Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas, a simple 7-minute recipe for cooking dried black eyed peas in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Super tasty, super easy!

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot

Love black eyed peas but not sure how to cook them from dried? Use your Instant Pot! Cooking dried beans and peas like black eyed peas is super simple in the pressure cooker and only takes 7 minutes for plump and perfect peas for your next soup or stew.

👉 Ready to learn how to make dried black eyed peas in the pressure cooker? Let's do it!

Table of Contents hide

1 🌿 Ingredients

2 🥣 How to make (step-by-step photos)

3 🧊 How to store

4 ❓ Recipe questions + quick tips

5 🍛 How to serve

6 ♻️ Sustainable kitchen tips

7 👉 More recipes using black eyed peas

8 Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe


🌿 Ingredients

  • Dried black eyed peas: The base of this recipe, dried black eyed peas can be found in most bulk sections of grocery stores
  • Water: Use 3 parts water for every 1 part dried beans (so for 1 cup, use 3 cups of water)
  • Salt: A touch of salt in the water before pressure cooking helps the beans cook faster, and adds flavor
  • Herbs: Optional, but fresh or dried herbs like sage or thyme (pictured here) add a punch of flavor
  • Oil: Optional, but a bit of oil in the cooking water helps soften beans and adds a deeper flavor
  • Recommended tools: medium bowl, Instant Pot or other pressure cooker, colander for straining

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot
Ingredients: black eyed peas, water, oil, salt, herbs


🥣 How to make (step-by-step photos)

1️⃣ Step One: Rinse black eyed peas (optional step)

If you’d like peas to cook slightly faster and to potentially make them easier to digest, give the peas a quick rinse and soak for 5-10 minutes before cooking.

To do this, simply add the dried black eyed peas to a bowl and cover with water for 5-10 minutes. Then drain them before cooking in the pressure cooker.

👉 Why should you rinse your beans before cooking? Sometimes certain beans, peas, and pulses may have indigestible fibers that may cause bloating in some people. Giving your dried black eyed peas a quick rise and soak will help to remove some of these compounds before cooking, which makes them easier to digest later. However, if you don’t rinse them they are still perfectly fine to eat.

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot
Rinse and soak dried black eyed peas


2️⃣ Step Two: Cook black eyed peas in the pressure cook

Add black eyed peas, water (see below for the correct ratio), salt, any dried herbs you’d like, and a drizzle of olive oil to the Instant Pot.

Close the lid on securely, then pressure cook the beans on the high pressure or “beans” setting for 7 minutes. When time is up, release the pressure immediately.

👉 What is the correct ratio of beans to water in the pressure cooker? Generally we do 1 part beans and 3 parts water for a 1:3 ratio in the Instant Pot. So for this recipe we’re doing 2 cups of beans and 6 cups of water for 6 servings of beans (about 1/3 cup per serving). If you’d like more or less servings, use the servings adjuster in this recipe card or use the ratio of 1:3 for 1 cup of dried beans to give 3 servings.

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot
Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes


3️⃣ Step Three: Serve or store beans

When the beans are done, remove them from the Instant Pot with a straining ladle or remove the pressure cooker pan from the pot and drain the beans in a colander.

Use the beans immediately if adding to soups, stews, salads, or serving as a side dish.

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot
Drain and store after cooking


🧊 How to store

  1. Refrigerator storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
  2. Freezer storage: We do not recommend freezing dried black eyed peas after cooking because they will not retain their texture after freezing and thawing.

❓ Recipe questions + quick tips

How long do dried black eyed peas last in the pantry?

If stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container, dried black eyed peas will be stay shelf-stable for at least a year, and up to 2-3 years if stored properly.

How do I know if dried black eyed peas have gone bad?

Dried black eyed peas will stay shelf-stable for year if store properly, but throw them out if they have visible mold, have a stale or offputting smell, or if there are signs of pantry bug infestation.

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot


🍛 How to serve

  • As a side dish: Serve immediately after cooking for a simple side dish, or add them to a pan with garlic and oil to add more flavor.
  • Combine with rice: Spice it up with rice for a twist on traditional beans and rice
  • Make a plant-based Hoppin’ John: put a plant-based twist on traditional New Year’s Eve dish Hoppin’ John by serving stewed black eyed peas over rice
  • Add to a simple salad: Add a serving of black eyed peas to a salad with sturdy greens like chard or kale for a punch of protein and fiber

♻️ Sustainable kitchen tips

We’re all about running an eco-friendly kitchen at Fork in the Road! Here are some tips for making this recipe sustainably:

Store dried peas safely. To keep dried black eyed peas shelf-stable when dried before cooking, store them in an airtight jar or container in the pantry in a cool, dry place and they will keep for a minimum of 1 year.

Reuse pea cooking water. Don’t throw out the cooking water for these peas! Instead use it in your garden to add extra nutrients to plants.

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot


👉 More recipes using black eyed peas

Want more black eyed pea recipes? We've got you covered:

Fresh black eyed peas in instant pot

Print Recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas, a simple 7-minute recipe for cooking dried black eyed peas in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Super tasty, super easy!

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Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 7 mins

Pressure cooker warm up time: 10 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups black eyed peas, dried
  • 6 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh or dried herbs, optional
  • 1 teaspoon oil, optional

Equipment

  • 1 Pressure cooker or Instant Pot

Instructions 

  • Rinse black eyed peas (optional): Add dried black eyed peas to a bowl and cover with water for 5-10 minutes, the drain and set aside.

  • Cook black eyed peas: Add black eyed peas, water, salt, herbs, and oil (if using) to an Instant Pot or pressure cooker and close the lid securely. Cook on on high pressure, or on the “Beans” setting, for 7 minutes. When done, release the pressure immediately.

  • Drain and serve (or store): When the beans are done, remove them from the pressure cooker and drain. Serve immediately by mixing into salads, soups, or as a side dish, or store for later use (see storing instructions in notes).

    Do you have to soak fresh black

    Do black eyed peas need to soak? It's really not necessary. Dry black eyed peas cook in about an hour without soaking, which is perfectly reasonable. If you cook them in the pressure cooker, they'll cook even faster!

    How long does it take to cook a pound of black

    Simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Start checking after 45 minutes to see of they are tender and add more broth or water as necessary to keep them covered. Add in a ham bone if you have one for even more flavorful black-eyed peas.

    Can you put peas in Instant Pot?

    Add split peas and water (or vegetable broth) to the Instant Pot and stir to prevent sticking. Optionally, add fresh or dried herbs, sea salt, and/or black pepper. Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes (it will take about 8 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins).

    How long do black

    Soak Them You'll need at least six hours to rehydrate the black-eyed peas. Place them in a large bowl and add three cups of water for every one cup of peas. Cover, place in the refrigerator, and let the beans soak for six hours or overnight.