How To Clean Your Instant Pot So It Looks Like It Just Came Out of the Box
Make your pressure cooker look and smell as good as new.
If you're in love with your Instant Pot, you're not alone. Home cooks around the country adore it and for good reason—the pressure cooker can make snacks, meals and desserts in well...an instant. This multitasking device helps make our lives so much easier it's become one of the most popular kitchen appliances to date.
Still, when you use something often, it needs to be cleaned to keep it working (and looking) optimally. Don't worry; it's fairly easy to keep your Instant Pot clean. Most parts of this kitchen accessory can be thrown in the dishwasher.
Just always be sure to unplug and remove the cord before you start the cleaning process. Not sure how to clean an Instant Pot? Let us walk you through the easy steps, including how to clean the lid, ring and air fryer.
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How often should I clean my Instant Pot?
You should clean your Instant Pot after every use. You can hand wash all parts besides the main heating unit with hot water and dishwashing soap. (Specifics are below.) Or put it in the top rack of your dishwasher.
Can I wash the inside of my Instant Pot?
All parts of the Instant Pot (with the exception of the cooker base) are dishwasher safe. That means you can clean the stainless steel inner pot, the lid, the sealing ring and the steam rack.
The cooker base must be kept dry. It can be wiped down with a damp cloth when necessary. The anti-block shield should be washed after each use and reinstalled.
Related: 14 Best Instant Pot Recipes For An Easy Meal
How do you clean the inside seal of an Instant Pot?
The sealing ring helps your Instant Pot run. Hand wash it with soapy water or place it in the dishwasher. Let the seal ring dry completely before reinserting the lid. The sealing ring should be repositioned in the lid after every wash. Be sure it's properly in place before you start cooking.
How to clean Instant Pot air fryer
The cleaning tools you use in cleaning your instant pot air fryer largely depend on the air fryer brand that you're using.
Check the manual for insight into what cleaning tools and products are optimal. The wrong cleaning product can negatively impact your appliance's performance.
How to clean an Instant Pot
Care and cleaning of the cooker
The inner pot of the cooker (the stainless steel cooking pot), the sealing ring, the lid and the steam rack are all dishwasher safe.
Before cleaning, ensure the cooker is unplugged and has cooled.
Don't place the cooker base in the dishwasher. If it gets wet, let it dry completely. (The cooker base houses the microprocessor and the heating element that help the appliance cook.)
Clean the outside of the cooker base with a damp cloth. You can use a slightly damp cloth to clean the inside of the cooker. Again, keep the cooker dry. If you need to clean the area around the lip of the cooker, clean the edges with a damp cloth or an old toothbrush or other soft-bristled brush.
How to clean the inner pot and steam rack
The inner pot and the steam rack are made of stainless steel. Both are dishwasher safe. Clean the inner pot as you would clean any stainless steel pot—by hand washing or the dishwasher. If the inner pot has water stains, use a nonabrasive scouring cleanser made specially for cooking pots to bring back the original shine.
You can also periodically clean the inner pot by placing one cup of white vinegar in the bottom of the inner pot. Allow it to rest for five minutes. Then pour out the vinegar and rinse.
How to remove bluish marks from the inner pot
Instant Pot’s inner pot (cooking pot) is stainless steel with no chemical coating. It's durable and will keep its appearance for years if it's cared for properly.
With stainless steel cookware, it's common for a bluish or rainbow discoloration to appear inside the pot. (Minerals or salt in the food and water cause this discoloration.) Those marks can be easily removed and their original brightness can be restored with a nonabrasive stainless steel cleaner.
Another option is to cover the bottom with white vinegar. Let the vinegar sit for five minutes. Remove, and rinse the inner pot. The discoloration marks should be completely gone.
Remove white hard water stains with a damp sponge soaked in vinegar or lemon. Avoid steel wool which can scratch the surface.
Instant Pot
How to clean the Instant Pot lid
The lid is top-rack dishwasher safe. Remove the sealing ring and anti-block shield so that you can thoroughly clean the lid. Prevent the lid from keeping odors by placing it upside down on the pot until it has completely dried or you're ready to use it. Make sure no food or other debris is blocking the steam release valve and float valve and preventing your cooker from reaching its pressure.
How to clean the anti-block shield
Remove and clean the anti-block shield underneath the lid after each use. You should especially do that after making foods that may splatter.
To remove it, use your thumb to push the side of the anti-block shield toward the lid rim and lift it up. It may take some effort, but the anti-block shield will pop out.
Wash the shield with warm, soapy water. Rinse and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Return it to its position by pushing it down once it's dry.
Related: 15 Easy Instant Pot Recipes For Beginners
How to clean the Instant Pot ring
The sealing ring helps your cooker work. The sealing ring is made of heat-resistant silicone. Hand wash it with soapy water or place it in the dishwasher. Let the ring dry completely before reinserting it into the lid. Be sure the sealing ring is positioned in the lid after every wash, and that it's in place before you start cooking.
Inspect the sealing ring carefully after it is washed. Replace the sealing ring if you see any sign of cracking or other damage. Replace only with Genuine Instant Pot sealing rings. You may void your Instant Pot warranty if you use other brands.
The sealing ring is porous and may absorb odors and become discolored. To avoid discoloration and odors, you may want to change the sealing ring every six to 12 months.
Since the silicone may pick up food odors during cooking, you may want one sealing ring for savory foods and another for sweet foods.
Typically, the sealing ring should last 18 to 24 months. Replace the sealing ring immediately if you notice it has cracks, leaking or deformation.
Related: 38 Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
How to clean the condensation collector
This piece snaps onto the side of your Instant Pot base. It collects condensation during cooking. Remove and hand wash the condensation collector periodically. Let it dry before snapping it back into place.