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But what else can your Instant Pot do when you give it a little extra assistance? A range of Instant Pot accessories have come onto the market to help you get the most from your Instant Pot, no matter what you’re cooking.
Here are 13 best Instant Pot accessories to consider adding to your kitchen (as well as a few to avoid).
1. Instant Pot Mitts
If you’ve ever tried to remove the steaming hot inner pot from your Instant Pot, you know it can sometimes be a challenge. Bulky, traditional oven mitts just won’t let you get a good grasp on the pot, or at least not enough of a grasp to pull the pot free from the appliance’s exterior. Many home cooks end up using whatever’s handy (like a clean dish towel) instead.
Keep your hands safe with these specially designed Instant Pot Mitts from Amazon. These silicone, grippy mitts allow you to easily remove the inner pot without risking life and limb.
2. Instant Pot Steamer Basket
Your Instant Pot likely came with a trivet that you can sit within the pot to keep ingredients off the bottom, but you probably have already realized this trivet is basically useless when it comes to steaming (even though some cookbooks will tell you to rig up a steaming system using the trivet, aluminum foil and oven-safe glassware).
Make steaming veggies or meats, or boiling eggs, easier, with an Instant Pot stainless steel steamer basket. The baskets come in three sizes, to fit three-quart, six-quart and eight-quart Instant Pot models.
Related: 20 Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes [That will Fill you Up]
3. Non-Stick Instant Pot Inner Pot
If an ingredient sticks to the bottom of the inner pot your Instant Pot comes with, you’re going to be in a world of trouble. The stuck-on food will most likely burn and then your Instant Pot will refuse to work, displaying a “burn error” code on its display.
If this has happened more than a few times while you’ve been using your Instant Pot, it might be time to invest in a non-stick ceramic inner pot. This ceramic option is PTFE and PFOA-free and is suitable for use with the six-quart Instant Pot variant. It is also dishwasher safe and can double as bakeware for your oven and makes for a seamless cleanup
This inner pot is great for making lasagna, meatloaf or other recipes that you might need to top off with a broil at the end.
4. Instant Pot Cheesecake Pan
Once you’ve begun using your Instant Pot regularly and you become comfortable with its many features, you’ll likely want to expand beyond the favorited, tried and true Instant Pot recipes, and really see what this kitchen countertop appliance can do.
Go beyond savory foods and try something sweet. Cooking a cheesecake in an Instant Pot is a fun project that will prove a challenge at first, but that will be very rewarding in the end. It is also easier to use this instant pot accessory than a traditional non-stick springform pan.
Again, while some Instant Pot cookbooks will instruct you, like with the steamer basket above, to create your own makeshift cake pan with some aluminum foil and ingenuity, there is an easier way.
This Instant Pot cheesecake pan makes not only cheesecakes but also quiches, tarts and other projects, a breeze, allowing you to lower your uncooked ingredients into the pot and then safely lift them out after cooking.
5. Instant Pot Cover
This accessory is more fashion than function, but for anyone who considers their standard black and silver Instant Pot to be an eyesore in their otherwise meticulously decorated kitchen, this accessory is a must-have.
The Instant Pot cover from Amazon comes in four different designs and is perfect for kitchens with a rustic, country or ranch feel.
6. Instant Pot Yogurt Cups
Much like making cheesecake in your Instant Pot, making yogurt in your Instant Pot is a popular challenge for those who want to test their cooking skills to the limit. If the idea of becoming a yogurt maker at home has you intrigued, you’ll want to purchase these Instant Pot yogurt cups and their accompanying rack.
The cups hold 5.5 ounces of yogurt and can be taken from the Instant Pot to the fridge. They are dishwasher safe and BPA free too.
7. Instant Pot Glass Lid
If you don’t have a separate slow cooker or a large soup pot, you might find yourself often using the Instant Pot’s soup, stew, simmer or slow cooking settings. While these are all great functions, they’re a little bit difficult when you’re using the standard, heavy, Instant Pot lid. Getting a glimpse at what’s happening inside the pot requires you to remove the lid and sealing ring, thereby letting out all your heat.
You can avoid this problem with the Instant Pot glass lid from Amazon, which allows you to easily see your food cooking during every stage of the process.
8. Instant Pot Silicone Starter Set
This silicone set is perfectly sized to coordinate with your 8 quart or 6 quart Instant Pot. It includes a suction lid to cover a cooked meal still in the pot, a heat-resistant pad, and a pair of mini silicone mitts so you don’t burn your hands when using a strainer or removing a steam basket.
Detailed with little grooves, the heat pad is quite versatile. You can use it as a tray beneath a hot pot, as a jar opener when you need some extra grip, and as a spoon rest for hot utensils.
All three pieces are made from BPA-free food-safe silicone and are heat resistant to 450 degrees. They’re also freezer safe and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
9. Instant Pot Sealing Ring
The Instant Pot may be the easiest way to nourish and feed your family, but you have to make sure you’re using it in a safe, secure way. And when it comes to safety, this set of two sealing rings is a must-have.
That’s because it has just the right amount of hardness and strength needed to withstand the force of pressure the Instant Pot puts out. Nothing lasts forever, so when your original sealing ring starts to wear down, you’ll want to make sure you always have a brand new one on hand in your kitchen.
It’s certainly not an exciting accessory, but it’s an important one, especially for people who continuously use their Instant Pot. The more you use it, the more often you’ll need to replace the seal.
10. Silicone Steam Rack
Prefer to steam veggies on a flat surface rather than in a basket? This silicone steam rack was made for steaming all sorts of goodies.
Crafted from BPA-free food-safe silicone, this steam rack is made with long legs to keep it above the water. It can also be stacked three high inside an inner cooking pot for dehydrating. Plus, the long handle stays cool, so you won’t have to worry about burning your hand with hot steam.
It’s also dishwasher safe, so cleaning it after a meal is a breeze!
11. Silicone Lid
This silicone lid is the perfect way to preserve leftovers so you can reheat them later. It’s made for use with the Instant Pot inner stainless steel pot and provides an airtight plus watertight seal to keep food fresh (and reduce spillage).
With this lid, there’s no need to transfer leftovers into plastic containers. Leave your extras in the inner pot you cooked them in, and keep it sealed inside with this top.
There are lots of cool, useful gadgets and accessories that go along with the Instant Pot. But if you always make more than you can eat in one sitting, the silicone lid might be the most important one of all.
12. Cheat Sheet Magnet Set
If you’re the type of cook who makes many different dishes in your Instant Pot, it can be tricky remembering exactly how much water to add and how long to cook each item. Instead of having to look up those details every time you make a meal, hang this cheat sheet magnet on your fridge as an instant reference guide.
This pressure cooker guide provides liquid and time ratios for over 100 foods. Plus, when you see how quickly certain things can cook, it just might inspire you to try some new dishes or make some new sides!
13. Spoon Spatula
Whether you like to slow cook or pressure cook, having the right kitchen tools on hand is essential. And while you probably already have a few spatulas in your arsenal of cookware, this one makes it super easy to get into all areas of your pot.
Made from BPA-free nylon, this spoon spatula is heat resistant up to 450 degrees. With one side curved and one side angled, it’s perfect for mixing, scraping, and scooping all sorts of stews, pastas, grains and veggies.
Instant Pot Accessories to Avoid
Of course, not all Instant Pot accessories are a good deal. Which are a waste of money?
Opt-out of purchasing multiple slings and inserts that all do the same thing. While your options are plentiful and there are as many steamer baskets and steamer racks as you could possibly imagine, you don’t need one of every variant. Look for a solid, positively reviewed steamer basket and purchase one before considering if you need another.
Additionally, avoid the egg rack inserts that are designed for boiling eggs. You can accomplish exactly the same thing with a steamer basket with the same quality of egg bites.
A steam release vent pipe is also likely not a good use of your money. Designed to divert the steam your Instant Pot releases to the direction of your choosing (versus allowing the steam to simply go straight up), it’s just a small piece of plastic that, in the end, doesn’t change your cooking experience that much.
Ready to Do More with Your Instant Pot?
Whatever your Instant Pot goals, purchasing some Instant Pot accessories can help you get there. Whether you dream of baking amazing cheesecakes from your countertop or you want to make quick breakfasts for the kids on a daily basis or maybe you need to add some extra veggies to your dinner menu, the Instant Pot accessories make it easy — and all for pretty affordable prices.
You might also be interested in: Why You Need To Get An Air Fryer
13 of the Best Instant Pot Accessories
- Instant Pot Mitts
- Instant Pot Steamer Basket
- Non-Stick Instant Pot Inner Pot
- Instant Pot Cheesecake Pan
- Instant Pot Cover
- Instant Pot Yogurt Cups
- Instant Pot Glass Lid
- Instant Pot Silicone Starter Set
- Instant Pot Sealing Ring
- Silicone Steam Rack
- Silicone Lid
- Cheat Sheet Magnet Set
- Spoon Spatula
Holly Riddle
view postHolly Riddle
Holly Riddle is a travel, food and lifestyle writer, and a full-time freelance content creator after several years on editorial staffs for a multitude of publications ranging in topic and audience demographic. She currently acts as the editor at large for Global Traveler magazine and is a regular contributor at Trazee Travel, WhereverFamily, TravelMag, CruiseHive and more. Ghostwritten work for travel clients has appeared on Forbes, Bloomberg, Inc. and other top publications. She also manages blogs for tour providers, hotels and tourism boards.
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