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pumpkin beside an Instant Pot
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4.75 from 4 votes

How to Cook a Whole Pumpkin in an Instant Pot| Homemade Puree

It's easy to cook a whole pumpkin in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker! I'll show you step-by-step ... no mixer or blender needed.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Natural release 30 minutes; draining puree45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 2 1/4 cups
Calories: 83kcal
Cost: 3

Equipment

  • 6 quart Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1 2 to 3 pound pie pumpkin
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  • Remove the stem from a 2 to 3 pound pie pumpkin, if the lid won't fit with the stem on, with a sharp knife and place the pumpkin on the rack that comes with the Instant Pot in the bottom of the pot.
  • Add the 1 cup of water.
  • Place the lid, with sealing ring in place, on the Instant Pot . Cook on Manual or Pressure Cook for 23 to 25 minutes. (Twenty three minutes for a 2 pound pumpkin; 25 minutes for a 3 pound pumpkin). It took 13 minutes to come up to pressure and start counting down.
    Let the pressure naturally release (NR) after cooking 25 minutes.
  • Carefully remove the pumpkin from the Instant Pot using the rack with handles and pot holders to transfer it to a bowl or cutting board. Let it cool to the touch.
  • Using a large spoon cut away the pumpkin rind. It will be very soft and should just fall away.
  • Slice the pumpkin in half and gently remove the seeds and pulp. The pumpkin will be soft enough to simply mash with a fork or potato masher. Save the pumpkin seeds if you want to roast them.
  • I like to drain the pumpkin puree for about 15 minutes in a metal or plastic sieve to remove any liquid that might water out. Use in recipes in place of canned pumpkin puree.
  • Yield: 2 1/4 cups for a 3 pound pumpkin

Notes

  • If you want to replace a 15-ounce can of pumpkin with your fresh pumpkin puree, measure 1 1/2 cups plus 1 1/2 tablespoons.
  • You can also weigh out 15 ounces on a kitchen scale.
  • Store your pumpkin puree in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
  • 83 calories per cup

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal