Learning how to clean an 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!
Table of Contents
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.
- Don’t attempt to clean any port of your pot if it’s plugged in.
- Find Instant Pot replacement parts and accessories here.
- Keep small parts in a bowl so you don’t lose them while cleaning.
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.
If you want to learn how to correctly clean an Instant Pot keep reading for more information on how to properly clean and sanitize all of the parts of your beloved pressure cooker!
How to clean your Instant Pot base:
Make sure that the inside of the base is clean and free of dirt, dust, or liquid. The processor, heating element, and other electronic parts on the inner pot are not safe to be wet or dirty.
The whole outer part of the pot 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 or cotton swab would work well too.
What cleaning supplies do I need?
Some safe cleaning products to use to clean your pot include, but are not limited to:
- Vinegar and water is great for the outside of the pot as well as the rim around the top of the pot
- Lemon juice helps to remove smells from the sealing rings
- Barkeeper’s Friend is awesome for the inner liner
How To Clean the Inner Pot
The inner 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 dishwasher. For stuck on grime, I’d recommend you use a scouring pad or a scrubbing sponge with Barkeeper’s Friend. I recommend the powder form over the liquid.
Pro Tip: No cleaners on hand? Baking soda and water work well on your inner pot.
How To Clean Instant Pot Lids
The lid to an Instant Pot might seem tricky to clean, but here’s a lifesaving tip–the lid is dishwasher safe!
To stick 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) and pop all of the pieces into the sink or the top rack of your 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 smells, especially from savory dishes. Sometimes rings stretch out and pots don’t seal correctly. It’s important to keep them clean and replace when needed.
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 rings 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 their care page.
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:
The condensation keeper 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 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 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. Put it back into place once everything is dry and give it a little push to pop it back into place.
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