HUB 01 · Multicookers
How to Cook Lentils in an Instant Pot
Lentils are one of the best cheap, fast, hands-off things a pressure cooker makes, and they need no soaking. The only variables are the type - firm green and brown hold their shape, red ones collapse into a puree - and how much water you use. Here is the timing and ratio for both.
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No soaking, and the type decides everything
Unlike dried beans, lentils need no soaking— rinse and cook. What decides the result is the variety: firm green and brownlentils hold their shape, which is what you want for a salad, a side, or a lentil “meatloaf”; softer red and yellow lentils break down into a smooth puree, perfect for dal, soup or a thickener. Pick the lentil for the dish first, and the method follows. Lentils sit naturally alongside dried beans and soupin the pot's repertoire.
Firm lentils: green and brown
Rinse the lentils and pick out any stones. Use about 1 cup lentils to 2 cups water or broth for firm, separate lentils, lock the lid, and pressure cook on high for about 8–10 minutes (8 for just-tender with a little bite, 10 for fully soft-but-intact), then let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes. Broth instead of water, plus a bay leaf, garlic and a splash of olive oil, turns them from filler into a dish. These are the lentils for a grain bowl or a cold lentil salad.
Soft lentils: red and yellow (dal)
Red and yellow lentils cook faster and are meant to fall apart. Use more liquid — about 1 cup lentils to 3 cups water or brothfor a dal or soup consistency — and pressure cook for around 6 minuteswith a natural release. They will be soft and creamy; whisk or stir to smooth them out, and simmer on Sauté for a minute if you want them thicker. This is the base for a fast weeknight dal — bloom your spices on Sauté first, then add the lentils and liquid.
Two rules: liquid and salt
First, respect the minimum liquid — lentils are thirsty and starchy, so a full 2–3 cups both cooks them and keeps the pot from scorching. Second, a classic bit of legume lore: salt and acid go in at the end. Adding salt, tomatoes, vinegar or lemon before cooking can keep lentils (especially green and brown) firm and slightly crunchy no matter how long they cook, so season after they are tender. If a batch ever comes out too firm, it just needs a few more minutes under pressure — check the cooking-times reference for where lentils sit among the legumes.
The hardware
The cookers this page is about
The cookers referred to above, with prices pulled live from Amazon and dated on every card. Full rankings live in the roundups linked from this page.
1,000 W
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart
The multicooker that made the category, and still the right default. Instant Brands publishes the wattage, the working pressure range and a stainless (not nonstick) inner pot, which is more than most of the field manages — and it costs less than almost all of them.
700 W
Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1, 3 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
The Duo shrunk to 3 quarts. It is the right size for one or two people, for a dorm or an RV, or as a second pot for a side dish while the big one does the main. The same 7-in-1 function set, the same stainless pot, in a footprint that actually fits a small kitchen.
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Questions
Frequently asked
How long do lentils take in an Instant Pot?
Do you need to soak lentils before cooking?
Why are my lentils still hard?
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