Instant Pot Butternut Squash

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The Instant Pot has become an indispensable tool to get meals on the table with ease and speed. But it can also be used to prepare ingredients like butternut squash for soups, salads or purees with the same ease and speed.

The Instant Pot has become an indispensable tool to get meals on the table with ease and speed. But it can also be used to prepare ingredients like butternut squash for soups, salads or purees with the same ease and speed.

I think that butternut squash is one of the most versatile and flavorful of the winter squashes. I love it roasted {insert roasted butternut squash link} as a side dish, pureed with butter and maple syrup stirred in, mixed into macaroni and cheese, or sliced into a gratin. The options are endless!

The cooking methods for this squash are also endless. Well, maybe there’s a finite number of methods, but still there’re quite a few.

We’ve explored several of them here like roasting a whole butternut squash, how to microwave a whole butternut squash {insert microwave butternut squash link} and roasting diced butternut squash {link to roasted butternut squash}.

Then a thought came to me as I was washing my Instant Pot. Could you cook a whole butternut squash in the Instant Pot? The answer is, yes. And it’s so simple.

I set the trivet in the inner pot of the Instant Pot and poured in a cup of water. Then I set whole butternut squash on its side on the trivet. Note: if your squash doesn’t fit side to side, cut off a little off the top and bottom. Closed the lid, set the timer, and let the Instant Pot do the work.

When the timer went off, I manually released the steam and removed the lid. Important Note: I did let the squash cool a bit before I tried to lift it out. The skin releases really easily so be careful!

After I slipped the skin off, I removed the seeds and cut it into cubes to use in this salad. Have I mentioned how much I love my Instant Pot? Yeah, I probably have. ;)

Instant Pot Butternut Squash

Author: Allie McDonald
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Yield: 1 squash

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Description

Ingredients

1 (3-lb.) butternut squash, washed and patted dry
1 cup water

Instructions

Put the trivet in the inner pot of the Instant Pot and add the water.
Place the butternut squash on its side on top of the trivet.
Close and lock the lid. Make sure the steam release handle is in the sealed position.
Select Pressure Cook and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
Turn the steam release handle to the venting position and allow steam to escape.
When the valve drops, unlock the lid and open carefully.
Allow the butternut squash to cool until you can handle it easily.
Remove from the Instant Pot. Remove the skin. It should slip off easily.
Slice the squash in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and cut into cubes.