How to Clean an Instant Pot So You Can Keep Using It For Years

If you are one of the lucky people to own an Instant Pot, then you know how this baby works in your kitchen. The good thing about using an Instant Pot for cooking is that after a family dinner, you do not have to wash a pile of utensils. It does however, require cleaning. But it is a far cry from washing several cooking appliances. Best of all, most of the parts of the Instant Pot can be cleaned in a dishwasher like the inner pot, sealing ring, steam rack, and lid. The basic clean-up after cooking is no trouble at all, but it is recommended that you periodically give this appliance a deeper cleaning for it to last longer. So how do you clean the instapot? Here's how.

*Reminder: Before you start cleaning, keep in mind that the Instant Pot is an electrical appliance, so it should not be submerged in water. And, always, and we mean always, unplug the Instant Pot before any cleaning procedure is done.

Cleaning the Inner Pot

We recommend cleaning the inner pot of the instapot fir because this is where the cooking takes place. Since the inner pot is made of food-grade stainless steel, you need to be extra careful when cleaning it to prevent damage. The good news is, you can clean the inner pot either by hand or in a dishwasher. Before you start cleaning it, let the pot cool down for several minutes first. Keep in mind that scrubbers, metal brushes or abrasive cleaners that can scratch the surface are a big no-no. When you wash the pot every time after cooking, make sure to wipe it dry so that molds or unpleasant smell do not appear. If there are water stains, you can easily remove them by wiping the stains with vinegar.

Cleaning the Exterior Pot

The next part you need to clean is the exterior port which is right underneath the inner port. Usually, when you are cooking, small food particles and moisture can get into the exterior pot and will cause an unpleasant odor when left unchecked. That's why checking what is going on under the inner is a good habit to develop. To clean it, just wipe the inside of the container using a damp cloth. If you are removing crumbs that can scratch the surface of the pot, make sure to be extra careful. Afterwards, wipe the inside part using a moistened tissue and then wipe it dry. Keep in mind that the heating element must always remain clean and dry. If grease is stuck inside, you can use baking soda to remove it. Just take a wet cloth with a small amount of baking soda and wipe the heating element. Then wipe it with a damp cloth and wipe everything dry.

Cleaning the Outside of the Instapot

No one is immune from the sudden flow of liquid out of the pot whilst cooking. Sometimes, it just happens even when you are extra careful. Fortunately, You can remove the droplets of grease from the surface using a soft damp cloth. Keep in mind that the exterior hosts the pot's processor, so you need to make sure no moisture gets inside. If you see water entering the housing, immediately disconnect the device. Dry all the parts using a clean towel and make sure to hold it up while doing so. Another option to dry it with the use of a hairdryer. Leave the Instant Pot off for at least a day to make sure everything is thoroughly dry.

Cleaning the Lid

When cleaning the lid, carefully remove it and detach the sealing ring and the anti-block shield so you will have better access to the inner portion of the lid. You can now start cleaning it thoroughly with a liquid dish gel and a soft microfiber. If you don't have a microfiber cloth, a regular cotton cloth will do. Make sure to wipe it dry so that moisture residue will be removed. Keep it upside down when not being used to ensure that the lid does not retain an unpleasant odor.

Cleaning the Steam Release Valve

This part of the Instapot is what allows it to release excess steam. You access it by removing the anti-block shield from the underside of the lid. Remember that you can never remove the steam valve. The good news is, most of the time, this part will not require washing. But if cook greasy food often or use the quick release to let steam out, then we recommend you should clean it from time to time. To clean it, you have to rinse it under a stream of warm water. Ensure that the holes of the valve are not clogged. To clean the holes, use a degreaser.

Cleaning the Float Valve

To clean the float valve, all you have to do is remove the silicone ring that holds the float valve in place. Then wash and dry both items. After you reattach the silicone rings, make sure that the valve can move up and down freely. It's as simple as that.

Cleaning the Sealing Ring

The part that tends to retain unpleasant odor is the silicone ring. That is why we recommend that you clean it thoroughly after cooking to remove food residue. You can either wash it by hand or in a dishwasher. You can also periodically soak it in a solution of vinegar to remove any unpleasant odor. Another option is to clean the sealing ring using the clean steam mode of the Instant Pot. Just leave the sealing ring in place and add two cups of water with white vinegar or lemon juice to the inner pot. Then run the “Steam” program for a couple of minutes. Once it is done, just let the sealing ring air dry.

Take not that after all the parts of the Instant Pot are washed, cleaned and dried, you can now reassemble the device. Ensure that all the small parts have been installed correctly. Check if everything is in place, especially the sealing ring, anti-block shield and float valve. When you keep your Instant Pot clean and tidy, you can ensure its longevity and make full use of it to cook culinary masterpieces.