The instant pot: the countertop kitchen appliance that is changing so many people’s lives for the better. If you’re serious about having a long-term relationship with this thing, then you’re going to want to invest in the right instant pot accessories that'll bring your cooking to the next level.
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Recommended resources
Top recommended pick for instant pot: INSTANT POT DUO*.Based on consumer report experts, food bloggers, and everyday instant pot users all around.
Pair it with this best-selling accessory kit*.
What accessories does the instant pot come with?
Your instant pot* itself should come with these basic parts that are necessary for it to function: unit, a locking lid with sealing ring*, a stainless steel inner pot*, a power cord, and condensation cup.
Additionally, you’ll also get a rice paddle, soup ladle, and trivet.
(Side instant pot for dummies story: I didn't know what a trivet was*. Well, by name, because I knew a rack to keep food off the bottom of the instant pot existed, and only in my 30s knew it went by that fancy name.
But if you really want to make the most of your instant pot, read on for additional accessories to add to your instant pot arsenal.
Must-have accessories ranked
Instant pot glass lid
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The lid that comes with your instant pot is not see-through and most suitable for pressure cooking with its locking mechanism. Much of the cooking you can do in your pot doesn’t require the lid to be tightly sealed though. In that case, you’d want a transparent tempered glass lid.
It’s a much more convenient option to see how your cooking is coming along, to easily lift and close without having to lock or unlock the lid, and a simple way to prevent food splatter or cover food contents to keep it warm and clean.
Instant pot steamer basket
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Steaming is one of the quickest ways to (re)heat up foods, so having a basket is the best way to keep your food contents out of the water bath so it won’t turn soggy. This convenient set is stackable, has multiple units to do the pot in pot method, and has a sling for easy removal.
Instant pot sealing rings
Pressure cooking requires a tight seal of the unit. Your instant pot will come with one already, but here are two reasons why an extra set is highly recommended:
- According to the instant pot manual, the sealing rings should be replaced every 18-24 months, or immediately if the rings are cracked. You won’t have to worry about your instant pot being decommissioned if you have a set readily available to swap out when the inevitable happens.
- Food odors will absorb into the sealing rings, so keep those sweet and savory flavors separate. These sealing rings are color coded for easy distinction. It’s best to keep in Ziploc bags when not in use.
Microfiber towels
Take good care of your instant pot to keep it functioning optimally. The inside parts are dishwasher safe, but for the outer unit itself, keep it clean with a microfiber towel that won’t damage the unit.
Aluminum foil
This versatile kitchen accessory is perfect for hacking your instant pot, from creating a sling to covering your coveted instant pot cake to prevent condensation. If you have an instant pot, I guarantee you’ll use foil at some point.
Bonus: Perfect accessory starter kit
If you want the essentials as a nice, matching set, try this instant pot accessory kit, which includes:
- egg bites mold and steamer rack
- vegetable steamer basket rack
- pot holder oven mitts
- cooking time cheat sheets
- and tons more
All silicone (safe for your instant pot), heat resistant, and dishwasher safe.
Runner ups
Depending on how often you’ll use the instant pot and how adventurous you want to get with your recipes, these aren't necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt to have:
- An extra inner pot* to easily swap out food contents
- Oven-safe glass containers* if you’re cooking smaller portions that can fit in the inner pot at once
- A springfoam cake pan* to make an array of recipes including instant pot cheesecake or instant pot bread
- Heavy-duty silicone gloves* to keep those precious hands of yours burnt-free and keep the cooking momentum going
Tools for the most common cooking tasks
Inner pot
Handy to have an extra in case one’s in the wash or already in use so you don’t need the entire pot again if you want to keep cooking in your instant pot.
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Comes in stainless steel.
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Or non-stick version.
Glass lid
Convenient to use for sautéing or cooking methods that don’t require the locking lid but which you want the ease to see how your food is cooking.
Sealing rings
These need to be changed every 1-2 years, or once they’re cracked since it’ll render the pressure cooking function ineffective.
Also better to have separate rings for sweet vs savory fare so those flavors don’t get mixed in your foods.
Steamer basket
Stackable stainless steel steamer basket to keep foods out of liquid when heating. These multi-unit baskets are effective for the pot-in-pot method. This set is includes a sling, which is easy to use to remove hot contents from the instant pot.
If you're a fan of instant pot accessory packages, this is the most popular on Amazon. It includes a stainless steel version has a nifty hook handle to make removal as simple as the lift of a finger.
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For those wondering: Can I use silicone in the instant pot? The answer: Yes. In fact, here's a popular silicone steam basket with convenient handles for removal.
Trivet
Heat distributes to your food entirely when you set it on a trivet, which means more evenly cooked foods that are done faster. They can also be used to cook separate foods at different tiers.
If you like making perfectly hard boiled eggs, then why not go for this egg rack trivet? A 2-for-1 special so you don’t have to get a separate egg rack tray, saving you money. Win!
Shop on Amazon.com*Accessories to retrieve hot contents
It’s pretty straightforward to get food into the inner pot before you start cooking, but how do you get it out without burning yourself? You have several different options for the immediate gratification of your cooking.
Silicone gloves
Shop on Amazon.com*Give your hands and layers a full layer of protection from heat and water. Excellent grip for the grab and go technique. Lifetime guarantee as well!
Retriever tongs
These gripper tongs are a cinch to fit in the tight space between the inner pot and the outside unit.
Heat resistant cooking grade bands
Cross these over whatever container you’re using, and then it’s only a matter of simply hooking the center to remove it.
Aluminum foil
McGyver it with this a DIY aluminum sling. Fold a sheet of foil into thirds, position to go underneath your pot, and crimp at the top so it’s easy to snatch it out.
Other kitchenware
Expand your instant pot horizons, like with baking and yogurt making, with these tools.
Instant pot cheesecake pan
These pans are actually for more than just making cheesecake in the instant pot. You can use it for breads and regular cakes too.
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This is considered one of the top 2 best cheesecake pans, which is often available at Amazon.
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This is the other top pick for cheesecake pan, though not always in stock at Amazon.
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This bundt pan also works well for cakes.
Parchment paper
If you want your instant pot desserts to look just as good as they taste, then you need this stuff. It prevents the desserts from sticking to the sides of your pan, which also means easy breezy clean up. This is for a 9-inch cake pan, but fold up the sides for full coverage of your pan.
Immersion blender
Making instant pot soup? Then you’re going to want an immersion blender to get the right consistency after you cook the contents in your instant pot. Also works for easy instant pot recipes, like applesauce, or homemade gifts, like jam.
Whisk or hand mixer
If you need to whip ingredients together before cooking in the instant pot, use these silicone whisks or this reliable hand mixer. Electric mixers will oftentimes overmix your foods, which won’t turn out as ideal as doing it by hand.
A sturdy set of silicone whisk.
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A simple hand mixer.
Instant pot yogurt maker
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It’s not as difficult as you think to make instant pot yogurt. If you’re a fan of Greek yogurt (which is strained), a simple yogurt maker like this would be the perfect.
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You can also use nut milk bags suspended above a container to catch the dripping whey for a more cost-effective option.
Compatible containers for cooking and storage
Oven safe glassware
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These oven safe glass containers can be used to cook food directly in the instant pot and easy to just stick a lid and store in the fridge. Oh, if you were wondering: Is Pyrex safe in a pressure cooker? The answer is: Yes, you can use Pyrex in an instant pot.
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Ceramic ramekins are also great for smaller portion >instant pot desserts or other recipes.
Instant pot silicone lid
Or if you’re cooking larger amounts of food directly in the inner pot, then this silicone lid fits perfectly so you can use your inner pot as the food storage unit.
Food storage containers and Ziploc bags
If you’re a freezer cooker, then freezing your foods in round, plastic containers will mean that you’re frozen fare will fit perfectly in the shape of the 6 qt instant pot.
To make the transport as simple as possible, you’ll actually want to freeze your contents in freezer bags* that sit in these containers so it’ll take the appropriate shape rather than straight from the container, which may be harder to get out.
Mason jars
Another style of glassware that is fit for your instant pot. These are also great forhomemade gifts in the instant pot that are great to give to friends and family.
Tools to keep your instant pot clean
Microfiber towel
The actual unit, the outer part with the buttons that plugs into your wall, should not be submerged in water. Instead, you want to use a wet microfiber towel to remove grimes and stains.
Foam brush
These soft foam brushes work extremely well for getting into those tight fit spaces. But you can also use a screwdriver wrapped around your microfiber towel to get to those same skinny cracks and crevices.
Bar Keeper's Friend cleanser and polish
If your inner pot is stained, then you can use this remover and some elbow grease to get your pot shiny again.
Or, vinegar also helps to clean and neutralize odors in your instant pot naturally.
Conclusion
That’s about as comprehensive as you can get with instant pot accessories. You’d still be pretty solid if you just stuck to the top 5 must-have instant pot tools, or add even more accessories to make your instant pot cooking an even bigger success.
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John says
I received this as a gift and have been gifting it to others as well: https://amzn.to/2JQ7MII
It has the mitts, the steamer, and the mold. Completely in love with my IP and those accessories. I can make the same egg bites as the ones I pay a lot for at Starbucks (for a lot less haha)!
Sylvia Wu says
Hi John,
First, thanks for stopping by and checking out this post. And second, an even bigger thanks for a great recommendation! I love the color of the set, and have added it to my post to help others find it as well. I gotta try making those eggs 🙂
Appreciate your sharing this with us!
Sylvia