Cooking Veggies In An Instant Pot: No Steamer Basket Needed

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and healthy side dish, steaming vegetables in your Instant Pot is the way to go. It's a convenient way to cook veggies while retaining their nutrients and vibrant colours. Plus, it's faster than cooking them on the stovetop. But what if you don't have a steamer basket? Don't worry; there are alternative methods to achieve perfectly cooked vegetables. First, wash and chop your favourite veggies into bite-sized pieces. Then, add one cup of water to your Instant Pot to create steam. If you don't have a steamer basket, use the trivet that came with your Instant Pot, or a heatproof dish or bowl. Arrange your veggies on top, ensuring they don't touch the water. Close the lid, set the valve to sealing, and select the Steam or Manual function. Most veggies will be tender in 3-5 minutes. After cooking, manually release the pressure and season your veggies to taste. Remember to cut your veggies into uniform sizes for even cooking and keep an eye on the time to avoid overcooking. Now you're ready to enjoy perfectly cooked veggies without a steamer basket!

Chop and prepare your veggies

The first step to cooking vegetables in your Instant Pot without a steamer basket is to wash your chosen vegetables under cold water. You can use any vegetables you like, such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, or any other type that suits your taste. Once they are cleaned, chop them into bite-sized pieces, ensuring that they are all roughly the same size. This is important to guarantee even cooking.

If you are cooking starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, parsnips, or winter squash, cut them into 1-inch pieces. You can also leave certain vegetables, like cauliflower, whole if you prefer. Remember that the size of the pieces will impact the cooking time, with smaller pieces cooking faster.

Additionally, consider the cooking times of different vegetables. Broccoli cooks quickly, while carrots take longer. If you are cooking multiple types of vegetables together, it is best to choose ones with similar cooking times to ensure even cooking.

Now that your veggies are chopped and prepared, you are ready for the next step: adding water to your Instant Pot.

Add water to the Instant Pot

The first step to cooking vegetables in an Instant Pot is to add water to the pot. This is necessary to create steam and pressure to cook the vegetables. The amount of water required will depend on the size of your cooker, but generally, you will need around 1 cup of water or broth.

It is important to note that the Instant Pot requires a minimum amount of liquid to function properly. Without sufficient liquid, pressure will not build up, and you may encounter an error message or a "burn" notice. The Instant Pot manual suggests adding between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups of liquid, depending on the size of your cooker.

Once you have added the required amount of water, you can proceed to the next steps of cooking your vegetables.

Tips for Adding Water:

• Ensure that the water reaches the bottom of the pot and comes into contact with the heating element.
• If you are using a steamer basket, place it inside the pot before adding the water to ensure you don't accidentally add too much liquid.
• You can use water or broth for steaming vegetables. If you use broth, it may add extra flavour to your vegetables.
• If you are cooking starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid added to account for the starch released during cooking.

Remember, adding the right amount of water is crucial to ensuring your Instant Pot functions properly and your vegetables turn out perfectly cooked!

Insert the trivet

After you've chopped your veggies into bite-sized pieces and poured water into your Instant Pot, it's time to insert the trivet. This is a simple step, but it's important to get it right to ensure your vegetables cook evenly and efficiently.

The trivet that comes with your Instant Pot is a handy tool for steaming veggies. Place it into the pot, and it will act as a base for your chopped vegetables. If you don't have the trivet that came with your Instant Pot, don't worry—you have other options. You can use a heatproof dish or a heatproof bowl as a substitute. These alternatives will work just as well to keep your veggies elevated and steaming to perfection.

Once you've inserted the trivet or chosen alternative, you'll want to arrange your chopped vegetables on top. It's a good idea to choose vegetables with similar cooking times to ensure everything cooks evenly. For example, if you're cooking broccoli and carrots, you might want to cut the carrots into slightly smaller pieces so they cook through at the same rate as the broccoli.

At this stage, you might also want to consider adding some seasoning to your veggies. A little salt, pepper, or your favourite herbs and spices can go a long way in enhancing the flavour of your dish. Don't be afraid to experiment and find combinations that work for your taste buds!

Now that your veggies are layered on the trivet, you're almost ready to start cooking. Just remember to seal the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to the sealing position before you turn on the heat. This step is crucial to building up the pressure and steam that will cook your vegetables to perfection.

In summary, inserting the trivet is a straightforward step, but it's an important one to master. By using the trivet or a suitable alternative, you ensure your vegetables steam evenly and efficiently. So go ahead and give it a try—your perfectly cooked veggies are just a few steps away!

Layer your veggies

Once you've chopped your veggies into bite-sized pieces, it's time to arrange them on top of the trivet or in the heatproof dish/bowl. It's best to choose vegetables with similar cooking times to ensure even cooking. For example, if you're cooking broccoli and carrots, you'll want to put the carrots in first as they take longer to cook. Then, you can add the broccoli for the last minute or two of cooking.

If you're cooking a medley of vegetables with different cooking times, it's best to put the veggies that take the longest to cook in first. That way, they'll all be done at the same time. You can also try layering the veggies with the longest cooking time at the bottom, and those that cook faster on top. This way, the veggies on top will be exposed to less direct heat and may take a little longer to cook.

When layering your veggies, try to avoid overcrowding the dish or basket. This will ensure that the steam can circulate properly and cook the vegetables evenly.

If you're using a heatproof dish or bowl, you can add a small amount of water to the bottom of the dish to help create steam. This can be especially helpful if you're cooking veggies that tend to dry out, like broccoli or cauliflower.

Now, you're ready to seal your Instant Pot and set the cooking time!

Seal and set the Instant Pot

Now that you've chopped your veggies into similar sizes and placed them on top of the trivet or in a heatproof dish, it's time to seal and set the Instant Pot.

Close the lid of the Instant Pot and ensure the valve is set to the sealing position. This is important as it creates pressure inside the pot, allowing your veggies to cook quickly and efficiently.

Next, select the "Steam" or "Manual" function on your Instant Pot. You can also select the "Pressure Cook" button, as seen in some models. This will initiate the cooking process.

Set the cooking time based on the type of vegetable you are preparing. Most vegetables will be tender in around 3-5 minutes. However, this may vary depending on your desired level of doneness. As a unique feature, the Instant Pot allows you to set the cooking time to 0 minutes, which is sufficient for cooking certain vegetables. This accounts for the time it takes for the pot to build up pressure, which is about 5-10 minutes.

Once the cooking time is complete, you can manually release the pressure by carefully turning the valve to the venting position or performing a quick release. Be cautious of the hot steam that will escape.

After the pressure has been released, you can open the lid and behold your perfectly cooked veggies! They are now ready to be seasoned and served as a nutritious and delicious side dish.

Frequently asked questions