A popular Taiwanese Asian boba drink combines milk tea or flavor powder with cooked tapioca pearls, boba. Wanna know how to cook the best and fastest boba? Try out this instant pot boba recipe. It only takes a few minutes!
Love Asian dessert? Check out these almond jello, red bean ice drink, white rabbit candy ice cream, taro tapioca dessert and black sesame filling tang yuan recipes.
What is boba?
Boba pearls are made from tapioca starch. Also, they are chewy and black or brownish.
How to cook boba pearls?
If you buy boba, each brand of boba has an instruction to teach you how to cook them. Since I have tried different brands and followed their instructions. However, it always takes longer to cook them than it said on the packages. And, the middle of the boba was still not done when I used the top stove method.
After many attempts to cook good boba using a top stove. Finally, I tried to use an instant pot pressure cooker to cook them. Amazingly, it turns out very nice and chewy boba pearls in only 2 minutes! Therefore, from now on I only use a pressure cooker to cook boba. Not only it's simple and easy, but also the inside of boba is cooked through. When you know how to cook good boba pearls now, you will make boba drink all the time.
What are the ingredients for boba instant pot?
The ingredients are boba, water and brown sugar.
Cooking tips for how to cook boba in instant pot:
- Put boba into instant put and add water.
- Make sure every boba pearl is covered with water.
- Close lid and vent and manual for 2 minutes at high pressure. Then, quick release.
- Remember to let the pressure release before opening the lid.
- Drain water and rinse with warm water
FAQs:
How to store cooked boba?
If you have any left over boba, put them in a container with a lid on and refrigerate them. When you want to use it, just warm them up in a microwave for 20-30 seconds.
How long can I keep cooked boba?
Often, it can store up to 4-5 days in a refrigerator.
What brand of boba did you use?
I used E-Fa brand boba in this recipe.
Instructions for how to cook instant pot boba:
1. Put 1 cup of boba into an instant pot pressure cooker.
2. Then, add 2 cups of water. Next, cover the lid and close the vent.
3. Next, push the manual button for 2 minutes at high pressure. After that, quick release pressure. Remember to wait until all the pressure releases before opening the lid.
4. After that, drain water and rinse boba pearls with warm water then add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and mix it well.
Enjoy this simple and easy instant pot boba recipe! Also, check out some healthy strawberry banana smoothie, mango popsicles and grass jelly recipes!
More Dessert Recipes You May Also Like:
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How to cook boba pearls
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup Boba
- 2 cups Water
- 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
Instructions
- Put 1 cup of boba into instant pot pressure cooker.
- Then, add 2 cups of water. Next, cover the lid and close the vent.
- Push the manual button for 2 minuets at high pressure. After that, quick release pressure. Remember to wait until all the pressure release before opening the lid.
- Drain water and rinse boba pearls with warm water then add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and mix it well.
Notes
Cooking tips for how to cook instant pot boba:
- Put boba into instant put and add water.
- Make sure every boba pearls is covered with water.
- Close lid and vent and manual for 2 minutes at high pressure. Then, quick release.
- Remember to let the pressure release before opening the lid.
- Drain water and rinse with warm water.
Whit says
Can I add brown sugar to this before turning on the instant pot?
Tracy O. says
Yes, you can. But, it may not be as sweet as adding sugar after cooking the boba pearls.
Brandy says
Made this today with a brand that I ordered off Amazon. It was great and added bonus was I did not have to stand in front of the stove. So easy my 10 year old can now make it!
Emily says
I have a quick question-Have you tried doubling or tripling this recipe? I don't want to waste a bunch of pearls but I need more and it takes a while to keep making this in batches!
Tracy O. says
Hi Emily,
Yes, I have tried doubling the recipe.
Kristen Szklarz says
Have you tried traditional boba, not just the 5 minute boba? Does it work the same? 2 min?
Tracy O. says
I only tested the E-fa boba brand using instant pot. Some readers told me they tried other brands of boba pearls in the instant pot and it did not work well.
Kristen says
Did not work in the instant pot ultra unfortunately. It notified me that it was burning and I released pressure to find one big clump. Maybe my instant pot was too big or maybe I had bad boba?
Tracy O. says
Hi Kristen,
What brand is your boba? In this recipe, I used the E-Fa brand boba and I haven't tested out other brands yet. Also, how big is your instant pot ultra? I have a 6 quarts instant pot, but not an ultra one.
Mister Ed says
Thank you so very much. It would have never dawned on my to use my instapot for Boba. My Thai Tea process is now a lot quicker
Tracy O. says
Thank you for your comment! I am glad you like it.
WRLi says
I followed the instructions and my boba came out in one big clump. Did not work at all. I used cold tap water, so maybe I should try hot water next time.
WRLi says
UPDATE: Tried with hot water but it also resulted in one big clump. I think this method only works with certain brands? My friend made these over the stove and they came out perfect, but it took a long time. I'm not patient enough to do this again. lol
Tracy O. says
Thank you for your comment. I think different brand of boba is slightly different. I only used one brand for the instant pot version. I haven't tested out the other brands.
Arianne says
My bona came out this way too. My package doesn't have a brand name, and E-Fa wasn't at our stores. This recipe sounds awesome and quick though! Just not for my bag of boba *tear
Tracy O. says
Arianne, sorry to hear that. Yes, I only tested the E-Fa brand boba for instant pot. Thank you for your comment!
Sarah L says
Works great - thanks!
P says
Put HOT water in the pot THEN put boba in. I started with cold water and the boba crumbled.
Tracy O. says
What brand of boba do you use? I used tap water and it was fine. I think the brand of boba pearls makes a difference.