few recipe. Stacking the potatoes in the instant pot worked just fine. They were out there till misshapen in fact they were all well cooked. I hope this helps someone!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Andie, wow that's a nice big batch of IP sweet potatoes! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback (so helpful for others) and for coming back to leave a rating and review!
Marie Clifton says
I don't want to mess up your ratings for such a great post! But I have a question- I cook small white potatoes whole frequently in my IP and get the burn notice frequently. Has this happened to you? I am using at least one cup of water. The potatoes come out perfectly steamed but .... Thank you for any input you can provide! I just know at an hour for the big potatoes that came in my bag I will hit the burn setting.
Denise says
Hi Marie! I actually have not perfected cooking regular potatoes in my Instant Pot yet, but if you are getting the burn warning, I'd definitely add more water. You can add probably 2 cups or more, so long as they are on the trivet and not in the water, they should cook as intended. I hope this helps!
Robin says
Do you know if these times work for white potatoes as well? My husband loves sweet potatoes, but I don't like them. I was wondering if I can cook white potatoes and sweet potatoes at the same time in the pressure cooker.
Denise says
Hi Robin, I haven't actually cooked white potatoes (whole) in the Instant Pot. Here's a post on how to do it. Long story short, it's going to depend on the size of your potatoes and sweet potatoes 🙂
Robin says
Thank you Denise! I appreciate you taking the time to look. I am going to try cooking both at the same time using your method.
Melissa says
Thank you so much for the extra and very useful tips about cooking times. I love the pics showing the different sizes and specific cooking times based on times. So helpful and made my instant sweet potato experimentation tonight a hit!
Denise says
I'm so happy it helped! Thanks for reporting back, Melissa!
Betsy says
Will the sweet potato need extra time if it's peeled and wrapped in aluminum foil?
Denise says
Hi Betsy! I don't know how the sweet potato would cook unpeeled...it might need less time?
Roxann Romano says
I would not take peel off. You loose vitamins and nutrients.
Lauren Nolan says
I just got an instant pot and am trying to find ways to incorporate sweet potatoes into my diet (I've never been a fan) This post helped SOOOO much! Thank you!!!
Denise says
I'm so happy it was helpful for you, Lauren! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Michelle says
This is my go to recipe for sweet potatoes! They come out perfect every time!
Denise says
So happy you enjoyed! Thanks so much for your review!
Amy says
Can you stack sweet potatoes to cook them, or should they be in a single layer as shown?
Denise says
Hi Amy! It should be fine to stack them, and if you find they aren't done, put the lid back on and add a few minutes, your Instant Pot should come to pressure really quickly 2nd time around! Hope you enjoy!
Jane says
Thank you! Pwedwxr! My go to website. 🙂
Jane says
That is supposed to say "PERFECT". lol
Denise says
LOL! Thanks, Jane!
Diane says
Thank you for taking the time to do this. The one-size-fits-all approach definitely does not work. I appreciate all the effort that went into this, and for the list of recipes.
Denise says
You are so very welcome, Diane! I hope you have success with these cook times 🙂
Henry says
I can't believe it, somebody who makes sence!
I read your post on making sweet potatoes in an Instant Pot. Makes total sense.
I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to tonight.
I'm sure it will work out perfectly
I'll report back with results. I am sure they will turn out great!.
Thank you Denise for taking the time to do the job right!
.
Denise says
LOL! I'd love to hear how they work out for you Henry!
Henry says
They worked out PERFECTLY Denise!!!
Denise says
Yay! Thanks for letting me know, Henry 🙂
Anne says
Maybe I missed it - should the sweet potatoes be pierced as they should for oven bakknf+
Denise says
Hi Anne! I've done it both ways and it doesn't seem to matter.
Regina says
This is a fantastic tutorial! I've also tried some instructions that left me with half-cooked sweet potatoes. I bet I'll have much better success with your tips.
Denise says
I'm kind of glad to hear I'm not alone on that, Regina! I hope these time frames work for you 🙂
Angela says
Hello Madam,
Do I need to add extra water or more than 60min if I fill the IP to the top with various sizes of sweet potatoes?
Denise says
Hi Angela! You should not need to add extra water but you may need to alter the cook time if you fill it right up. Let me know how it goes for you!