The easiest homemade pumpkin puree made in your pressure cooker (Instant Pot). Minimal effort and just the good stuff is needed for this simple and mostly hands-off recipe. Homemade pumpkin puree is thick, creamy, fluffy and sweet. It will transform all your pumpkin recipes this fall!
Pressure cooker homemade pumpkin puree is actually life changing. Once you try it you will never go back to canned. It is completely different than canned in every way. Canned pumpkin can sometimes have a watery texture and bitter taste, whereas homemade pumpkin puree is thick, creamy and slightly sweet. The homemade version also has more pumpkin flavor and a vibrant yellow-orange color which clearly indicates how fresh it is. Just look at the difference. In the picture below, homemade pumpkin puree is on the left and canned is on the right.
It makes me wonder what they are even putting in/doing to the canned stuff.
All you need for pressure cooker homemade pumpkin puree:
- 1 sugar pumpkin (also known as a pie pumpkin)
- 1 cup water (for the pressure cooker)
That's it! Really! No oil. No salt. Nada!
How to make Pressure Cooker Homemade Pumpkin Puree:
It all starts with a sugar pumpkin, also known as a pie pumpkin (not an ornamental pumpkin or a jumbo carving pumpkin). A sugar or pie pumpkin usually weights 2.75-3 pounds.
With this easy Instant Pot/pressure cooker method all you do is put the pumpkin in your Instant Pot as is.
I use the steamer basket and add 1 cup of water then cook it on manual high pressure for 27 minutes.
I then immediately manually release the steam and remove the lid.
Once it is cool enough to touch you can easily slice it in half and peel away the stem and skin.
The seeds come right out and you are left with beautiful golden pumpkin flesh that is ready to go into the blender to be turned into yummy homemade pumpkin puree.
Alternatively, once the pumpkin is cool enough to handle you can remove it from the Instant Pot and cut it in half (before peeling off the skin - either works). The knife should slide through it like butter. If not, return to the Instant Pot with water for a couple more minutes.
The seeds can be easily scooped out with a fork or spoon. And you should be able to easily peel away the skin leaving just the pumpkin flesh.
Below is a picture of the pumpkin flesh in the blender before it is pureed.
And here is what it looks like after the pumpkin flesh has been pureed in the blender.
I have found 27 minutes is the perfect length where it won't be overcooked and start to develop too strong of a flavor. And, it won't be undercooked where it won't blend easily into creamy puree. In my blender, I don't add any water. I just put the blender on low speed and scrape down the sides as needed. Sometimes I use a tamper/plunger to push the pumpkin flesh into the blades to help get it going. Within a minute or so you will have the freshest, sweetest pumpkin puree for all your pumpkin cooking needs!
What are the health benefits of pumpkin?
Pumpkins offer so many disease-fighting nutrients and overall health benefits. They are packed with antioxidants known as carotenoids that can protect cells from free radical damage. They also offer fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, folate, potassium and vitamins A, C, E and K.
Now, Let’s Make This Pressure Cooker Homemade Pumpkin Puree Happen!
I admit that I was always skeptical about the process of making homemade pumpkin puree and I assumed it would be difficult and time consuming to make. But in all actuality, pressure cooking a pumpkin doesn’t take much effort at all. And it is most definitely worth it. I cannot wait for you all to give this method a try. Let's get pressure cooking!
Vegan and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Recipes:
Both savory and sweet... and all refined sugar-free!
Homemade Pumpkin Puree (oven method)
Pumpkin Chocolate Swirl Muffins
See my full pumpkin recipe round up here!
Pressure Cooker Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- Total Time: 27 mins
- Yield: 3.5 cups 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
The easiest homemade pumpkin puree made in your pressure cooker (Instant Pot). Minimal effort and just the good stuff is needed for this simple and mostly hands off recipe. Homemade pumpkin puree is thick, creamy, fluffy and sweet. It will transform all your pumpkin recipes this fall!
Ingredients
- 1, 2.5-3 pound sugar pumpkin (also known as a pie pumpkin)
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Wash the skin of the pumpkin and place in your pressure cooker on the steamer basket of your Instant Pot. Add one cup of water and secure the lid ensuring the valve is sealed and not venting. Cook on manual high pressure for 27 minutes. As soon as it finishes cooking press the “Off” button and manually release the steam. Remove the lid and allow the pumpkin to start to cool to room temperature. Once it is cool enough to handle remove the pumpkin from the pressure cooker and onto a cutting board.
- Cut the pumpkin in half lengthwise. Once cool enough, remove the seeds and skin. Transfer the remaining pumpkin flesh into a high speed blender. Start to blend on low speed and increase the speed slowly. You may need to scrape down the sides or use a tamper or plunger to push the pumpkin into the blades. If you are having difficulty add 1 tablespoon of filtered water.
- Once fully pureed, transfer to a glass storage container with an airtight lid and place in your refrigerator for up to one week. This recipe yields 3.5 cups of pumpkin puree (from a 2.75 lb. pumpkin).
Notes
- Cook time does not account for the time it takes for the pressure cooker to come to pressure.
- I have tested this recipe out in my 6-quart Instant Pot.
- If you do not have a pressure cooker, see my method for how to make pumpkin puree in the oven.
- Cook Time: 27 mins
- Method: Instant Pot and Blender
Keywords: pressure cooker homemade pumpkin puree
Mandie says
I was so close to just buying canned pumpkin purée for your Pumpkin Curry recipe.. but I’m glad I gave this a try! It was so simple I had no idea. Plus it tastes way better. My dog and I both licked it from the spoon ? I will let you know how the curry turns out this weekend!
Elaine Gordon says
Haha aw yay! It makes me soooo happy to hear that! It really is so easy... and the curry is so delicious! I cannot wait to hear what you think!
Hannah says
So easy and genius recipe. Perfect!
Elaine Gordon says
Aw thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that!
Marie says
It's so quick and perfect! Especially when you receive them in your weekly veggie box and don't know what to do!
Elaine Gordon says
Aw thank you so much, Marie! Yes, I agree!
Dyanne says
Making pumpkin puree always seems intimidating to me but this could not have been any easier! I dont know how I can go back to using canned pumpkin after this!
Elaine Gordon says
So happy to hear this, Dyanne! Thank you! I agree, once you try homemade it is impossible to go back to canned!
Tina says
THANK YOU for this! It turned out so beautifully - agree with others I just can’t go back to canned.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Tina! I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it and agree! 🙂 Best, Elaine
Kelsey says
Love this recipe and it tastes wonderful! I’m in MN and pumpkins are seasonal. Have you tried jarring this and then freezing to make it last longer?
Elaine Gordon says
Hi Kelsey: Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it. I have not tried canning the pumpkin but yes you can freeze it in an airtight container to save for another time of year. It should last at least 4 months if not longer in the freezer. After that you can look for normal signs of spoilage. I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any follow up questions. Best, Elaine