Need to know the best way to clean an instant pressure cooker? Check out our 2021 updated guide to help you deep clean your appliance.
Ah, the instant pressure cooker.
If, like me, you’ve taken the step to make your life so much easier and have purchased something like the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker, you’ll know it is the kind of appliance that pays for itself in time.
One of the most useful tools for any busy life, the help it gives you when preparing a wide variety of meals is limitless.
However, how do you properly clean one?
After all, this is the kind of thing you’re going to use daily once you’ve bought it. It really is that good. So, naturally, it’s going to need a certain level of care in order to maintain it and keep you cooking healthy meals for as long as possible.
Like with any appliance you’ve purchased, the up-keep of it probably isn’t at the forefront of your mind when it first arrives in the mail. Still, with just a few tips, you can take your instant pressure cooker even further and ensure you’re making great meals in the healthiest, cleanest manner possible.
Obviously, there are plenty of cleaning products out there to help but, when you’re faced with them all at once, picking the right one can be a difficult process. While they’re designed with the best intentions in mind, the sheer amount of them may leave a new consumer confused.
So, luckily for you, I’ve whittled down the best ways to keep your instant pressure cooker clean. After so much trial and error trying to keep my little pot of joy spick and span, I’ve built up a bank of knowledge ready to share with you lucky readers.
Table of Contents
Clean Instant Pressure Cooker: Breakdown
So, let’s break the pot down into separate parts.
The stainless steel cooking pot, sealing ring, lid, and steam rack are generally dishwasher safe but the cooker base and heating element very much aren’t.
DO NOT put the cooker base in the dishwasher, whatever you do. Indeed, if it gets wet at all, allow it to dry completely before using again.
Should you not have access to a dishwasher, the inner pot and steam rack can be cleaned like anything else in your kitchen. Hand washing should be easy enough with any non-abrasive scourer and warm, soapy water made especially for stainless steel.
In order to buff up the shine, what I like to do periodically (every few weeks or so, basically) is place 1 cup of white vinegar in the bottom of the stainless pot. Leave that to rest for around five minutes and then pour it out before rinsing.
With the lid, you’re going to want to unscrew it from both the sealing ring and anti-block shield in order to give you complete access to it. From there, rinse under warm water with dish soap if required and place upside down on top of the pot. By doing that, you let it air out and prevent any welcome odors from emerging.
Focusing on that anti-block shield we spoke about earlier, the best thing to do is remove it after each use. Pretty much any food is likely to splatter (trust me, even if you think it won’t) so it’s important to push your thumb against the side of it to lift up. Then, some soapy warm water should do the trick.
Finally, the condensation collector (located at the front of your pot) should be easily removed and hand washed every few weeks with warm water and soap.
How To Clean Instant Pressure Cooker: Step-by-step guide
- Clean exterior with a damp cloth (microfiber will do)
- Use a foam brush to starting cleaning the rim of the pot
- Wash inner pot (either in a dishwasher or by hand)
- Use white vinegar to get rid of any stains
- Wash lid under the tap with soap
- Remove anti-block shield
- Wash under the tap with soap
- Slide condensation collector out
- Wash under the tap with soap
- Leave everything to dry
- Reassemble Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
Cleaning Instant Pressure Cooker: Pro Tips
You might think you know how to keep things clean but, remember, there are plenty of parts to this most wonderful of machines, so keeping on top of things is frankly of the utmost importance.
Use white vinegar to keep your stainless steel as shiny as can be and allowing everything to dry before using again are the best tips I can possibly give you for this. As long as you’re regularly washing the essentials (inner pot and lid) and periodically cleaning the rest, your Instant Pot should be in top condition.
Recommended Products
Aside from the relatively obvious warm water and soap, there are some little bits you can pick up to make your job easier when it comes to keeping your Instant Pot in fine fettle.
It’s always important to
Crucially, they are as effective as steel wool is in lifting burnt-on grease and they can also be used to polish pots and pats into a perfect sheen. Unlike other products, the scour without scratching, removing food particles without damaging the finish to your Instant Pot.
To really get at the stainless steel inner pot and keep meals feeling fresh, metallic pot scrubbers are absolutely perfect for you.
Heinz All Natural Multi-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar 1 Gallon Bottle
With this size bottle, complete with swerving cup measures, you’ll be sorted for an awfully long time.
HOMEST Dust Cover With Pockets For Instant Pot
With that in mind, the HOMEST dust cover is the right product for you. It fits your pot snugly, is stitched with a wipe-clean liner so you don’t need to keep washing the lid once you remove it, and boasts a front pocket to keep any utensils you have laying around the kitchen.
Protecting the Instant Pot from grease and dust from other areas in the kitchen, it’s a must-have for anyone who takes the instant way of life seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Can I put my Instant Pot in the dishwasher?
Yes. But ONLY the inner pot, steam rack, lid, and sealing ring are dishwasher friendly.
-
How do I get rid of rainbow marks on stainless steel?
Rainbow marks often appear on stainless steel when they are frequently washed and, though they are not damaging, they can make your appliance look a little dated.
Luckily enough, they’re easy to get rid of. Pour one cup of vinegar into the inner pot (make sure it’s turned off, sounds obvious but it’s always worth double-checking) and leave to rest for five minutes.
Then, pour it out and rinse the inner pot with warm water and, like magic, you’ll have a lovely shine.
-
Do I need to leave everything to completely dry before putting my Instant Pot back together?
Absolutely, yes.
If you’re busy, you’ll be tempted to reassemble the Instant Pot back in a rush. I get it, we’ve all been there.
However, if you don’t leave it all to dry, you run the risk of some funky odors emerging. Seriously, take the time to let it air out, I cannot recommend that enough.
How To Clean Instant Pressure Cooker: Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article will have helped you really keep your Instant Pot in pristine condition.
By taking care of it and washing all the parts as frequently as possible, your investment will go much further, and probably the most helpful of kitchen appliances will remain by your side for years to come.
Soap, water, and white vinegar are your best friends here. Even if you don’t have a dishwasher, these can wash every single part of your Instant Pressure Cooker, so it’s definitely worth making sure you’re stocked up on washing liquid and vinegar.
Considering its daily use, the Instant Pot is very easy to maintain. Treat it right and it’ll keep cooking healthy meals for years to come, while also simply looking nice sitting on top of your kitchen counter.
One of the most revolutionary products in home cooking is so easy to clean so make sure you keep on top of it. Give it the respect it deserves and it’ll pay you back in more ways than one.
I hope you found this guide helpful and continue to cook great meals in the cleanest of fashions!