Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree Recipe

Course: Dessert, Homemade Ingredient, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 12

rest time: 12

Total Time: 25

Servings: cups

Calories: 106kcal

Author: Emily

Cost: $3

Make your own pumpkin puree in the instant pot and you will never buy store-bought again!

Clean the outside of the pumpkin and remove the stem. Add the metal trivet to the bottom of the instant pot, place the pumpkin on top, and then pour in 1 cup of water.
Close the lid and the steam vent and cook on Pressure Cook HIGH for 12 minutes. After the pressure cooking process has finished, allow the steam to naturally release for 12 minutes and then carefully release the rest manually.
Allow the pumpkin to cool enough to handle. Remove it from the Instant Pot and place it on a cutting board. Remove all of the skin with a knife. The skin will fall off with a little prompting from a knife (I used a butter knife and a regular knife and they both worked).
Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and stringy pulp with a spoon (save the seeds for roasted pumpkin seeds if desired). Cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces.
Place the pumpkin pieces in a blender or food processor (you can also use a hand blender in the instant Pot insert if you own one). Blend the cooked pumpkin pieces until nice and smooth.
Pour the pumpkin puree into a sealable container like a mason jar or plastic tub. The pumpkin puree will last in the fridge for up to 7 days or in the freezer for 6 months.

Choose the Right Pumpkin: Look for small sugar pumpkins (pie pumpkins) as they have sweeter and smoother flesh compared to larger carving pumpkins. Carving pumpkins are just for carving.
Make it Fit: My 2 lb sugar pumpkin barely fit in my 6 qt. Instant Pot so I turned the metal trivet upside down. This ensured the pumpkin wasn't resting on the bottom directly and fit perfectly.
Cut it up if needed: If your pumpkin is too big or you have more than one, you can cut it into pieces before cooking. I have also done it this way and it worked out great!
Blend or Mash: You can use an immersion blender, a food processor, or a potato masher to puree the pumpkin. For a smoother texture, use a blender or food processor. For a chunkier puree, use a potato masher.
How to Store Pumpkin Puree: To store the puree, allow the puree to cool completely. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 7 days. You can also freeze it in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 6 months.
Always read the instruction manual that came with your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker and follow all safety guidelines.