Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (2024)

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Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are fluffy, creamy, and super easy to make. The perfect dinnertime side dish or Thanksgiving dinner vegetable, enjoy these delicious pressure cooker mashed sweet potatoes served sweet, savory, or somewhere in between.

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (1)

Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

Unless I’m in the mood for baked sweet potatoes with crispy skin and a creamy center, the Instant Pot will always come out on top when it comes to preparing creamy mashed sweet potatoes.

Less water-logged than boiling, cooking sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker also frees up the oven and stovetop for more demanding main dish recipes like baked chicken thighs or pan-seared garlic butter pork chops.

Start to finish these mashed sweet potatoes take approximately 30 minutes to make in your Instant Pot or other electric pressure cookers. If you know that you are especially slow preparing ingredients, then perhaps it will take a few minutes longer.

A great base for any recipe that calls for mashed sweet potatoes, use this method to cook the sweet potatoes for sweet potato casserole (a Thanksgiving must-have!) or this family-favoritesweet potato and butternut squash shepherd’s pie.

How Does the Instant Pot Work?

The Instant Pot works by creating a very high temperature contained within a small space (the pot) that is trapped by a tight seal. This high temperature, much higher than the boiling point of water, creates and releases steam that can’t escape. The result is food that cooks more quickly and more efficiently than traditional stovetop or oven cooking.

This is why cooking potatoes, dry beans, and tough meats using our favorite Instant Pots and pressure cookers works so well.

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (2)

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

1. Set up:

Place the Instant Pot trivet, a wire steaming basket, or a silicone basket (shown in the images) inside the bowl of your Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of cold water to the bottom of your Instant Pot.

If you plan to cook more than 3 pounds of sweet potatoes, increase the total amount of water to 1.5 cups.

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (3)

2. Prepare the Potatoes:

Wash and peel your potatoes then chop them into 1-inch chunks. Place the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes inside the steamer basket or on top of the trivet.

  • Can you leave the skin on? Yes. If you don’t mind mashed sweet potatoes with the fiber-filled skin mixed in there, then absolutely leave it on (it will also save you time!)
  • Can you pressure cook the sweet potatoes whole? Yes. Learn how to cook whole sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot in this post.
Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (4)

3. Cook:

Set your Instant Pot to manual HIGH pressure and cook for 10 minutes. Allow approximately 10 to 15 minutes for your Instant Pot to build up pressure before the cooking time starts to count down.

After the cooking time has finished, switch the pressure valve to the venting position and perform a quick release. Carefully remove the lid.

4. Drain:

Immediately drain the cooked sweet potatoes in a large colander.

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (5)

5. Mash:

Transfer the still-hot cooked sweet potatoes to the insert (inner pot) of your Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot to WARM. Add the melted butter followed by the milk, kosher salt, and ground cinnamon. Use a potato masher, food mill, or potato ricer to mash the potatoes until the desired consistency is reached. Add additional milk, as needed, and season with additional salt, if desired.

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (6)

Variations

Depending on your own personal taste and preference, you may prefer a sweet potato mash that is extra sweet, or somewhat savory. Here are a few ideas to change things up to suit your mood.

  • Sweet(er) – add a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup or brown sugar or top with marshmallows.
  • Rich – swap the milk for heavy cream or coconut milk.
  • Savory – add chopped bacon, pecans, ground cumin, or chopped green onions.

Recipe tips and tricks

  • For lighter, creamier mashed sweet potatoes, avoid over mixing. Overmixing any potato (not just sweet potatoes) causes them to release more starch. The more starch that is released, the gummier your potatoes.
  • Along the same lines as above, mash the sweet potatoes while they are still warm first with the melted butter, followed by the milk or half and half. The butter coats the starch molecules preventing the water in the milk or half and half from combining with the starch molecules and becoming gluey.
Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (7)

Storing Leftover Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring between each.

To freeze, allow your mashed sweet potatoes to cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe bag or container. Remove as much air as possible. Transfer to the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw before reheating in the microwave.

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (8)

More Sweet Potato Recipes and Cooking Resources,

  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
  • Steak and Sweet Potato Skillet
  • Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf with Sweet Potatoes
  • Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes: What’s the Difference?
  • Potato Types: A Guide to Popular Types of Potatoes

Have you tried making these Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me#theforkedspoononInstagramif you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.

RECIPE CARD

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (9)

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

4.83 from 23 votes

AuthorAuthor: Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (10)Jessica Randhawa

These delicious Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are ready in approximately 30 minutes for a creamy, flavorful, perfect side dish. As written, this recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Instant Pot brought to pressure 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Side Dish, Vegetables

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 285 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds sweet potatoes - peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter - melted
  • ½ cup whole milk - plus more if needed
  • ½ teaspoon salt - plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Prepare Pressure Cooker: Place the Instant Pot trivet, a wire steaming basket, orsilicone basketinside the bowl of your Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of your Instant Pot.

  • Prepare Potatoes: Wash and peel your potatoes then chop into cubes approximately 1-inch in size. Place the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes inside the steamer basket or on top of the trivet.

  • Pressure Cook the Sweet Potatoes: Place the cover on your Instant Pot and switch the pressure valve to the sealing position. Set your Instant Pot to manual HIGH pressure and cook for10 minutes. After the cooking time is finished, switch the pressure valve to the venting position and do a quick release. Carefully remove the lid.

    Note: it will take about 10 to 15 minutes for your Instant Pot to heat and build up pressure before the cooking time starts to count down.

  • Drain: Immediately drain the sweet potatoes in a large colander.

  • Mash your Sweet Potatoes: Transfer the drained sweet potatoes to the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot to WARM. Add the hot melted butter first. Then add the milk, salt, and ground cinnamon and use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until the desired consistency is reached. Add additional milk, as needed, and season with additional salt, if desired.

  • Serve: Serve these creamy mashed sweet potatoes with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg and additional butter, if desired.

Jessica’s Notes

To make this recipe dairy-free, omit the butter or swap for a plant-based alternative. Swap the milk for a plant-based alternative such as almond milk or soy milk.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 287mg | Potassium: 1104mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 43855IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 2mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

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Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many sweet potatoes in 1 cup mashed? ›

We found that it took 1.25 medium sweet potatoes to obtain 1 cup of sliced potato. When cubing, we needed 1.3 sweet potatoes to reach the 1 cup mark. However, when measuring for 1 cup of mashed, 2 whole sweet potatoes did the trick.

How do I make my sweet potato mash thicker? ›

Forget what the mixer chick said, make your mashed sweet potatoes like you would normal mashed potato, then heat up a frying pan/skillet until it's super hot, add a bit of oil or butter as extra lubricant, and throw some mash in it, it will evaporate some moisture and make it thicker, plus give it a slight toasty ...

Can you overcook potatoes in the Instant Pot? ›

The Best Kind of Potatoes for Pressure Cooking

Cut them into 1 1/2-inch chunks, and they're ready in under 15 minutes (about ten minutes for the pot to come up to pressure, then three minutes for the potatoes to steam.) Take 'em out right when the timer goes off so they don't overcook, then use them however you like!

How do you make Ina Garten mashed sweet potatoes? ›

Place the sweet potato meat into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and add the orange juice, cream, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix together until combined but not smooth and transfer to a baking dish. Bake the potatoes for 20 to 30 minutes, until heated through.

How many sweet potatoes do I need for 2 cups? ›

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SWEET POTATO AND A YAM?
FreshCannedCooked & Mashed
2 medium sweet potatoes3 to 41 1/4 cups
3 medium1 pound can2 cups
4 medium (23 ounces)3 quart cans2 l/2 cups

How many sweet potatoes needed for 3 cups mashed? ›

Note: 3 cups sweet potatoes is about 3-4 large sweet potatoes.

Can you use instant mashed potatoes to thicken? ›

Enter instant mashed potato flakes. Add a spoonful of potato flakes at the end of cooking time, and it will thicken things right up. You can even use this trick with foods like roast beef or other slow cooked or pressure cooked meats that have flavorful juices that you want to turn into a gravy-like texture.

Do I peel sweet potatoes before boiling? ›

There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

What thickens instant mashed potatoes? ›

Add a Thickening Agent

This is the most common way to thicken mashed potatoes. You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry.

Do instant pots release pressure while cooking? ›

The pressure decreases without doing anything.

Your Instant Pot will automatically switch to the Keep Warm setting. As soon as it switches to Keep Warm the pressure will begin to drop. The time it will take to release all the pressure depends on the ingredients and the amount of liquid in the pressure cooker.

Why are my instant potatoes gummy? ›

When potatoes are mashed, starch is released. The more you work the potatoes, the more starch gets released. When too much starch gets released, the potatoes become gummy, gluey, and unappetizing.

How long do you can potatoes in a pressure cooker? ›

The potatoes need to be processed in a weighted pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure for 35 minutes for pint jars and 40 minutes of quart jars if you live at an altitude of 1,000 feet above sea level or less (Image 3).

How to cook sweet potatoes Martha Stewart? ›

Scrub and pat potatoes dry. Pierce potatoes all over with the tines of a fork and bake in oven, directly on rack, until soft and caramelizing, 1 1/2 hours. Slash the tops of potatoes open with the tip of a sharp knife and push ends of each potato toward each other to open.

Why not to boil sweet potatoes? ›

Despite their sweet taste, these potatoes have an intermediate glycemic index (GI) level, meaning they are digested and absorbed fairly slowly, leading to a more gradual increase in blood sugar levels. But, a lot of these benefits, including nutrients and taste, can be lost by boiling sweet potatoes.

Is it better to boil sweet potatoes or bake sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

What is one serving of mashed sweet potatoes? ›

Mashed Sweet Potato (1 cup, mashed) contains 58.1g total carbs, 49.9g net carbs, 0.5g fat, 4.5g protein, and 249 calories.

What is a serving size of sweet potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene, which your body can convert into vitamin A. Just 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of this vegetable provides the recommended daily amount of this vitamin. Vitamin C.

What is a serving of mashed sweet potatoes? ›

Wegmans
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 0.67 cup (140g)
How many calories are in Mashed Sweet Potatoes? Amount of calories in Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Calories 210Calories from Fat 99 (47.1%)
% Daily Value *
How much fat is in Mashed Sweet Potatoes? Amount of fat in Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Total Fat 11g-
16 more rows

How many potatoes in a portion of mash? ›

How many potatoes to use for a serving of mash? Boiling spuds doesn't change their weight significantly. So, if you're aiming for a cup of mash (weighing half a pound) per person, you can begin with the same weight in raw spuds. That means a medium-sized potato will give you approximately 1 cup of mash.

References

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