How Long to Cook Fresh Green Beans in an Instant Pot

I really don’t think I’ll ever make green beans any other way after trying these Instant Pot Green Beans.

In just 15 minutes, your pressure cooker will make green beans that are crisp-tender and go well with any meal.

You can season them however you like. We like to toss them with butter, salt, and raw black pepper.

Cooking fresh green beans in an Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to make a delicious side dish. With the pressurized environment inside the Instant Pot, green beans can cook fully in just a few minutes. But exactly how long should you cook fresh green beans in the Instant Pot to get the texture you want?

Factors That Affect Instant Pot Green Bean Cook Time

There are a few factors that affect how long it takes to cook green beans in an Instant Pot

Size and Freshness of Green Beans – Smaller, tender fresh green beans will cook faster than larger, thicker beans. More mature beans will take longer to become tender Fresh green beans cook faster than frozen beans.
Desired Texture – Do you like your green beans crisp-tender or softer? The cooking time changes based on personal texture preference.
Amount of Beans – The more green beans you add to the Instant Pot, the longer it will take them to cook through A larger batch size increases the cook time
Extra Liquid – Adding extra water or broth to the Instant Pot increases the volume and extends the time needed to pressurize the pot. More liquid = longer cook time.
Altitude – Recipes are written for sea level. At higher altitudes, you may need to add 5-15% to the cook time.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can adjust the green bean cook time as needed in your Instant Pot.

How to Cook Fresh Green Beans in an Instant Pot

Cooking green beans in the Instant Pot is simple:

Rinse 1 pound fresh green beans and trim the ends.
Add 1 cup water to the Instant Pot inner pot.
Place a steamer basket in the pot and add the green beans.
Lock the lid and turn the steam release valve to sealing.
Select High Pressure and set the cook time, adjusting to your preferred doneness.
When cooking is complete, quick release the pressure.
Remove the lid, drain any excess water, and serve!

Recommended Instant Pot Green Bean Cook Times

Here are some general guidelines for how long to cook green beans in the Instant Pot based on the texture you want:

For crisp-tender green beans: 0-1 minutes
For tender, bright green beans: 1-2 minutes
For thoroughly cooked, soft beans: 3-5 minutes

Keep in mind that cook times may need to be increased slightly if you’re cooking a large batch of beans or starting with frozen beans. Always quick release the pressure as soon as the green beans are done cooking to prevent overcooking.

If you are new to the Instant Pot, a cook time of 0-1 minute is a safe starting point for achieving crisp-tender beans. The pot will take 10-15 minutes to fully pressurize before the cook time even begins, and the green beans will partially steam during this time. Releasing the pressure immediately after 1 minute prevents the beans from becoming mushy.

Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Green Beans

Here are some helpful tips to ensure your fresh green beans turn out great when cooking them in the Instant Pot:

For the most even cooking, try to use green beans that are similar in size.
Cut off any very large, thick ends which may remain tough and take longer to cook.
Rinse the beans well to remove any grit before cooking.
Always use a quick pressure release method as soon as the cook time ends.
If the beans are underdone, you can put the lid back on and cook for an extra minute.
Frozen green beans may take 1-2 minutes longer than fresh to reach the tender stage.
Add seasonings like garlic, lemon, or spices to the cooking water for extra flavor.
Toss cooked green beans with butter, salt, and pepper for a simple side dish.

More Instant Pot Green Bean Recipe Ideas

Once you get the basic Instant Pot green bean cooking time down, you can start experimenting with all kinds of delicious seasoned green bean recipes. Try these tasty options:

Lemon Garlic Green Beans – Toss cooked green beans with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.
Green Beans with Bacon – Add chopped bacon to the pot while pressurizing for smoky flavor.
Green Bean Casserole – Make this comfort food classic easier by cooking the green beans in the Instant Pot first.
Green Beans Amandine – Top green beans with toasted almonds or pecans and brown butter sauce.
Cheesy Green Bean Casserole – Mix Instant Pot green beans with cheese sauce and crispy fried onions.
Green Bean Salad – Chill cooked green beans and toss with vinaigrette dressing for a fresh salad.

With just a little trial and error, you’ll soon find the perfect Instant Pot green bean cook time to suit your preference. In less than 10 minutes, you can have an easy, healthy side ready to complement any meal. Start with 1-2 minutes cook time for crisp-tender beans and adjust the time as needed for your taste.