How Long Does It Take To Cook Green Beans In The Instant Pot?

Easy to use and much-loved by home cooks for its versatility and speed, the Instant Pot can make quick work of what used to be lengthy meal prep times. It's one of the fastest ways to cook green beans, and once you master this simple Instant Pot dish you can be assured of perfectly fresh and tender green beans every time.

Once you've washed and prepared your green beans, put them in a steamer basket in your Instant Pot and add a cup of water. Turn the Instant Pot on the "Pressure Cook" setting for one minute. Once the beans have cooked, do a quick release of the pressure valve, drain and season your green beans (perhaps like NYC's Miznon does), and they'll be ready to eat. While it only takes one minute of cooking time to have perfectly cooked green beans in your Instant Pot, it will take a few minutes for the pot to come to pressure. The entire process should take 10 minutes or less.

One of the benefits of the Instant Pot is that you can use it to cook fresh or frozen food, and the cooking time will be the same. It's important to note that if you're cooking frozen beans, the pot will take longer to come to pressure; to speed things up, add hot water instead of cold.

While traditional steamed green beans are always a good choice, don't be afraid to try new things to elevate your recipe. If you want a more complex flavor profile, you can start by sautéing the beans in butter or olive oil with your favorite seasonings before cooking. You can cook them right in the Instant Pot, using the sauté setting, to get something similar, perhaps with a spoon of minced garlic. Once they've been browned to your liking, move to the steamer basket and proceed with cooking.

While you need liquid for the Instant Pot to steam, it doesn't necessarily have to be water. Try using chicken, beef, or vegetable broth in place of water to add depth to the flavor. Once your beans are done, you can add toppings of your choice. Parmesan cheese, bacon, bread crumbs, or diced almonds are all popular additions. 

If you don't eat all the beans you've cooked, save them for later. You can eat leftover green beans cold, heat them up in the microwave or on the stove, or even reheat the green beans in your air fryer to introduce a crispy texture.