Artichoke season just got easier with Instant Pot Artichokes! They are fast, easy and delicious. Everything you need to know is right here!
These weird and wonderful vegetables are always an exciting part of spring.
Technically they are thistles and they are delicious!
Whether you are lucky enough to find them all year or just in the spring, you can whip up Instant Pot Artichokes in a flash!
And if you aren’t sure how to eat them this tutorial will tell you everything about How to Cook and Eat Artichokes.
It includes a conventional cooking method too.
Jump to:
- Ingredients Needed
- Artichoke Cooking Time in the Instant Pot
- How to Select Perfect Artichokes
- How to Trim an Artichoke
- How Much Water to Use in the Instant Pot?
- How to Make Instant Pot Artichokes – Step-by-Step
- Why do a Quick Release with Instant Pot Artichokes?
- How to Serve the Artichokes
- Dipping Sauces to Eat with Instant Pot Artichokes
- More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love!
- Try these Side Dish Recipes too!
- Recipe
Ingredients Needed
- Globe Artichokes (medium-large size)
- Lemon
- Water
Ingredient Notes
Artichokes
This recipe is for cooking globe artichokes, also called French artichokes or green artichokes.
These are different than Jerusalem Artichokes or sunchokes.
How Many Artichokes Fit in an Instant Pot?
Approximately three medium artichokes will fit in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
If the artichokes are slightly smaller four should fit.
The quantity you can cook at once will be a function of the size of your Instant Pot.
PRO TIP: Do not pack the artichokes into the Instant Pot. Leave some room. Refer to the photos in the step-by-step instruction collage below.
Increasing the amount of artichokes does not change the cooking time.
When are Artichokes in Season?
Though artichokes can be available all year, in the United States the peak season is March-May with a smaller crop in October.
Caring for Artichokes
PRO TIP: Do not wash your artichokes until right before you are ready to prepare them.
To keep them fresh as long as possible, put a little bit of water on the stem then dab it off before storing in the fridge.
Artichoke Cooking Time in the Instant Pot
This recipe is written for medium sized artichokes which take 20 minutes cooking time.
Time to come to pressure will be additional to this time.
Adjust the cooking time accordingly for artichoke size:
- Small artichokes will take approximately 10 minutes
- Larger artichokes will need to cook 30 minutes.
How to Select Perfect Artichokes
- Choose an artichoke that has tightly packed leaves
- Choose an artichoke that feels heavy for its size.
- The artichoke should feel firm and its stem should not easily bend.
- Squeeze the artichoke leaves and listen for a “squeak”
How to Trim an Artichoke
STEP 1: Slice the stem off flush with the bottom of the artichoke.
STEP 2: Cut off the top of the artichoke.
STEP 3: Make a straight cut across the tip of the outer artichoke leaves removing the thorn.
How Much Water to Use in the Instant Pot?
According to Instant Pot, the perfect way to cook artichokes in ANY size Instant Pot requires the following amounts of water:
- The 8 Quart Models need 1.5 cups of liquid.
- The 6 Quart Models need 1 cup of liquid.
- The 3 Quart Models need .75 cups of liquid.
How to Make Instant Pot Artichokes – Step-by-Step
STEP 1: Trim artichokes (photo 1).
STEP 2: Place the trivet (steamer rack) into the Instant Pot insert. Pour in the amount of water called for based on your Instant Pot size. Add lemon pieces to the water (photo 2).
STEP 3: Place artichokes on the trivet, stem side down (photo 3). Seal the lid. Cook on Manual HIGH PRESSURE for 20 minutes.
STEP 4: After cooking completes do a Quick Release. Serve artichokes immediately (photo 4).
Why do a Quick Release with Instant Pot Artichokes?
It keeps the artichokes from getting mushy.
How to Serve Artichokes
Artichokes can be served whole or halved for easier access to the tender inner leaves and the heart.
How to Serve the Artichokes
The artichokes can be served whole or cut in half vertically (stem to tip).
The artichokes must be cooked whole. To serve them halved, cut them after cooking.
Dipping Sauces to Eat with Instant Pot Artichokes
The best dipping sauces are simple. Combining mayonnaise or butter with herbs, garlic and or lemon provide a delicious complement to the delicate artichoke flavor.
Four favorite sauces can be found here: Artichoke Dipping Sauces.
Also this Chipotle Mayo Dipping Sauce is delish.
More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love!
- Instant Pot Carrots with Mint
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Vegetable Beef Soup
- Mexican Green Chile Steak Soup
- Instant Pot Mango Chicken
- Creme Brulee in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Ginger Soy Chicken Drumsticks
Try these Side Dish Recipes too!
- Lemon Garlic Broccoli
- Roasted Potatoes with Lavender
- Irish Colcannon
- Fast and Easy Coleslaw Recipe
Recipe
Instant Pot Artichokes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 medium size Artichokes trimmed
- Water refer to Notes for amounts per Instant Pot size
- 1/2 fresh Lemon cut into 4 pieces
Instructions
Trimming the Artichokes
- Prepare the artichokes for cooking by removing the stem and slicing off the top. Use kitchen scissors to snip off the spikey tip of each leaf.
Cooking the Artichokes
- Place the trivet (steaming rack) into the bottom of the instant pot and pour the required amount of water inside (see NOTES below). Add the lemon pieces to the water.
- Place the trimmed artichokes. stem side down. on the trivet.
- Seal the lid. Move the release valve to the “sealing” position. Cook on Manual HIGH PRESSURE for 20 minutes. Perform a QUICK RELEASE when the cooking cycle has completed.
- Serve immediately. NOTE: the artichokes can be served whole or halved. Serve with favorite dipping sauces.
Video
Notes
- 8 Quart Models need 1.5 cups of liquid
- 6 Quart Models need 1 cup of liquid
- 3 Quart Models need .75 cups of liquid
- Small artichokes will take approximately 10 minutes
- Larger artichokes will need to cook 30 minutes.
Nutrition
Instant Pot Artichokes will become a new favorite way to cook artichokes!
Debra Tinker says
I have been enjoying artichokes for years, but now that I have an instant pot, I really love how I can cook them quicker. I enjoy eating the stem if it’s fresh and I don’t bother to cut the leaf tops off, so I have to cook it a little longer. Time-wise, that seems about the same. My mom always just dipped them in butter, but now that I am “of a certain age,” that’s too much fat for me so I whip the melted butter with an equal amount of fat-free yogurt. It is easy to add any kind of seasoning, too. Another plus for me, this is obviously gluten free and as I have Celiac disease, just seems like another treat I can still eat!
Toni Dash says
Sounds like you’ve got this dialed in Debra! All of our recipes are naturally gluten-free with with a gluten-free version too!
Krissy Allori says
This is great! I never thought to make these in the instant pot but I will now. Thank you so much!
Gina Muller says
I made the instant pot artichokes a couple of nights ago and they turned out perfect! I put 2 medium artichokes in a 6 quart instant pot for 20 minutes. The cook time and liquid suggestions were spot on. They came out perfectly tender but not mushy. I used some homemade mayo and the lemon herb butter sauce for dipping. I am so excited to be able to make them in short order. Thank you Toni!