Are you cleaning Instant Pot lids the right way? Discover how to clean Instant Pot lids with these helpful tips and ideas.
Find out the best way to get rid of food residue and food particles so that the food odors on your lid are no more! Find out how to clean all the lid components, even if the stains and smells have been there for a long time.
Instant pot owners that one of the first things that tend to hold the smell are the lids. Instead of buying a new Instant Pot, why not give special attention to cleaning the area instead? With just a little maintenance and a little effort, you can learn a lot from these Instant Pot cleaning tips.
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We all love us some Instant Pot pressure cookers, am I right?
They make dinner easier and quicker to make, and it’s almost fun.
One of the most important parts of an Instant Pot is the lid! That’s where all the steam release and pressure magic happens.
But, the not so fun part of these magic wonders is making sure they are always clean, and cleaned properly.
I decided it was past time that my Instant Pot got a nice deep cleaning.
I shared how to clean the Instant Pot sealing ring, and today I’m going to expand on that post with how to clean the rest of the valves and parts of the Instant Pot lid.
Guide to Cleaning Instant Pot Lids
There are several parts to the Instant Pot lids. They include the:
- Sealing Ring
- Float Valve
- Float Valve Silicone Cover
- Anti-Block Shield (protects the exhaust valve)
- Steam Release Handle
- Lid itself
While you do not need to remove all the individual Instant Pot lid pieces every time you wash your Instant Pot lid, it is a good idea to do it every so often, maybe every month or two, depending on how frequently you use your Instant Pot.
Each item can be removed from the Instant Pot lids, simply by pulling them straight up and off, and deep cleaned individually.
I’m going to tell you how. All of it is explained in the video below, or continue reading.
Is Instant Pot Lid Dishwasher safe?
First, a bit of good news: according to Instant Pot’s website, the Instant Pot lid is dishwasher safe! You can throw the whole thing into the dishwasher to clean it!
It is recommended that you remove the sealing ring and anti-block shield before placing the lid in the dishwasher, though.
But, you don’t need to remove the steam release valve or float valve before putting it in the dishwasher.
Running the Instant Pot through the dishwasher is great for normal cleaning, or you can wash it with hot soapy water by hand, but if you want to deep clean it, keep reading.
Cleaning Instant Pot Sealing Ring
I wrote an entire post about cleaning Instant Pot sealing rings, which I recommend you read, as it has tips on removing odors as well.
But you can clean the silicone ring in the dishwasher, which should work well to sanitize and deodorize it, or you can use some vinegar and do a steam clean of the Instant Pot, or soak the ring in vinegar, in a bowl.
There are a few other ideas in my other post too.
In any method, make sure to air dry it really well before inserting it back into the Instant Pot lid.
To prevent odors, store the instant pot lid upside down on top of the base.
Cleaning Instant Pot Float Valve & Silicone Cap
To remove this, simply pull back the silicone cover from the underside. The metal float valve will then fall right out!
To clean, run under hot soapy water and scrub gently. To get inside the silicone cap, use a Q-tip! It works great to dry it too.
Once clean and dry, stick the metal float valve back in the lid, then put back on the silicone cap.
Cleaning Instant Pot Anti-Block Shield
The anti-block shield can be a pain to get off as it’s tighter than the other pieces. I found luck gently twisting and pushing upward at the same time.
Once off, you can clean the lid shield with hot soapy water. You can clean the part underneath the same way. You might find a Q-tip or other small brush to help get in the crevices.
Once clean and dry, just push the anti-block shield back on top of the exhaust valve.
Cleaning Instant Pot Gasket for Steam Release
On the top of your Instant Pot lid is the steam release valve. To remove this, just pull straight up!
Once removed, clean it with hot soapy water, using a Q-tip or some other small brush to get inside the valve. The Q-tip also works well for cleaning around the base of it, especially if you can’t get a towel to clean in that space.
Once both are clean and dry, reassemble.
Cleaning Shiny Part of Instant Pot Lid
When it comes to cleaning the stainless steel lid of the Instant Pot, both inside and outside, you can, again, clean with hot soapy water.
However, if there is some hard water spots, or discolorations, I always recommend Bar Keepers Friend.
The regular can powder will work great, but if you prefer, you can also use the one designed for cleaning pots and pans, or grab the stainless steel cleaner, which will also work great for cleaning the outside of the Instant Pot base.
No matter what Instant Pot recipes you are cooking, you’ll be able to clean it up in record time. Sweet foods and savory dishes don’t stand a chance! You’ll love knowing that there is an easy solution for getting your Instant Pot clean. Even with normal use, there is still a need to clean the lid and the inside of the pot.
For more about that, see my last post about cleaning Instant Pots.
I hope you can keep enjoying your instant pot, even more now that it is sparkling clean!
For more great kitchen cleaning tips, check out the following posts:
Betsy Cline says
I have been hesitant to purchase an instapot with the knowledge that it often times holds smells. I am happy ot hear that you have found effective ways to deep clean the part that seems to hold the issue.