How Often Do You Need To Clean An Instant Pot
Every part that comes into contact with food must be washed after using your Instant Pot to prevent food or odor buildup. This includes the inner cooking pot, steam rack, and lid components such as the sealing ring and anti-block shield.
Other pieces that rarely get dirty, such as the exterior or the condensation cup, can be cleaned occasionally or when necessary.
The outer unit, including the heating element, can be wiped clean. However, take extra care because water will damage the outer unit if it gets inside.
Don’t Forget To Clean The Condensation Cup
Most models of Instant Pot come fitted with a small plastic cup that’s meant to collect the condensed steam that the pot produces during cooking . It’s not strictly necessary, but it’s nice to not have to wipe a little puddle off of your counter every time you use your pressure cooker. It’s such a minor part of the Instant Pot experience that it’s easy to forget it’s there. Don’t sleep on your condensation cup though, because not cleaning it could have dire consequences.
Darcy Lenz at MyRecipes relates a terrifying experience her friend had when they failed to clean their damp condensation collector . A full colony of ants had taken up residence in the cup, feasting on the starchy water that had collected from repeated Instant Pot use. It’s like something out of a horror movie. This guide from Country Living tells you how to clean the condenser cup as well as the rest of your Instant Pot to prevent it from becoming a wildlife habitat.
Clean The Cooker Base
Never put the cooker base in water.
To clean, wipe down the inside of the cooker base with a damp microfiber cloth. Make sure to get any debris out of the bottom of the cooker base and around the heating element.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe out the lid locking channel. If theres any dried on gunk, clean with an old toothbrush.
Wipe down the outside of the cooker base and the cord, then wipe the entire base dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
Wash and dry the condensation collection cup and set it aside.
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The Most Common Instant Pot Problems And How To Fix Them
The Instant Pot is a highly versatile appliance that can save time and energy in the kitchen. While the best Instant Pots are intuitive, these multifunctional pressure cookers can be confusing too. If youre running up against issues like a bad smell lingering in your Instant Pot or trouble with the timer, youre not alone. Most of the problems youre seeing are likely pretty easy to correct when you know what to look for.
We have the best tips, tricks, and hacks to solve some common Instant Pot problems.
Cleaning The Instant Pot Exterior
The exterior of the Instant Pot is where the heating unit is located. It must always be clear of food debris. Never allow moisture inside the heating unit and never run it under water or submerge it. After removing the liner for cleaning, a simple wipe down with a damp cloth inside and out will keep it working well. Make sure to follow with a soft, dry cloth to remove all excess moisture and to prevent rust from forming. Contact the manufacturer immediately if you notice water inside your cooker.
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Q Help I Accidentally Submerged My Instant Pot Lid In Water And Now The Lid Will Not Lock And The Pin Will Not Work The Pin Is Stuck Down Any Suggestions
A. First of all, dont panic! Your Instant Pot pressure cooker lid is designed to get wet. In fact, its actually dishwasher safe! Here are the detailed steps on how to wash your lid parts and fix a stubborn pin.
Learn the Instant Pot and how to cook our favorite recipes in the new Instant Pot Master Class.
How To Get Rid Of Burnt Off Instant Pot
Burning happens frequently when using an instant pot leaving it with unsightly scorch marks. To get rid of such tough stains:
Pour 4 cups of water in the base of the inner pot and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking soda.Replace the lid and pressure cook for 5 minutes.Let the pressure release naturally.Remove the inner pot and wash it with soap and water.Rinse and let it dry completely.
Now, your Instant Pot will look and smell good as new again!
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The Pot Is Showing A Burn Message
This usually happens when the sensors think the pot in danger of burning your food . Often, this means that theres not enough liquid in the pot, or that the liquid hasnt reached all the bottom corners of the pot, which is easy to fix. You may also need to let your pot cool down if youve been sautéing on high heat for a while. For more complex meals, layer your starches and sauces on top of other ingredients to create a barrier between them and the bottom heater. Also, elevating meats using the cooking rack can help. Finally, if you have sautéed a liquid sauce or similar ingredient, make sure no bits are stuck to the pot before you move on to the next task.
My Pot Is Kind Of Stinky
The rubberized sealing ring of the Instant Pot can absorb odors easily, especially when pressure cooking. If you are cooking a particularly pungent meal, the ring may retain the smell, which is annoying when making a different meal. Garlic smells may be the most common, but it can happen over time with a variety of odors.
If the odor is causing problems, take your sealing ring out and try washing it in the dishwasher. This can remove some of the worst of the smell and get the ring back into working order. You may also want to try soaking it in a pan of warm water mixed with baking soda to absorb as much of the odor as you can. Some people even choose to purchase a spare sealing ring and use one for meals and one for desserts.
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Clean The Lid Assembly
Scrub the underside of the lid with a wet, soapy sponge, paying special attention to the sealing ring rack and exhaust valve. Use an old toothbrush to remove any caked on food particles from these areas.
Wash the top side of the lid and check around the exhaust valve and float valve for any food particles. Clean with a toothbrush as needed.
Rinse the soap off, wipe the lid dry, and set it aside.
The Lid Wont Come Off
First, make sure enough steam has been released after pressure cooking. Whether you choose a natural pressure release or quick release, give the Pot time to get rid of the steam and cool down. Remember, Instant Pots are designed to be extra-safe, so the pot wont let you open the lid with too much pressure still inside the pot. A little bit of patience can often fix this issue.
Otherwise, the lid probably wont come off because the steam release button is stuck. If youre sure all of the pressure has been released from the pot, use a spoon handle and tap the button beside the release valve.
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Cleaning Shiny Part Of Instant Pot Lid
When it comes to cleaning the stainless steel lid of the Instant Pot, both inside and outside, you can, again, clean with hot soapy water.
However, if there is some hard water spots, or discolorations, I always recommend Bar Keepers Friend.
The regular can powder will work great, but if you prefer, you can also use the one designed for cleaning pots and pans, or grab the stainless steel cleaner, which will also work great for cleaning the outside of the Instant Pot base.
For more about that, see my last post about cleaning Instant Pots.
I hope you can keep enjoying your instant pot, even more now that it is sparkling clean!
For more great kitchen cleaning tips, check out the following posts:
Removing Discoloration From Your Stainless Steel Inner Pot
Like most stainless steel pots, Instant Pots inner pot does not have a chemical coating and can develop bluish discoloration. Heat and oxidation can cause a range of colors from blue to a rainbow of tints. Fortunately, its easy to clean. A non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner works well and leaves a nice shine.
Another option is to pour white vinegar into the pot, let it sit for five minutes and rinse thoroughly. For white water stains, use a soft cloth or sponge with vinegar or lemon to gently scrub them away. Never use steel wool or other abrasive scrubbers that can damage the stainless steel.
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This Cleaning Hack Leaves Your Instant Pot Sparkling In Just A Few Steps
A common pet peeve that comes with using instant pots is the transfer of certain food smells onto other meals. For example, picture having your boiled rice stink of onions and curry from the previous day’s cooking. That is unpalatable and unfortunately, it can happen very often and last for very long if you don’t learn the proper way to deep clean your instant pot.
First, here’s a 4-step guide to clean your Instant Pot:
Guide To Cleaning Instant Pot Lids
There are several parts to the Instant Pot lids. They include the:
- Sealing Ring
- Anti-Block Shield
- Steam Release Handle
- Lid itself
While you do not need to remove all the individual Instant Pot lid pieces every time you wash your Instant Pot lid, it is a good idea to do it every so often, maybe every month or two, depending on how frequently you use your Instant Pot.
Each item can be removed from the Instant Pot lids, simply by pulling them straight up and off, and deep cleaned individually.
Im going to tell you how. All of it is explained in the video below, or continue reading.
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Instant Pot Cleaning And Care
If you own an Instant Pot, you understand why it has become a popular kitchen item. This handy appliance makes mealtime quick and easy. It can do everything from cooking rice to baking a cheesecake. Instant Pot forums and websites have popped up across the internet, allowing fans to share recipes and tips, and offer jubilant praise for the electric pressure cooker. One of the advantages of the Instant Pot is that it keeps clean-up to a minimum because your entire meal is typically created in one single pot.
Instant Pots simple recipes, and quick-cooking times make weekday dinners a little less hectic. The Instant Pot is relatively easy to clean, and it should be cleaned regularly and thoroughly to keep it sanitary and working properly. Basic clean-up of the interior pot, lid, and liner are a must after every use. An occasional deep-clean will ensure that your Instant Pot stays in tip-top condition and that it will be around for a long time to come.
Before cleaning, make sure to unplug your Instant Pot and remove the cord. While many of the cookers components are dishwasher safe, the main heating unit should never be submerged in water. You also need to completely dry all parts of the cooker before reassembling. The Instant Pot is an electric appliance, so always use caution when cleaning and dont allow water to contact any of the electric elements. Check out these instant pot cleaning tips.
Do I Need To Clean The Lid Every Time Complete Disassembly Or Is It Only Water Steam Touching The Lid How Often Should Lid Be Cleaned
Id recommend cleaning it every time. Just pop the ring out and rinse the ring off with a bit of soap and hot water. Take a wet sponge to the inside and rim of the lid. Rinse the valve under running water.
If you dont do this several things happen. First, it picks up the smells and taste of previous meals. Second and more importantly, if you dont pop the ring out and clean it food can get trapped on and under the ring, making it not seal right. Third, just clean your cooking tools because having spatter and bits of old food on them is gross!
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The Pot Is Getting Streaky Or Cloudy
If you spotted streaks or clouds inside your pot after your first couple of uses, thats normal. Fats and oils tend to cause stainless steel to stain a bit . Fortunately, those stains wont affect your cooking at all, but they could be difficult to remove when hand washing. The pot is dishwasher safe, so try running it with your other kitchenware to remove streaks and smudges. Another solution is to mix a bit of vinegar on the residue to bring back the pots original shine.
What Is The Benefit Of Having Multiple Sealing Rings For My Instant Pot
I use my Instant Pot for all sorts of recipes. Everything from ribs to cupcakes, and those two things do not mix!
I dont want cupcakes that smell or tastes like ribs and vice versa. An easy way to avoid the odd smells and mixing of flavors is to follow the steam cleaning process and keep one on hand for each flavor profile that you use regularly.
You can get a three pack of Instant Pot sealing rings on Amazon. Assign each a color for sweet, savory, and neutral items like sanitizing, hard boiling eggs, pasta, etc.
Looking for more great Instant Pot tips?
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Stainless Steel Inner Pot And Rack
The inner pot and the steam rack are made of food-grade stainless steel and are dishwasher safe. For the most part, you can clean the inner pot just as you would clean any stainless steel pot, whether thats in the dishwasher or by hand. If the inner pot develops surface water stains, a non-abrasive scouring cleaner made for cooking pots will bring back its shine.
You can also perform a quick cleaning of the inner pot by pouring in a cup of white vinegar, letting it soak for five minutes and then rinsing it out. Not only will the vinegar get rid of residue, it also helps remove stains. White vinegar is a natural disinfectant, cleaner and deodorizer, and it is an eco-friendly must-have for your kitchen.
How To Clean Instant Pot Lid
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If you have a knack for kitchenware, we are pretty sure that you have heard about the multi-purpose pressure cooker that has swept the cooking industry by its roots. Yes, we are talking about the Instant Pot. Well, if you have already joined the Instant Pot bandwagon, we are pretty sure that you are all excited about experimenting with it for different recipes. However, the conundrum of cleaning is something we all dread. So, if you want to know how to clean Instant Pot lid, we have added the instructions in this article!
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Common Instant Pot Problems And How To Fix Them
Here are some troubleshooting tips for when your Instant Pot is acting up.
My Instant Pot is a huge part of my kitchen. I use it all the time. It can cook dinner in a matter of minutes, make complicated recipes seem easier and makes cleaning after meals much less painful.
So when it stops working as normal, I’ll admit that chaos ensues. I figured out how to troubleshoot the most common Instant Pot problems and have found that most are easy fixes. Here’s what you need to know to keep your Instapot up and running, too.
These tips are for most Instant Pot Models, including the popular Instant Pot Duo options. Make sure to always consult the user manual for your specific model to troubleshoot.
Clean Your Instant Pot Sealing Ring
The sealing ring is made of durable, heat-resistant silicone that provides the air-tight seal thats critical for your Instant Pot to work properly. You can hand wash the sealing ring with warm, soapy water or run it through the dishwasher. Wait until the sealing ring is dry before replacing it in the correct position.
Another option is to steam clean the sealing ring while its still attached to your Instant Pot. Add one cup of water, a cup of white vinegar and one cut up lemon rind. Run the Steam program for two minutes, then remove the sealing ring and let it air dry.
The sealing ring is critical for maintaining the right pressure in your Instant Pot. Scrutinize it for cracking or tears after each wash. If you see any damage, you should install a new sealing ring. The manufacturer suggests using only genuine Instant Pot sealing rings, as using those from other brands may void your warranty.
Since silicone can pick up food odors and discolorations during cooking, you may want to use one sealing ring for spicy foods and another for sweet foods. An easy solution for getting rid of sealing ring odor is to soak the ring in white vinegar and let it air dry.
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Cleaning The Sealing Ring
The Instant Pots sealing ring is the key part to keeping the Instant Pots pressure, which is what allows it to cook so quickly. Keeping the ring clean ensures it wont fail in the middle of your meal prep.
While it is dishwasher safe, the sealing ring can also be hand-washed with soap and warm water.
There are two important things to remember when washing the sealing ring:
One of the downsides of the sealing ring is how it can absorb odors after extended use. This can affect the taste of foods prepared in the Instant Pot.
Instapottin with Poonam has an easy way to deodorize the sealing ring. Simply mix one cup of water with one cup of white vinegar into a large bowl. Put in the sealing ring and let it sit overnight. Then, the next morning, wash the ring with soap and water. Once its rinsed, allow the sealing ring to air dry.
Many Instant Pot usersand even the manufacturerrecommend having two different sealing rings: one for sweet dishes and one for savory dishes.
