How To Cook A Whole Pumpkin In The Instant Pot
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Find out the easiest way to cook a whole pumpkin in the Instant Pot. In just 15 minutes you can have homemade pumpkin puree without any hard peeling or chopping!
I love growing pie pumpkins in our garden every year. I’ve always roasted the pumpkins to make a puree to put up for the winter.
But over time I’ve developed some problems with my hands that make cutting pumpkins and other winter squash hard. Thankfully, I found a much easier way to cook pumpkins after I got my Instant Pot.
Pressure cooking pie pumpkins is just so quick and easy! You don’t have to cut the top off and slice the pumpkins in half before cooking. Simply cook them whole and slice and peel after when they are nice and soft.
Have a pumpkin that’s too big to fit? No problem. You can cut it in half or into quarters and still cook it in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
I started cooking pumpkins this way when cutting raw pumpkins got too hard on my hands. Now it’s how I cook every pie pumpkin from our garden. The Instant Pot does the hard work, and I just scoop out soft, sweet pumpkin for the freezer.
How To Select A Pumpkin
If you want to cook a pumpkin whole in your Instant Pot then you will want to make sure the pumpkin is small enough to fit into the model you have.
Thankfully most small sugar pie pumpkins are between 2 and 3 pounds. I’ve found these fit easily in both my 6 qt Instant Pot and my 8 qt.
You can use any variety of pumpkin for making puree, but the best tasting ones are pie pumpkins. They have been bred to have a higher sugar content than the huge decorative pumpkins sold in the fall.
If you’re growing your own, here’s how to tell when a pumpkin is ripe so you pick it at its sweetest.
Do I Have To Cut Off The Stem?
No, it’s ok to pressure cook your pumpkin with the stem on. But if you have a large pumpkin you might have to trim the stem back or remove it so the lid on your Instant Pot can close safely.
Ingredients
- 1 pie pumpkin (about 2 to 3 pounds)
- 1 to 2 cups water (the minimum for your Instant Pot)
How To Cook A Pumpkin In The Instant Pot
Wash The Pumpkin
Wash your pumpkin to remove any dirt, then pat dry.
I don’t poke holes in my pumpkin, and I’ve never had one burst. It’s cooking in moist, steamy heat, so I’ve never had any trouble. If it makes you feel better, you can poke a few holes in the top with a knife or skewer first.
Add The Water And Trivet
Pour 1 to 2 cups of water into your Instant Pot (use the minimum required for your model) then place the trivet that has handles and comes with your Instant Pot or steamer basket inside.
You can use any other trivet you like as long as it’s flat on the bottom and has handles to help you lift out the pumpkin.
Pressure Cook The Pumpkin
Place your pie pumpkin into the Instant Pot and lock the lid, remember to turn the switch to pressure.
Set it to cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. When done do a natural pressure release.
When the pressure has fully dropped remove the lid.
Check If It’s Done
Check to see if your pumpkin is cooked by inserting a paring knife through the skin. If it’s well cooked, the knife should slide in very easily, and the pumpkin flesh will be very soft.
If your pumpkin isn’t fully cooked place the lid back on your Instant Pot and cook on high for another 3 to 5 minutes.
Cool, Cut, And Scoop Out The Seeds
When done, lift out the trivet, being careful not to drop your pumpkin, and place it on a cutting board or plate.
Allow it to cool slightly then cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds and strings. Make sure you save the pumpkin seeds for roasting!
Peel Or Scoop The Pumpkin
The skin will start peeling off while you’re working with the pumpkin. Either peel the skin off the pumpkin flesh or use a spoon to scrape the flesh away from the skin.
Both ways work well.
Puree The Pumpkin
Transfer the pumpkin flesh to a bowl and puree with an immersion blender. If you don’t have one place it into a food processor or blender and process.
If the puree is too dry, you can add about 1 tablespoon of water to help it mix better.
How Long To Cook Pumpkin In A Pressure Cooker
- Whole pie pumpkin (2 to 3 pounds): 15 minutes on high pressure, then a natural pressure release.
- Pumpkin halves or quarters: 8 minutes on high pressure (manual).
If your pumpkin is too big to fit in your Instant Pot whole, cut it in half or into quarters. Scoop out the seeds and strings first, then set the pieces on the trivet and cook them for 8 minutes.
If the knife doesn’t slide in easily when it’s done, just put the lid back on and cook it for another 3 to 5 minutes.
Do I Have To Drain The Pumpkin?
Pumpkin puree can contain a lot of water, especially when you cook it in a pressure cooker. When you roast pumpkin in the oven a lot of the moisture will evaporate, but this doesn’t happen in the Instant Pot.
If you plan on using your pumpkin puree for baking and it’s really watery then it’s a good idea to drain it first.
An easy way is to line a fine mesh strainer with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Then pour in your pumpkin puree. Let it sit over a bowl to drip for a few hours or overnight in your fridge.
Storage
You can keep fresh puréed pumpkin in your fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze pumpkin puree for up to a year. I like to place it in 2-cup portions in freezer bags. Press the bags flat for easy stacking in your freezer.
Another great option is to dehydrate your pumpkin.
Ways To Use Your Pumpkin Puree
Once your freezer is stocked, here are some of our favorite ways to use it:
- Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal for an easy fall breakfast
- Pumpkin Pasta for a cozy weeknight dinner
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup for chilly days
- Bread Machine Pumpkin Bread
- Lots more ideas in these easy pumpkin desserts
FAQ’s
How To Cook A Whole Pumpkin In The Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 Pie Pumpkin
- 1 to 2 cups Water
Instructions
- Wash your pumpkin and pat dry.
- Pour 1 cup of water into your Instant Pot, then place the trivet inside.
- Set the pie pumpkin onto the trivet.
- Lock the lid in place and turn the valve to pressure. Set the timer for 15 minutes on high pressure.
- When done cooking let the Instant Pot do a natural pressure release.
- Once the pressure has fully dropped, remove the lid. Check to see if the pumpkin is fully cooked by inserting a knife into the skin. If the pumpkin is done, it will go through easily if the flesh is still hard, place the lid back on and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.
- When done carefully lift out the trivet and place the pumpkin on a cutting board. Let it cool until it's comfortable to handle.
- Cut it in half and scoop out the seeds and strings.
- Either peel the skin off the pumpkin flesh or scoop the pumpkin off the skin.
- Serve with some butter and seasonings or puree in a food processor for homemade pumpkin puree.
Notes
Nutrition
These values are from a nutritional database and automatically calculated, and should only be used as an approximation.
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Kim Mills is a homeschooling mom of 6 and lives on an urban homestead in Ontario, Canada. Blogging at Homestead Acres she enjoys sharing tips to help you save money, grow and preserve your own food.
