How to Clean Instant Pot 101

Confused at how to clean your Instant Pot? Should you wash the Instant Pot before the first use? Need to know how to deep clean the Instant Pot? Read on…

The Instant Pot is pretty easy to clean, it just takes a little time. The time spent maintaining the appliance is worth it for years of continued use.

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Suggest cleaning items

• Dish soap
• Dish sponge
• Dish scrub brush
• Old toothbrush
• Craft foam brush
• Baking soda
• Bon Ami powdered cleaner
• Bar Keeper’s Friend (when all else fails)
• Mrs. Meyer’s Multipurpose Cleaner
• White vinegar
• Lemon
• Chopstick or something similar to reach the hard to get crevices in the rim
• Small cloth such as a napkin or thin wash cloth
• Cotton swab
• Towel

Wash brand new Instant Pot

Should you wash your brand new Instant Pot before using it for the first time?

Yep. It’s always a good idea to wash anything you’re planning on cooking with before using it, even if it’s new from the manufacturer.

Using hot water and soap, you can clean it for the first time so that it’s ready to cook!

cleaning Methods

Now that you’ve used your Instant Pot, it’s time to clean it.

You’ll need 2 different types of cleaning methods:

• Everyday Use Cleaning Method is performed after every time you use the Instant Pot.
• Deep cleaning Method, needs to be done every few weeks, depending on frequency usage.

Every day cleaning Instant pot

It’s recommended to clean the Instant Pot after each use.

• Unplug the Instant Pot.
• Wash the inner pot (liner) by hand with hot water and soap, or wash in the dishwasher.
• Remove the silicone ring (shown further below) and either wash by hand using hot water and soap or place on the top rack of the dishwasher to clean.
• Wash the under side of the Instant Pot lid and drain/shake any excess water.
• Dry all parts.

Deep Clean Instant Pot

Every few weeks, or sooner depending on usage, the Instant Pot will need a deeper clean than the every day method.

Let’s start with this extremely dirty lid of mine. I cooked pasta in the Instant Pot and upon quick release, a bunch of starchy water started spitting out of the venting knob. It definitely needed a deep clean after this happened.

Ew, so gross and dirty!

And filthy on the bottom of the lid too.

Step 1 – Float Valve

First, remove the float valve (venting knob) by gently lifting up, slightly wiggling it until it releases.

Wash by hand or in the dishwasher utensil caddy.

Make sure to check for any blockages by peering through the holes.

Step 2 – Anti-block shield

Next, remove the anti-block shield. Sometimes this can be a little stiff to remove. Give it a twist while pulling off and that helps.

Hand wash or in the dishwasher caddy.

Step 3 – Sealing ring

Remove the sealing ring. If you’re removing this for the first few times, expect that this sealing ring may be difficult to remove.

If having trouble, use a utensil to help pry the ring off by one of the notched indents on the sealing ring.

The sealing ring can be washed by hand or on the top rack of the dishwasher.

I usually wash mine by hand because I forget that I need to wash the lid until the next time I’m ready to use it. Oops!

If your sealing ring still smells after cleaning it, find out how to remove the smells from your Instant Pot sealing ring.

Don’t forget to replace the sealing ring every 6-12 months, if using the Instant Pot several times a week. The ring can deteriorate, stretch out and might not be able to properly seal for pressure cooking.

If you notice any imperfections in the sealing ring such as cracking or tears, replace with a new one. You can find inexpensive ones on Amazon.

Step 4 – Clean Lid

Now it’s time to clean the lid. I always wash the lid by hand but it is safe to wash on the top rack in the dishwasher.

We have hard water in our area and to keep my lid looking as nice as possible, I wash it by hand. This preserves the nicer appearance from hard water build up and dishwasher fogginess.

Using a scrubbing brush, clean under the metal rim where the sealing ring goes. Then brush on top of the lid where the sealing knob goes.

Rinse well and shake/drain the water from the lid.

Step 5 – Clean Rim

Next, let’s clean the rim. There’s a space between the where the inner pot rests and the outside of the appliance. This rim is a crumb collection of meals past.

It’s gross. It’s hard to reach and clean out. It’s also a necessary chore to clean regularly.

Using damp dish sponge and soap, push the sponge into the gutter and follow along around the entire track, taking out the sponge to rinse off gunk periodically.

Or you can use a dish scrub brush to get in the crevices.

Some prefer to use an old toothbrush, or a craft foam brush. The main objective is to find an object that will fit inside the rim to clean it.

(Example of scrub brush to cleaning rim)

Step 6 – Dry Rim

I like to use a chopstick covered with a thin cloth napkin to dry the rim after cleaning.

Use anything that will fit.

step 7 – remove condensation collector

Remove the condensation collector cup by sliding off the back. Empty contents and wash regularly.

The space is narrow, even too narrow for old toothbrushes. I found that a cotton swab works great.

Air dry completely before placing back on Instant Pot.

Step 8 – Clean outside

To clean the outside of the Instant Pot, wipe down with a damp soft rag with soap. Wipe horizontally or with the grain of the stainless steel to prevent scratches.

I like to use Mrs. Meyer’s multi-surface cleaner in a spray bottle because it does a great job at cutting grease and not leaving any residue behind. It’s great at removing finger prints marks too.

Wipe dry with a soft towel, again, with the grain.

Secret tip: I also use this to clean my stainless refrigerator doors.

Step 9 – Clean Inner Pot

To clean the inner pot, you can wash by hand with mild soap and a scrub brush or it can be washed in the dishwasher.

Sometimes the inside of a clean pot will still have a cloudy appearance. This happens whenever I cook rice in it.

A baking soda paste will shine it up like new.

How to make baking soda paste

After washing the inner pot clean, drain all water from pot.

Generously sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the pot.

Using a wet dish sponge with scrubby side, or a dish brush, scrub the bottom of the pan.

The amount of water in the dish sponge should be enough to create a paste with the baking soda when scrubbing.

If not, add 1 tsp water to the baking soda and proceed. The baking soda paste should be about the consistency of a thick, dry toothpaste.

This works about 98% of the time.

Baking soda didn’t work? I like to use Bon Ami next to create a paste with it just like the baking soda.

If you STILL have stains/discoloration, then bring out the big guns and use Bar Keeper’s Friend, the powder kind that’s made just for cookware.

Create a paste and scrub pot with paste until all spots are gone.

I always recommend trying the least abrasive method first with the baking soda.

Using natural and more green/safe products as much as possible is highly encouraged, especially when using it on something you’re cooking food with.

Bar Keepers Friend isn’t as green/safe as baking soda is, so use it only as a last resort.

Rinse paste

With all paste methods above, rinse well when done.

Dry with a soft towel.

Step 10 – Deodorize

Sometimes the smell lingers in the Instant Pot and sealing rings, needing to be deodorized.

Add the following into the Instant Pot:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• Slices of fresh lemon/rind

Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes on STEAM setting followed by a full natural pressure release.

The vinegar and lemon method also works to remove the cloudy/foggy Instant Pot liner just like the baking soda method (mentioned previously).

Before lemon and vinegar

After running steam cycle with lemon and vinegar

Store lid upside down

Oh almost forgot. Store the Instant Pot lid upside down on the Instant Pot whenever not in use.

This allows the air to circulate and prevents smells.

That’s it! It really is simple.

Enjoy your pretty Instant Pot, looking good as new.

Ready to cook?

Here are some of our favorites:

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• Instant Pot Chili with Venison