Instant Pot Mini Mitts
Reaching into the Instant Pot puts your hands right in the way of scalding-hot steam, putting potholders in danger of getting wet. And while a pair of tongs can get jars, pans, steamers, or even halved acorn squash out of the pot, its all too easy for them to lose their grip.
Enter these mini mitts!
Theyre substantial enough to protect your hands from the ample steam a pressure cooker produces, but not so thick theyre ungainly . I often lift hot inserts or steamer baskets out of my cooker, and these made it by far less nerve-wracking.
Emma Christensen
Aozita Multipurpose Stackable Egg Steamer
One of my favorite uses for the Instant Pot is making hard-boiled eggs. The shells practically fall off when you go to the peel them. But sometimes you’ll crack an egg or two as they roll around in the inner pot or on the trivet.
This stackable trivet is specially designed to hold eggs in place as they steam. It also gives you the ability to cook up to 18 large eggs in one six-quart Instant Pot.
Buy It: Aozita Multipurpose Stackable Egg Steamer, $18
Sealing Rings Red And Blue
Extra gasketsor, as they call them here, sealing ringsare a huge plus. I recommend them to anyone who uses an Instant Pot once a week or more. Have you ever made chili and then had that chili smell lurk in the gasket for ages? And you want to make cheesecake and not have it tinged with chili? There are hacks that supposedly get rid of the lingering odor, but Ive tried them, and none of them work.
Having two gaskets on hand is the best solution. Theyre color-coded so you can remember: use red for chili/curry/etc., blue for delicates.
Plus, if you store your IP correctly and use it a lot, the gaskets can stretch out and the pot wont come to pressure. This way, you always have an extra on deck.
Coco Morante
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Ramekins Are Great In The Instant Pot
Dont forget that you probably have some ramekins or mini baking dishes in your cabinet that you can use. Also tea cups work great too if they are oven-safe.
When you use odd shaped dishes you may need to use a plate retriever or use silicone bands or aluminum foil to be able to remove some of these dishes easily.
Accessories You Need For Your Instant Pot
While the Instant Pot is a genius machine all on its own, there are lots of extra accessories you need for your Instant Pot that will revolutionize the way you cook.
The Instant Pot changed my way of cooking dramatically. I use it practically every night, because it cooked nearly everything in a fraction of the time and all in one pot. Do you have one yet? If not, read our guide to help you decide if an Instant Pot is right for you. It also includes a comparision of the models you can buy.
» You might be interested in these 19 Easy Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes.
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However, as much as I thought the pot was helping me be a more efficient cook, it wasnt until I expanded its capability with extra Instant Pot accessories that I realized just how much impact it could have on my cooking.
If you have an Instant Pot already, or are thinking of getting one, you absolutely must read on to see all the creative and incredibly useful ways this machine can save you time.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Know If My Instant Pot Is Cooking
Why Use An Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. And there are many accessories that will help you get more out of your Instant Pot.
If you dont have one yet, check out our guide on which one to buy. You can also check out our Instant Pot page for more information.
Silikong Silicone Steamer Basket
Unlike wire mesh baskets that can trap food inside and take up much-needed cabinet space, this food-grade silicone steamer basket is easy to clean, and it’s foldable for easy storage. Forget rusting, denting, or breaking, the silicone material makes for top-notch durability. And the long, easy-to-grip handles allow you to pull whatever you’re steaming directly out of the inner pot with ease. Use the steamer basket to steam anything from vegetables to dumplings and more.
Buy It: Silikong Silicone Steamer Basket, $20
Also Check: How To Make Pasta In The Instant Pot
Slow Cook In Your Instant Pot
If you plan on slow cooking in your Instant Pot take a look at my post How to Slow Cook in Your Instant Pot.
You dont have to have a tempered glass lid. Personally, I use one because I like to peek in and I know the evaporation will be a little closer to a traditional slow cooker.
One thing to note is that I do not recommend making slow cooker baking recipes or slow cooker recipes that call for dried beans. The baked goods just dont work the same in the extra moist environment and the cooking times on dry beans using the Instant Pot slow cooker setting is not consistent.
Genuine Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid
This glass lid is great for containing splatters and keeping an eye on your meal when youre using non-pressurized settings like Sauté and Slow Cook. Just set the glass lid right on top of the inner pot to keep your kitchen counters clean and prevent your food from drying out while it cooks. This could be my #1 favorite Instant Pot accessory of all!
Read Also: Can The Instant Pot Go On The Stove
Instant Pot Accessories That Are Worth It
Price: From $63. Buy at:, Best Buy, and Target.The air-fryer lid combines two of the most popular countertop appliancesmulti-cookers and air fryersinto a cooker that can do it all. The lid fits on top of the Instant Pot, turning it into a mini convection oven that adds roasting, baking, broiling, reheating, and dehydrating functions to the multi-cookers already long list of programs. But while it saves you from buying yet another space-hogging appliance, its not exactly compact: Its 11 inches wide and 7 inches tall. And its not compatible with all Instant Pot models, so be sure to check here before you buy.
The lid comes with an air-fryer basket that you slip into the Instant Pots stainless steel inner pot. The downside is that the 3.5-quart basket is quite small. It may not make sense for large families, but its just right for couples or people cooking for one, or if youre willing to do multiple batches.
Though you need the basket to crisp up fries, you can use the air-fryer lid with just the Instant Pots stainless steel pot to brown and bake. I pressure-cooked a whole chicken in the stainless steel pot and swapped out the lid for the air-fryer lid to crisp up the skin. The result was a tender, juicy chicken with golden-brown skin.
Cooking Multiple Layers Is The Best Thing Ever
One thing I love to do is to cook multiple dishes at the same time. Think about cooking rice and a veggie curry all at the same time!
You can do this as simply as stacking Pyrex containers on top of the rack that comes with your Instant Pot. I use these 3-cup Pyrex rectangle dishes. Instead of using the lids, I covered the tops with foil and stacked them like plus signs. I was able to fit 3 in at a time.
I was able to get some stackable stainless steel containers that even had an insert rack. At first there was only one, but now Amazon has a few that are made with quality stainless steel.
Here are a few that are specially for 3 -quart electric multi-cookers: 3 quart Ekovana, Swish Abode, or Stack and Cook are the ones Ive tried so far.
Recommended Reading: 6 Quart Instant Pot Ultra
Best Accessories For Your Instant Pot
Using stacking containers allows you to cook different foods in the separate containers. If youre making a complete dinner, you will be able to cook all the components at the same time, rather than one at a time.
This is super useful for dishes like:
- Beef and broccoli
- Fish and green beans
- Chicken and stuffing
You can also cook foods in these stackable containers that you wouldnt be able to put directly into the bottom of the pot because they dont contain enough liquid.
Use stackable containers to cook these dishes:
- Lasagna
The Best Instant Pot Accessories To Fuel Your Multi
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Whether you own the three-quart or the six-quart, the Duo or the Ultra, there are plenty of Instant Pot accessories out there. From sealing rings for the pressure function to extra pots and steaming essentials, there are tons of handy tools available to take your multi-cooker to the next level. Youve already read the Instant Pot cookbooks and mastered the beginner recipes, now turn your attention to the accessories.
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Instant Pot Round Cake Pan
This is another product that comes straight from the manufacturers of the Instant Pot. This springform pan was made to fit in the Instant Pot, so you can use it to make anything from lasagna to cake. Plus, the durable stainless steel can endure rapid heat change, including going straight from the freezer to the inner pot, or vice versa.
Buy It: Instant Pot Round Cake Pan, $10
Extra Instant Pot Insert
I love having extra Instant Pot stainless steel inserts for my pots! Oftentimes, Im cooking 2-3 things in my pots and I cant keep up!
Especially when Im making Instant Pot yogurt, It is SO nice to be able to put the pot of yogurt in the fridge and still be able to use the Instant Pot with another liner these extra stainless steel inner liners just make life so much easier.
- Pros: You can use your IP when the other liner is dirty or being used .
- Cons: More dishes to wash?
- Uses: See Pros facilitates multitasking
BUY HERE: Instant Pot Insert
Read Also: How To Preheat Instant Pot
Instant Pot Glass Lid
Some people like to get a lid for their pots for popcorn, slow cooking, or yogurt. I personally dont find it necessary as I can just use a glass lid from one of my other pots, but many people love having a glass lid just for their Instant Pot so Ive included it on this list.
- Pros: Can be used for recipes that do not require pressure cooking as you can see inside the pot at a glance.
- Cons: Its a glass pot lid that is branded Instant Pot, so it costs $15
- Uses:Instant Pot Yogurt , popcorn, slow cooking
BUY HERE:Instant Pot Glass Lid
Instant Pot Silicone Egg Rack
Here’s how it works: Simply place the rack in the chamber of your empty Instant Pot and stand up to nine eggs upright on each of the silicone circles. Then, add water and turn your machine on, allowing your pressure cooker to boil your eggs to your liking. Without an egg rack, eggs are free to float around in the chamber, leaving them vulnerable to cracking against the metal walls. Instead, this trivet keeps eggs in safe in place .
Once your hard-boiled eggs are done, safely remove them and wash them under cold water as fast as possibleâthis will stop them from continuing to cook and allow you to get the easiest peel.
That’s it! Perfect eggs in 5 minutes, with no fuss and no muss.
Once you’re done, just pop the Instant Pot egg insert in the dishwasher until your next go-round. Then, sit back and enjoyâthe protein-packed food is great on its own, making an easy on-the-go snack on your commute or before you hit the gym. If you want to get really creative, try an HBE-friendly recipe, like hard-boiled egg gratin or hard-boiled egg grilled cheese. Whatever you decide, it’s sure to be egg-cellent.
Eggs are practically nature’s multi-vitamin. Learn why, below:
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Recommended Reading: How Do I Cook Rice In An Instant Pot
Which Instant Pot Accessories Are Worth It
We tried 10 of them to see which ones are game changersand which are a waste of space
One of the selling points of an Instant Pot multi-cooker is that it saves space by replacing a number of other countertop appliancesslow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker.
What no one tells you is that in order to make the most of your Instant Pot, youll need a bunch of accessories that will clutter your cabinets.
But which ones are actually worth the money and storage space? We bought 10 of these accessories so that I could test them at home to see which ones boost my Instant Pot gamewhich Ive been honing for eight years nowand which ones languish alongside my other kitchen outcasts.
Below are the details on the accessories that would make a great gift for yourself and your loved ones, plus two that you should skip.
Can You Bake A Cake In The Instant Pot
You can! In fact, there are a slew of pans that will help you do just this. The biggest thing you need to know when baking a cake in an Instant Pot is that you’ll need a spring form pan as well as some sort of trivet and heat-resistant tongs to help lift out said pan. Don’t forget to add water to the Instant Pot when making cake, either. That steam is the secret ingredient.
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Instant Pot Silicone Egg Bites Pan
This is a single-use item, true, but it does the best job of making egg bites.
This mold holds seven egg bites and comes with a lid so you dont have to grapple with foil to keep condensation from dripping on the cooking bites.
But Id say only get this is if you adore egg bites. If you really, really love them, get two so you can steam a double recipe. I tried to brainstorm another use for these sweet little custardstiny Boston brown bread?but didnt come up with anything. If you have one of these and use it for other recipes, wed love to know.
Coco Morante
My Honest Advice About Instant Pot Accessories
This might be weird to hear from someone like me, but DONT go out and buy a million accessories for your Instant Pot right away! Especially if youre a beginner, I want you to get your Instant Pot, and USE it first.
I get a lot of messages that sound a lot like this: Hi Lisa! I just got my Instant Pot and have no idea what Im doing with it! What accessories do you recommend I buy?
I always give the same response: none.
Figure out what youre cooking and how youre cooking! A bunch of accessories arent useful to you if you have no idea how youre using your Instant Pot.
Get that pot out of the box, and use it! Youll quickly find out what accessories you need.
If youre finding yourself making a lot of vegetables or confident enough to make a cheesecake, youll figure out that your cooking process could be a lot easier with a steamer basket or a specific cheesecake pan.
I improvised with what I had for a year, and I did just fine! I dont want anyone wasting their hard earned money on stuff they dont need! A huge pet peeve of mine is to waste money by buying without a clear purpose in mind.
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Pots Pans And Molds That Fit In Any 6
My #1 most used accessory is this Fat Daddios Anodized Aluminum Round 7×3-inch Cake Pan. Its a workhorseI use it for baking in the pressure cooker as well as for cooking rice or even lasagna pot-in-pot. The Fat Daddios pan has stood up really well to multiple-times-a-week use in my kitchen. Five years in, its still going strong!
Want to make cheesecake? Its extra smooth and creamy when you make it in the pressure cooker. While I havent found any pan thats 100% leakproof, this Nordic Ware 7-Inch Springform Pan comes the closest. Try it when you make any of my BEST Pressure Cooker Cheesecake Recipes
Best Instant Pot Accessories For 2022
The absolute best accessories and attachments for making healthy meals with your Instant Pot.
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If you’re the proud new owner of an Instant Pot or multicooker — or if you’ve had one for a long time — you may want to seek out the best Instant Pot accessories, which can help you achieve multiple levels of culinary greatness.
The Instant Pot can be a great tool for wellness and health, and for that reason, it’s one of our must-have kitchen devices. Since it’s a combination pressure cooker, steamer, rice cooker, slow cooker, warmer and more, you can make thousands of satiating meals in your programmable Instant Pot . From slow-cooking flavorful meat stews and fall-off-the-bone short ribs to summer shrimp boils and nutrient-packed soups to mashed potato recipes and Instant Pot cheesecake, most Instant Pot recipes require minimal prep and are done in minutes.
Making bread in an Instant Pot is easy.
One reason an Instant Pot pressure cooker is perfect for preparing meals for healthy eating is how quickly it cooks tender meats, perfect beans, eggs, creamy Greek yogurt and other proteins integral to a balanced diet.
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