Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Step by step guide to make the perfect Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash in less than 30 minutes. Spaghetti Squash takes forever to roast in the oven. And that is why, the Instant Pot remains our favorite kitchen gadget ever. Psst..Spaghetti squash is keto-friendly and is a great gluten-free option for noodle-based dishes.

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If I were to choose one vegetable family to eat forever in my life, it will definitely be squash. I have a thing for butternut, zucchini, pumpkin and pretty much any squash. 

What is spaghetti squash?

Spaghetti squash is a winter squash that typically makes an appearance at the market from late September through February. When you cook the squash, the flesh become like thin straps which resemble spaghetti or noodles. That’s why it is called spaghetti squash.

Pressure Cooker Spaghetti Squash

In this post, I will share how I cook this lovely, vibrant squash in an electric pressure cooker. I have an Instant Pot and a Mealthy Multi-pot. I have tried this method in both and it works perfectly every time. You can follow the same method and cook this squash in any electric pressure cooker including the Ninja Foodi.

Ingredients 

All you need for this is a spaghetti squash and water. Apart from this, you will also need-

1. A tall trivet or an egg steamer rack.
2. An Instant Pot or any electric pressure cooker. ( I have used a 6 qt Instant pot here)
3. Fork
4. Colander
5. Melon baller

Shelf life and storage

Leftover cooked spaghetti squash keeps well in the fridge for 3 days. However, please remember to

1. drain the squash completely using a colander. Too much moisture in squash leads to mold and fungus growth.
2. allow the cooked squash to cool down completely before refrigerating. 
3. place the cooked, drained and cooled squash into an air-tight container and refrigerate.

How to freeze spaghetti squash?

Where I live, a spaghetti squash costs as much as an arm and a leg. And I had way too much spaghetti squash after I cooked it. So, obviously, I froze it peeps.

To freeze the cooked squash, follow these steps-

1. Cook the squash by following the instructions in this post.
2. Separate the strands from the shell using a fork.
3. Transfer the cooked squash to a colander.
4. Allow it to cool down completely.
5. Place the colander over a mixing bowl and cover it well.
6. Let this sit in the fridge over night. This step will help remove all the excess moisture from the cooked squash.
7. The next day, divide the strands into smaller portions. I recommend dividing into 2 cups in each portion.
8. Place in freezer-safe bags.
9. Squeeze out all the excess air from the bags. 
10. Label the bags and freeze.

How to use frozen spaghetti squash?

To use frozen squash, thaw at room temperature for an hour. Then use as required in the recipe.

Ways to use spaghetti squash

1. Go classic and add toss them up with some classic Marinara sauce.
2. Or, make some pesto pasta.
3. You can also use this in a casserole.
4. Better yet, toss them into a faux spaghetti Aglio Olio.
5. Swap spaghetti squash for all noodle based dishes. You can begin with this Singapore Noodles!

I made something exciting and so yum with this. Stay tuned for the recipe. That is what is lined up as the next recipe.

Now, here are some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to this recipe. 

Can you cut the squash into two halves before pressure cooking?

If your squash is very big, like mine was, then you can cut it into two before placing it in the electric pressure cooker.

Can we cook whole spaghetti squash without cutting in the Instant pot?

Depending on the size of your squash, this is possible. The squash I used for this post was well over 2 pounds and I could not fit it as a whole in my Instant Pot. So, I had to cut it into halves.

If you can fit the squash comfortably with some free space around it, then you are good to go. Make sure there is at least 1/2 inch gap between your squash and the inner pot. Handling the squash after it cooks will be easier when you do this.

You can only fit a small 2 pound spaghetti squash in the inner pot easily. I do not recommend adding a bigger one if it fits too snugly. 

How to cut a spaghetti squash correctly?

Did you know that the strands in this squash run along the width. So, cut the squash into two along the width rather than the length. This way, you will get longer strands of spaghetti squash. Not to mention that it is also umpteen times easier.

To cut a spaghetti squash,

1. Wear a safety glove, especially if you are doing it for the first time or you are a beginner. Learn from my mistakes 😛
2. Use a sharp small paring knife and holding it firmly with one hand, slice through the middle along the width.
3. Now, scoop out the seeds using a melon baller.

How long to cook spaghetti squash?

Timings differ when you cook the squash after cutting and as a whole. When cooking the spaghetti squash as a whole in the Instant pot, press PRESSURE COOK/ MANUAL mode. Set the timer to 18 minutes on High Pressure and allow the cooking cycle to complete.

Once cooking is done, do a quick pressure release by turning the VENT. Carefully, remove the squash and allow it to cool down a bit before slicing through.

Method

Prep the squash

Wash the squash well and scrub the shell gently to get rid of any dirt. Now, wipe dry. Place on a chopping board. Wear a safety glove and hold the squash with one hand. Using a small and sharp paring knife, slice through the squash along its width. Scoop out the seeds using a melon baller or a spoon.

Instant Pot Setting and Timings

Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup water (246 ml) to the inner pot. Now, place a tall trivet or an egg steaming rack in it. Place the squash halves over the trivet. You can put them whichever way you want. I placed them, cut side up.

Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the lid. Close the lid and turn the VALVE to SEALING. Plug in the Instant Pot. Press PRESSURE COOK ( MANUAL in older models), HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 8 MINUTES.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete fully. It takes around 8 to 10 minutes for the instant pot to come to pressure. So the total time is around 18 minutes for the entire process.

When the cooking cycle is complete, release the pressure quickly by turning the valve to VENTING. While doing a quick pressure release, please exercise caution and keep yourself away from the vent.

Separating the strands

Open the lid and wait for a few minutes before lifting the cooked squash out. Use a pair of tongs to remove the squash from the Instant Pot. Wait for the squash to become cool enough to handle.

Once the squash has cooled down a bit, use a fork and scrape out the flesh. You can see that the squash comes out in long noodles. Transfer this to a colander and allow it to sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before using it in any recipe.

This step is very important because this helps get rid of all the moisture from the steam. That is all. Perfectly cooked spaghetti squash is ready in less than 30 minutes of active cooking time.

Cook spaghetti squash like a pro

with our handy tips and tricks.

1. A 6-quart Instant Pot will fit a squash that is about 8 inches long. My squash was longer than this. So I had to cut it into halves and cook into two batches.
2. A pressure cooker needs water to cook. Don’t forget to add water to the inner pot before cooking.
3. You will get nearly 5 to 6 cups of strands from 2.5 pounds of spaghetti squash.
4. Always undercook your squash if you intend to use it in a recipe that calls for further sautéing or cooking. This way, it wont become mushy. A cook time of 8 minutes on high pressure in the Instant Pot is just perfect for this reason.

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Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

A step by step guide to cooking spaghetti squash perfectly in an electric pressure cooker.

Prep Time4 minutes mins

Cook Time8 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: American

Servings: 5 cups

Calories: 40kcal

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Tall trivet
• Colander
• Fork
• Small and sharp paring knife

Ingredients

• 2.5 pounds whole spaghetti squash sliced into two
• 1 cup water

Instructions

Prep the squash

• Wash the squash well and scrub the outer cover gently to get rid of any dirt.
• Wipe dry. Place on a chopping board.
• Wear a safety glove and hold the squash with one hand.
• Using a small and sharp paring knife, slice through the squash along its width.
• Scoop out the seeds using a melon baller or a spoon.

Instant Pot Setting and Timings

• Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot.
• Add 1 cup water to the inner pot.
• Now, place a tall trivet or an egg steaming rack in it.
• Place the squash halves over the trivet.
• Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the lid.
• Close the lid and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
• Plug in the Instant Pot.
• Press PRESSURE COOK ( MANUAL in older models), HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 8 MINUTES.
• Allow the cooking cycle to complete fully.
• When the cooking cycle is complete, release the pressure quickly by turning the valve to VENTING. Separating the strands
• Open the lid and wait for a few minutes before lifting the cooked squash out.
• Use a pair of tongs to remove the squash from the Instant Pot.
• Wait for the squash to become cool enough to handle.
• Once the squash has cooled down a bit, use a fork and scrape out the flesh.
• Transfer this to a colander and allow it to sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before using it in any recipe.
• This step is very important because this helps get rid of all the moisture from the steam.

Notes

1. A 6-quart Instant Pot will fit a squash that is about 8 inches long. My squash was longer than this. So I had to cut it into halves and cook into two batches.
2. A pressure cooker needs water to cook. Don't forget to add water to the inner pot before cooking.
3. You will get nearly 5 to 6 cups of strands from 2 pounds of spaghetti squash.
4. Always undercook your squash if you intend to use it in a recipe that calls for further sautéing or cooking. This way, it wont become mushy.
5. Nutritional values are given here as a courtesy. Please treat them as a rough guide and do your due diligence before making any changes in your diet. Please consult a certified nutrition/diet expert for more information.
6. Instant Pot settings may differ based on the geographic location.
7. Please refer the blog post to know how to cook whole spaghetti squash without cutting in the Instant Pot.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Calories: 40kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

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