Is the Instant Pot Dishwasher Safe? [How to Clean & FAQ]

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You probably know this already, but taking proper care of your household appliances will ensure they withstand the test of time, and your cooking! 

Instant Pots are amazing multi-cookers and combine some most used kitchen appliances in one simple device. 

Did you even consider dishwashing as a possibility, to assist  you in keeping your Instant Pot in quality condition? 

Have ever looked at your Instant Pot and thought, “how am I ever going to clean that, and is it even dishwasher safe?”  

You are not alone. The care and cleaning of your Instant Pot is actually quite straightforward and we have the answer for you. 

You can dishwash every part of the appliance except for the main cooking base. This means that 90% of the Instant Pot is, in fact, dishwasher appropriate. 

Keep on reading to find out how to dishwash your appliance and learn the best tips to keep it in pristine condition all year round.


Which Parts of the Instant Pot are Dishwasher Safe? 

The inside pot (which is constructed from stainless steel) is definitely dishwasher friendly. Every time I use my Instant Pot, I take the inner chamber and let it soak for a few minutes. After that, I place it on the lower rack of the dishwasher and wash it with the rest of my dishes. Easy. 

All parts of the Instant Pot, except for the big exterior cooker (with the buttons and cooking settings) and the electric plug, are dishwasher safe. Because the cooker base is electric, it means this should never come in contact with soap or water

Related Reading: Can a Philips Air Fryer Go Into the Dishwasher? [Answer + How To Do It].


Parts of the Instant Pot Which are Dishwasher Safe

Below is a quick list of accessories and parts that are okay to place inside the dishwasher: 

  • Stainless steel cooking chamber 

  • Lid of Instant Pot

  • Sealing ring 

  • Steaming racks 

  • Rice paddles and scoops 

  • Metal trivet 

  • Other accessories

This goes for all Instant Pots. However, this article is based on the Instant Pot I normally dishwash – Instant Pot Duo Mini.


Parts of the Instant Pot Which are Not Dishwasher Safe

As mentioned previously, about 90% of the Instant Pot is dishwasher safe. There is only one compartment you want to keep away from any dishwashing: 

-The outer compartment with the buttons and electric plug (this is a big no, no)

Cleaning tip: 

Parts of the outer part of the Instant Pot is made from stainless steel, so you are able to wipe it down and get into the crevices where leftover pieces of food may reside. Try using a brush or soft dry sponge to scrape them off.

 

How To Dishwash the Instant Pot - Step by Step Process

If you have cooked in your Instant Pot for the first time already, it is important to wash it after every use. Leftover pieces of food that remain on the Instant Pot’s surface will be harder and harder to remove if they aren’t taken off the first time around. 

Delicious chicken paella pressure cooked inside the Instant Pot chamber

Delicious chicken paella pressure cooked inside the Instant Pot chamber

Some people are naturally neat and tidy, but sadly I am not. Whenever I use my Instant Pot, there is usually a lot of mess to clean up. 

I love cooking Spanish paella in my Instant Pot and sometimes the food sticks to the bottom of the pot. This is especially hard to clean by hand, so I usually opt to soak and dishwash the appliance every time I cook  this recipe.

For the full how-to about dishwashing your Instant Pot, ensure you have the correct materials and follow our process below. 


Materials Needed to Dishwash Your Instant Pot 

When it comes to being prepared, having the right materials will guarantee success. You don’t need much to clean your Instant Pot, but these materials are always handy: 

  • Dishwasher
  • Dishwasher tablets that fit your model
  • Warm water and soap to soak the stainless steel chamber

And that’s pretty much it! If you’re washing by hand, the only additional material you will need is a soft sponge. Never scrub your appliances with coarse or rough sponges as this may do more damage than good. 


Step 1: Separate the Cooking Chamber and the Cooker Base

You’re in luck here because the heaviest part of the Instant Pot is actually the part that you won’t be placing inside the dishwasher. 

If your Instant Pot is closed, simply follow the opening instructions on the lid to take the lid off. Then take out the stainless steel cooking chamber. 

Cleaning tip: 

Before cleaning your Instant Pot, always turn off your Instant Pot and unplug it. This should be done before anything else.

 

Step 2: Take Out All of the Small Instant Pot Parts 

Once you have taken off the lid, remove the small anti block shield and the steaming rack if it is inside. 

Have used the condensation cup or the rice paddle?  Get those out too because they are dishwasher safe. 

Keep all the accessories together or closely. They are small, so be careful not to misplace them! 


Step 3: Gently Take Out the Sealing Ring

The sealing ring is a vital part of your Instant Pot. Unfortunately, the ring is made from silicone, and is bound to collect and absorb some food smells. 

It often goes overlooked because it isn’t very visible. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring it and clean the sealing ring after every four pressure cooks.

 

Step 4: Soak the Instant Pot If Needed 

When you pressure cook, sometimes food can stick to the Instant Pot. If you’ve ever received a pesky “food burn” message on the IP while cooking, you know know why!

Letting the inner chamber soak for a few minutes before popping it into the dishwasher will do half of the work for you! It will also prevent food from sticking much onto the surface. 

Learning the inside out of your Instant Pot doesn’t take much time. Soon, cleaning your Instant Pot will become second nature and you won’t even question it. 

If you’re still having issues with your Instant Pot, maybe it is making a strange hissing noise, check out our troubleshooting article, Instant Pot Hissing While Cooking [What This Means + What to Do].


Step 5: Wash the Base (By Hand) While You Wait 

If you are soaking the inside part of your Instant Pot, quickly give the outer cooker base a wipe down. You can do as much or as little as you want here. I normally take some soapy water and scrub off any food and grease. Then let the base air dry while the rest of the appliance is in the dishwasher. 


Step 6: Place the Instant Pot Inside the Dishwasher 

If you decide to dishwash, I would recommend you add all of the washable elements we discussed earlier in one go. That way none of them get lost through the process. 

Stick the lid, inner chamber, and all the extras comfortably inside the dishwasher. I say comfortably because if any cups or plates block these parts, then they may not be completely clean.


Step 7: Set Your Dishwasher, and You’re Done! 

This is probably the easiest part of the process. Once all of the Instant Pot parts are safely inside the dishwasher, set whichever setting you normally do (I usually opt for the most eco-friendly cycle), start and then wait for the cycle to complete. 

When the cycle is complete, wait about 20 minutes for everything inside to cool down, open the dishwasher and re-assemble your Instant Pot for its next use.

 

Top Tips for Instant Pot Cleaning 

If you are looking for hacks to keep your Instant Pot shiny and clean for longer, you’ve come to the right place. Along with dishwashing, here are a few top tips that will keep your Instant Pot clean and last for many years to come.

 

Tip # 1 - Soaking Your Instant Pot is Recommended 

I’ve had my Instant Pot Duo Mini for two years now. About six months ago, I started noticing a strong odor. If you are in the same boat, letting the Instant Pot parts soak overnight in distilled white vinegar does a great job at eliminating those tough smells. 

This is just a natural part of owning an Instant Pot and shouldn’t deter you from getting one! 

Check out the price of this distilled white vinegar on Amazon now.

 

Tip # 2 - Don’t Forget The Instant Pot’s Hard to Reach Areas

When you remove the stainless steel cooking chamber, you’ll find a heating element as well as the inside of the cooker base. You don’t want to forget about cleaning this, as sometimes food will get stuck inside. Try using a soft brush to clean the inside and scrape off any dried food. 

Have a look at this brush on Amazon.

 

Tip # 3 - Tend to Instant Pot’s Steam Valve 

The steam valve is an important element of your Instant Pot! Don’t forget to clean it. Do this easily by lifting the valve off (it pops right off), give it a good wipe with soap and water, and then put it back together again.

Remember, you can always refer to the Instant Brands website to read up on the best practices when it comes to cleaning your Instant Pot.

 

Instant Pot Cleaning FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

In addition to providing you with a how-to and top tips, we’ve gone the extra mile and have selected the commonly asked questions regarding care of your Instant Pot. 

Curious to know more? Time to find out.

 

How Often Should I Clean My Instant Pot?

You should clean your Instant Pot inner chamber after every use. The food will otherwise stick to the cooking parts and ruin your appliance over time. Since the inside is made of stainless steel, this can either be hand washed or placed inside the dishwasher.  

As for a deep clean, we advise you to thoroughly clean other parts of your Instant Pot every four to six weeks. Or every four cooks, if you use it frequently.

 

Is It Better To Hand Wash My Instant Pot? 

When you hand wash, you have full control over how your Instant Pot is cleaned. It may be more sustainable to hand wash your Instant Pot, but a good mixture of hand washing and dishwashing ensures you reap benefits of both methods. 

Dishwashing takes much less time compared to handwashing, and makes for the cleanest technique. However, you choose one way over the other. You can always change it up when needed.

 

How Do I Clean A Greasy Instant Pot Lid? 

Cleaning a greasy Instant Pot Lid may be a little difficult because of the size, shape, and compartments. You can place the lid inside the dishwasher, but another quick way of cleaning it is to use warm water, dishwashing soap, and a soft sponge. 

This should also do the trick! 


How Do I Hand Wash My Instant Pot? 

Hand washing will take some time and effort. If you don’t have a dishwasher, this is the only way to clean up your Instant Pot and ready it for the next batch of cooking. 

I rarely hand wash my appliance, but when I do,  I only use warm water, dish soap, and a soft sponge in the sink basin. I then leave it out to dry on the rack overnight and reassemble in the morning. 

You can also control how clean you want it to be. Maybe three is minimal mess and stuck food, and it doesn’t need the dishwasher. 

If this is the case, then a good ole hand wash is perfect.

 

Final Thoughts 

Cleaning your Instant Pot is not hard. What a relief to find out that the most parts are actually dishwasher safe. 

Well, except for the main electrical compartment or the cooker base!

It is still important to clean this main component. We recommend wiping it down with a cloth, warm water, and a bit of soap. Then wipe down again with a damp rag, and then leave it to dry. Do this every few times after you pressure cook and you’ll be golden. 

Do you have an Instant Pot? Which is your preferred method of cleaning – dishwashing or hand washing? Let us know in the comments below!

Jennifer Ulloa

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