How to Steam in an Instant Pot

Loading Your Steam Basket

Add 1 to 2 cups (240 to 470 mL) of water to the Instant Pot. Measure out your water and pour it into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Use less water for a smaller quantity of food, but go ahead and add the full 2 cups (470 mL) if you’re steaming a whole basket of veggies or seafood. You don’t want the water to go up over the food, since it will boil your meal instead of steaming it.

Set the trivet on the bottom of the Instant Pot. The trivet is the short rack that came with your Instant Pot. Place it at the bottom of your pot to help hold the food up over the water. If the water comes up over the trivet, scoop a bit of it out to lower the level down below the top of the trivet.

Layer the food in the basket according to cooking time. Check the cooking times in your recipe or Instant Pot cooking guide before you load multiple foods into your steam basket. Place the foods that take longer to cook at the bottom, closer to the water. Top the basket with your quickest cooking food. Root vegetables take longer to steam than green veggies. Similarly, seafood also steams pretty quickly. For instance, you might put potatoes on the bottom, carrots in the middle, and broccoli on top. Instant Pots don't come with a steam basket, but you can use most steam baskets with your Instant Pot. If you don't have a steam basket, you can try using a small colander or simply placing the food on the trivet. However, it's best to use a steam basket to ensure your food cooks correctly.

Don’t overfill your steam basket because your food won’t cook right. While it’s okay to layer food in your steam basket, leave a little space at the top of the basket so the lid will fit securely. You don’t need a lot of space, just make sure no food comes up over the top of the basket. If the lid is loose or the pot can’t securely seal, it’s possible your food will be undercooked. If your basket seems overly full, it may be best to cook your meal in 2 or more batches. Since your Instant Pot is so fast, dinner will still be ready soon.

Place the steam basket into the Instant Pot. Lift the basket into the Instant Pot and place it on top of the trivet. Make sure the top of the basket is below the top edge of the pot so your lid will fit. Your food is now ready to steam! You can use most steam baskets in an Instant Pot. Coco Morante Coco Morante, Award-Winning Cookbook Author Steaming is a great way to cook vegetables, fish, and other delicate foods in your Instant Pot. To steam in your Instant Pot, you'll need a steamer basket or a metal trivet. Simply add water to the bottom of the pot, place the steamer basket or trivet on top, and add your food.

Using the Steam Function

Secure the lid on the Instant Pot. Place the lid over the top of the Instant Pot. Then, turn the lid clockwise until the lock clicks. Double check that the lid is secure by making sure the arrows on the lid and the pot line up. If the lid isn’t sealed, the steam can escape. If this happens, your food won’t cook correctly.

Turn the little handle near the vent to seal it off. Look on the top of the lid to find the vent switch. Shift it in either direction to close off the vent. This traps the pressure and steam inside the Instant Pot. If you don’t put the vent in the sealing position, the steam escapes out of the vent and your food won’t cook right.

Push the "steam" button to turn on the Instant Pot's steam function. Check the lower right area of the control panel for the "steam" button. Watch for the screen to light up and a standard cook time to appear. If you can’t find the right button, check the instructions that came with your Instant Pot or look up the online guide.

Set the cooking time using the plus or minus keys. Set the actual cook time without worrying about preheating. Times vary for each type of food, so double check the recommended time the first time you steam a food. Use the time listed in your recipe, if you have one, or use Instant Pot's handy guide. You can find Instant Pot’s time guide here: https://instantpot.com/instantpot-cooking-time/#tab-id-1. In general, most veggies steam in as little as 1 to 5 minutes, but root veggies typically take longer. However, frozen veggies will need a longer steam time than fresh veggies. Similarly, most seafood cooks in 1 to 5 minutes. If you’re following a recipe for a traditional pressure cooker, add 7% to 15% more time to the recommended cooking time because Instant Pots have lower pressure. For instance, if the cooking time is 15 minutes, you could multiple it by 1.07 to add 7% more time and 1.15 to add 15% more time. This gives you a cooking range of about 16 to 17 minutes after rounding.

Listen for the beep that signals the food is done cooking. Stay near your pot so you are there when the timer goes off. It’s super important that you manually release the pressure as soon as you hear the beep. Otherwise, your food may overcook and get mushy. Place your oven mitt or kitchen towel nearby so you have them handy. You cannot check on your food while it's steaming under the steam function. If you do, it'll release the pressure and end the cooking process. If you want to check the food mid-way through steaming, it's best to use the saute function instead of the steam function.

Release the pressure by switching the vent to the venting position. Cover your hand with an oven mitt or towel to protect your skin from the steam. Then, push the steam release handle to either the left or the right to open the vent. This releases the pressure inside the Instant Pot so your food stops cooking. Be super careful as you do this. The steam will rush out and could burn your skin.

Open the lid and remove your steam basket. Twist the lid to unlock it, then carefully lift it off of the Instant Pot. Next, grip the handle of the steam basket and lift the basket out. Set the basket on a plate or kitchen towel. Dinner is served!

Steaming Veggies with the Saute Function

Find a clear pot lid that fits your instant pot. Don’t use your Instant Pot lid when you’re using the saute function, since you’re not pressure cooking. Instead, use a regular pot lid to trap in steam. This way, you’ll be able to check your food while it cooks so you can turn off the Instant Pot when your meal is done. Normally, you don’t need to use a lid at all when you’re using the saute function. However, you’ll need a lid to steam your veggies.

Press the saute function. Look for the button on the lower-left side of the control panel. This allows you to heat the water up to create steam. However, the Instant Pot won’t pressure cook your veggies. Normally, you’d use this function to heat sauces, toss veggies or meat in oil, or season cooked food.

Push “+” or “-” to adjust the time if necessary. Check the recommended steam time for the veggies you’re cooking. Then, set the timer on the Instant Pot. You can set the time for up to 30 minutes while in the saute function. If you’re using a recipe, use the recommended steam time listed on the recipe. Otherwise, check the recommended steam time for the type of veggie you’re cooking. It’s okay to set the time high as long as you stay with the Instant Pot. When you’re happy with the texture of your veggies, hit “cancel” to turn off the Instant Pot. The preheating time won’t count toward your cooking time, so don’t worry about that.

Wait for the water to boil. Stay near the Instant Pot so you can monitor the water. When you see steam rising from the bottom of the pot, you’ll know the water is boiling. Your veggies will start cooking when the steam forms.

Place the clear pot lid on top of your Instant Pot. As soon as you see steam, use the lid to trap it inside the Instant Pot. To protect your skin from the steam, wear an oven mitt or cover your hand with a kitchen towel while you’re putting on the lid. This way, you won’t accidentally get burned by rising steam. After you put the lid on the Instant Pot, always use an oven mitt or towel to handle it. The lid will likely get hot, and steam will escape from the pot when you shift or remove the lid.

Check your food periodically to see if it’s done. After a couple of minutes, remove the lid so you can see your food. To check the texture, spear a few pieces with a fork. If your veggies aren’t quite cooked, replace the lid and let them cook a little longer. If you’re using a recipe, you might wait until the timer is almost out. However, it’s best to check the veggies before the time runs out so they don’t accidentally overcook and get mushy.

Push “cancel” when the timer goes off or the food is done. Put on an oven mitt or cover your hand with a kitchen towel. Then, carefully lift the steam basket out of the Instant Pot. Dinner is ready! The “cancel” button turns off your Instant Pot, even if there’s more time on the clock.