How to Clean an Instant Pot

The parts, and which are dishwasher-safe

An Instant Pot comes apart into more pieces than people realize, and the pieces that cause trouble are the ones that never get cleaned. The stainless inner pot is dishwasher-safe on every model here and the easiest part — no coating to baby. The lid, the sealing ring and the small anti-block shield around the steam valve are the ones that need attention, and the condensation cup on the back is the one everyone forgets entirely. Always unplug the base and let it cool first; the housing that holds the electronics is the one part that never goes in water — wipe it with a damp cloth only.

The sealing ring: the part that makes or breaks the machine

The silicone sealing ring is why a lid does or does not hold pressure, and it is a magnet for smell. Take it out after every cook and wash it — it is dishwasher-safe (top rack), and it seats back into the lid's wire rack with a push all the way around. A ring that is stretched, cracked or seated unevenly is the number-one cause of an Instant Pot that will not come to pressure or leaks steam, far more often than any fault in the machine. Instant Brands sells replacement rings, and it is worth owning a spare — many buyers keep one ring for savory food and one for sweet.

How to get the smell out

Silicone absorbs strong aromas — chili, curry, anything with a lot of spice — and then hands them to the next thing you cook. To reset a smelly ring: wash it, then run a steam cycle with a cup of water and a cup of white vinegar (or water plus a couple of lemon rinds) for a few minutes, release, and let the ring air-dry fully in the open. Sun and open air do most of the work; a ring left sealed inside a closed lid stays smelly. If a ring still smells after all that, it has done its time — replace it.

The anti-block shield and steam valve

The small metal cap around the steam-release valve — the anti-block shield — pops off for cleaning and traps food particles that can otherwise clog the valve and stop the pot venting properly. Pull it off (gently, per your model's manual), wash it, and make sure the valve moves freely when you put it back. A blocked valve is a safety part, not a nice-to-have, so this is not the step to skip.

A quick after-every-cook routine

Cleaning is easier when the pot is bare metal

Half of what makes a pot hard to look after is the surface. A bare stainless inner pot can take a soak, a scrub and a dishwasher cycle without consequence; a ceramic or nonstick coating is a wear surface that every manufacturer asks you to hand wash and keep metal utensils out of. If you are choosing a cooker rather than cleaning one you already own, the published pot materials for every machine here are laid out in the best non-toxic multicooker.