Sunny Home Creations

  • Kitchen & Recipes
  • Clean & Organize
  • Household
  • Family
    • pregnancy & birth
    • Kids
  • Gardening

March 11, 2021 · Leave a Comment

How to Clean Your Instant Pot

Instant Pot· Kitchen Tips

Sharing is caring!

32 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

This post may have affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a purchase, we will be paid a commission at no additional cost to you.

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.

Sponge wiping down the top of the inside of an Instant Pot.

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.

RELATED: Instant Pot Meat Times Printable Cheat sheet
RELATED: Instant Pot Desserts

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

Brush at the top of an open Instant Pot.

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

Sponge wiping down the lid of an Instant Pot.

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

Soapy lid, sponge, and the 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.

Backside of the Instant Pot lid, below is a sponge and 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.

RELATED: Must Have Instant Pot Accessories
RELATED: Best Instant Pot Recipes

Sealing ring

Kitchen towel, inner sealing ring, and a sponge.

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.

Author

  • Jenny

    Jenny is a homeschooling Mom to 3 active boys. She lives in an old 1915 farmhouse and loves it.

    View all posts

Sharing is caring!

32 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Previous Post: « Easy, Old-Fashioned Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Next Post: Ham and Cheese Bowtie Pasta Salad »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Use the Buttons on Your Instant Pot
  • How to Cut Green Onions
  • How to Shred Carrots
  • How to Cook Canned Corn
  • Ham and Cheese Bowtie Pasta Salad

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 Sunny Home Creations

32 shares