It’s not exciting, but it’s essential…
…cleaning your Instant Pot.
I’m sure you’ve noticed how cruddy it can get! Yuck!
And, it’s awful to pull it out and find that it was put away dirty. Now, it needs to be cleaned — so there goes getting dinner on the table quickly. 🙁
On this week’s #AskWardee, I’m showing how to quickly, easily, and naturally clean your Instant Pot after each use so it’s in great shape every time you pull it out!
Check out the particulars below in print, podcast, or video.
Subscribe to #AskWardee on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, or the Podcasts app.
The Question: How Do I Keep The Instant Pot Clean?
Lindsey D. asked:
I know how to wash the stainless insert pot of my Instant Pot… but how do I keep the Instant Pot itself clean? The outside edge gets a lot of liquid and crumbs in it that are hard to get out. The inside also has some spots and places where liquid has dripped in. I’m guessing it’s not recommended to fill the Instant Pot with water to clean it! How do you clean an Instant Pot? Thank you, Wardee!
My Answer
You’re right, Lindsey. You shouldn’t submerge the Instant Pot base, and it can get dirty!
I’m sure you know this, yet I’ll say it anyway…
The best time to clean the Instant Pot is right after dinner or right after you’re done using it, because:
- The spills, drips, etc. are still warm and clean up more easily right away.
- You’ll appreciate it being clean the next time you’re ready to cook in it.
What NOT To Do
First, make sure that when you clean your Instant Pot:
- You DON’T submerge the base in water.
- And DON’T leave it plugged in while cleaning it.
Now, let’s talk about the tools you’ll need…
Tools You’ll Need
- washcloth
- non-scratch scouring pad
- towel
- dish soap or all-purpose spray cleaner (here’s my homemade!)
- vinegar
- baking soda
- toothbrush or small cleaning brushes
- Qtips
Notice how everything is simple and natural? I love that and hope you do, too. 🙂
How To Clean Your Instant Pot
Clean-up begins as soon as dinner is over… while the Instant Pot mess is still fresh. These steps assume the food is already eaten or transferred to other containers. 🙂 Here’s how to clean your Instant Pot naturally and easily!
1. Fill a sink with hot, soapy water. (This is the most important step! It will make everything easier from here!)
2. Make sure to unplug the Instant Pot and remove the insert pot from the base.
3. Next, put (almost) everything that needs to be cleaned in the hot, soapy water.
- the condensation cup (dump out any liquids that have accumulated first);
- the silicone ring, valve cover (if your model has a removable valve cover), sealing valve, and lid
- insert pot, glass lid, and/or trivet
4. Dip a small cleaning utensil — like a toothbrush or small cleaning brush — in the hot, soapy water. Clean all the nooks and crannies of the base. Use a wet, wrung-out cloth to sop up any liquids or dislodged food particles. Between the toothbrush and the washcloth, you should be able reach and dislodge everything. (You can also use a non-scratch scouring pad wherever it will fit.)
5. Then, use a washcloth and all-purpose spray cleaner to wipe down the outside of the Instant Pot so it looks pretty and shiny.
6. Finally, wash everything that’s been soaking in the hot, soapy water. Rinse and air dry. Here’s more about how to clean each part:
- silicone ring — scrub with toothbrush. Use baking soda, if necessary, to remove odor and staining. If it’s still stinky, soak in vinegar water for a few hours, then rinse and air dry.
- insert pot — scrub inside in circular motion with non-scratch scouring pad. Use baking soda for stubborn messes. Let any stuck-on food soak a bit more if necessary. Repeat with the non-scratch scrubber and baking soda as needed.
- valve cover — scrub with toothbrush.
- lid — scrub nooks and crannies with toothbrush.
- sealing valve — scrub with toothbrush.
- condensation cup — scrub with toothbrush on the inside, if necessary.
If you’re concerned about hard water spots, towel dry instead of air dry.
That’s it!
Not very exciting, is it? 😉 However, it’s super helpful when you’re ready to cook again because the Instant Pot is ready to go and beautifully clean!
FREE: My Brand-New Pressure Cooking II eBook & Video Package!
Starting today and going through Tuesday, August 15, 2017, I’m throwing in a FREE copy of my brand-new Pressure Cooking II eBook & Video Package (not yet for sale separately!) with any other full-price eBook purchase.
That’s right — buy any other full-price eBook package and get the Pressure Cooking II eBook package FREE!
This package includes:
- 99-page Pressure Cooking II eBook in downloadable PDF format
- “Healthy Living Lineup” Bonus eBooklet in downloadable PDF format
- 5 Master Class Videos you can watch in the private download area
How to get your FREE Pressure Cooking II eBook & Video Package:
- Go here and complete purchase of any full-price eBook* package ($20 or $39) by Tues 8/15. Members, order through the Member Area because your special member discount qualifies, too!
- On Wednesday, August 16, 2017, we’ll automatically add the Pressure Cooking II package to your account and email you that it’s ready**.
*My print book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fermenting Foods, is NOT included in this special offer.
**If you want to get it sooner, just reply to your receipt and ask. Please note that we won’t be able to give it over the weekend because we are spending time with our families on Saturday and Sunday. 🙂
Helpful Links:
- Instant Pot
- non-scratch scouring pad
- my homemade all-purpose spray cleaner
- FREE Instant Pot Sourdough Cornbread Recipe
- Traditional Cooking School’s eBook packages — buy one, get the Pressure Cooking II eBook package FREE through Tues, Aug 16, 2017!
More Helpful Instant Pot Articles:
- How to Use Your Instant Pot (+ Easy Instant Pot Instructions)
- Which Instant Pot Should I Buy? Which Size And Model Is Best For My Family? #AskWardee 048
- Is The 8 Quart Instant Pot Ever Too Big? #AskWardee 126
- How Do I Reheat Food In The Instant Pot? #AskWardee 047
- How To Reheat Frozen Food In The Instant Pot {Instant Pot Freezer Meals} #AskWardee 079
- How To Convert Slow Cooker Recipes To Pressure Cooker
- 11 Surprising Things You Can Make In The Instant Pot
- Is Pressure Cooking Healthy? #AskWardee 019
How do you clean your Instant Pot? Please share your tips in the comments!
...without giving up the foods you love or spending all day in the kitchen!
2 free books:
Eat God's Way
Ditch the Standard American Diet, get healthier & happier, and save money on groceries...
We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).
A foam paint applicator works great for cleaning the trough all around the ring. Reusable many times as its a sponge. Cheap.
I meant the rim, of the IP base, not the silicone ring, whoops!
Thats the crud catcher, hardest place to keep up. The rest I dont find worse than any other kitchen dishes chore. But i never let stuff sit. I force myself to always at least soak things n rinse well if i cant get to it rite away. The wisdom of age lol
I love my Norwex cloths so clean up is water and cloth only…..99.9 bacteria free! The enviro cloth and kitchen scrubbing cloth.
I meant to watch this live so I could ask a question, but work interrupted me. So, Wardee, love your videos and all your help–and your helpers, too!!!
My question is: I just bought an Instant Pot a couple of weeks ago, based on your website. I love it; HOWEVER, the 2nd time I used it, making jam, I put a glass lid on and thought it was vented enough, I walked away (it was on Sauté, by the way) for a very short time and came back and it had boiled over. So now, the burner plate (under the cooking pot) has a dime sized burned mark. I used a damp cloth and tried to clean it off, but I think it actually damaged the painted surface. I don’t think there is anyway to get this clean? Is this dangerous to use this way? Thank you!
I actually coat my cooking rack with cooking oil every time before using it. It washes up very easily that way.
Hi Wardee! I love your hair, and I have curly hair, too, so I hope you share what you do for your hair during next week’s video! Thanks.
Me too!
Wardee will talk about how she does her hair. 🙂 We also have a podcast on this: https://traditionalcookingschool.com/2014/10/31/kyf-090-curly-hair-styling-more-listener-questions/
~ Millie, TCS Customer Success Team
Thank you for the great information, Wardee! This is timely for me, as I just had my first IP fail last night and I think it was because I wasn’t maintaining my lid very well. It wasn’t a true fail it just took a lot longer to cook than it should have because it wasn’t coming up to pressure. For some reason I thought the outside of the lid wasn’t supposed to get wet, so in my attempt to keep it dry I wasn’t cleaning the lid well enough and that may be why it wasn’t sealing well last night. I will do a better job cleaning it tonight before I use it again!
Wardee, is that cute washcloth in the video one of your handmade ones you spoke about in a podcast a little while back? I’ve been wanting to try to make one. I looked for that post again, but couldn’t find it. Would you be able to post the link?
Thanks, again!
Hi Shelley,
Glad your IP fail wasn’t too bad. 🙂
I too wasn’t sure about submerging my lid when I first got my Instant Pot. 😉
I believe the podcast regarding the dish cloth you’re looking for is this one:
https://traditionalcookingschool.com/2015/09/25/kyf-129-4-things-im-loving-this-fall/
~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team
Yes, that’s the podcast, thanks Danielle! And I’m glad to report my IP is back to normal again!
Glad to hear it, Shelley! 🙂
~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team
I love my IP! I use a percolator cleaning brush that I bought through Fuller Brush to clean the top edge of my IP. It’s a little more flexible than a toothbrush and is round.
I ordered these straw cleaners this summer from amazon. they are flexible and can get in the tough spots around the rim and scrub wonderfully. Also, it can force the food debris to where you can easily get it with your washcloth or papertowl. Enjoy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011719COK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also saw a tip to use a foam paint brush that you can get from home depot for really cheap and that works super well in conjunction with the above straw cleaner. I use it not only to clean but wipe up any liquids leftover from cleaning. https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-in-2-in-and-3-in-Foam-Paint-Brush-Set-9-Pack-A-8509/100128205?keyword=sponge+paint+brush
My user manual that came with my IP on page 23 said” All Instant Pot inner pots, pressure cooker lids, glass lids and accessories are dishwasher safe”.
When
I looked in the internet it directions (yours included) none made that claim. However in your demo you were putting all the lid and parts in hot water in the sink.
What is the difference?
Also any silicone pieces, e.g. scrapers, baking utensils I have put in the dishwasher have absorbed the odor of the dishwasher cleaner! Can you, please help?
Hi Marie,
If IP says they are dishwasher safe, they are. 🙂
However, Wardee prefers to not use her dishwasher for items like this. She chooses to wash by hand.
If you find that yours have absorbed the dishwater odor, you can try soaking in vinegar and then wash by hand in the future.
Hope this helps!
~ Millie, TCS Customer Success Team
I clean houses for a living. One of my customers has an Instant Pot. She made rice in the pot. The bottom of the insert had outlines of individual pieces of rice. No need to scrub with anything to remove the outlines. I put enough vinegar in the bottom to cover the bottom, swished, waited a minute or so, and all the outlines were gone! So easy. This applies to any stainless steel cooking vessels.
I’ve had my 8 quart Instant Pot for about a year and I haven’t had a problem keeping it clean. The only thing I do differently is I remove the pot before I stir or serve.
The issue that I do have is the smell of the lid. I’m careful to wash immediately (even though it looks clean), but I haven’t found anything that can get rid of the smell. So when I store it I turn the lid upside down and cover it with a dish towel so it doesn’t get any worse.
Hi DD,
I have found cleaning it with baking soda or soaking it in vinegar for a few hours really helps with the odor. Some people buy a separate ring for desserts or other dishes.
~Peggy, TCS Customer Success Team