How to Clean Your Instant Pot

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If you love your Instant Pot as much as I do, you’re going to want to take good care of it to make sure it lasts forever!

But with all the small pieces and intricate working parts, it can be difficult to know what you should clean and how you should clean your Instant Pot.

If you’re wondering how to clean your Instant Pot, I’m here to help!

Follow these simple steps to keep your Instant Pot clean.

How to Clean Instant Pot

There are a few easy cleaning steps you should take every time you use your Instant Pot. Follow these simple everyday Instant Pot cleaning tips to keep your appliance clean in between uses.

Wash the inner pot

The inner pot of your Instant Pot can be washed with dish soap and warm water or placed in the bottom rack of your dishwasher.

Wash the sealing ring

The sealing ring in the lid of your Instant Pot can collect residue and absorb food odors, so it’s a good idea to wash it after each use. It can be washed with dish soap and water or placed in the top rack of your dishwasher.

Clean the lid

Wash splashes and stuck-on food from the inside of the lid using soap and water.

Clean the exterior

Make sure to remove any spills or stuck-on food from the exterior of your Instant Pot when you’re finished cooking. Use a wet dish cloth or sponge to wipe down the exterior of the pot.

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How to Deep Clean Your Instant Pot

In addition to keeping your Instant Pot clean after each use, it’s also a good idea to deep clean the appliance every few weeks – especially if you use your Instant Pot to cook on a regular basis.

Deep cleaning your Instant Pot will not only help keep the appliance in good working order, but it also helps prevent stubborn food odors from sticking around after cooking and from keeping food residue from building up in the pot’s inner mechanisms.

Follow these easy steps to deep clean your Instant Pot:

Unplug the Instant Pot

Make sure you’re safely cleaning the Instant Pot by removing the plug from the back of the appliance. Simply pull the plug from the back of the Instant Pot to remove it.

Wash Inner Pot and Accessories

Remove the inner pot from the inside of the Instant Pot and hand wash it with soap and water or place it in the bottom rack of the dishwasher. After the inner pot is clean, wipe the inside and outside of the pot with vinegar to remove detergent residue and help keep the pot shiny. If you have accessories, like a steam basket or cooking rack, wash those as well.

Clean the Exterior

Start cleaning the exterior, or housing unit, of your Instant Pot by removing crumbs and debris from all the nooks and crannies using a small brush. Dust the crumbs out of the Instant Pot, then use a wet washcloth to wipe down the outside of the housing unit. Next, use a cloth to wipe the inside of the housing unit, as well. As you clean the inside, be sure to wring excess water out of your washcloth before wiping to avoid standing water inside the unit.

Wash the Lid

Use a soapy washcloth or sponge to hand wash the lid of the Instant Pot. Be sure to get into the small cracks and grooves to remove stuck-on residue. Then, remove the smaller parts from the lid to clean in those spaces, as well.

Quick Release Handle

Remove the small black handle from the top of the lid by pulling it straight up. Wash it with warm, soapy water. Dry it with a dry towel and place it back on the lid.

The steam valve shield.

Depending on the model of your Instant Pot, the steam valve shield, which is located on the inside of the lid, will either pop off or screw off. Remove it from the lid and wash it with warm soapy water. Dry the shield and place it back on the Instant Pot.

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Sealing ring

Remove the sealing ring from inside the lid and inspect it for damage. If no damage is noticed, clean with warm, soapy water and dry it thoroughly before placing it back on the lid. If you do see damage, order a replacement immediately.

Condensation cup

Check the condensation collection cup on the side of your Instant Pot. Wash it with warm, soapy water, dry it, and replace it.

Deodorizing the Instant Pot

Whether you cooked a potent meal or found a funny smell inside your Instant Pot, you may want to deodorize your pressure cooker from time to time.

Luckily, deodorizing your Instant Pot is simple and uses common ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

To remove odors from your Instant Pot, fill the inner pot with one cup of water, one cup of vinegar, and the peel of one lemon.

Set the Instant Pot to “steam” for two minutes, then do a natural pressure release.

When the lid unlocks, remove it and take out the sealing ring. Rinse and dry the inner pot and lid and allow the sealing ring to air dry before placing it back in the Instant Pot lid.