Steamed asparagus is so easy when using the instant pot. Ready in just a few minutes you will have perfectly tender asparagus every time.
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Steamed asparagus makes a great side dish with almost any meal.
Made in the instant pot it is quick and easy. You don’t need to watch a pot, and it can free up the stove top for other dishes.
Ingredients
There are only two things you need when making instant pot steamed asparagus;
- Fresh asparagus
- Water
However, I always like to sprinkle a bit of coarse sea salt on the asparagus as soon as it comes out of the pot and it is delicious served with a bit of fresh lemon.
If you like spice, you may also enjoy a sprinkle of crushed chilli peppers.
Instructions
Prepare the asparagus
Begin by trimming the asparagus.
I like to do this by keeping one rubber band near the top end of the asparagus and with a sharp chef knife I slice off the bottom inch or two. You are looking to trim the end right where it starts changing from white to green.
After trimming, you can remove the band and give the asparagus a quick wash.
If your asparagus didn’t come bunched with a rubber band you can just line up the ends and hold the stalks in place as you cut.
Cook the asparagus
Place one cup of water into the liner of the instant pot and add the trivet.
Lay the asparagus on the trivet then place the lid on the pot.
Set the vale to seal, set the pressure to low, and set the timer.
When the timer is complete turn the valve to quick release the steam, carefully remove the lid and immediately remove the asparagus.
Pro Tip – If you do not remove the cooked asparagus from the pot immediately the steam in the pot will continue to cook it. It will go from perfect to soft very quickly.
How long to steam instant pot asparagus
Accounting for the time it takes the pot to come to pressure, it will take approximately 10 minutes to steam asparagus.
How long you set the timer for will depend on how thick your asparagus is and how crispy or soft you like it. The times listed below should yield tender asparagus that still has a bit of bite.
| How thick is your asparagus? | Set the timer for: |
| Thin, less than ¼ inch round | 0 Minutes |
| Medium, between ¼ and ½ inch round | 1 Minute |
| Thick, ½ inch round or larger | 2 Minutes |
If the asparagus is not cooked quite enough when the timer completes, simply place the lid back on the pot for a minute or two. The steam in the pot will continue to cook the asparagus without needing to bring it to pressure again.
If you are worried about overcooking the asparagus, reduce the time for medium or thick stalks.
It is important to set the pot to low pressure. High pressure will overcook it.
Serving Suggestions
Asparagus is a versatile vegetable that goes well with almost any meal.
It is a nice side dish with any protein. We love it with air fried pork chops or chicken drumsticks.
You can also use steamed asparagus in other dishes such as salads, pasta or risotto.
If you want to dress it up you can serve it with a suit of fresh lemon, or drizzle it with some garlic butter and sprinkle it with parmesan cheese.
FAQS
This is really a matter of preference. Asparagus is perfectly edible, and delicious, when raw. When steaming asparagus, you will know it’s done when it is tender, but still has a bit of a bite. However, you can heat it just until it’s warm, or cook it until it is quite soft if you prefer.
Cooked asparagus will get quite soft if you try to reheat it. If you do want to try it is best to do so in a skillet. Add a bit of oil and when the skillet is hot, add the asparagus and cook just for 30-60 seconds to warm it.
However, leftover asparagus makes a great addition to omelettes or other dishes. Just chop it up and add it right at the end just to warm it up.
More Instant Pot Recipes
Printable Recipe
Instant Pot Asparagus
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus stalks
- salt and pepper to taste
- lemon wedges optional
Instructions
- Trim the bottom of the asparagus and wash the stalks. You are looking to trim off the bottom 1-2 inches, just where the stalk starts turning from white to green.
- Pour 1 cup of water into the instant pot liner and add the trivet.
- Place the asparagus on the trivet, place the lid on the pot and turn the valve to seal.
- Set the pressure to low and set the timer according to how thick the asparagus stalks are (see notes below)
- When the timer is compete, turn the valve to quick release the pressure, carefully remove the lid and immediatly remove the asparagus.
- Sprinkle with salt & pepper, if desired and serve.
Notes
For medium stalks ¼-1/2 inch - 1 minute
For thick stalks ½ inch or greater - 2 mintues If the asparagus is not tender enough after the timer is complete, simply replace the lid for a minute or two. You don't need to set the pressure again, the heat from the pot will continue to cook it.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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