How to Cook Pasta in an Instant Pot

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 12, 2020 References

Everybody loves pasta, but nobody loves having to use half the pots and pans in the kitchen to get it ready. With an Instant Pot, all you need is a single piece of cookware and about 10 minutes. Just throw your pasta and sauce of choice into the Instant Pot, along with 3½-4 cups (0.83-0.95 l) of water. Secure the lid and set the manual timer to 4-8 minutes. Once the pot beeps, release the pressure valve and give everything a good stir. You’ll have dinner on the table in less time than it takes to boil a pot of water!

Ingredients

12-16oz (340-453 g) uncooked pasta
24oz (0.7 l) pasta sauce
3½-4 cups (0.83-0.95 l) water
Additional ingredients of choice
Dried seasonings (to taste)

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Adding Your Ingredients

1
Pour the uncooked pasta into your Instant Pot. With an Instant Pot, there’s no need to do a lot of measuring—just open a 12-16 ounce (340-453 g) box of your favorite pasta and dump the whole thing in. You can use any kind of pasta in your Instant Pot, but thicker types with uniform shapes such as penne, ziti, and macaroni tend to produce the best results.^{[1]
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- Thinner varieties of pasta like spaghetti and angel hair may be prone to clumping.^{[2]
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- Because of how fast food cooks in the Instant Pot, it will generally be easiest to prepare all of your pasta at once and refrigerate what you don’t use.
2
Add your sauce of choice. Open a 24-ounce (0.7 l) jar of sauce and spread it out evenly over the top of the pasta. You can use as much or as little sauce as you like to suit your personal taste. Keep in mind that the sauce will provide some of the moisture necessary to cook your pasta, so be ready to adjust the amount of water you use accordingly.^{[3]
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- If you’ve chosen a thinner sauce, you may not need to include quite as much water. With rich sauces like vodka and alfredo, plan on using the normal amount.
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3
Shake in seasonings to taste. At this point, you can drop in a pinch of salt, garlic, oregano, basil, or any other herbs and spices you think will make your dinner even more scrumptious. Choose seasonings that complement the flavors of the dish you’re preparing.
- If you’re not sure exactly how much seasoning to use, start with a conservative amount (around ½ teaspoon or so) of each and add more later as needed.
4
Pour in enough water to cover your ingredients. In most cases, 3½-4 (0.83-0.95 l) cups will be just the right amount for roughly 1 pound (450 g) of pasta. The important thing is that the pasta be covered entirely. If there’s not enough moisture in the pot, there’s a chance it could come out undercooked.^{[4]
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- A good rule of thumb is to use about 1 cup (240 ml) of water for every 4 ounces (113 g) of pasta.^{[5]
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- You can always drain the excess moisture later if the pasta ends up being a little too wet.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Cooking the Pasta

1
Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Place the lid on the pot, then turn it clockwise until it locks securely. Double check that the small round pressure release valve on the lid of the cooker is completely closed before you proceed.^{[6]
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- Make sure your Instant Pot is plugged into the nearest wall outlet. You won't get very far with dinner if it's not!
- The pressure release valve is responsible for trapping or venting heat, depending on its position. If it’s open, your pasta won’t be able to cook properly.^{[7]
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2
Select the "Pressure Cook" mode. Make sure the Instant Pot’s pressure setting is programmed to “High.” This will help ensure that your pasta comes out with just the right texture.^{[8]
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- The Instant Pot uses a combination of heat and pressure to cook food items in far less time than it takes to prepare them using conventional cookware.
3
Set the timer for 4-8 minutes. Manually select your preferred cook time by pressing the "+" button repeatedly until you see the desired number of minutes on the display. It will take a couple minutes for the Instant Pot to heat up. Once it reaches the necessary pressure, a timer will appear on and begin counting down.
- If you’re preparing a simple pasta-and-sauce dish, 4-5 minutes ought to be plenty of time to heat everything evenly. For heavier dishes with lots of ingredients like meats and veggies, you may need closer to 8 minutes.^{[9]
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4
Let the pasta to cook for the specified time. Finish putting the other components of your meal together, or take this opportunity to kick your feet up for a well-deserved break. You won’t have to wait long—by the time you’re done setting the table, dinner will be ready!
- Avoid tampering with either the lid or pressure valve while the Instant Pot is working its magic.
- The Instant Pot will shut itself off automatically when it’s done cooking. You’ll know when this happens because it will beep.^{[10]
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5
Release the pressure valve. Locate the circular valve stem on the top of the lid and use the edge of your finger to slowly turn it counterclockwise until it stops moving. This will allow the steam that has built up inside the pot to escape. Be sure to stay a safe distance away from the valve while it’s open.^{[11]
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- If you’re apprehensive about handling the valve, place a potholder or folded towel over it to protect your hand from the heat.^{[12]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Draining and Serving the Pasta

1
Remove the lid from the Instant Pot. To unlock the cooker, take hold of the handle and turn the lid counterclockwise. Lift it away carefully—the contents will be very hot. Set the lid aside on a flat heat-resistant surface.
- The handle of the lid is made from a thick plastic material, which means it's safe to grab without a potholder.
2
Drain any excess liquid. If you accidentally added a little too much water, your pasta may look a little soupy around the edges. Transfer the contents of the Instant Pot to a large serving bowl and tilt it gently over the sink to allow the liquid to run out. Another option is to scoop the cooked pasta out of the Instant Pot with a slotted spoon. That way, the unwanted liquid will stay behind in the pot.^{[13]
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- A little extra moisture shouldn’t affect the flavor or texture of the dish.
- Play around with slightly different measurements until you get them just right. Don’t forget to write down your preferred proportions so your favorite dishes will turn out more consistent in the future.
3
Stir the pasta thoroughly. Mix the layered ingredients together until they’re evenly distributed. Stir from the bottom to loosen ingredients that might have become stuck, and use the edge of your spoon to break up any remaining clumps of pasta.^{[14]
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- If the pasta itself looks undercooked or overly thick, give it 1-2 minutes of extra cook time.
- A good stir will also help incorporate trace amounts of liquid sitting at the bottom of the pot.
4
Enjoy your pasta while it's hot. Sprinkle on some freshly-grated parmesan cheese and slice a loaf of crusty garlic bread to round out the meal. For a lighter touch, try pairing your pasta creations with a mixed green salad or vegetable medley. You'll be able to put together any number of satisfying side dishes with the time you save!
- Store any leftovers you have in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for 3 to 5 days.^{[15]
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Warnings

Don’t handle, lean over, or stand too close to your Instant Pot while it’s cooking. This is a good way to get burned!

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