Cooking beef liver in an instant pot is a quick and easy way to make this nutritious ingredient into a delicious meal. With the pressurized environment, the instant pot breaks down the liver’s tough texture quickly resulting in fork-tender meat in a fraction of the time.
Why Cook Beef Liver in an Instant Pot?
There are several advantages to using an instant pot for cooking beef liver:
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Speed – The pressurized environment allows the liver to cook fully in less than an hour compared to 2-3 hours using traditional braising methods. This makes enjoying liver on a weeknight feasible.
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Tenderness – The rapid cooking and steam under pressure transforms the liver from chewy to melt-in-your-mouth tender No need to worry about overcooking and ending up with shoe leather.
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Flavor – The moist heat environment concentrates flavors and allows seasoning to deeply permeate the liver.
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Nutrient retention – Quick cooking retains more vitamins and minerals compared to longer cook times. Liver is rich in iron, vitamin A, folate and other nutrients.
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Easy cleanup – With just one pot cooking, cleanup is simpler compared to roasting or pan frying.
With some simple tips, you can make perfect beef liver in your instant pot every time.
How Long to Cook Beef Liver in an Instant Pot
Most beef liver recipes suggest cooking for around 30-45 minutes in an instant pot. However, the timing can vary depending on a few factors:
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Thickness and size – Smaller, thinner pieces of liver will cook faster than a large 1-inch thick slab. Cut liver into pieces no more than 1 inch thick.
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Quantity – The more liver you cook, the longer it takes to come up to pressure and cook through. For 1 pound of liver, 35-40 minutes is usually sufficient. For 2 pounds, extend cooking to 45-50 minutes.
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Natural vs. quick release – Letting pressure release naturally adds more cook time as the liver sits in residual heat. Quick releasing stops the cooking immediately once time is up.
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Altitude – At higher elevations above sea level, the boiling point is lower and pressure cooking requires adding 5-15% more time.
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Doneness preference – Some people prefer their liver cooked just until no longer pink inside. Others like it cooked through until uniform brown throughout. Cook longer for more well-done liver.
Taking these factors into account, here are general instant pot liver cooking time guidelines:
- 1 lb liver, cut into 1-inch chunks = 35-40 minutes with quick release
- 2 lbs liver, cut into 1-inch chunks = 45-50 minutes with quick release
- Add 5-15 minutes for natural pressure release or cooking at high altitude
Always use natural pressure release for larger cuts of liver over 2 inches thick. And allow extra time if you want it well done.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow this simple process for tender, flavorful pressure cooked liver every time.
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Cut the liver into 1-inch chunks, trimming off any membranes or discolored portions. Rinse if desired.
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Pat dry and season the liver pieces with salt and pepper. Browning is optional but adds flavor.
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Sauté aromatics like onions, garlic, carrots or celery if desired. Then add liver and sauté briefly until browned.
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Deglaze the pot with 1⁄2 cup of beef or chicken broth, wine or water, stirring to loosen browned bits.
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Add liquid – the broth, wine or water from deglazing plus any other seasonings or ingredients. Use at least 1 cup total liquid.
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Pressure cook for recommended time based on amount of liver and release method. Allow 10-15 minutes for coming up to pressure.
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Quick release pressure or allow natural release for at least 15 minutes before opening lid.
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Check doneness. Liver should be fork tender without any pink inside. Cook longer if needed.
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Make gravy from cooking liquid or serve liver with acccompaniments. Enjoy hot.
With this process, you are guaranteed tender and flavorful beef liver ready to enjoy in under an hour from start to finish!
Tips for the Best Instant Pot Beef Liver
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Always use natural pressure release for liver slices over 2 inches thick.
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Quick releasing may cause overcooking on very thick liver pieces.
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Browning the liver boosts flavor but is not required.
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Simmering after cooking helps meld flavors and reduce liquid into a gravy.
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Avoid overcrowding – don’t stack liver slices or overload the pot.
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Use a trivet or steamer basket if cooking liver alone to keep it out of direct contact with the pot bottom.
Favorite Instant Pot Liver Recipes
Here are some fantastic recipes to try cooking liver in an instant pot:
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Liver and Onions – Classic comfort food of tender liver and caramelized onions in gravy.
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Dirty Liver Rice – Liver gives a nutritional boost to rice along with veggies.
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Liver with Mushrooms – Earthy mushrooms complement the rich flavor of liver.
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Italian Liver and Peppers – Liver becomes lean, protein-packed comfort food with bell peppers.
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Liver Tacos – Shredded liver makes a fantastic taco filling when spiced with cumin and chili powder.
With the right timing and a flavorful recipe, pressure cooked beef liver can become a new favorite in your instant pot recipe repertoire!
Cooking beef liver in the instant pot takes advantage of quick cooking under pressure to deliver fork-tender results and concentrated flavor. Follow recipe guidelines for amount and thickness of liver along with release method to ensure perfect doneness in 30-50 minutes. With flavorful recipes and useful tips, you can make tender liver any night of the week. Give your instant pot beef liver a try today!
How to cook liver and onions
This comes with many answers depending on whom you might ask.
I use my Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi pressure cookers every day, so it made sense for me to use those.
- Whether you bake it in the oven or cook it on the stove is really up to you.
These things will be different if you make Ninja Foodi liver and onions or make it on the stove:
- The outsides can be browned. Some people like it this way, while others like it with a softer outside texture, like you can see here.
- If you use a pan on the stove, your onions will get more caramelized.
What you need to make pressure cooker liver and onions
- Liver slices – we used beef livers
Flour – if you want to coat the outside you’ll need this
- Milk – put liver in milk in beforehand
- Onion sliced
- Bacon
- Butter
- You can add any other spices you like to this dish besides salt and pepper.
- Olive oil
- Beef stock
- Slotted spoon
Great seasoned with salt and pepper again when done and served over pressure cooker mashed potatoes.
Basic steps to follow:
First you’ll want livers to soak in milk for a good hour.
Then caramelize your onions and cook your bacon in your pot using the saute setting.
- Take that off, but don’t throw away the grease; it will make the meat taste better.
- After letting the liver soak, coat each piece in flour and sear both sides (this isn’t required, but it’s what we like to do).
- After taking out the liver, add the bacon, onions, and broth to the pot again. Add the liver back on top of everyting.
- For 5 minutes, cook on high pressure. Then, let the pressure naturally drop for 10 minutes. This will keep the moisture in.
If you love eating liver but only have a stove top, use medium high heat and follow these instructions for that method.
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Pressure Cooker Liver and Onions Instant Pot
FAQ
Does liver get more tender the longer you cook it?
How long does it take for liver to be cooked?
How long to cook meat in Instant Pot?
How do you cook beef livers in an Instant Pot?
Add the livers to the onions in the instant pot and brown the liver on all sides. If it’s sticking too much add extra olive oil. Once browned, press cancel and deglaze with the beef stock and add in the puree, garlic, and the seasonings. Mix well and make sure the beef livers are covered in stock. Add in the tall trivet and the expandable steamer.
How long does it take to Pressure Cook beef liver?
This beef liver instant pot recipe takes JUST 45 minutes to pressure cook. Though you also need to do a 15 minute natural pressure release afterwards and take into account the time taken to sauté the onion and brown the beef livers. Though this liver and onion recipe, is still much quicker than slow cooking.
How to cook liver in Instant Pot?
Then brown the liver, add beef stock to deglaze the instant pot and add in the other liver ingredients. Then add a steamer with prepped potatoes on top and place the lid on the instant pot. Cook. Then pressure cook the liver in the instant pot for 45 minutes. Beeps.
How do you cook liver in a pressure cooker?
Add liver to the pot. Thinly slice onions and add to the liver with a pice of unsalted butter. Add black pepper, white pepper and salt and some beef broth. Add minced or chopped garlic. Stir. Close and lock the lid. Pressure cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes. Quick release the pressure when done. Carefully open the lid and stir.