How To Clean Instant Pot Multi-Cookers : My Crazy Good Life

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Learning how to clean the Instant Pot is a must. Cleaning all of the parts of your Instant Pot multi cooker – sealing ring, lid, and liner – will keep your pot working like new.

Check out this easy to follow guide for cleaning all of the different parts of an Instant Pot. If you haven’t noticed all of the healthy Instant Pot recipes we have, check those out too!

Before you clean your pot

Not all pots are made the same. If a part doesn’t easily come off, don’t force it off–you could break it.
Please unplug your Instant Pot before cleaning.
Find Instant Pot replacement parts and accessories here.
Keep small parts in a bowl so you don’t lose them while cleaning.

Table of Contents

Different Parts Of An Instant Pot

The Instant Pot (and most other electric pressure cookers) are comprised of about four main parts. The lid, the sealing ring, the inner pot (cooking pot) where you cook the food, and the base/outer pot. There is a way to clean all of these parts.

Cleaning Supplies Needed to Clean an Instant Pot

Some safe cleaning products to use to clean your pot include, but are not limited to:

Vinegar and water Great for the outside of the pot as well as the rim around the top of the pot. A cup of white vinegar to a cup of water is the perfect ratio.
Lemon juice Helps to remove smells from the sealing rings.
Barkeeper’s Friend My favorite way to keep the inner pot looking new.
Warm soapy water There is no need to get fancy for most cleanings – simple soapy water should be fine.

How to clean the Instant Pot housing unit or base

Make sure that the inside of the base is clean and free of dirt, dust, food particles, and liquid. The processor, heating element, and other electrical components on the inner pot are not safe to be wet or dirty.
Wipe the very bottom of the pot near the heating element with a soft cloth.
The outside of the Instant Pot (the part with the electronic screen) should never be placed into water or into the dishwasher. The outer part of the pot should be wiped clean with a soft damp cloth. Microfiber cleaning cloths work awesome and leave behind very little lint – they keep your pot looking brand new.
If you need to clean the rim around to the top of your pot, you can use the same damp cloth and a butter knife to get into the edges. An old toothbrush, damp sponge, or cotton swab would work well too. This is the part of my pot that typically has food residue and needs a deep cleaning with cotton swabs and hot water.

How To Clean the Inner Cooking Pot

The stainless steel pot of your Instant Pot is likely the piece that you will need to clean the most frequently. It’s the pot that all of your food, liquids, and seasonings are held in while cooking. Just like a regular pot that you would use on the stovetop, your inner pot needs to be cleaned after each meal.

Keep your stainless steel inner pot clean by hand washing or using the bottom rack of the dishwasher. For stubborn stains, I’d recommend you use a scouring pad, craft foam brush, or a scrubbing sponge with a non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner like Bar Keeper’s Friend. I recommend the powder form over the liquid.

Pro Tip: No cleaners on hand? Baking soda and water or a simple dish soap work well on your inner pot

How To Clean the Instant Pot Lid

The lid to an Instant Pot might seem tricky to clean, but here’s a lifesaving tip–the lid is top-rack dishwasher safe!

Before hand washing or putting the lid in the dishwasher, take out the sealing ring and pop off the sealing valve cover on the outside (different models have different sealing valves so don’t force yours off if it doesn’t naturally just come right off).
Put the small pieces into your sink to hand wash or on the top rack of the dishwasher.

Pro Tip: Instant Pot recommends keeping your clean lid upside down on top of the pot until you are ready to use it or until everything is completely dry.

How To Clean Instant Pot Rings

The Instant Pot silicone ring or sealing ring can hold food odors, especially from savory dishes. Sometimes rings stretch out and pots don’t seal correctly. It’s important to keep them clean and replace when you notice they no longer make a proper seal.

I’ve put together an entire post just about keeping Instant Pot sealing rings clean and free of odors for you!

Instant Pot recommends you replace the sealing ring every 6-12 months with heavy use or when you notice odor retention and discoloration. If you only use your pot occasionally, you can go as long as 12-18 months according to the Instant Pot website.

Pro Tip: Use antibacterial denture cleaner or white vinegar to soak your rings if they’re really smelly, and always air dry them really well. Laying them out in the sunshine helps too.

Other Instant Pot parts to clean

labeled image showing condensation collector

The condensation collector hangs on the back of your pot and should be emptied and hand washed from time to time if you notice it filling with liquid.
The anti-block shield on the bottom of the lid next to the pressure float valve needs to be cleaned often. I clean this every month or so, but if you have a meal that spurts out of your sealing valve like pasta or soup, this should be cleaned right after.
- To remove the anti block shield, push the shield towards the lid edge and lift it up. It should pop right out or you can use a butterknife to gently pry it up.
- Wash it with warm water, rinse, and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth. Put it back into place once everything is dry and give it a little push to pop it back into place.