This Instant Pot Iced Tea is an easy and foolproof way to make this favorite summer beverage at home! All you need is a few simple ingredients and an Instant Pot. While other methods often result in burst open tea bags, this one makes for perfect tea every single time. You’re never going to want to buy Iced Tea from the store again!
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One of my favorite beverages to make all summer long is homemade Iced Tea! In the South, some call it sweet tea (versus unsweetened tea), but where I’m from all cold tea is sweetened! We just call it plain ol’ Iced Tea here!
This is a recipe I’ve been using for years, but I figured: why not adapt it for the Instant Pot!? The Instant Pot makes easy work of just about everything, including Iced Tea! Well, after trying it, I’m totally sold on this being THE method I use going forward. It’s absolutely foolproof and SO EASY.
You Will Need:
- Tea Bags: You can use whatever brand you like, but make sure it is black tea like Orange Pekoe.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar works perfectly in this recipe, but you can use alternative sweeteners if you have dietary restrictions. For the sake of ease, it’s best to use sugar replacements that can be substituted cup for cup like Splenda, Swerve, Xylitol, etc.
- Baking Soda: Just a pinch will do! This helps reduce any bitterness from the steeping tea.
- Water: You will need a total of 8 cups of water. 2 cups will be added to the Instant Pot, and the rest should be kept cool until you’re ready to add it to the steeped tea.
- Lemon: This is totally optional, but a squeeze of lemon in your Instant Pot iced tea is a delight and highly recommended!
Recommended Equipment:
Instant Pot: I recommend using a 6qt or 8qt Instant Pot. You can use just about any model, but the most Popular us the Instant Pot Duo. This will allow you to use the yogurt function, as well as all the standard Instant Pot settings. The price is right around $90, so that makes it a great buy! I have both a 6qt and 8qt Instant Pot Duo and they get LOTS of use.
How to Make Iced Tea in the Instant Pot
Once you’ve made Instant Pot Iced Tea, you’re going to want to do it over and over again! It’s SO simple! Here’s how to get started:
Psst: There’s a full printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Gather your ingredients.
Add 2 cups of water to the Instant Pot.
Secure the lid and set the valve to “sealing”. Set to manual pressure for 4 minutes.
Once the time is up, do a manual pressure release by flipping the valve to “venting” and waiting for the pin to drop.
Remove the lid.
Add the sugar and whisk until dissolved.
Then, add the tea bags to the Instant Pot.
Add a pinch of baking soda and stir to combine (you can also do this before adding the tea bags for simplicity).
Ensure the tea bags are fully submerged, then place the lid on the Instant Pot.
Steep the tea for 15 minutes.
Once the tea has steeped for 15 minutes, remove the tea bags. Squeeze out any remaining tea.
Pour the tea into a heat safe half gallon glass jar or jug.
Add in 6 cups of cool water.
Place a lid on your jar or jug and place in the fridge to cool completely before serving.
FAQ
While you can use any type of tea to make an “iced” tea, the type that is most often used in commercial and homemade teas is black tea. Orange Pekoe being the most popular.
Baking soda helps cut any bitterness from the long steeping of tea. Tea that has been steeped for a longer period of time can become quite bitter, and so baking soda helps cut that bitterness.
You should consume your iced tea within 1-2 weeks of preparation. Ensure that it remains refrigerated the entire time.
Yes! Best results will come from using alternative sweeteners that measure cup for cup with sugar. This would include Splenda, Swerve, and Xylitol. You can use 2:1 sweeteners like Pyure, but you will need to cut the measurement in half.
Instant Pot Iced Tea
Make your very own Iced Tea at home using your Instant Pot! This process is SO easy, and absolutely foolproof every single time. All you need is a few simple ingredients and an Instant Pot to get started.
Ingredients
- 6 Black tea bags
- 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
- Pinch of baking soda
- 8 cups of water, divided
- Lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of water to the insert of a 6 or 8qt Instant Pot.
- Secure the lid into place and move the valve to "sealing." Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes.
- When the time is up, hit "cancel" and safely switch the valve to "venting." Allow the pot to do a full manual pressure release. Once the pin has dropped, carefully remove the lid.
- Add the sugar to the water in the Instant Pot and whisk well to combine,
- Then, add the baking soda. Whisk again.
- Finally, add the tea bags. Use a spoon to ensure the tea bags are submerged.
- Replace the lid, and let this mixture steep for 15 minutes.
- When the 15 minutes are up, carefully remove the lid. Pressure may have built up under the lid, so you may need to do another manual pressure release.
- Remove the tea bags, squeezing them to remove any tea.
- Add 6 cups of cool water, and whisk well to combine.
- Transfer your iced tea to a large glass jug, or half gallon jar. Place a lid on the jug or jar, and chill in the fridge before serving.
- Serve with fresh lemon wedges, if desired.
Notes
Storage:
Keep your chilled tea in a sealed jug or pitcher and use within 1-2 weeks.
Alternative Sweeteners:
If you're on a low carb or low sugar diet, you may want to omit the sugar in this recipe. You can use a cup-for-cup sugar substitute like Splenda, Swerve, Xylitol, or Pyure in place of the sugar in this recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 74Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 20mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information is an estimate only.
Adapted for the Instant Pot from this recipe for Smooth Sweet Tea.
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I would have never thought to use an Instant Pot for iced tea! So easy, and your step-by-step instructions are perfect.
Thank you Rob!
I am an ice tea lover and being and drink unsweetened tea, but I am so giving your recipe a try for the sweetened version. Using baking soda in the tea is interesting. Can’t wait to try this.
I think I will be trying an unsweetened version myself since I hear a lot of folks say they like theirs unsweetened!
I’m going to try this today! I keep a gallon of tea in the refrigerator throughout the year. It’s my favorite.
You can make almost everything in the instant pot, right?! Genious idea. I will definitely try this! Thanks for sharing.
You really can! 😂
I love homemade iced tea, and this one was delicious! Super refreshing! The baking soda really brought out the flavor more, interesting! I had no idea!
Wow, I would have never thought to use baking soda but it really does help with the bitterness. Thanks for the tip!