Baked potatoes have never been quicker or easier, thanks to the Instant Pot! Baked potatoes in the Instant Pot take a fraction of the time, don’t need foil, and are light, fluffy and delicious! Sounds like a triple win, am I right?!

 

 

I love a good baked potato on the side of a hearty plate of steak or salmon. But what makes baked potatoes even more standout is they’re a great catch-all for leftovers as well! You can serve just about anything on top of a baked potato. 

Got leftover pot roast? Chili? Cheese dip? Ham? Pulled pork? Extend and create a whole new dinner by serving it over baked potatoes! And now you can do it quickly and easily with these Instant Pot baked potatoes. 

 

 

How to bake potatoes in an instant pot?

Baked potatoes in an Instant Pot are so simple! All you need to get started are some potatoes, an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker, and a trivet or steaming rack. 

Begin by placing one cup of water in the bottom of the inner pot of your pressure cooker. 

Thoroughly wash each potato and pierce each potato 5 times with a fork. 

Place a trivet at the bottom of the Instant Pot and place washed and pierced potatoes on top of the trivet. 

Pro tip #1: Do not allow the potatoes to touch the water! This will cause them to become mushy wherever they touch the water instead of nice and fluffy inside the skin. 

Pro tip #2: If you don’t have a trivet, you can use a stainless steel steamer basket. 

Close the pressure valve and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook for 14 minutes on high pressure, or use the following table to determine cook times for different sized potatoes (you’ll want to use uniformly sized potatoes): 

Potato size	Cook time
2” wide potatoes	10 minutes
3” wide potatoes	16 minutes
4” wide potatoes	20 minutes
5” wide potatoes	24 minutes

Allow for 5 minutes of natural pressure release, then quick release the rest of the pressure. 

That’s it! You’ve got fresh, baked potatoes in a fraction of the time and using a fraction of the effort. 

Pro tip #3: If you find yourself desperately missing crispy potato skins, there’s a fix for that too! Place the cooked Instant Pot baked potatoes on a baking sheet, give them a quick spritz of olive or canola oil, and broil in the oven for 3-5 minutes, or until you’ve reached your desired skin-crispiness. 

 

 

What to  put on top of baked potatoes?

There are so many things you can put on a baked potato! And this Instant Pot baked potato recipe makes it quicker and easier to incorporate potatoes into any dinner recipe! Really, the possibilities are endless. You can reimagine and utilize leftover meats and sauces, or you can do an entire potato bar from scratch! Here are some ideas: 

• Crock Pot Chili Cheese Dip
• The BEST Cheese Dip
• Cheesy Bacon Spinach Dip
• Twice Baked Potatoes
• Cranberry Chili Meatballs
• Hearty Chicken Chili
• White Lightning Chicken Chili
• Crock Pot Cranberry Pot Roast
• Overnight Roast Beef 
• Crock Pot Barbecue Sirloin Beef
• The Best Sausage Gravy Recipe

You can also top baked potatoes with the traditional butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, and chives. Don’t forget some salt and pepper! 

 

 

What to serve with baked potatoes?

Besides working great as the main starch of a main dish, baked potatoes also shine bright as a side dish. Serve them alongside any cooked meats or fish. Steak and potatoes is a steakhouse staple! Or serve them alongside a fresh green salad or hearty soup. Or top with roasted vegetables and melty cheese! 

 

 

Do baked potatoes need to be refrigerated?

Yes, you should store your baked potatoes in the refrigerator. Bacteria can grow rapidly on surfaces between 40 degrees and 140 degrees; however, if you store your baked potatoes in the fridge, they should last about 4 days. 

Store your baked potatoes in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

Pro tip #4: While this recipe doesn’t require any foil to bake the potatoes, it’s worth noting that you should not store oven baked potatoes in the fridge in the foil they were cooked in, as there’s a risk of botulinum bacteria growing. Remove foil from oven baked potatoes after they finish cooking and store leftover potatoes in an airtight bag or storage container in the fridge. 

 

 

Can you freeze baked potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze baked potatoes! But you’ll want to make sure you do so carefully to avoid changes in texture and taste. 

Begin by completely chilling your Instant Pot baked potatoes. Then completely wrap each individual potato in foil or plastic wrap. 

Pro tip #5: It might go without saying, but you cannot freeze baked potatoes with any toppings on them. Just the whole, plain, baked potato. 

Place the wrapped potatoes in an airtight zipper bag, removing as much air as possible before completely sealing. 

Frozen potatoes will last up to 3 months in the freezer. 

You can reheat thawed potatoes in the microwave or oven. You can also speed along the thawing process in the microwave at low power. 

 

 

Can dogs eat baked potatoes?

A plain baked potato is an okay snack for your furry friend, but be sure to remove the skin first and mash it so it’s easy to eat and swallow. 

It’s important to note that your pooch should never be given raw potato or potato skins, because the toxins they contain can make your dog sick. 

 

 

More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love…

• Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
• Instant Pot Spaghetti Meat Sauce
• Creamy Italian Chicken Pasta
• Instant Pot Baked Beans
• Instant Pot Boiled Eggs

 

 

More Recipes That Use Potatoes:

• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
• Loaded Smashed Potatoes
• Peppermint Patty Recipe
• Classic Potato Salad
• Creamy Chicken & Potato Soup
• Potato Cinnamon Rolls
• Salisbury Steak Casserole
• Shepherd’s Pie
• Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, a tasty side for your favorite protein dish, or a way to reimagine some leftovers, this Instant Pot Baked Potato Recipe is for you!

It’s so quick and simple to make, won’t heat up your house in the process (or frees up your oven space for more priority food items!), and has fantastic taste and texture. So give these baked potatoes in the Instant Pot a try today! 

 

 

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