Instant Pot Cod Fish is a quick, easy, and healthy meal that's perfect for busy days. The instant pot makes the process of getting a healthy and filling dinner on the table in no time and this recipe gives you the perfectly seasoned cod fish to pair with your favorite sides.
❤️ Why you'll love it
- Only a few ingredients are needed. A few simple spices can go a long way and this instant pot cod recipe doesn't require many but still gives you a flavorful main dish to enjoy.
- It's a no fail recipe that's quick and easy. Even beginner cooks can make this easy instant cod recipe.
- It's healthy! Cod is known for being low in calories. It's a lean protein that contains a healthy amount of vitamins and minerals. It's also a fish that contains less mercury than most seafood.
Equipment Used
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I use a 6qt instant pot for this recipe but you can use any pressure cooker you have on hand. You will also need a trivet to prevent the fish from sitting on the water.
🧾 Ingredients Used
- Codfish filet: Feel free to use frozen cod for this recipe. I used filets between 6 and 8 ounces. You can place it directly in the Instant Pot without thawing.
- Water: This will be placed in the Instant Pot before sealing and cooking the cod.
- Spices: All you need for this recipe is black pepper and salt – keeping it simple is best!
- Fresh parsley: This adds a bit of freshness after cooking the fish.
- Lemon: The lemon will add a touch of flavor to the fish.
🔪 How To Make Instant Pot Cod Fish
- Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. If you are using a larger Instant Pot, you will need to use 2 cups of water.
- Season the fish filets with salt and pepper.
- Cover the lid of your Instant Pot securely, and then turn the valve to the sealing position. Select pressure cook and cook on high pressure for 2 minutes, then carefully do a quick release.
- If your cod filets are thicker than ½ inch, you will need to increase the cooking time to 3 minutes.
- Serve the cooked cod with lemon slices and fresh parsley.
🥫 Storing and Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Once you've made the instant pot cod fish, it's not recommended to freeze it. When you're ready to reheat the cod, you can do so in the microwave or on the stove.
💭 Tips and Variations
- Experiment with herbs and seasonings: This can be used as a base recipe so you're free to try new flavors or experiment with different spices and seasonings. You can add some Cajun seasoning, garlic, rosemary, thyme, or other flavorful herbs and seasonings.
- Serve with melted butter or lemon for more flavor: Add just a small dab of butter to the cod after it's done cooking to give it some extra flavor. You can also add some fresh lemon juice or top it off with lemon slice.
- Make a dill sauce: Dill goes great with fish and it'll go great with this instant pot cod fish. To make dill sauce, you can mix together some fresh dill with mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add a small amount to the cod after it has finished cooking.
- Don’t overcook the cod: If you overcook the fish, it starts become rubbery and chewy. Two minutes on the cook time should be good. Keep in mind that larger filets may take a few minutes longer.
- Use a meat thermometer: Cod needs to reach 145 degree Fahrenheit for it to be fully cooked and safe to eat. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature before eating.
- Make a lemon sauce: Lemon brings out the flavors of the cod, so you can prepare a lemon sauce for serving. All you have to do is slightly brown the butter on the stove, and then add in fresh lemon juice.
🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
This instant pot cod recipe goes great with vegetable dishes like my air fryer frozen okra, air fryer broccoli, or this bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe. You could also serve it with a low-carb side like cauliflower rice or spaghetti squash.
Season this cod with my homemade fish seasoning for a little more kick. I particularly like it on top of a salad made with romaine, peppers, avocado, tomato, cotija cheese, and a creamy dressing.
It’s also great for fish tacos – just be sure to season the cod with taco seasoning before cooking, cut up the fish after cooking, put it on a lettuce wrap, and top with salsa, cheese, guacamole, cabbage, and any of your other favorite low-carb taco toppings.
👩🍳 Frequently Asked Questions
Why is cod tough when I cook it?
When fish is overcooked, it often gets chewy and rubbery because it loses its natural moisture. The proteins in the fish can also tighten due to it being overcooked, which makes it tough. That’s why the cooking time of this recipe is only two or three minutes – the perfect length for flaky, delicate fish!
How long should I cook frozen fish in the Instant Pot?
Although it will depend on the size of the filets, most fish can be cooked in the instant pot for between 5 and 8 minutes. However, cod requires a much shorter cooking time, only 2-4 minutes.
What is the best cooking technique for cod?
One of the best cooking methods for cod is to cook in the instant pot for only 2 or 3 minutes. Another excellent method is to pan-fry the cod, making the skin crispy and the inside nice and flaky.
Do you need to rinse cod before cooking?
Some people think that cod needs to be rinsed before cooking, but this can spread bacteria and leave the fish a bit waterlogged. For best results with this recipe, cook the cod directly from frozen without running the filets under water.
Should you brine cod before cooking?
While brining fish is helpful, it’s not necessary. A brine mixture can add firmness and flavor to the cod – white fish can benefit from a quick and dry brine with salt. You can also dissolve sugar and salt in a bowl of water, bring it to room temperature, and submerge the fish for two hours or overnight.
📚 Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Fish (Pressure Cooker Cod Fish)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cod fish filet frozen
- ⅓ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup water
- fresh parsley for serving
Instructions
- Place the trivet in the instant pot and add 1 cup of water. If you are using a larger instant pot, you will need to use 2 cups of water.1 cup water
- Season the fish filets with salt and pepper.4 cod fish filet, ⅓ teaspoon black pepper, ⅓ teaspoon salt
- Cover the lid of your instant pot securely, and then turn the valve to the sealing position.
- Select pressure cook and cook on high pressure for 2 minutes, then carefully do a quick release.
- If your cod filets are thicker than ½ inch, you will need to increase the cooking time to 3 minutes.
- Serve the cooked cod with lemon slices and fresh parsley.1 lemon, fresh parsley
Notes
- Experiment with herbs and seasonings: This can be used as a base recipe so you're free to try new flavors or experiment with different spices and seasonings. You can add some Cajun seasoning, garlic, rosemary, thyme, or other flavorful herbs and seasonings.
- Serve with melted butter or lemon for more flavor: Add just a small dab of butter to the cod after it's done cooking to give it some extra flavor. You can also add some fresh lemon juice or top it off with lemon slice.
- Make a dill sauce: Dill goes great with fish and it'll go great with this instant pot cod fish. To make dill sauce, you can mix together some fresh dill with mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add a small amount to the cod after it has finished cooking.
- Don’t overcook the cod: If you overcook the fish, it starts become rubbery and chewy. Two minutes on the cook time should be good. Keep in mind that larger filets may take a few minutes longer.
- Use a meat thermometer: Cod needs to reach 145 degree Fahrenheit for it to be fully cooked and safe to eat. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature before eating.
- Make a lemon sauce: Lemon brings out the flavors of the cod, so you can prepare a lemon sauce for serving. All you have to do is slightly brown the butter on the stove, and then add in fresh lemon juice.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
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