Learnhow to cook pumpkin in the Instant Potwith this simple guide that will teach youhow to make pumpkin puree at home.Use it in pumpkin pie, soups, and all the other Fall comfort foods your family loves!

Do you love pumpkin as much as we do? It’s the tried-and-true hero of fall, whether youuse it in desserts, entrees, orappetizers…Or simply to decorate your home in autumn decor! The flavors of cooked pumpkin are similar to that ofsweet potatoorbutternut squash, and we likeserving it mashed with a little butter, salt, and cinnamon as a side.

And once again, the Instant Pot is here to save all of our lives with yet anotherquick cooking hack.This how-to will get you fresh, warmingcooked pumpkin in a half hourthanks to the Instant Pot. It’s truly magic. And I am here for it. There’s just something special about preparing your own cooked pumpkin.

Small orange cooked pumpkin in an instant pot.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The pumpkin can be used asa puree forsoups,pies, or other recipes that you’d normally use canned pumpkin for!
All you need is yourInstant Pot, a sugar or pie pumpkin, a cup of water, and the trivet that came with your IP, plus 30 minutes, and you’re all set!
Pumpkin puree will last for about a week in a sealed container in the refrigerator. If you can’t use it by then, freeze it for up to 4 months!It freezes VERY well.

Recipe Ingredients

Pumpkin –pie or sugar pumpkin recommended
Water

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

wooden cutting board with cut open orange pumpkin puree and seeds in a white bowl butcher knife on cutting board.

How to Make Cooked Pumpkin in an Instant Pot

Place the pumpkin on the trivet, and add water.
Set the cook time and let the machine do its thing.
Carefully remove the pumpkin from the Instant Pot and cut it open.
Use a spoon to scrape the flesh from the skin.

Recipe FAQs

Can you use large pumpkins for cooking?

Large pumpkins can be cooked, but they have more liquid than small sugar and pie pumpkins. Plus, they won’t fit in your Instant Pot as well, so it’s best to stick to the little guys.

Can you eat small pumpkins?

Miniature pumpkins ARE edible, and they generally are sweeter than larger pumpkins that you think of as jack-o-lanterns. Look for pumpkins that are small and labeled as pie pumpkins or sugar pumpkins in the store. You can cook the large pumpkins meant for carving too! They’re just a bit less sweet and tend to be more watery.

How do you steam a pumpkin?

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, don’t fret! You can steam a pumpkin by cutting it into small pieces, removing the seeds, and peeling the skin off. Place the pieces of pumpkin in a steamer (or a metal colander) over boiling water. Cover and let it steam for about 50 minutes until the flesh is fork-tender.

wooden cutting board with cut open orange pumpkin puree and seeds in a white bowl on cutting board.

Expert Tips

Pie or Sugarare the best pumpkinsfor this recipe.
Add the pumpkin to a food process or blender andblend until smooth to make a pumpkin puree.
Let your pumpkin puree drain in a fine mesh colander for a little whileto remove extra moisture before using.
Here are a few of my family’s favorite recipes that use pumpkin puree:Healthy Pumpkin Muffins,Pumpkin Pie from Fresh Pumpkin, andPumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cinnamon Frosting.