How to Cook One Pound of Lentils in an Instant Pot

Finally, the answer you’ve been searching for — at least it’s what I was looking for (and others were too, according to Google auto-complete) and NOT finding. How to cook one pound of dry lentils in an Instant Pot. Because lentils seem to be sold in 1 pound bags… and because so many of us like to prepare them ahead. My favorite lentil recipes are cooked then cooled – so they’re great for both the benefits of resistant starch, but also as make-aheads. And what good is it to make ahead 1 cup of lentils? That’s not even worth cleaning the Instant Pot for afterwards. Seriously.

About Lentils…

As you likely already know, different types of lentils cook differently and require different amounts of water. While I love red lentils on occasion (they do not have their husks), they are not the ones we’re cooking here. This recipe strategy is for lentils which still have an intact husk – green lentils, French lentils, black beluga lentils, etc. I’m not sure what it would do to red lentils, but I’m afraid it would turn them into complete mush.

While this is a recipe, it really is a starting point, so please understand that you will want to adjust the cooking time, pressure release time and water to suit the type of lentils you’re cooking and your own personal tastes. None of these numbers – amounts of lentils, water, or TIME are carved in stone. They’re to be thought of as a starting point. You might also notice that I’ve labeled this as a recipe for a “prepared ingredient”. I like to use them in cold salads and they’re even just tasty tossed with a vinaigrette.

Instant Pot Lentils Cheat Sheet

Actual Recipe: 1lb of Plain Lentils in an Instant Pot

RECIPE

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5 from 1 vote

Basic Recipe for 1lb of Lentils in an Instant Pot (Plain)

A starting point for cooking green, black, French, beluga, etc. lentils in an Instant Pot by the pound. No seasonings, just the approximate amounts of lentils, water, and time.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time7 minutes mins

Time before releasing the pressure (AKA "natural release")15 minutes mins

Total Time32 minutes mins

Course: prepared ingredient, Side Dish

Cuisine: High Protein, Meal Prep Friendly

Keyword: basic recipe, Instant Pot, lentils

Servings: 8 Servings

Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients

• 1 lb Lentils This recipe is only for lentils with the hull intact: green, brown, black, French, beluga, etc. lentils. Red lentils do not have a hull and will likely be overcooked.
• 4-4.5 cups Water An approximate starting point, adjust to your wishes as you experiment.

Instructions

• Carefully sort and rinse lentils to check for any small bits of debris or even tiny stones. (Yes, I've seen that before! YIKES!)
• Drain the lentils and place them in the instant pot
• Add water, be sure that the lentils are covered.
• Set the Instant Pot for 7 minutes in manual mode. Again, this is my preference, if you want them more mushy, cook for 8-9 minutes. If you like them crunchy (!!) then 6 minutes might do for you. Again, your mileage may vary, but experimenting with this is time well spent.
• You might see "natural pressure release" written in other recipes online. All this means is to leave the Instant Pot alone for a set period of time before opening the pressure value to release whatever remaining pressure there may be. After about 15 minutes there likely won't be much if any, but still always open the valve away from people and keep your hands, face, etc. clear. After you have opened the valve and there's no sounds, steam, etc. coming out, carefully open the Instant Pot lid - again away from you just in case.
• Give them a quick stir, if you cook them like I do,the tip top layer will be a little crunchy. Let them sit a few minutes and assess if you like the results. Make notes for next time if they're a bit mushy. If they're too crunchy, put the lid back on and let them hang out in there a little longer.
• At this point you may want to add some seasonings - I love them with just mineral salt, pepper, and a splash of olive oil and vinegar. You can also let them cool a bit before dishing into meal prep containers or your preferred containers for refrigerated food storage.

Have you been searching for this info? Or do you have a favorite way to prepare lentils? Let me know in the comments!