Your Instant Pot can turn a weeknight dinner around in minutes, but the silicone sealing ring holds onto last week’s chili long after the food is gone. Skip a cleaning or two and that trapped smell shows up in your next batch of rice.
The good news is that most of the work is easy. The inner pot, lid, ring, and rack are dishwasher safe, and the few hand-wash parts take only a couple of minutes.
This guide walks through the manufacturer-approved way to clean every part, lift burnt-on residue without scrubbing, and pull stubborn odors out of the ring for good.
Key Takeaways
- Wash after every use: Clean the inner pot, steam rack, lid, and sealing ring in hot soapy water after each meal so food residue and bacteria never build up.
- Deep clean monthly: Once a month, scrub the base rim, steam valve, anti-block shield, and condensation collector, the spots a quick wash misses.
- Lift burnt food with steam: Per a widely used cleaning method, pressure cook 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 2 cups of water for a few minutes, and the scorched crust lifts off without hard scrubbing.
- De-odorize the ring: Steam water, vinegar, and lemon peel for three minutes, or seal the ring overnight with coffee grounds to neutralize trapped smells.
When to Clean Your Instant Pot
Treat your Instant Pot like any other pot or pan in your kitchen; it needs cleaning after every single use. This stops food residue from building up, which is what leads to bacteria and funky smells.
If you cook several times a week, add a deep clean once a month. This tackles the nooks and crannies in the base and lid that a quick daily wash skips, plus the removable parts that rarely get attention.
Instant Pot Dishwasher Safe Parts
One of the best features of this appliance is how much of it goes straight into the dishwasher. The inner pot, sealing ring, lid, and steam rack are dishwasher safe on the top rack (1):
- Inner Pot: The stainless steel liner is tough and dishwasher friendly.
- Sealing Ring: The silicone ring can go in, which helps clear odors.
- Lid: Most newer models have dishwasher-safe lids (check your manual to be sure).
- Steam Rack: The metal trivet is safe for the machine.
The steam release valve, anti-block shield, and condensation collector are hand-wash only, so rinse them in warm soapy water instead of running them through the dishwasher.
The cooker base (the part with the plug) is never dishwasher safe. It houses the microprocessor and heating element, so water inside it can ruin the unit. If the base ever gets splashed, let it dry completely before you plug it back in.
Daily Cleaning Routine
While the dishwasher is great, hand-washing is often faster and just as effective. Here is how to clean your unit after dinner.
- Time: 15 minutes.
- Difficulty: Easy.
What You’ll Need
- Water: Hot water is best for cutting grease.
- Soap: A mild grease-cutting dish soap.
- Tools: A soft sponge, microfiber cloth, or small brush.
- Drying: A dish towel or drying rack.
1. Unplug and Cool Down
Safety first. Always unplug the unit and let it cool down completely before cleaning. The heating element stays hot long after the timer beeps.
2. Prep the Sink
Fill your sink with hot water and a squirt of mild dish soap. Avoid harsh chemicals or bleaches, as they can degrade the silicone and plastic parts. If you prefer natural cleaners, Puracy Natural Dish Soap is a great plant-based option.
3. Wash the Inner Pot
Remove the inner stainless steel pot and the steam rack. Soak them in the soapy water to loosen any stuck-on food. Scrub them with a sponge or brush, rinse thoroughly, and place them on a drying rack.
4. Scrub the Lid and Ring
Remove the silicone sealing ring from the lid. This matters because food juices often get trapped behind it. Wash the ring, the lid, the steam release valve, and the anti-block shield in the soapy water.
Inspect the ring for cracks or tearing while you wash it. If it is damaged, the pot won’t seal properly. Per Instant Pot’s own care guide, let the ring dry fully before you snap it back into the lid, since a damp ring can trap moisture and smells. When you set it back in place, make sure it sits snug against the sealing ring rack; a ring that isn’t seated all the way around is what lets steam sneak past and smells linger.
5. Wipe the Exterior
Take a damp cloth (not dripping wet) and wipe down the exterior of the cooker base. This removes fingerprints, sauce drips, and dust. Never submerge the base in water.
Deep Cleaning the Instant Pot
Once a month, give your appliance some extra attention. This process tackles the housing rim, the valves, the condensation cup, and hard water stains that build up over time.
- Time: 40 minutes.
- Difficulty: Easy.
What You’ll Need
- Cleaning Agents: Distilled white vinegar and mild dish soap.
- Tools: Microfiber cloths, small bowl, unused toothbrush or foam brush, a cotton swab.
- Optional: Baking soda for tough stains.
1. Clean the Housing Rim
The rim of the base (where the lid locks in) is a crumb magnet. Dampen a clean toothbrush or a foam paintbrush with soapy water and scrub inside the groove. Wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth wrapped around the handle of a spoon to reach the tight crevices.
2. Refresh the Inner Pot
Stainless steel can develop bluish or rainbow-colored discoloration from minerals in water. To fix this, pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into the pot and swirl it around. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse and buff dry. The vinegar acidity dissolves the mineral deposits; table vinegar contains approximately 4 percent acetic acid (2), mild enough for the stainless inner pot but acidic enough to break down white scale.
3. Deep Clean Lid Components
Pop the steam release valve off and remove the anti-block shield (the small metal cap on the underside of the lid). To free it, push its side toward the lid rim and lift; a slight twist helps if it is stiff. Wash these small parts in hot soapy water so no food particles block the vents. Blocked vents can be a safety hazard, so this step is worth the minute it takes.
4. Empty the Condensation Collector
The condensation collector is the small cup that clips onto the back of the base and catches drips from the lid. Slide it off, pour out what has pooled inside, and hand wash it with warm soapy water. The cup is narrow, so a cotton swab reaches the corners a sponge can’t. Let it air dry, then slide it back on.
5. Tackle Base Stains
If you have burnt-on spills on the heating plate (inside the base), wipe them with a damp cloth. For stubborn spots, use a paste of baking soda and water. Apply the paste, let it sit for a few minutes, and scrub gently with a toothbrush. Wipe away all residue with a damp cloth.
Check The Cord
6. Reassemble
Make sure every part is completely dry before putting the machine back together. Moisture trapped inside the base can damage the electronics.
Removing Burnt Food Residue
If your inner pot is burnt and blackened, scrubbing it by hand can take forever. Instead, let the Instant Pot do the work: per a widely used cleaning method, about 2 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with 2 cups of water, then a short pressure cook cycle, loosens the crust.
- Time: 15 minutes.
- Difficulty: Easy.
What You’ll Need
- Ingredients: Per the same method, use 2 tbsp baking soda, 1 tbsp dish soap, and 2 cups water.
- Tools: Plastic spatula or wooden spoon.
1. Create the Solution
Add the baking soda, dish soap, and water directly into the burnt inner pot. Stir it slightly to mix.
2. Pressure Cook
Secure the lid and set the valve to “Sealing.” Per the same method, run the manual pressure cook cycle for 2 to 3 minutes. The pressurized steam forces the solution into the burnt crust.
3. Scrape and Rinse
Let the pressure release naturally, then open the lid carefully. Use a plastic spatula to scrape the bottom; the burnt food should lift off in sheets. Rinse and wash as normal.
Prevent The Next Burn
Removing Lingering Odors
Silicone is porous, meaning it absorbs smells from pungent foods like curries or chili. If your cheesecake tastes like last night’s tacos, the sealing ring is the culprit. Here is how to reset it.
- Vinegar Steam Bath: Fill the inner pot with one cup of water, one cup of white vinegar, and a few lemon peels.
- Run the Cycle: Seal the lid and run the “Steam” setting for 3 minutes.
- Air It Out: Let the steam release naturally or do a quick release. Remove the ring right away and let it air dry in a sunny spot; UV light helps break down remaining odors.
- Overnight Absorber: If a smell survives the steam, seal the dry ring in a zip bag with a spoonful of coffee grounds or baking soda overnight. Both pull trapped odors out of the silicone.
If the smell keeps coming back, the fix is often two rings instead of one. Because silicone soaks up strong flavors, many cooks keep one ring for savory meals and a second for desserts, so a chili ring never scents a batch of yogurt.
Storage Tip
FAQs
Ready to Cook?
Yes, once you’ve rinsed the removable parts after dinner and given the unit a deeper scrub once a month, your Instant Pot is ready to go again. Kitchen gadgets like this one are meant to save you time, and cleaning shouldn’t undo that.
Pay the most attention to the sealing ring and the rim of the base housing, since those are the two spots grime hides. Keep them clean and your pressure cooker stays odorless and ready for the next meal.
