How to Cook Lentils in the Instant Pot
To cook lentils in the Instant Pot, you’ll simply combine dry lentils and water. Then all you have to do is secure the lid, move the steam release valve to the “sealing” position (don’t forget this, or your pot won’t seal!), and press a button.
What I love about using an electric pressure cooker, is that you don’t have to wait for a pot of water to come to a boil first, and you don’t have to keep an eye on the pot as the lentils cook to perfection. The cooking process is completely hands-off!
Here’s how long different varieties need to cook:
Green lentils: 9 minutes (10 if you want them softer) Brown Lentils: 9 minutes (10 for softer) Black Lentils: 9 minutes Red Lentils: 5 minutes or more (they are mushy regardless)
In each case above, I use a quick release when the cooking time is completed. That means I move the steam release valve to venting to release the pressure as soon as the screen reads LO:OO on my Instant Pot. If you don’t hear the pressure cooker beep when it’s done, it’s okay if you don’t release the pressure right away; the lentils will just be a little softer when you get around to them.
To see a demonstration of the quick release be sure to check out my How To Use Your Instant Pot tutorial, where I show you the 10 things you need to know about your Instant Pot in a quick 3-minute video.
Do Lentils Need to Be Soaked?
Lentils are quick-cooking and do not need to be soaked before you get started. They cook just as fast as my Instant Pot Black Beans, and are even faster than Instant Pot Chickpeas, but since no soaking is required, they are a quick & convenient source of plant-based protein.
How to Serve Lentils
The recipe below will teach you how to cook lentils on their own, so you can use them in a number of different ways as part of your meal prep routine. Below you’ll find some easy ways to serve the pre-cooked lentils.
Toss them with BBQ sauce for a vegetarian sandwich Serve them over a salad for plant-based protein Make this easy Lentil Salad Stir them into a jar of marinara sauce for vegetarian spaghetti Use them to make Vegan Meatloaf
To cook the lentils as part of a complete recipe, here are some easy recipe ideas to help you get started.
Lentil Bolognese Instant Pot Lentil Soup Instant Pot Red Lentil Curry Lentil, Kale & Quinoa Stew Red Lentil Soup Coconut, Lentil & Sweet Potato Curry
I hope this tutorial will help you get more comfortable with using your Instant Pot, and will make you more confident in converting any recipe for your electric pressure cooker, too.
How to Convert a Recipe for the Instant Pot
When I want to make a recipe in my Instant Pot, and don’t have directions for it already, I usually look at the ingredient that will cook the longest, and use that cooking time as a starting point. For example, if I want to make Lentil Bolognese in my Instant Pot, the green lentils will determine the cook time. In that case, I’d cook the lentil-based sauce for 10 minutes under high pressure, so that the lentils are tender. (I always err on the longer side of cooking lentils if they are cooking in a tomato sauce, as the acid in the tomatoes may slow down their cooking process.)
Can You Cook Lentils with Salt?
When cooking lentils in a recipe, I prefer to omit the salt until the lentils are 100% tender, as salt can sometimes interfere with the lentils softening. This is definitely the case when you cook lentils with soy sauce, so don’t add soy sauce to a recipe until after the lentils are tender. In my experience, this happens more often with pressure cooking than with stove top cooking, and it usually happens more often when an acidic ingredient is in the recipe, too, like tomatoes or lemon juice. So, keep that in mind when cooking with lentils, and add the salt at the end if you want to stay on the safe side.
How to Season Lentils
The recipe below will guide you on cooking plain lentils that you can use in any meal or recipe, but if you want to season them at the same time, here’s my favorite combination for a taco-inspired flavor. Per cup of dry lentils:
1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon salt
When the lentils are done cooking, add a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice, and adjust the seasoning as needed to your taste. If you use this seasoning with red lentils, their mushy texture reminds me of refried beans! You can use the Instant Pot’s sauté function if you want to cook some chopped onion and garlic first, then you can add in the lentils and water and cook them together using the timing below.
More Instant Pot Recipes
To get the most out of your Instant Pot, be sure to check out The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook, where I walk you through the recipes step-by-step and teach you how to cook complete meals, all in the same pot. Or check out the other tutorials on my website below.
Instant Pot Quinoa Instant Pot Brown Rice Instant Pot Chicken Breasts Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes Instant Pot Vegan Chili Instant Pot Brownies Instant Pot Frittata Instant Pot Egg Bites
If you try this cooking method, please leave a comment below letting me know how it works for you. And if you try any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too. We can all learn from your experience! – Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite thing to cook in the Instant Pot?
