Steaming Green Beans: Pressure Cooker Time And Tips

Green beans are a delicious and healthy side dish that can be cooked in a pressure cooker in just a few minutes. The pressure cooker infuses flavour into the beans and helps them retain their crunch and natural flavour. The cooking time for green beans in a pressure cooker varies depending on the desired texture, with a shorter cooking time resulting in crisp, crunchy beans and a longer cooking time yielding softer, more tender beans.

How to prepare green beans for pressure cooking

Ingredients

To prepare green beans for pressure cooking, you will need the following ingredients:

• Fresh green beans
• Water (preferably cold tap water)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Olive oil or butter (optional)
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Bacon (optional)
• Onion (optional)

Wash and Trim the Green Beans

Start by washing your green beans thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris. Then, trim off the ends of the beans. If desired, you can also cut the beans into one-inch pieces, but this is not necessary.

Add Water to the Pressure Cooker

Pour water into the inner pot of your pressure cooker. The amount of water you need will depend on the size of your cooker. For a 3 or 6-quart cooker, use 1 cup of water. For an 8-quart cooker, use 1.5 cups of water.

Prepare the Green Beans for Steaming

To steam your green beans, you will need a steamer basket or metal trivet to place inside the pressure cooker. Place the prepared green beans carefully onto the steamer basket or trivet. If using a steamer basket, you can also add a drizzle of olive oil or butter and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to the beans, if desired.

Pressure Cook the Green Beans

Close the lid of the pressure cooker and set the vent to the sealed or locked position. Set the cooker to high pressure and cook the beans for 0 minutes for crisp-tender beans or 1-2 minutes for softer beans.

Release Pressure and Serve

Once the cooking time has elapsed, immediately release the pressure. Stand back to avoid the hot steam and carefully remove the lid. If desired, you can season the beans with salt and pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice, or a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Tips for Buying Green Beans

When purchasing green beans, look for bright green beans that are firm and snap when bent. Avoid beans with bruises or brown spots.

How much water to add to the pressure cooker

The amount of water you need to add to your pressure cooker depends on the size of your cooker and the quantity of green beans you are steaming.

For a 3- or 6-quart electric pressure cooker, you will need 1 cup of water. If you are using an 8-quart model, you will need 1-1/2 cups of water. A larger pressure cooker may require a bit more water, so it is always good to check the manual.

The water in the pressure cooker should be enough to generate steam without reaching the vegetables. Typically, this means about 1 cup of water for most pressure cookers. If you are using a steamer basket, this should sit above the water level.

How to steam green beans in the pressure cooker

Ingredients

• 1 pound of fresh green beans
• Water (1 cup for a 3 or 6-quart cooker, 1.5 cups for an 8-quart cooker)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Olive oil or butter, to taste
• Lemon juice, to taste

Method

• Wash your green beans and trim off the ends.
• Pour water into the pressure cooker.
• Place a vegetable steaming basket in the pressure cooker and spread the beans out on top. Alternatively, place the beans on a trivet inside the cooker.
• Sprinkle the beans with salt and pepper.
• Close the lid and cook at high pressure for 1 minute ("Manual" or "Pressure Cook" mode in an Instant Pot).
• Quick release the pressure and remove the lid, tilting it away from you.
• Carefully lift the steamer basket full of beans out of the cooker and place them on a serving platter.
• Drizzle with olive oil and squeeze a little lemon juice over the top.
• Serve and enjoy!

Tips

• The beans will continue to cook after the pressure is released, so it's best to lift the steamer basket out of the pot as soon as possible after the pressure release finishes.
• If you want softer beans, you can cook them for 1 minute on high pressure.
• If you're using frozen green beans, the cooking time will be the same if you want them to be soft. However, if you want them to be crunchy, you may need to reduce the cooking time to 0 minutes.

How to season green beans after pressure cooking

Green beans are a delicious and nutrient-packed legume full of vitamins and minerals. They can be cooked in a variety of ways, including boiling, steaming, and sautéing. Here are some detailed instructions on how to season green beans after pressure cooking:

Seasoning Ideas:

• Salt and pepper: Sprinkle salt and pepper on the green beans after cooking. You can also add some crushed red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
• Olive oil: Drizzle olive oil over the green beans and toss to coat. You can also add minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the olive oil for extra flavor.
• Lemon: Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the green beans or add both the juice and zest of a lemon for a brighter flavor.
• Butter: Melt butter and toss with the green beans for a rich, buttery flavor. You can also sauté the green beans in butter and garlic for a more complex dish.
• Parmesan cheese: Grate some parmesan cheese over the green beans after tossing them in butter or olive oil.
• Toasted nuts: Top the green beans with toasted nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans. You can also add butter to the nuts for extra flavor.

Instructions:

Rinse the green beans under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Trim the ends of the beans and cut them to the desired length. Place a steamer basket or rack in your pressure cooker and add enough water to just below the basket. Place the green beans in the basket, ensuring they are not submerged in the water. Secure the lid and bring the pressure cooker to high pressure. Depending on your desired texture, cook the green beans for 0-2 minutes for a crunchy texture or up to 7 minutes for a softer texture. Perform a quick release of pressure and carefully remove the lid, tilting it away from you to avoid the hot steam. Remove the steamer basket from the cooker and drain any excess water.

At this point, you can season the green beans as desired. For a simple option, sprinkle salt and pepper over the beans and toss to coat. For a more complex dish, try sautéing the beans in butter and garlic, or tossing them with olive oil, lemon juice, and zest. You can also add toasted nuts or parmesan cheese for extra flavor and texture. Serve the green beans as a side dish alongside your favorite protein and enjoy!

How to sauté green beans after pressure cooking

Ingredients

• 1-2 tablespoons of butter
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon juice
• Garlic
• Green beans

Method

First, prepare your green beans by washing them and trimming off the ends. Then, place a vegetable steaming basket in your pressure cooker, add 1 cup of water, and spread the beans on top of the basket. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Close the lid of the cooker and cook at high pressure for 1 minute. Quick-release the pressure and remove the lid, tilting it away from you.

Now, carefully lift the steamer basket of beans out of the cooker and place the beans onto a serving platter. Drizzle with olive oil and squeeze some lemon juice over the top.

If you want to add a little extra flavour, you can sauté the green beans after pressure cooking. To do this, heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the green beans, garlic, onion salt, garlic salt, garlic powder, and black pepper to the skillet. Cook and stir until the desired tenderness is reached (around 5-10 minutes). Serve hot and enjoy!

Frequently asked questions