If you’re dealing with some Instant Pot ring smells, you’ll be so thankful for the information inside on how to clean Instant Pot rings and remove any odors from the sealing ring.
Instant Pot pressure cookers are so easy and quick to use to make an assortment of dishes, so it’s no wonder they are extremely popular right now!
We bought ours on a Black Friday deal about three years ago, but I will admit that we don’t use ours as we should, but that’s mostly due to my lack of desire for cooking in the first place.
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But, like many, we had never really given our Instant Pot a deep cleaning, but it was time.
One aspect that needs special cleaning care is the silicone ring.
Instant Pot Sealing Ring
The Instant Pot silicone ring is made of high-quality, heat-resistant silicone. You can get them in different colors, and swap them out for different uses, like for savory versus sweet items.
Swapping out silicone sealing rings for different types of cooking will make the odors that they hold onto less of an issue, as you don’t have to worry about the “wrong” types of smells mixing with certain dishes, if you know what I mean.
Instant Pot requires you to use their silicone rings, or else you *may* void the warranty, so keep that in mind if you do purchase additional rings.
Here are a few genuine Instant Pot sealing rings available through Amazon:
Make sure to inspect the ring for damage like cracks, leaking, or deformation, as then it should be replaced. Under normal use, it should last 18-24 months of regular usage.
How to Clean Instant Pot Ring
There are two ways to wash Instant Pot rings – by hand in soapy water and in the dishwasher.
Instant Pot Sealing Rings Are Dishwasher Safe
The great news is that Instant Pot sealing rings are indeed dishwasher safe! You can even choose to keep them on the Instant Pot lids, but it is best to remove them before washing them in the dishwasher.
Make sure it is completely dry before you secure it back in place in the Instant Pot lid.
Hand Wash Instant Pot Ring
If you don’t want to use the dishwasher, you always have the option of cleaning Instant pot rings by hand in the sink with some warm soapy water.
Again, you can even keep the ring on the Instant Pot lid if it hasn’t gotten very dirty, and just clean it all as one piece.
Allow the ring to dry completely before inserting back into the lid. Make sure it’s properly in place before you use it.
Prevent Instant Pot Ring Smell
When it comes to ring smells, it’s always helpful to be proactive in order to minimize them.
After you are done using your Instant Pot, clean it! Run that lid and ring through the dishwasher, or clean it in the sink.
Instant Pot’s website recommends you let the lid air out by placing it upside down in your Instant Pot when you go to store it.
Another tip is to store the silicone ring in the freezer between uses, as it can kill bacteria and odors.
RELATED: How to remove fridge odors
Also, make sure the odor isn’t coming from somewhere else! Check the Instant Pot’s steam release valve and float value for dirt or debris, giving them a quick clean too.
Remove Odor from Instant Pot Sealing Ring
If you are noticing an Instant Pot lid smells, still, likely from the sealing ring, then, you’ll want to take some additional cleaning steps to deodorize the ring.
There are two popular options, both of which involve vinegar for cleaning Instant Pots.
- Steam clean with vinegar
- Soak ring in vinegar
How to Use Steam to Clean Instant Pot Ring
Time needed: 5 minutes
How to Remove Instant Pot Odors from Ring via Steam
- Fill Instant Pot with Cleaning Solution
Pour 1 cups of vinegar, 1 cup of water, and a chopped lemon rind into the Instant Pot insert.
- Seal and Steam
Seal the lid on your Instant Pot and set it onto the steam setting for 2 minutes.
- Remove Ring
Once it’s done, carefully remove the lid, discard the content of the pot, and remove the silicone ring from the Instant Pot lid.
- Let Dry
Let the silicone Instant Pot ring air dry completely.
- Reinsert the Ring
Once dry, reinsert the silicone ring into the Instant Pot lid, making sure it’s secured properly.
The ring should be clean and smell as good as new after this method, and your pot itself should be nice and shiny too.
But, here’s another option.
How to Clean Instant Pot Ring with Vinegar
1. Prepare Cleaning Solution
Fill a large bowl or dish or bucket with 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar, adding more vinegar if needed to cover ring (or less liquid to fit your dish).
2. Remove Ring from Lid and Soak
Carefully remove the sealing ring from the Instant Pot and place into the vinegar cleaning solution.
3. Let sit for 15-60 minutes
4. Let air dry.
Once it’s soaked for some time, pull it out and let it air dry before securing it back into the Instant Pot and storing it away.
Set It in the Sunshine
It’s also been said that sticking it out in the sun can help it remove the odor and even some of the Instant Pot ring discoloration that happens overtime, too! UV rays kill bacteria afterall.
I hope that this helps you clean Instant Pot rings and remove odors from them too! Happy cooking!
For more great kitchen cleaning tips, check out the following posts:
Ginger Calvert says
Power pressure cooker seal will not stay in the lid now I don’t know what’s happened to it. It has shrunk and after checking it,, it still looks perfect.. I went to use it and turned my lid upside down to seal pot and it fell out. Any options on what could have happened and or how to fix it. Funds are beyond low so I’m hoping someone knows a miracle.
Thank you