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    Home » Instant Pot

    How to Pressure Cook a Whole Swede or Rutabaga

    Published: Jan 6, 2022 · Modified: Oct 7, 2023 by Maria Bravo · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    If, like me, you struggle to peel, slice and dice Swede, you're going to love finding out how to pressure cook a whole Swede or Rutabaga.

    Whole Swede or Rutabaga (uncooked) on a white textured surface, in front of an Instant Pot Duo

    Swede, Rutabaga, Turnip (it's not), Neeps... whatever you call this root vegetable, it can be difficult to peel, slice and dice.

    More so if, like me, you struggle with your hands and/or are fairly clumsy (I qualify for both, making me a walking and peeling disaster).

    This is basically the pressure cooker / Instant Pot version of the Singing Swede, which is done in the microwave.

    I'm calling it the Steamy Swede after doing a quick poll over on Facebook and Instagram to find a name for it. Tons of you voted to call this pressure cooker hack the Steamy Swede.

    With more of us going without our microwaves to make space for more versatile appliances,

    Like an electric multicooker like the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi, or an Air Fryer or a Thermomix or Magimix Cook Expert.

    This trick to pressure cook a whole swede to make it easier to peel, slice and dice, was inspired by the Whole Butternut Squash Hack.

    You can also do the same with a Whole Pumpkin.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions to pressure cook a whole swede / rutabaga
    • Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    You need two ingredients:

    • A whole, uncooked swede / rutabaga
    • Water
    Instant Pot Duo seen from above, with a whole uncooked swede on the top left and the trivet or steamer rack on the bottom left. Against a white background

    See recipe card for exact quantities.

    Instructions to pressure cook a whole swede / rutabaga

    Add water to the inner pot.

    Adding water to the stainless steel inner pot of the Instant Pot Duo. The swede is on the top left of the picture and the trivet / steamer rack on the bottom left

    Place the trivet / steamer rack in place.

    trivet / steamer rack shown in place in the stainless steel inner pot of the Instant Pot Duo, seen from above

    Place the swede (rutabaga) on the trivet / steamer rack.

    Whole uncooked swede seen from above resting on the trivet / steamer rack inside the stainless steel inner pot of the Instant Pot Duo, against a white background

    Pressure cook

    See the recipe card below for all details and timings.

    Whole swede right after pressure cooking, seen from above resting on the trivet / steamer rack inside the stainless steel inner pot of the Instant Pot Duo, against a white background

    Enjoy how lovely it is to peel, dice and slice.

    Swede being easily peeled with an OXO Good Grips y peeler, seen from above

    Hint: Keep an eye out for my super easy Pressure Cooker Carrot and Swede Mash.

    Substitutions

    Curious if this trick will work with other root vegetables to make it easier to peel?

    Yes, it will, from butternut squash to pumpkin!

    Join my Pressure Cooking UK with Feisty Tapas Facebook group

    Equipment

    This recipe will work great in your stove-top or electric pressure cooker. I tend to use whichever Instant Pot is free at the time or the Ninja Foodi.

    You could also use the Manual setting in the Tefal Cook4Me (I have the Tefal Cook4Me Touch Wifi, which is great), as it doesn't come with a trivet or steamer rack, you can use the steamer basket it comes with.

    Storage

    Use within 2-3 days.

    Slice or dice and portion up for the freezer for soups and stews.

    Top tip

    Choose a swede with smooth skin if you can. The smaller the swede, the sweeter the flavour will be (I have already thought of all the jokes you're thinking!).

    📖 Recipe

    Photo of a Whole Swede or Rutabaga (uncooked) on a white textured surface, in front of an Instant Pot Duo

    How to Pressure Cook a Whole Swede or Rutabaga

    A great way of making swede or rutabaga easier to peel, slice and dice before cooking further
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Recipe Saved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 22 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine British

    Equipment

    • 1 Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 whole swede / rutabaga / turnip / neep do not peel. The swede in the photos was 610 g
    • 250 ml water

    Instructions
     

    • 250 ml water in the inner pot
    • Place trivet / steamer rack in the inner pot.
    • Place whole, unpeeled, swede on the trivet / steamer rack.
    • Check that the sealing ring is in place properly. Lid on.
    • Programme 10 minutes (if your swede is rather large, you may want to increase the time).
    • At the end of pressure cooking time, do a quick pressure release (this means venting the steam trapped inside manually).
    • Slice and dice for other dishes. Like this fantastic Carrot and Swede / Rutabaga Mash.

    Notes

    You can pressure cook more than one swede at a time if you can fit them in, same timings.
    Keyword Mash, swede, vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @feistytapas or tag #feistytapas!
    Share on Facebook

    Food safety

    A few tips from me:

    • Always wash your hands straight after touching raw meat
    • Same with your knives, boards and utensils, use separate ones for raw meat and wash them well before using for anything else
    • Don't leave food at room temperature for extended periods, always cool down quickly and chill or freeze as soon as you can
    • Always chill left over rice as soon as you can and always within half an hour.

    See more guidelines at food.gov.uk.

    71

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      How to steam in an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

    About Maria Bravo

    Kitchen Gadget Geek extraordinaire. Tester of all things kitchen appliance. Clumsy cook, if I can't break it and get the most of it, you know that's a good kitchen gadget! Architect of online communities for kitchen gadget lovers

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Hazel says

      January 06, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      5 stars
      Oh fab Maria. I can't believe this didn't occur to me as I already use your Squash trick! This will be so much easier than peeling a swede and chopping it small. Thank you

      Reply
    2. John says

      November 19, 2022 at 11:02 am

      Wow. I love suede, but hate cooking it. Never thought of the pressure cooker!! Absolutely brilliant idea. Just prepared my first suede effortlessly!! Thank you

      Reply
      • Maria says

        December 08, 2022 at 12:56 pm

        So glad to hear it John!

        Reply
    3. Janet L Durance says

      December 10, 2022 at 8:16 pm

      Love rutabaga. Never peel. Eat the skin. Trying this out first time. Thanks for your help

      Reply
    4. Bindi says

      March 31, 2024 at 1:05 pm

      5 stars
      I adore swede. I also struggle to hold, peel and chop it up and trying to find diced swede in the shop is like trying to find unicorn poop. So this was a fab find. Now I can cook a whole one, so much easier for my poor hands.

      Reply

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