How To Cook Frozen Peas In An Instant Pot

Quick, delicious, and nutritious frozen peas are a snap (pun intended) in an Instant Pot. They only take a few minutes to cook, and the peas retain their vibrant green color. This simple and delicious side dish pairs with almost any main dish and takes less than five minutes to make! See this recipe below on how to cook frozen peas in an Instant Pot:

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Recipe
• Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
• Step By Step
• Expert Tips
• FAQS
• How To Cook Frozen Peas In An Instant Pot

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Vibrant color - Boiling or steaming frozen peas reduces their brightness, leaving a dull mess on your plate. Cooking the peas under high pressure cooks them fast enough to keep the bright green color that looks great on any plate. 
• The texture - Cooking frozen peas under pressure locks in the moisture so the inside of the peas is juicy and the shell remains slightly crisp.
• Pressure cooking frozen peas helps them retain more nutrients - Faster cooking times are essential when cooking most vegetables. The longer peas cook, the more nutrients are lost in the cooking process. Instant Pot’s rapid cooking time ensures that most nutrients are retained, compared to being boiled or steamed. 
• Peas are an excellent side dish - They pair with most main courses-proteins, rice, salad, etc.
• Peas are healthy - Peas, especially when cooked rapidly, are packed with nutrients and vitamins.

Also read: 5 Best Instant Pot Steamer Basket Options & Why You Need Them

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Frozen peas - There are several brands of frozen peas in the grocery store. Choosing one is a personal choice, but they all are prepared the same way.
• Butter - Butter is optional in this recipe, or you can choose a compound butter. Add herbs or lemon juice to the butter for additional flavor before adding it to the Instant Pot. Lemon adds a tartness that pairs well with the blandness of the peas. 
• Seasoning - Seasoning is optional, but a pinch of salt and pepper is generally used. For more flavor, add garlic powder, onion powder, or even a little paprika during cooking to spice it up.

Step By Step

1. Add water to the Instant Pot. Add at least one cup of water to the Instant Pot to build pressure and cook the frozen peas.
2. Season the frozen peas. Frozen peas can be seasoned with several ingredients or none at all. Adding a bit of citrus, garlic, onion seasoning, and salt and pepper gives the peas a different flavor.
3. Pressure cook the frozen peas. The cooking time varies depending on the model and age of your Instant Pot. I recommend cooking the first batch for 2 minutes. If the peas are not cooked all the way through, continue to cook in 2-minute increments until they are. This will give you the average cooking time. 
4. Use the quick-release steam option. Quickly releasing the steam helps prevent the peas from overcooking and becoming too soft.

Expert Tips

• You can use a steamer basket or an Instant Pot-safe container. This makes removing the peas easier, though I do not use one when I make frozen peas. 
• Use a herb-infused butter for extra flavor.
• You can serve the peas with the liquid or drain them before serving. I drain the liquid so the peas retain a slight crispness.