This recipe shows how to perfectly cook Instant Pot cubed sweet potatoes. These bite-sized sweet potato cubes are fork-tender and creamy but still hold their shape. You can serve cubed sweet potato chunks alone or add them to salads and rice bowls.
Added bonus: This recipe also includes the cooking time for whole Instant Pot sweet potatoes.
These Instant Pot sweet potato cubes are easy to pierce with a fork and creamy in the middle, but they still hold their shape. They're a healthy side dish, a flavorful addition to salads & rice bowls and a healthy food to have on hand.
Cubed sweet potatoes are also a fantastic finger food for toddlers and little kids!
Instant Pot sweet potatoes are steamed, which helps retain nutrients. Steaming is also faster than roasting potatoes in the oven.
However! I still love the nutty, caramelized flavor of roasted sweet potatoes, too. Try my recipe for baked sweet potato slices or roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts with maple-dijon dressing.
As a main course, try vegetable and sweet potato fajitas or quinoa sweet potato chili.
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Size of Sweet Potato Cubes
How to Cut Sweet Potatoes
There are many different shapes that sweet potatoes can be cut into. All of them are great for either baking or steaming. Because each type of cut yields a different size, how you cut the potato will determine how long it needs to cook.
Perfectly shaped cubes: If you want perfect cubes, you'll need to cut sweet potatoes the same way that a chef in a restaurant does. Here is a tutorial for cutting perfect cubes.
These cubes look great and they cook evenly because every piece is the same size. However, I rarely cut potatoes using this method because you'll end up with scraps that you'll either have to throw away, compost, or cook using another method.
Chunks: By "chunks" I mean less perfect cubes. You can cut large or small chunks. Here's a quick video tutorial that shows how to quickly and easily cut a sweet potato. This is how most home cooks will cut a potato. It's fast and practical. Try as hard as you can to make most of the chunks the same size so they cook evenly.
Rounds: Simply slice a whole sweet potato width-wise into rounds. Try to make each round the same thickness.
Half Moons: Cut a sweet potato in half lengthwise, then lay it flat and slice half-moon pieces.
Wedges and Fries: The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission has a video that shows how to cut wedges and fries.
Instant Pot Cooking Time for Cubed Sweet Potatoes
(see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full cooking instructions)
Size and cooking time are linked, because the cooking time for Instant Pot sweet potatoes depends on the size of the pieces you're steaming.
For this recipe, the cooking time is based on a 1x1x1 inch cube. Slightly smaller (¾-inch cubes) or slightly larger (1 ½-inch cubes) will also work.
Imperfect chunks are also fine, as long as they're roughly 1 to 1 ½-inches big.
Instead of cubes, you can also cut the sweet potato into rounds that are ½-inch thick and use the same cooking time.
For 1-inch cubes, a cooking time of 5 minutes with an instant release gives you tender and creamy sweet potato cubes that are easy to pierce with a fork but hold their shape.
If you want firmer cubes, try 3 minutes. If you want really soft cubes that can be easily mashed or pureed, try 8 minutes.
Instant Pot Cooking Time for Whole Sweet Potatoes
Cooking whole sweet potatoes in your Instant Pot is very convenient, slightly faster than the oven, and gives you cooked sweet potatoes that are very creamy.
Step 1: Prick the whole sweet potatoes several times with a fork. You can cook several at once.
Step 2: Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot. Set a trivet or steamer basket over the water.
Step 3: Arrange the sweet potatoes in the steamer basket. They can be laying flat or standing straight up.
Step 4: The cooking time at high pressure depends entirely on how large the potato is, so it's hard to be precise, but the cooking times below give an accurate range.
- Small, skinny sweet potatoes = 15 to 20 minutes
(1 to 2-inches diameter and less than 6 inches circumference) - Medium sweet potatoes = 25 to 35 minutes
(2 to 3-inches diameter, 7 to 10 inches circumference) - Large "jumbo" sweet potatoes = up to 60 minutes
(3.5 to 4-inches diameter, 11+ inches circumference
Step 5: Let the pressure release naturally after the cooking time is complete.
3 Expert Tips for Instant Pot Steaming
- Always add 1 cup water: This is enough water to steam food in a pressure cooker. The amount of water also affects how long it takes for the Instant Pot to reach pressure, which determines the total steaming time. If you add more or less than 1 cup water your sweet potatoes might be slightly under or over cooked.
- Use a steamer basket or trivet: This lifts the food slightly above the water. The food will steam more evenly and won't get soggy and waterlogged. I really prefer a steamer basket because it makes it really easy to lift the food in and out of the pressure cooker.
- Error on the side of undercooking, not overcooking: When using an Instant Pot to steam vegetables, it's better to error on the side of undercooking rather than overcooking. If the potato chunks aren't as soft as you like, it's easy to fix either by cooking for another minute or two or by simply setting the lid back on the pot so the potatoes steam in the residual heat for a few minutes.
How to Flavor Sweet Potatoes
- Salted butter
- Miso butter (try miso butter sweet potatoes)
- Black pepper
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Dipping sauce for sweet potato fries (or steamed sweet potatoes)
- Seasoned salt or Furikake
FAQs About Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are root vegetables.
Raw sweet potatoes don't keep as long as regular potatoes. If kept in a cool, dry location (like a pantry or cellar) you can store raw sweet potatoes for about 2 weeks. After that, they might start to soften and rot. Don't store raw sweet potatoes in the refrigerator.
After steaming sweet potato cubes, they should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within 5 days for the best flavor and texture.
Yes, although sometimes the texture of defrosted sweet potato cubes is a bit soft and mushy. Place cooled sweet potato cubes in a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. They can be frozen up to 3 months. To defrost, put in the refrigerator overnight or add directly to a simmering soup or stew.
It doesn't work very well. The chunks of potato will just burn around the edges, rather than getting crispy. If you want roasted sweet potato, try this recipe for roasted sweet potato slices.
There are several varieties of Korean sweet potatoes. One popular variety has purple skin and a pale interior and is sometimes called a chestnut potato because of its flavor. Mykoreankitchen.com has a recipe for candied Korean sweet potato.
Japanese sweet potatoes have purple/magenta skin and white interior. Okonomi Kitchen has a recipe for baked Japanese sweet potatoes.
Yams and sweet potatoes are two entirely different root vegetables. Although in American grocery stores, they are often labeled incorrectly or sold as the same thing. Yams have a brownish/beige exterior and are starchier than sweet potatoes. Food & Wine has an interesting article about how the confusion over yams and sweet potatoes goes all the way back to the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Although there are many varieties of sweet potato, there are two types you'll see most often in American grocery stores. One is pale white/cream on both the outside and inside. The other has darker orange/brown skin and a vibrant orange interior. Orange sweet potatoes are often called Garnet, Jewel or Beauregard potatoes.
The main difference is that the white sweet potato is drier and starchier. It won't have a creamy texture like an orange sweet potato. It also tastes a little less sweet.
Recipes for Sweet Potato Lovers
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes, Cubed
The most important thing to know about steamed Instant Pot sweet potato cubes is that the size of the cubes (or chunks) determines the cooking time.
For 1x1x1 inch cubes or ½-inch thick rounds, 5 minutes will give you a soft texture that is easily pierced with a fork but the pieces still hold their shape.
If you want a firmer texture, try 3 minutes. If you want a very soft texture, try 8 minutes.
See the Notes section for cooking instructions for whole, steamed sweet potatoes.
Remember, it's best to error on the side of undercooking the sweet potatoes, because you can always secure the lid again and cook the potatoes for a few more minutes.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 4 to 8 sweet potatoes (about 2 to 4 pounds), cut into 1-inch cubes* (peeled or unpeeled)
- 1 cup water
*Slightly smaller or larger cubes are okay, such as ¾-inch cubes or 1 ½-inch cubes. You don’t have to cut precise cubes. The most important thing is that all of the chunks are about the same size. See the blog post section above "How to Cut Sweet Potatoes" for links to videos that show how to cut sweet potato cubes.
Instructions
- Add the water to the Instant Pot insert.
- Place a steamer basket over the water.
- Fill the steamer basket with the sweet potatoes cubes.
- Secure the lid.
- Program the Instant Pot to cook for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- When the cooking time is done, quick release the pressure
Notes
This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
Instead of cubes or chunks, you can also cook rounds of sweet potato that are ½-inch thick using this cooking time and method.
If the sweet potato is not as soft as you'd like, then either set the lid back on the pot and let the potatoes steam longer in the residual heat or secure the lid and cook the potatoes for 1 to 3 more minutes.
These potatoes are soft enough to mash with a fork, but if you want really soft, creamy sweet potato cubes then increase the cooking time to 8 minutes.
Using a steamer basket yields the best results because it keeps the potatoes from getting waterlogged and soggy.
Instant Pot Whole Sweet Potato Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Prick the whole sweet potato several times with a fork.
Step 2: Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot. Set a trivet or steamer basket over the water.
Step 3: Arrange the sweet potatoes in the steamer basket. They can be laying flat or standing straight up.
Step 4: The cooking time depends entirely on how large the potato is.
Small, skinny sweet potatoes = 15 to 20 minutes
(1 to 2-inches diameter and less than 6 inches circumference)
Medium sweet potatoes = 25 to 35 minutes
(2 to 3-inches diameter, 7 to 10 inches circumference)
Large "jumbo" sweet potatoes = up to 60 minutes
(3.5 to 4-inches diameter, 11+ inches circumference
Step 5: Let the pressure release naturally after the cooking time is complete.
Deb
Thanks so much for the overview on how to cook sweet potatoes in different sizes and shapes. Clear and concise instructions!
Jenny Meier
Glad to know it was helpful!
Sara Welch
Such a fun and unique way to enjoy sweet potatoes! Easily, a new favorite side dish; my whole family loved them!
Jess
Anything I can make in the Instant Pot is always a win-win!
Sara
Delicious, great instructions the sweet potato came out perfectly and the whole family enjoyed them!
Stacey
I don't know why little, bite sized potatoes always taste better. So delicious and the fact that they only take 5 minutes is amazing.
Jen
This recipe has clear, tested instructions that help you get exactly the right texture for cubed sweet potatoes.