How to Steam Carrots in the Instant Pot

A bowl of carrots steamed in the Instant pot.

4.34 from 3 votes

How to Steam Carrots in the Instant Pot

Steamed carrots are a simple side dish and perfect for blanching before freezing. Using the Instant Pot makes the process quick and frees up space on the stove. For blanching, simply set the timer to '0' minutes.

This recipe works with large carrots or baby carrots.

Prep Time5

Cook Time1

Additional Time5

Total Time11

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: blanching carrots in the instant pot, how to steam carrots in the instant pot, instant pot recipes, instant pot steamed carrots, zero minutes in the instant pot

Servings: servings

Author: Dahn Boquist

Ingredients

1 pound carrots baby carrots or larger carrots
1-½ cups water

Instructions

Prepping the Carrots

If you are using large carrots, scrub them clean or peel them then slice them into ½ inch thick slices. If the carrots are large in diameter, cut them in half length-wise.
Add the water to the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Place the carrots in a steamer basket and set it in the Instant Pot.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure it is in the sealed position. Cook on high pressure with the timer set for one of the following choices:

Time Settings

0 minutes for tender-crisp (great for blanching)
1 minute for tender
2 minutes for soft
3 minutes for mash-able baby food

Quick Release

As soon as the Instant Pot finishes the cooking time, do a quick release of the steam. Check the carrots for doneness. If you like them softer, replace the lid and cook for another 0 to 1 minute on high pressure.
If you are just blanching the carrots to prep for freezing, run them under cold water or submerge them in ice water as soon as you take them out of the Instant Pot.

Notes

Zero minutes on the Instant Pot may sound strange but it is not a typo. If you select zero minutes, the pressure cooker will come up to pressure then beep an alert that it is finished. It gives enough time for the carrots to cook while the Instant Pot builds up pressure but doesn't let you keep cooking them once pressure is reached. Make sure you release the steam so they stop cooking.
When you remove the carrots from the Instant Pot, they will continue to cook (every so slightly) from residual heat.
Plunging the carrots in ice water or running them under cold water as soon as you take them out of the Instant Pot will stop them from cooking. This is a good way to ensure they keep a firm texture if you plan to freeze them.

Nutrition