Have been cooking in your Instant Pot for a while and wondering how to make it sparkling clean again? In this post, you will learn the basics of how to clean the Instant Pot part by part, remove stains, and make your favourite kitchen appliance last.
We're naturally inclined to take care of the things we love, and any real cook will agree that their kitchen appliances deserve the best treatment. It's not just loving - it's practical. The better we take care of those things, the longer they last. In today's post, we want to share a few tips on how to clean your Instant Pot, so that your affair can be a life long one.
With all the wear and tear on the Instant Pot - if you use it as often as I do - regular cleaning is a must. Of course, you're probably quite accustomed to cleaning out the pot, but even that can build up with tough-to-scrub spots. There's more to keeping your Instant Pot in tip-top shape than that too. Noticing a weird smell lingering on the seal? Wondering what's falling in the cracks?
Here's what you need to know about cleaning your Instant Pot.
CLEANING THE INNER POT
Let's start with the essential component of the Instant Pot, and the one that sees the most action - the inner pot. Considering it's made of stainless steel, it's generally going to be quite easy to keep clean. You can wash it in warm water and dish soap, and it is dishwasher-safe so that you can toss it in with everything else.
Generally speaking, you won't have much trouble scrubbing any stuck food to the bottom if you soak it for a while. For removing discolouring, cloudiness, or rainbow stains, use white vinegar or Bar Keeper's Friend. If you have really tough stains or want to give the inner pot a deep clean and a fresh start every once in a while, Bar Keeper's Friend and a magic eraser will work wonders.
WASHING THE INSTANT POT LID
Have you ever Googled, "Can I wash my Instant Pot lid?" I certainly have. The answer is yes. While some meals will leave some condensation and it's clean by merely wiping it down, the lid is bound to get messy sometimes with food splatters, and it needs a good cleaning every once in a while.
You can wash it like any other dish with warm water and soap. We don't recommend putting it in the dishwasher, though.
CLEANING THE INSTANT POT LID SEAL
Cleaning the seal is one of the most essential Instant Pot hygiene habits. Without the seal, the pot can't cook under pressure, so remember to handle the seal with care and wash it gently. If you switch between cooking savoury and sweet meals, you know that savoury tastes and smells can get caught in sweet foods as the seal retains odour. Washing it thoroughly and often can save you that feeling when your cheesecake kind of tastes like curry.
Considering taking the seal in and out can loosen it and make it less useful during cooking, it's best to keep it clean while it's attached to the lid. The ring itself is dishwasher-safe, although we don't recommend it as a first option. If needed, gently remove it and scrub individually with water and soap. If it just smells a little funky but looks clean, you can soak it in a bit of white vinegar.
CLEANING THE EXTERIORS
Since the exterior is made of stainless steel and doesn't face as much risk of a mess as the inner pot, it's pretty simple to clean. It's best to unplug the pot if you're going to clean any part of it that is not removable, especially when water is involved. It's also crucial to note that you cannot submerge the exterior of the Instant Pot in water without instant disaster.
Wipe it down with the same solution you would use to clean the inner pot. If there are stains, you can use white vinegar to smooth things out and give it that fresh, out-of-the-box look.
When it comes to cleaning the rim, only using a brush to get into the smaller cracks should suffice. It should stay relatively clean, but you can always dampen a paper towel or cloth to wipe around after cooking with it, which should keep it well maintained.
The worst part of cooking is cleaning up, but hey - it's worth it when the Instant Pot makes delicious meals so quick and straightforward. Take care of your Instant Pot, and it will also take care of you.
Leave a Reply