The Best Official Instant Pot Accessories
As many of you know, I am an avid user of the Instant Pot. With myself, my hubby, my two girls and a busy schedule, the Instant Pot certainly comes in handy for getting all the soups and chilis, curries and weeknight meals on the dinner table fast!
If you don’t already own an Instant Pot, I recommend figuring out the Best Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker to Buy before thinking about accessories for your pressure cooker! I’ve hand-picked a list of the most used and highly rated Instant Pot Accessories to give you some shopping ideas, tips and tricks for your 3QT, 6QT or 8QT Instant Pot. Most of these accessories are generic and work great with other comparable electric pressure cookers, like Mealthy Multipot as well.
What Are The Best Accessories For The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
The answer to this question will vary from person-to-person. In reality, knowing what accessories are the best for you comes down to your family size and the type of meals you are going to cook. Below I have compiled a list of the Top Must-Have Instant Pot Accessories broken down into categories - General Cooking, Inserts, Baking, Eggs and Yogurt. And don’t forget to check your cabinets, you might already have some in your kitchen! These accessories have been super helpful for my family and I for preparing meals (or even dessert!) in our Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. Some of these serve similar purposes, but since I have tried them, I’ve listed them for you to choose from. Here’ you’ll find my tried, tested and favorite kitchen gadgets and accessories based on what works best for my family of 4, I’m not getting paid for this by any product company.
Top Must-Have Instant Pot Accessories
Here is the list of the Top Must-Have Instant Pot Accessories I think every Instant Pot owner should have on hand. Although it will depend on what food you like to cook, I found these to be the most convenient accessories on the market that allow you to cook just about anything! These products are also those that provide the most overall value, or in other words, high-quality products at affordable prices. We will get more in detail about where and when to buy these products, but for now, let’s breakdown the accessories!
Overall Instant Pot Cooking
This is a breakdown of the most used Instant Pot accessories in my kitchen. These are great for general, every day cooking in your Instant Pot.
Tempered Glass Lid
The glass lid makes a great addition when using the Saute, Slow Cook or Keep Warm function. It has a steam release vent to prevent too much condensation on the underside of the lid and was designed to fit the 6QT LUX, DUO or Smart models. I especially like it when sauteing onions, but you can also use it to cover the pot when making yogurt or fermenting batter or dough. As an added bonus, it is Dishwasher Safe and can be used on the stainless steel inner pot in the oven up to 425 degrees F.
Silicone Lid
The silicone lid is great when you want to store leftovers or soup in the fridge. It also makes an easy transport to parties and potlucks when I don’t want to bring my entire Instant Pot. It creates an airtight, spillproof, watertight seal that is both BPA free and Dishwasher safe.
Silicone Mini-Mitts
These heat-resistant mini mitts are more flexible than the full-on silicone gloves, so it makes it much easier to pop them on and off. I honestly did not think I would use them as much, but it turns out, I use them every day - even for oven cooking!
9-Inch Tongs with Nylon Heads
Long tongs are a great addition for your Instant Pot when sautéing or searing cuts of meat. They also come in handy when lower pots for pot-in-pot cooking, as the nylon heads keep a firm grip on the pan.
Silicone Sealing Ring
Every Instant Pot comes with a silicone sealing ring as it is crucial to pressure cooking. They are manufactured from high-quality, food-safe silicone, BPA free and dishwasher safe. However, they do wear and tear over time. If you notice steam starting to leak from the sides of your Instant Pot, it’s time for a new one. Tip: It is important to purchase only the Instant Pot sealing ring and avoid third-party sellers. As Instant Pot notes, “The use of third party unapproved sealing rings may cause damage, safety risk and void the instant pot warranty.”
2PK Sealing Ring - Sweet n Savory
Since the sealing ring tends to trap odors (as noted from many reviews), Instant Pot designed a handy, color-coded sealing ring pack so your cheesecake doesn’t end up tasting like Indian curry! I use red for savory and blue for sweet!
Stainless Steel Inner Pot
Every Instant Pot comes with a stainless steel inner pot, but I like to have an extra one on hand to store soups and chilis in the fridge covered with the glass or silicone lid.
Non-Stick Inner Pot
There is also the option of a non-stick, ceramic inner pot you can purchase separately which is great for slow cooking or pasta cooking. It is plastic PTFE and PFOA free, Dishwasher safe and can be transferred to the oven up to 680 degrees F.
Instant Pot Inserts
If you are really into steaming or Pot-in-Pot (PIP) cooking, then you’ll definitely want to purchase a few Instant Pot inserts.
Instant Pot Steam Rack | Silicone Steam Rack
I use the steel steam rack that comes with the Instant Pot on a regular basis, however, it always got way too hot to handle - literally! This silicone steam rack is much more user-friendly and practical since the handles are long, so they don’t get too hot like the steel version.
Stainless Steel Steamer Basket
This steamer basket fits my 6QT and 3QT Instant Pot since it is super flexible. I really enjoy it for steaming vegetables or eggs. The three foldable legs at the bottom keep whatever food I’m steaming above the boiling water and they’re coated in silicone, so they won’t scratch the bottom of my pot.
Instant Pot Steamer Basket | Silicone Steamer Basket
Another practically designed steamer basket, I love to use this for hard-boiled eggs and veggies. This BPA free silicone basket has high walls that keep the food contained and away from the boiling water while the long handles help for lowering the basket into the Instant Pot, keeping them cool and easy to handle.
Silicone Bakeware Sling
A durable and reusable sling that allows you to easily lift bakeware and baking cups out of a 6QT or 8QT Instant Pot. Designed to keep your baking dishes above water while cooking, the handles interlock to fit under the Instant Pot lid. It’s Dishwasher safe, a cinch to clean and great for Chocolate Lava Cakes, lasagna, banana bread and mini frittatas.
Instant Pot Trivet |Stackable Trivets
These are great for pot-in-pot cooking. I like to use the taller trivet when cooking curry in the main pot and rice in a smaller one, for example, this Chicken Korma and Rice recipe. Also, hard-boiled eggs are super easy to make (as you can see in the photo). These trivets are also great when you want to steam chicken, meat, fish or veggies without the food touching the liquid or inner pot.
Tall Trivet for Pot-in-Pot Cooking
This Tall Trivet is very useful for Pot-in-pot cooking, especially when I’m looking for a higher clearance than the standard trivets. It elevates the food almost 4 inches above the bottom of the pot.
I use this for placing the rice bowl with curry in the main pot, for example: Dal & Rice. It also works better when steaming chicken or fish.
Stackable Pot-In-Pot Pans
As in the name, I use these for pot-in-pot cooking, too! As long as the cooking times are the same, these pans allow you to cook more than one type of food simultaneously. Usually, I like to do quinoa in one and vegetables in another, or I’ll cook chickpeas in one and beans in the other. These pans make for a healthy and convenient way to re-heat leftover food in your Instant Pot without sacrificing the nutrients and vitamins.
Instant Pot Baking
These Instant Pot accessories are for those of you who really enjoy sweet treats or baking - especially cheesecakes, or Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes!
Silicone Cupcake Liners
I stack these colorful liners on the trivets and bake anything from Chocolate Lava Mini Cakes to Frittata Muffins. The individual size portions are great from meal prep and portion control, too!
7-Inch Non-Stick Springform Pan
If you haven’t already made a Cheesecake in your Instant Pot, you’re going to make one, you just don’t know it yet ????. And then you’ll need one of these pans. It’s great for Cheesecakes, Dhokla (savory chick-pea cake), banana nut breads, etc. This is one of the two most popular cheesecake pans. It’s great for cheesecake, Dhokla (savory chickpea cake) and banana nut bread. The sides spring open when released and the non-stick coating prevents any of your baked goods from sticking!
7-Inch Cheesecake Pan with Removable Bottom
According to the Instant Pot community, this is the most popular cheesecake pan. The removable bottom makes the release of cakes and cheesecakes simple and easy - all you have to do is push! Both these pans are excellent for cheesecake, it all comes down to personal preference. Size Tip: Purchase the 7-inch for the 6QT or 6-inch for the 3QT.
Instant Pot Eggs
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, eggs are easy to make with the help of this accessory.
Silicone Molds
These high-quality, food-grade silicone molds are perfect for egg bites, poached eggs, and Indian Rava Idli. They are totally stackable and will fit 6QT or 8QT Instant Pots.
Instant Pot Yogurt
My family and I can never get enough yogurt, but there is an Instant Pot accessory that can take your homemade yogurt making to new heights!
Euro Cuisine GY60 Greek Yogurt Maker
I love making yogurt in my Instant Pot, but sometimes I like a thicker Greek yogurt version for cucumber raita and Tzatziki. This BPA free, fine-mesh strainer comes in handy for that. It transforms homemade Instant Pot yogurt into thick and creamy Greek yogurt in a mess-free way.
Turning Your Instant Pot Into An Air Fryer
A recent Instant Pot accessory is the new and detachable Air Fryer lid that allows you to turn your Instant Pot into an Air Fryer with innovative EvenCrisp Technology.
Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid
The Instant Pot Air Fryer lid is compatible with most 6QT models with stainless steel inner pots. It is not compatible with ceramic, non-stick inner pots. I haven’t used it yet, but have seen many positive reviews in multiple facebook Instant Pot support groups. I have, however, used the one below:
Mealthy Crisplid
The Mealthy Crisplid is another innovative kitchen gadget that turns your 6QT or 8QT pressure cooker into an air fryer. It’s compatible with the Mealthy Multipot and Instant Pot. You can read all about my review, too! Broil, crisp and air fry directly in the steel pot of your pressure cooker. These new, detachable lids allow you to make such recipes as Stuffed Mushrooms, Tandoori Fish Tikka, Chicken Tikka, Samosa Poppers, Samosa Chaat Phyllo Cups and more!
What Instant Pot Accessories Not To Buy
Here is a couple of Instant Pot Accessories I do not recommend. However, if you do own them and they work for you, that’s great! It’s all about personal preference, after all.
Instant Pot Accessories Set
Unless you know what each piece does, what you need it for and if you’ll use it, you’ll simply purchase a bunch of accessories you don’t need. Also, the sets tend to include products of lower quality.
Instant Pot Cooking Time Guides
The Instant Pot timesheets, magnets and charts with cook times are not a good resource since the cooking times never seem accurate to me. Unless it’s a guide that comes from a blogger or recipe creator you trust, I would avoid purchasing them. Personally, I would stick with recipes and methods that are tested and homemade.
Where Can I Find Instant Pot Accessories?
Online retailers such as AMAZON and big-box stores like Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Bed, Bath & Beyond will sell many of the Instant Pot accessories mentioned here at an affordable price. You can even check out the kitchen and appliance section of off-price department stores such as Marshalls and TJ Maxx - you never know what may be hiding between those shelves!
More Instant Pot Resources For You
Best Instant Pot | Which Instant Pot To Buy?How To Use Your Instant Pot - Quick Set-Up GuideHow To Do The Water TestInstant Pot RecipesInstant Pot Mini 3QT Recipes
I hope this list is helpful for you when deciding on which accessory to buy.
