How to Clean Your Instant Pot

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How to Cleaning your Instant Pot is so much easier to do than what you think. With proper maintenance of your Instant Pot, you won’t have to worry about the pressure pin sticking, your sealing ring stinking like your last Utica Chicken Riggies or chocolate lava cake, and you won’t have to worry about your Instant Pot not coming to pressure due to food stuck to the pressure ring area where the sealing ring adheres to.

There’s just a couple of things to keep in mind when cleaning your Instant Pot: You need to clean it after each usage, and then there’s a deep cleaning that you should do at least once every 8-10 weeks, depending on how much you use your favorite kitchen appliance

See all the A month of Instant Pot Meals on a Budget or the Best Kitchen Hacks

If you follow my cleaning route for your Instant Pot, you’re going to get a lot of amazing uses and elongate its lifespan.

How to Clean Your Instant Pot After Using It

• Wipe It down:  Using a damp cloth, wipe down the outside and inside of your Instant Pot. This will stop food build-up from occurring, and will also prevent any type poor sensor reading.

• Wash the inner pot: Be sure to wash your inner pot after using it, even if just boiling eggs in it. It’s totally dishwasher safe, so don’t be afraid to put in your machine.

• Clean your sealing ring: I wash my with a little bit of soapy water and let it air dry. If you don’t want the “smelly ring syndrome”, then you wash your sealing ring after each usage. In fact, I actually have a couple of extra rings. I use one for my sweet recipes, and one for my savory recipes.

Deep Cleaning Your Instant Pot

Before you start cleaning your Instant Pot, make sure that you unplug it! Safety first.

• Cleaning the unit:

  • With Q-tips or a sponge brush (the kind used for painting) and a little warm water, clean the indented area of where the lid locks into place. This will ensure that your Instant Pot will come to pressure properly. The moisture coming from your food will dry after each use. Now think about how many layers of moisture have dried over time in using your Instant Pot. It becomes dried and crusty. I like cleaning after each usage, but I deep clean to keep it healthy.
  • Remove the condensation cup on the side and wash with warm soapy water. This is a forgotten piece that people forget to properly maintain. The condensation keeps on drying or builds up. Also be sure to cleaning opening airway that leads to the condensation cup. You don’t want any type of cruddy buildup from happening.

• Cleaning your lid:

  • You can wash your lid entirely with warm soapy water; however, you have some little parts to worry about to ensure to your Instant Pot continues to work properly.
  • Remove the metal steam shield that encases the steam valve. Depending on your model, it will either screw off our pop out. Wash the shield with a sponge and soapy water and put back into place.
  • Remove the Quick Release handle. Yours should pull up and out.  Wash it with a sponge and warm soapy warm. Rinse, and put back in place. Food and liquid and get clogged in it, and it will stop your Instant Pot from functioning properly and inhibit from coming to pressure.
  • Remove your sealing ring. Inspect it for any wear and tear spots. If you see it damaged in any way, then you should replace it immediately. Remember that I told you I carry a couple of extra on hand? I do…and this is another great reason why to have them readily available. Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, and allow to air dry. It’s completely dishwasher safe, so you can place it in there as well! If your sealing ring is still smelly, no worries because we’re going to fix this. Simply take ½ a lemon, 1 – 1 ½ cups distilled vinegar, and 1 cup of water. Place ingredients in your inner liner, lock your lid in place, close your vent, and press the sanitize button. Allow it to run for about 5 minutes. Let it natural pressure release, and it should be as good as new!
  • Sealing Ring Casing on lid: This is where your sealing ring goes. Make sure it’s clean underneath it on the lid.

These simple Instant Pot cleaning tips will keep your  Instant Pot running smoothly for years to come, and you’ll be able to continue to enjoy making all of your favorite recipes.

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