Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Pumpkin

Pressure cooker pumpkin and homemade pumpkin puree recipe is here. So easy to make in your Instant Pot, Crockpot Express or a Ninja Foodi recipe! Use it to make pumpkin butter, cakes or other recipes. Homemade and perfect every time.

Ninja Foodi Pumpkin

It makes this Fall vegetable so tender and perfect for canning or making delicious Instant Pot pumpkin butter too! You can make this in a Ninja Foodi, Crockpot Express or any other brand.

I mean there are SO many options once this is done. I’d have to say our pumpkin zucchini muffins top the list though. Whether you want to just slice it to enjoy as a tender squash side dish with dinner or puree it when done that is up to you.

How do You Steam a Pumpkin?

Essentially this is what you’re doing. With the water in the bottom, the veggie in the basket on high pressure will heat up the liquid to create very hot steam which will soften the flesh so you can blend it to mash it as you would like to.

I got this squash from a relative out of her garden. In researching what it was it was found it to be a long pie pumpkin. Cooked it tastes just like the traditional circular orange versions.

How to cook a whole pumpkin in your Instant Pot

I knew you could pop a whole pumpkin in your pressure cooker but it was a bit long so I cut up into large pieces. If it is too big to fit in their cut in half, just slice those halves into fourths and it will be fine that way. It worked great!

Can you cook a whole pumpkin without cutting it?

Yes you can do it either way. If you cut the pumpkin vs. sticking the whole thing in is you can remove the seeds beforehand. Don’t throw them out though!! Once you scoop out the seeds put them in a strainer and get the gunk off. Then you can make our killer air fryer pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack. 

We also share How Long to Bake Pumpkin Seeds at 350 in the oven which are great. I guess it depends on what you’re making, I was on a mission to make homemade pumpkin butter so I preferred for the seeds and “gunk” to be gone beforehand.

Homemade Pumpkin Puree recipe

1. Pumpkin – if left whole make sure it fits into your Instant Pot with enough room for the lid to close. Or cut into larger chunks
2. Trivet – I like this one with handles or vegetable steamer basket
3. Cup of water
4. Blender

Mason jars for storing in fridge, or pint size freezer bags if making it in bulk and freezing it.

How to Cook Pumpkin in the Instant Pot

The oven version has always worked fine but I am all about easy. Making this Instant Pot pumpkin really is a breeze. With a super short pressure cooking time you may never buy canned again.

• What’s great about this Instant Pot pumpkin recipe is you can leave it plain, or add any spices you like.
• LOVE nutmeg, add a bit more than others might.
• Prefer a sweeter sugar pumpkin puree, then add a bit of brown sugar to your mixture when you put it into the blender or food processor.

Now once you’re done with the cook on high pressure stage don’t do a quick release. Rather, allow for a natural pressure release for 5 minutes first, then scoop the insides out. Throw this pulp into your blender with just a dash of liquid. Once it’s as smooth as you’d like you’ll have your own pressure cooker pumpkin puree to use as you wish.

Since we were making it a bit sweet we added some goodies like sugar, nutmeg and more. We will share what we made with you below. It was so yummy!!

Can you cook big pumpkins?

Not really. I mean it has to fit inside your pressure cooker. Yes you can cut it in half or even into fourths if you wanted but there’s still a limited capacity. It might be easier to use a big pot on your stovetop with a trivet in the bottom for a rather large one. I would choose a small / medium one for this method.

How do you make pumpkin powder?

That isn’t what we’re sharing here, but we have made shared how to dehydrate apples and you’d use the same machine. If you’d rather make a powder (for whatever reason) there are instructions here.

• Instructions on how to can is here. A great option if you’re making a large batch and want it to use for multiple recipes. It’s really no different than if you made Instant Pot jam and wanted to save that for years on end.
• Or use it immediately like we did when we made our pumpkin butter. You can use the same process for butternut squash and make soup this way too!

Either way it is a lot easier than you might think to cook a fresh pumpkin! Want to make some homemade pumpkin butter now?? That’s how we used ours and directions are below!

How long does pumpkin puree last in the freezer?

It can last up to a year if stored properly!! That means you can make “all things pumpkin” all year long with this! Make a big batch and then store in airtight containers or in pint size freezer bags. Make sure to remove the air, zip them closed, and lay them flat.

I like to freeze as much as I would typically use in one use. That’s about the size of a can of pumpkin I’d buy at the store. Take one out at a time and allow to thaw out on the countertop, then bake away with it!

What can you make with homemade pumpkin puree?

This is what you can do with it once it is done and ready to use:

1. Pumpkin chocolate bread is amazing
2. Our pumpkin monkey bread is to die for!!
3. Try pumpkin coffee creamer with some pumpkin cookies with cake mix
4. Instant Pot baby food is fun, or this pumpkin crisp or pumpkin pie sheet cake are always a hit.

Cooking Whole Squash in Pressure Cooker

You can make this or air fryer pumpkin if you have a Ninja Foodi too? Follow the same instructions below if you have that pot. We have even made pumpkin angel food cake which is just amazing, and more October Instant Pot recipes here.

How Long to Cook Pumpkin in Pressure Cooker