Syracuse Salt Potatoes in the Instant Pot
Salt potatoes are an Upstate Summertime staple, they are almost always served alongside a chicken BBQ, and are great to take to a picnic as a dish to pass, and are easy to prepare, especially in the Instant Pot! Not only do they cook cup faster, but the pressurized cooking results in a potato with an unbelievably creamy center. You’ll love making salt potatoes in your pressure cooker!
What are Salt Potatoes?
Salt potatoes originated in Syracuse New York. In the 1800’s, workers in the local salt mines would bring small new potatoes to work for lunch, and boil them in a salty brine. The result was a tender personal-sized potato, with a firm peel and crusty outer coating of salt, which keeps the potato from absorbing too much water while it is cooking and becoming mushy.
In the 1960s, a local food businessman named John Hinerwadel, who had been serving salt potatoes as a side dish at his clambakes, started packaging and selling 5 lb bags of young potatoes, with 12-ounce box of salt included right in the bag.
Hinerwadels still sells Salt Potatoes today and sells over a million bags a year. Finding Hinerwadels in the Rochester area can be tricky, but, luckily, we do have a few areas of muckland nearby and many farmers locally have followed suit and bag and sell salt potatoes at markets and in local grocery stores, of course, you can always pick up a bag of Wegman’s brand salt potatoes too!
Why Cook Salt Potatoes in an Instant pot?
The traditional method of cooking salt potatoes is to cook these potatoes is one cup of salt to six cups of water, boiled for about 25 minutes or until the potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork. It is not a difficult cooking technique, but I really prefer to cook mine in the Instant Pot!
What I love about my Instant Pot during the summer months is that, for the most part, the heat and steam stay contained within the Pot, so I can cook up 4 lbs of salt potatoes for a picnic or potluck, without steaming up my whole kitchen! I also feel that the centers of the potatoes are consistently better when cooked in the Instant Pot. I suspect it may have something to do with the higher cooking temperature within the Instant Pot, but I haven’t found any articles or information to support my theory.
Syracuse Salt Potatoes in the Instant Pot
Not only salt potatoes cook up faster, but the pressurized cooking in an Instant Pot result in a potato with an unbelievably creamy center.
Ingredients
- 4.5 lb bag salt potatoes, or small new potatoes
- 1 cup salt
- 6 cups Water
- 1 stick of butter
Instructions
- Pour the water into the Instant Pot.
- Add the salt to the Instant Pot. Stir to distribute the salt evenly in the pot.
Add the new potatoes to the Instant Pot and stir the potatoes to coat with the saltwater. - If needed, add just enough additional water to cover the potatoes.
- Close lid and turn valve to sealing.
- Cook potatoes on manual high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Once the Instant Pot beeps, press the "Keep Warm/Cancel" button to allow the pressure in the Instant Pot to naturally decrease for 10 minutes, then turn the valve to release the pressure the rest of the way.
- Pour potatoes into a colander to drain
- Serve with melted butter.
Recommended Products
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Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 0.625-Quart Butter Warmer -
Bellemain Micro-perforated Stainless Steel 5-quart Colander-Dishwasher Safe -
Instant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt 9-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer
What to Do with leftover Salt Potatoes
Because it is so easy to cook up a big batch of salt potatoes, it is not uncommon to have leftovers. You have a couple of options to handle the leftovers: You can reheat those bad boys, add more butter, and serve them up again. Although, at my house, the second consecutive appearance of salt on our dinner table is not received as favorably as the first time. One of my favorite ways to give my leftover spuds new life is to give them a good smash, dress them up with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and fresh herbs, and bake them, but I have a friend who uses an air fryer with great results!
Have you tried cooking salt potatoes in your Instant Pot?
I just found your recipe today.. I live in Syracuse, home of the best salt potatoes, your recipe was so simple!! Probably going to be the way I always cook them from now on!! You are right, the the cebters all were cooked perfectly and seemed creamier after biting into them!! Also, goes without saying, always use Hinderwadel’s of course!! Thanks again for sharing your recipe.
We just got back from Rochester and I fell in love with salt potatoes! This was so dang easy and they were perfect…a nice salt coat on outside and so tender in the middle. I drizzled with melted butter, parsley and garlic powder. This will definitely be a frequent flyer in our house!
After scouring and actually pressure cooking Syracuse Salt Potato recipes online, yours is the best as far as salt-water ratio and timing. Although I moved from Syracuse years ago, I had my fair share of Hinerwadel’s potatoes over 25 years. I think that speaks for itself with making this recipe. One suggestion and what I do is to empty as much water as possible from the inner pot instead of the colander. You really want to keep as much salt on them for the added skin crunch. If you prefer a colander, please do not rinse the potatoes! That defeats everything about this recipe. Nicely done and thanks for the memories!
When do you put in the salt? In the beginning with the water?
Hi Megan,
Sorry about that! I have corrected the recipe card and the recipe should now read:
Pour the water into the Instant Pot.
Add the salt to the Instant Pot. Stir to distribute the salt evenly in the pot.
Add the potatoes to the Instant Pot and stir the potatoes to coat with the saltwater.
If needed, add just enough additional water to cover the potatoes.
So glad the Instant Pot came along, I think it makes the best salt potatoes!