Stainless Steel Instant Pot

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Stainless Steel Is Safe Sometimes

Introducing the Vortex Plus Air Fryer with ClearCook & Odor Erase, 6-in-1, 6-Quart, Stainless Steel

As with everything else, manufacturers eventually will cut corners and produce inferior products that save them money in production and increase their profits. Stainless steel is no different.

Instant Pots are all the craze right nowand why not? They make cooking easy, quick and fun again! They dont heat up the house and they create delicious meals in minutes! Theyre programmable and they come in huge sizesperfect for any family! Most importantly, they are made of stainless steel, so they are completely safe!

Not so fast.

With every material, there is some kind of trade-offso its good to be informed as to the benefits and the risks associated with each material.

Im teaming up with Kara at Deep South Crunchy Mom and Sarah at Clean Living With Kids to bring you a series on truly safe cookware. We want you to have all of the information: risks and benefits, so you can decide for yourself what are the best materials for your family.

See Karas post about cast iron here,

And Sarahs post about glass here.

What’s The Best Size Instant Pot

Our Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab evaluates 6-quart models because we think it’s the most practical option. Its big enough for a decent-size batch of chicken soup or chili, but it doesnt hog too much counter space. That being said, the 8-quart model is great for large families or for those who love to meal prep.

Instant Pot As A Lead

Generally, slow cookers have ceramic inserts that may contain lead. It is either added or comes in the raw materials used to make the ceramic cookware. I resolve to reduce exposure to heavy metals because they are bio-accumulative and persistent. It means that once ingested, they accumulate and stay in the body for a long time. That is why it is vital to own safe cookware. You can read more about it in my Safe Cookware Guide That Makes Sense.

We used to have a Cuisinart slow cooker. However, Cuisinart admitted that they had not tested their inserts for lead or cadmium because they knew they did not add them. It didnt sound very reassuring to me because these metals can be contaminants. In other words, the ceramic inserts of slow cookers may contain heavy metals.

Thus, though not perfect, stainless steel is better than ceramics. Therefore, I am really happy that the Instant Pot can serve as a lead-free slow cooker in my kitchen.

Read Also: How To Cook Spaghetti In An Instant Pot

If Stainless Steel Isnt Safe What Can I Use

I know this is frustrating. It seems like nothing is safe any more, so why even bother? What can I even use?

I have a few things that I use that are safe:

Im also not a fan of glazed ceramic, like is used in slow cookers and other baking dishes, because it has been found that trace amounts of lead exist in all of those glazes. Now, trace amounts might not matter too much when its in your drinking glass but I dont want my hot food stewing in something that has any lead in it for hours on end.

So in my house, I primarily use these three materials, and my favorite is clay.

Unglazed clay is great for a lot of reasons, and my favorite way to cook with it is VitaClay.

  • Pure Zisha clay has no lead or heavy metals
  • No glaze means no added lead
  • Clay has excellent thermal heat retention properties
  • Clay has excellent nutrient retention properties
  • Clay preserves texture and flavor better than any other material
  • Clay employs infrared heat to cook the food faster and more safely than other methods

VitaClay is my favorite because it is a multi-cooker, and it makes cooking easy, quick, safe, and non-toxic! Plus it doesnt heat up the house or run up the utility bills.

VitaClay is a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, broth maker, steamer, and reheater in one. It can do almost all of my cooking tasks quickly and more easily than with other methods.

Can I Use Pyrex In The Instant Pot

Lux Stainless Steel Red 6 Quart

Its generally safe to use Pyrex in the Instant Pot. But make sure its not broken, scratched, chipped, or cracked to avoid the rare case that they shatter.

You must follow all Pyrexs safety precautions such as avoid sudden temperature changes. Some tips to prevent breaking Pyrex glass:

  • Dont place the hot Pyrex on a wet or cool surface .
  • Dont handle the hot Pyrex with a wet towel or potholder.
  • Before washing, refrigerating, or freezing the hot Pyrex, allow it to cool on a cooling rack, dry potholder, or dry cloth.

Also Check: Instant Pot Pressure Cooker 6 Qt

Heavy Metals In The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

The model I bought in 2017 had gone through the test by Tamara Rubin, the producer and director of the movie MisLead: Americas Secret Epidemic. Apparently, she tested it with XRF technology, which shows the amounts of heavy metals in the material tested.

These are the results of that test, as reported by Carissa of Creative Green Living:

  • Stainless steel inner cooking pot: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Stainless steel lid : Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Inner portion of steam release valve: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Anti-Block shield: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Power Cable: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Float Valve: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Steam Release: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Steaming rack: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Plastic tools: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Exterior pot: Non-Detect for Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
  • Heating unit disk: 1,400 PPM lead +/- 90 and 46 PPM cadmium +/- 11
  • Safety button in base of unit: 303 PPM for Lead +/- 36, Non-detect for Cadmium and Mercury

As you can see, the parts that come in contact with food tested negative for lead, cadmium, and mercury.

Stainless Steel As The Instant Pot Inner Pot Material

The stainless steel used in the Instant Pot pressure cooker is 18/8 gauge. 18/8 stainless steel means that it consists of 18% chromium and 8% nickel, which is food grade stainless steel. Lets talk about the safety of stainless steel.

I use stainless steel as one of the safer cookware options available however, stainless steel is not perfect. Stainless steel leaches chromium, nickel, and iron into food during cooking. While iron and chromium are essential nutrients for which stainless steel may be useful, nickel is not. Moreover, some people may be allergic to nickel.

Here is something exciting. This study determined that the amounts of chromium and nickel significantly increase with longer cooking times. Since a pressure cooker significantly shortens cooking times, the study concludes that leaching is minimal. To take advantage of that, I recommend using the quick release method described in the instructions versus a natural release. Which reminds me: be sure to read all the instructions, including the safety instructions, very carefully before using your unit.

Also Check: Instant Pot Air Fryer Convection Oven

Glass Instant Pot Lid

I do a fair amount of slow cooking in my IP. I make bone broth often whether pressure cooked or slow cooked. The glass lid comes in very handy for when I slow cook it or a meal. And, I find that slow cooking in the instant pot transfers smells to the sealing ring more so this helps it to not stink as much. Its likewise great for storing in the fridge, its just that I like my flat, silicone lid better for that.

Related: 7+ ways to deal with your Instant Pots stinky sealing ring

Best Budget Electric Pressure Cooker: Instant Pot Duo 7

Blue Velvet Stackable Stainless Steel Inserts Review – Instant Pot Accessory !!

Instant Pots best-selling model comes with seven built-in functions , and also features 13 customizable programs. The digital and push-button display is large and easy to read and we appreciated that the lid can be detached for easier cleanup. The stainless steel inner pot can be tossed in the dishwasher and its simple to switch between low and high pressure, while a keep warm option and included steam rack offer added convenience.

During our recipe tests, we found the beans were cooked well overall, but did find some inconsistencies, with some softer than others. The risotto needed a bit more time at the end on the saute function to get it to the right creamy consistency and the stew veggies were a bit too tender, but still resulted in a tasty dish.

The Pro Plus upgrade performed better on all three recipes, and has the added benefit of a more streamlined interface, auto steam release and progress indicator. But if youre just testing out the pressure cooker waters, this is a great option for wading in.

Also Check: Roast In The Instant Pot Time

How To Choose A Pressure Cooker

Simple stovetop cookers use the heat source of your stove and need a bit of attention as youll need to adjust your burner to maintain proper pressure, while newer electric versions do the job automatically .

While folk wisdom holds that pressure cookers are dangerous, accidents are in reality rare . All the pressure cookers we tested come with multiple safety features and lids that lock into place, and are designed so that all pressure must be released before the lid can be removed . Some models spit out a bit of moisture as steam condenses, but many of the electric versions include condensation collectors that catch any water before it drips onto your counter.

For extra versatility, many of the models come with trivets and steamer baskets, and some of the electric models even offer air fry lids, and ship with extra sealing rings for use in different types of recipes. Some featured nonstick inner pots, which can be great for easy cleanup, but stainless pots will likely be more durable over time. The electric versions were all intuitive to use, even given the multiple functions they offered, although some did require a few extra referrals to the user manual. All allow you to manually adjust the cooking time, but our favorites were models that included cooking progress bars and auto steam release. Sometimes we worried whether those without progress indicators had actually started pressurizing.

Whats Wrong With Stainless Steel

At first glance, stainless steel seems like the perfect solution: its hypo-allergenic, it doesnt rust, it isnt breakable, and it doesnt have any heavy metal issues.

Upon closer examination, we will see that not all stainless steel is created equally.

Cheaper grades of stainless steel are not as pure as we have been led to believe, and they can leach nickel into our food. Nickel is a heavy metal, so this is not ideal. .

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Other Electric Pressure Cookers We Tested

$181 at

If you love the Instant Pot Duo and also love using an air fryer, this may be just the electric pressure cooker option for you. We found it performed identically to the Duo when it came to pressure-cooking our three recipes, and the interface is also essentially the same as the Duo, though it has four more cooking functions than that model .

However, its about twice as heavy as the Duo, and with the air fryer lid , it requires a lot of vertical storage and counter space . Included are a broil/dehydrating tray, multi-level air fryer basket, air fryer basket base, protective pad, storage cover and rack. So, if you think an air fryer-pressure cooker combo would save room and youd use it frequently, this model is certainly worth considering. Otherwise, the Duo will work just fine and the Pro Plus will perform even better.

$150 at

$53 at Walmart

$180 at

The Zavor LUX is a high-quality pressure cooker: It is simple to set up, with an intuitive digital LED display, including a super-handy preheating indicator, a lock icon, and screen that changes colors so you know when cooking has started the LUX also has a custom setting that lets you program your favorite recipes. There are 10 cooking functions and it comes with a steamer basket and trivet. We liked that the pressure valve includes a clean option that pops the piece out for easy maintenance.

$280 at Ninja

$170 at

The Best Pressure Cookers In 2022

Lux Stainless Steel Red 6 Quart

If old tales of exploding pots have kept you from jumping on the pressure cooker bandwagon, its time to reconsider. These days, the best pressure cookers are not only versatile and easy to use, but theyre brimming with safety features and theyre capable of making great meals faster and easier than ever.

Perfect for busy families or feeding guests without having to spend the whole night in the kitchen, pressure cookers are great for whipping up stews, soups and tough meat cuts as well as whole chickens, rice, beans and more. To determine which popular and highly rated models are best, we put 15 electric and stovetop cookers to the test, using each to make a no-stir risotto, unsoaked beans and a simple beef stew. Heres what we found.

Recommended Reading: Veggie Broth Instant Pot

What Can I Use For Pot In Pot Instant Pot

Many readers often ask us what bowls are safe to use in Instant Pot. And which containers are the best?

There are lots of options on what you can use for the pot in pot method. Including containers made of stainless steel, glass, ceramic, silicone, aluminum, bamboo, or copper.

All pots are not created equal. Different containers transfer heat differently depending on factors like material, size, and thickness. Thus, the specific container you use will affect the optimal cooking time.

Thats why its important to adjust the cooking time according to your container. Or else you may end up overcooking or undercooking food.

Best Electric Pressure Cooker Overall: Instant Pot Pro Plus 6

It cooks rice and slow cooks. It can make yogurt and cook sous vide. With 10 preset functions and app control, the Instant Pot Pro Plus promises to be the holy grail of small kitchen appliances, and delivers on a lot of its promise. First and foremost, though, its a great electric pressure cooker, with a simple interface, solid build and useful pressure-release functions that let us easily get great results on all of our test recipes.

The Pro Plus was tops when it came to results from our three recipe tests: unsoaked pinto beans, a mushroom and pea risotto and beef stew. The beans were cooked consistently throughout to a perfectly soft but not squishy texture, whereas other models we tested left some beans hard and some practically macerated. The risotto was creamy and fluffy after a mere five-minute cook time . The stew was just a bit thinner than the broth we made in the Breville Fast Slow Pro, but the meat and veggies all came out tender without turning anything to mush, and just a few extra minutes on the sauté setting thickened it right up.

Beyond the touch screen, the ability to control the Pro Plus with an app was genuinely useful. Not only does the Pro Plus give you stovetop-like control over pressure release, with quick, pulse or natural release options, but you can control the release from across the kitchen if youre at all skittish about jets of hot steam.

Also Check: How To Warm Food In Instant Pot

Readers Favorite Instant Pot Accessories

The facts are in and Pressure Cooker users have spoken Check out their Favorite and Most Loved Instant Pot Accessories, Power Pressure Cooker Accessories and Electric Pressure Cooker Accessories.

Readers Favorite Instant Pot Accessories

Fat Daddios Cheesecake Push Pan

Tovolo 1.5 qt Stainless Steel Pot in Pot Bowl

Salbree Steamer Basket

Stack N Cook Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Pans

1 oz Silicone Cheesecake Bite Trays

2.3 oz Silicone Egg Bite Trays

2.6 oz Silicone Cheesecake Bite Trays

Gravity Electric Pepper Mill

Stainless Steel Greek Yogurt Strainer

Sweet & Savory Silicone Ring Set

Tall and Short Legged Trivet Set for PIP and Eggs

Stainless Steel Pot In Pot Retriever

Oikeioz 3-Tier Stackable Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Steamer Insert Pans

WONDERFUL PAN SET for Pot in Pot Rice, baking cakes, custard, mini cheesecakes, egg frittatas and more

di Oro Silicone Spatulas

FoodSaver Automatic Vacuum Sealing System

Instant Pot Silicone Storage Cover

Nordic 6 cup Bundt Cake Stand & Lid

Nordic Ware 6 cup Bundt Pan

Bamboo Stove Top Work Surface

KOIOS Powerful 800 Watt Immersion Blender

Extra Instant Pot 6 qt SS Cooking Pot

Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid for 6 Quart

HIC 6 ounce Porcelain Ramekins Souffle Cups

Wide Mouth Half Pint Mason Jars

High-Temp Hamburger Meat Chopper

Vacuum Sealer Bags 11×50

Wilton 6 Springform Pan

Bellemain 4 oz. Porcelain Ramekins

Secura 6 Quart Steam Rack Basket Set

Fat Daddios Springform Cake Pan

Joyce Chen Bamboo Steamer 6-Inch

Eyeing That Instant Pot Why Stainless Steel Isnt As Safe As You Think

Instant Pot – Stainless Steel Inner Pot

When I learned about the dangers of aluminum cookware and non-stick coatings, I was eager to find safe alternatives that I could use without the risk of exposing my family to dangerous heavy metals or toxic chemicals.

I began researching all the options: from stainless steel to glass, copper and ceramic. I made a lot of rice, so I wanted a rice cooker but it was very difficult to find a rice cooker that was not non-stick-coated aluminum.

I first began looking for rice cookers with stainless steel inserts, because I knew that was safe. My research, however, led me to the facts, which are not always as simple as we think.

Read Also: How To Install Trivet In Instant Pot

Accessories For Pot In Pot Cooking Method

You only need 2 simple accessories to use Pot in Pot in Instant Pot:

  • Container, Pot, or Steamer Basket: Generally, make sure your container fits inside your Instant Pots inner pot. This is where youll put your ingredients inside the Instant Pot.
  • Trivet, Steamer Rack, or Sling: Generally, you use this rack to lift your smaller container away from the bottom of the inner pot.
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