How To Seal Instant Pot

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Inspecting Your Instant Pot Before Each Use

An In-depth Look at Instant Pot Sealing Ring

1. Remove the stainless steel inner pot and look inside the instant pot base. You will see the heating element. The heating element should always be free of debris and dry before you use you the Instant Pot. After washing, I always dry my stainless steel inner pot thoroughly before returning it to the base unit.

2. Check that the silicone sealing ring is fitted properly onto the lid and is clean and free of tears.

3. Remove the steam release valve from the Instant Pot lid by gently pulling it straight up. Make sure it is clean and free of debris. Some foods, such as applesauce, pasta and oatmeal may froth and foam when you cook them and can clog the steam release valve. Check the steam release valve each time you use your Instant Pot. If it is dirty clean it under running water and then put it back on the Instant Pot lid.

4. Check the float valve to ensure it is clean and free of debris. Clean it with warm water as needed. You may place the lid under running water as needed to wash it.

Making sure that all parts of your Instant Pot are clean and in good working condition can help you to have the best success with pressure cooking. My post about the Instant Pot burn message tells you both how to prevent getting this warning and what to do if you do get a burn message.

Cleaning In The Dishwasher

While the sealing ring is dishwasher-safe, your best bet is to use the steaming method outlined above regularly to keep the ring clean and odor-free. If its been a while since you last cleaned the sealing ring , the dishwasher will certainly give it a good cleaning, but it might not completely get the odor out.

More About the Instant Pot

Instant Pot Rice Setting

This button is made for cooking medium and long-grain white rice. The Rice setting uses low pressure and a 10-minute natural release is recommended for perfect results, however, we found that 2-3 minutes natural release followed by quick release is sufficient. Below is how to use the Rice setting on Instant Pot.

  • Turn the Instant Pot on, it will say OFF to indicate the Stand-By mode. Add rice, water or stock and seasoning if you wish. Secure and lock the lid. Press the Rice button. The default setting is pre-programmed to set the pot to cook at Low pressure for 12 minutes, which is suitable for slightly larger rice kernels. If you press the button again, you can adjust the mode from Normal to Less or More .
  • Less mode 8 minutes at Low pressure tender but firm to bite texture great for thinner white rice such as Basmati and Jasmine rice.
  • Normal mode 12 minutes at Low pressure for normal texture white rice great for regular medium to long-grain white rice and for more al dente Arborio risotto rice.
  • More mode 15 minutes at Low pressure for softer texture white rice great for slightly softer risotto.

If desired, use the / + buttons to further customize the time. The cooking time may be adjusted at any time during pressure cooking.

RICE COOKING TIPS

1 cup of dry white rice usually yields 3 cups of cooked rice.

The perfect grain to water ratio is 1 cup white rice to 1.25 cups liquid if cooking risotto rice, the ratio is 1 cup Arborio rice to 2 cups liquid .

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How To Cook Pasta In An Instant Pot

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Everybody loves pasta, but nobody loves having to use half the pots and pans in the kitchen to get it ready. With an Instant Pot, all you need is a single piece of cookware and about 10 minutes. Just throw your pasta and sauce of choice into the Instant Pot, along with 3½-4 cups of water. Secure the lid and set the manual timer to 4-8 minutes. Once the pot beeps, release the pressure valve and give everything a good stir. Youll have dinner on the table in less time than it takes to boil a pot of water!

How To Use Your Instant Pot As A Slow Cooker

Instant Pot Ultra 60 10
  • Prep your food. Cut, chop, or season the ingredients according to the recipe.
  • Place the lid on the pot. Again, a tempered glass lid will work best for this purpose but you can use the standard lid if that’s all you have available.
  • Press the Slow Cook button. If you have the 3-quart version, it’s on the bottom right side, under the Steam button.
  • Set the time. Set the cooking duration between 30 minutes and 20 hours with the + and buttons under the time display.
  • Press the Adjust button. It’s in the bottom center section on the 3-quart version, next to Timer and above Manual. You can choose “Normal,””More,” and “Less.” These correspond to medium, high, and low on a traditional Crock-Pot.
  • Cook. Cooking will start automatically 10 seconds after the last button is pressed. When your recipe is finished cooking, the Instant Pot will beep and transition automatically to “Keep Warm” for 10 hours.
  • Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Burn Food Message

    Install Instant Pot Condensation Collector

    If your Instant Pot came with 2 plastic cups, the round plastic cup is a Rice Measuring Cup. The flat plastic cup is an instant pot condensation collector.

    How to Install Instant Pot Condensation Collector? Find the slot at the back of Instant Pot, then slide it right in .

    *Pro Tip: be sure to check & rinse the condensation cup once in a while.

    Do I Need To Adjust My Recipes At Higher Altitude

    The short answer is yes. Some Instant Pot models e.g. Ultra and MAX will allow you to set your altitude and the cooking times will be automatically adjusted for you. Otherwise, cooking should be adjusted 5% for every 1,000 feet above 2,000 ft. above sea level. So, for example, at 3,000 ft., you will increase cooking time by 5% and at 4,000 ft., you will increase cooking time by 10% and so forth. One of our team members has lived at many varying high elevations and personally, I have never run into altitude-related issues with my Duo model.

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    Instant Pot Parts And Accessories

  • Base Unit this contains the heating element.
  • Stainless Steel Inner Pot fits into the base unit.
  • Lid the look of the lid varies between Instant Pot models.
  • Steam Release Valve this fits on the top of the lid and may already be attached.
  • Condensation Collector attach this to the back of your Instant Pot.
  • Trivet be sure to keep this, as you will use it often.
  • Power Cord removable in some Instant Pot models.
  • Measuring Cup & Utensils These come with the Instant Pot. I use my own measuring cups and utensils instead of these.
  • The first thing youll want to do is wash the parts of your Instant Pot. The Instant Pot lid, steam release valve and stainless steel inner pot are dishwasher safe however, I wash mine by hand. The base unit is not dishwasher safe never immerse the base unit in water.

    A Few Final Important Tips

    How to Help Your Instant Pot Seal
    • Remember to use COLD water in your Instant Pot. If you use warm water, the amount of time that it takes the IP to come to pressure may change and that will result in a different cooking time.
    • The rice function cooks at LOW pressure, not high pressure. Therefore if you are cooking a recipe that cooks at High Pressure for 12 minutes , do NOT be tempted to hit the rice function.
    • What if your recipe does not have liquid in it? What if you want to bake a dessert or custard in your Instant Pot? This is when cooking Pot in Pot, or PIP, is necessary. To cook pot in pot is basically placing another pot inside the instant pot on a trivet to cook. Here are the Step by Step directions for Cooking Pot in Pot in the Pressure Cooker.
    • Check out all my Healthy Instant Pot Recipes for a perfect place to start cooking recipes for your pressure cooker.

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    Make Sure Your Vent In Set To Sealing

    This is key. On your lid there is a vent that looks like a lever of sorts. When starting your cook, you want this lever pointing toward sealing and not venting. Sealing means the Instant Pot is going to hold all the pressure created inside the pot, while venting is what youll likely do to release the pressure when the food is finished cooking.

    Check Silicone Sealing Ring

    How to install sealing ring on Instant Pot? Put the sealing ring on top of the rack on the Instant Pot lid, then gently run your fingers along the ring as you push it into the rack.

    Its criticalto ensure the silicone sealing ring is seated properly, and there isnt anything stuck on the ring or rack.

    *Caution: Never pull the ring by force as it may stretch or damage the ring and affect the sealing function. Dont use it if it has cracks, cuts, or any other damages.

    Do you need a spare sealing ring? Its always good to have a spare Silicone Sealing Ring because they do wear and tear. Plus, the ring may get stinky as it absorbs food odors over time. If you like, you can dedicate 1 Sealing Ring for Savory food, and the other for Sweets.

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    How To Naturally Release The Pressure

    If a recipe calls for a natural release, youll do nothing when the cooking cycle is complete. For most recipes, it will take 10-15 minutes for the pressure to naturally leave the pot.

    I like it when recipes tell you exactly how long to wait for the natural release. In all of my recipes in The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook, I tell you exactly how long to wait and when that time has passed you can move the steam release valve from Sealing to Venting to release any remaining pressure. That way youre not waiting around for an extra 30 minutes or more to eat your dinner!

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    Clean Instant Pot Base

    Instant Pot Beginner Manual

    Much like a slow cooker, the base of your pressure cooker contains the heating element and electronic components, so this part should never be submerged in water or placed in the dishwasher. To clean the Instant Pot base, wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth to remove crumbs or food splatters. If you need to clean the inside of the cooking base, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe it down and dry the interior immediately. Clean the recessed area around the lip of the base with a small scrubbing brush or toothbrush to remove any stuck-on food.

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    Instant Pot Setup: Cooking Pot Cord And Condensation Collector

    The cooking pot of the Instant Pot. This is where the cooking happens. You never want to run the Instant Pot without the insert in place.

    With a three-ply bottom made of layers of stainless steel, aluminum, and stainless steel, the insert heats evenly. I love that doesnt have a nonstick coating and that it handles sautéing really well.

    Theres one problem with the Instant Pot cooking insert: the max fill lines markings are INCORRECT for pressure cooking.

    When using the Instant Pot for pressure cooking, never fill the pot more than 2/3 full or 1/2 full if youre making foods that release a lot of liquid. If a pressure cooker contains too much liquid, the hot liquid can spray out of the pressure release valve, causing severe burns. As long as you respect the maximum fill on a pressure cooker, youll be fine.

    I find the markings to be very confusing and have reached out to Instant Pot to inquire why the max fill line is too high for pressure cooking, If I hear back, Ill update this page.

    To make cleanup easy, the insert is dishwasher safe. However, I tend to just add some soapy water and let it soak while we eat dinner. It wipes out easily even without a nonstick coating.

    But first

    insert the cord. In my experience, the pot doesnt work well when its not plugged in.

    Manual Pressure Cook With Quick Release Or Npr

    Many Instant Pot users almost always use manual settings. While Smart Program buttons are handy, cooking instructions can vary for different types of rice, smaller or larger beans, and soup with or without meat. With manual settings, you have more control over the time and pressure level. Here is how to use the Instant Pot with manual pressure cooker settings.

    Step 1. Star the Instant Pot as mentioned above.

    Step 2. Add food, seasoning and liquid to the pot. The liquid can be cold or hot hotter liquids take less time to heat up so the Instant Pot comes to pressure quicker. Stir if needed.

    Note on stirring: If adding tomato sauce or paste, keep them on the top and dont stir too much as these foods can sometimes thicken and burn during cooking again, this depends if water and stock are also added as when diluted, its less of a problem.

    Step 3. Get your lid and quickly check that the sealing ring on the inside is in place. If its loose or sticks out, the pot might not seal properly and it will not be able to come to pressure. Place it on top and twist it until it locks in place.

    Step 4. On older models like Duo Classic, check that the steam release handle on top of the lid is pointing to Sealing. On the more advanced models of the Instant Pot, the vent will automatically seal when the cooking process begins. On the Duo Nova the quick release button should be popped up and not pressed down.

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    Always Deglaze The Pot

    If use the Sauté function on your Instant Pot before pressure cooking something, its essential that you deglaze the bottom of the pot. This simply means that you add a splash of water to the pot and use a wooden spoon to scrape off anything that might be stuck to the bottom. Onions, dried spices, and ground meat are common ingredients that will stick to the bottom of your pan, so its important that you get every little bit un-stuck to avoid getting the dreaded burn error during your pressure cooking cycle.

    Once you become familiar with your Instant Pot, making dinner can be as easy as adding your ingredients to the pot, pressing a button, and walking away. I love how the process is totally hands-off! Check out my earlier post, 6 ways I use my Instant Pot, to see how I use it on a real-life, regular basis.

    How To Remove Lingering Smells From The Instant Pot Silicone Ring

    Instant Pot Sealing Ring – how to remove and replace

    Sometimes, if your meal is incredibly pungent, the smell will linger in the silicone ring of the Instant Pot. Here are some ways to get rid of the smell:

    • Store the lid upside down with the silicone ring when not in use. Airing it out will help get rid of the smell.
    • Leave it outside in the sun for a while. You can also coat it with some baking soda. This seems to work for some people. Just make sure that wildlife or pets can’t get to it.
    • Soak the ring in white vinegar diluted with water for about an hour.
    • Run a steam cycle in the Instant Pot for a few minutes with some white vinegar, water, and lemon rinds.

    That’s all there is to it! It’s recommended to take the silicone ring out each time when you wash the lid, especially if the food you cooked is pretty strong. If you have the colored rings, you should use one strictly for savory foods, and the other for desserts, so that you don’t transfer over any unwanted savory smells to your sweet desserts.

    The silicone ring won’t last forever , but it’s the most crucial part of the Instant Pot. The silicone ring is what seals in the steam to cook under pressure. If it’s not sealing properly, you must replace it. Otherwise, nothing will come to pressure, no matter how much liquid you put in there .

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    Instant Pot Cleaning Guide Summary

    Dishwasher Safe Parts: Instant Pot Liner , Instant Pot Sealing Ring, Trivet

    • Exterior: Never immerse the exterior housing in water or any other liquid
    • Rim: Clean the rim with a foam brush
    • Inner Pot: Remove the rainbow stains with White Vinegar or Bar Keepers Friend
    • Lid: Wash lid with warm soapy water
    • Instant Pot Parts: Periodically rinse the Anti-Block Shield, Steam Release Valve, Condensation Collector if necessary
    • Silicone Sealing Ring: Remove odors with White Vinegar or get an extra pair of Silicone Sealing Ring

    Instant Pot Cleaning was easy, wasnt it?

    Using The Wrong Steam

    The Instant Pot uses pressurized steam to cook food. That steam has to be safely released before you can open your appliance and remove your finished meal.

    “It’s important to follow your recipe to know which way to release the steam. Manual or quick release is not the best option for recipes with a lot of liquid or high starch content, like rice and oatmeal, which may splatter out of the pressure release,” said Wolner.

    It’s also important to follow instructions when a recipe notes that you should use the quick-release function rather than allow the Instant Pot to depressurize over time.

    Using the quick-release means the food inside the appliance won’t become overcooked. Letting the Instant Pot release steam naturally is a better option for meals that include tougher cuts of meat or legumes you want to soften.

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