Easiest way to cook spaghetti squash with Instant Pot

If you are like me, you love spaghetti squash but you hate the process of getting the “meat” out.  You’d cook this nutritious, very versatile vegetable (I think it’s technically a fruit!) more often only if you can find an easier way to get to the meat.  Well, look no further.  If you have an Instant Pot, here is the easiest and quickest way to cook spaghetti squash.

Seriously, the easiest way to cook spaghetti squash

There are many “easy” instructions out there on how to cook spaghetti squash in an Instant Pot.  But if you have to halve the squash in two before you cook, that right there makes it “not easy.”  Cutting through that tough flesh of an uncooked squash is no easy feat. 

Tools you need to cook spaghetti squash

You just need:

• Instant Pot
• Trivet or steamer rack for Instant Pot
• Measuring cup
• A knife, fork and spoon
• Large bowl

Steps to cook spaghetti squash in Instant Pot

• Place the trivet in the Instant Pot inner cooking pot
• Pour about 1 ¼ cup of water in the inner cooking pot (I’m using 6 qt.  Instant Pot and the water doesn’t quite touch the trivet.  Increase the water accordingly for larger capacity Instant Pot.)
• Pierce the flesh of the squash using a fork or knife several times and place it in the Instant Pot
• Close the lid and the set the valve to Sealing position
• Put on manual mode and cook on HIGH for 17 minutes
• Natural release for 10 minutes
• Let it cool, enough to be able to pick it up by hand (it might take 1+ hour) or using oven gloves like these:

• Cut the cooked squash in half, lengthwise
• Remove the slimy center with seeds using a spoon
• Use the fork to scrape strands into a bowl.  You should be able to scrape up almost all the meat leaving just the thin brittle outer skin.

Spaghetti squash recipes

Here are some of our favorite spaghetti squash recipes!:

• Spicy Asian Peanut Spaghetti Squash
• Spaghetti Squash Greek Pastitsio
• Asian Sesame Spaghetti Squash Salad

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