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    Home > Recipes > Instant Pot

    How to Steam a Whole Head of Cauliflower in the Instant Pot

    Published: Oct 22, 2019 · Modified: Mar 15, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 7 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    1.9K shares
    steam a whole head of cauliflower
    steam a whole head of cauliflower
    steamed cauliflower on a wooden tray
    how to cook cauliflower in the instant pot

    steamed cauliflower on a wooden tray

    A whole head of steamed cauliflower is great for slicing into cauliflower steaks, chopping into florets, or drizzling with sauce for a beautiful vegetarian dish. It’s easy and just takes a few minutes to steam it in the Instant Pot / pressure cooker. 

    Cauliflower is really having its 15 minutes of fame. Cauliflower rice, cauliflower gnocchi…this vegetable is being transformed into all sorts of things. Frank and I were served a whole head of cauliflower in a rich butter sauce two years ago in Paris that inspired this Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce. (That recipe was the most popular thing I shared on Instagram all of last year!) 

    How to Make Steamed Cauliflower

    The easiest way to get steamed cauliflower that also insures it is tender all the way through to the center, is to steam it in the Instant Pot / pressure cooker. Here’s how to do it.

    Step 1: Rinse and Remove Leaves 

    Rinse the cauliflower and peel off the outer leaves from the head of cauliflower. (Note: This is optional. If you want to leave a few or all of the leaves intact, you can, just make sure to peel them back and rinse well since dirt can hide behind the leaves.)

    Step 2: Add Cauliflower to Instant Pot Rack with Water 

    Pour water in the bowl of the slow cooker. Place head of cauliflower on the trivet that came with the Instant Pot (or in a steamer basket), stem-side down. Lower it into the Instant Pot. 

    an uncooked head of cauliflower on a trivet for the instant pot

    Step 3: Steam for 1 Minute

    Use the “Steam” button on the Instant Pot set for 1 minute to cook the cauliflower. When done, quick release the pressure.

    making steamed cauliflower in the instant pot

    Step 4: Cool and Use

    Remove the head of cauliflower and let it cool slightly. Then serve it however you’d like. Keep it whole, slice into “steaks”, or remove the florets. If you want to use the florets individually, you can just use your hands or a small knife to pop them off, leaving the core in place. Add some sauce or just toss the florets with some salt and pepper.

    Ways to Use Steamed Cauliflower

    • Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce - I mentioned it above, but this fun recipe for a whole head of cauliflower in delicious sauce is worth mentioning again. 
    • Warm Cauliflower and Herbed Barley Salad - The steamed cauliflower can be added right into this warm salad with beans, barley, and fresh herbs. 
    • Cauliflower Fried Rice - Pulse the cooked rice in a food processor and then use it to make fried rice. (The rice will need even less cook time than mentioned in the recipe since it’s steamed first.)

    Favorite Tools

    • 6 Quart Instant Pot Duo - Most heads of cauliflower will fit right inside of the 6 quart slow cooker. If you have a particularly large head of cauliflower, slice it in half down the middle to make it fit or just trim the edges of the sides. 
    Print Recipe
    4.28 from 18 votes

    How to Steam a Whole Head of Cauliflower in the Instant Pot

    A whole head of steamed cauliflower is great for serving whole, slicing into cauliflower steaks, or chopping and using in other recipes. It’s easy and just takes a few minutes to steam it in the Instant Pot / pressure cooker.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time1 min
    Total Time6 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Keyword: easy side dish, instant pot
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 36kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $2.75

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
    • Pressure Cooker Trivet

    Ingredients

    • 1 head Cauliflower (16 to 22 oz)
    • 2 cups Water

    Instructions

    • Rinse the cauliflower and peel off the outer leaves from the head of cauliflower. (Note: This is optional. If you want to leave a few or all of the leaves intact, you can, just make sure to peel them back and rinse well since dirt can hide behind the leaves.)
    • Pour 2 cups water in the bowl of the Instant Pot.
    • Place head of cauliflower on the trivet that came with the Instant Pot (or a steamer basket) stem-side down. Lower it into the Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid.
    • Use the “Steam” button on the Instant Pot set for 1 minute to cook the cauliflower.
    • When done, immediately quick release the pressure.
    • Remove the head of cauliflower and let it cool slightly.
    • Serve the cauliflower however you’d like. Keep it whole, slice into “steaks” or remove the florets. If you want to use the florets individually, you can just use your hands or a small knife to remove them, leaving the core in place.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 69mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

     

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

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    Cauliflower Piccata with Lemon Caper Sauce »
    1.9K shares

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda Stubbs

      November 15, 2019 at 5:37 am

      5 stars
      Hi Jess
      I have to say that although I have cooked veg in my Instant Pot before, it's never occurred to me to cook a whole cauliflower. I tend to cook double quantities for my husband and myself and create a home made ready meal for another day and I think this would be a very useful way to add veg quickly. It's usually cheaper to get a full cauliflower than a bag of frozen so I'm definitely going to try this. Thank you.

      Reply
    2. mari

      April 14, 2021 at 8:07 pm

      5 stars
      Easy fast and incredibly tasty! My whole family enjoyed it!

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        April 22, 2021 at 8:52 am

        That's great - I'm so glad!

        Reply
    3. Noreen Gamble

      September 08, 2021 at 6:30 pm

      5 stars
      I myself never thought about steaming the whole head! Perfect to use for so many things.
      Thank you!
      Noreen

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        September 09, 2021 at 9:11 am

        So glad you found it helpful! Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Marty

      September 28, 2021 at 3:48 pm

      4 stars
      Hi and thank you for the recipe. Learning to cook lots of things in our instant pot. The recipe produced somewhat crisp cauliflower. We ended up cooking it one more minute and it was softer.

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        September 29, 2021 at 3:04 pm

        The Instant Pot is a game changer! Glad you enjoyed the cauliflower.

        Reply

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