If you’re like me, you’ll soon realize there are a few Instant Pot accessories needed to maximize your cooking experience.
My Instant Pot was a Christmas present and I’m starting to prepare dishes and my family is loving it.
I was a little apprehensive at first but slowly found that pressure cooking is incredibly easy to use.
As I made various recipes, like savory or sweet dessert recipes, I realized I don’t have enough Instant Pot accessories.
After doing some research on what items are available to solve some problems I want to share them with you.
Instant Pot Accessories Every Chef Needs
When the Instant Pot was first released in 2009 by a Canadian inventor it retailed for over $200. Today, you can find them for less than half that on Amazon.com. This makes it the most affordable all-around cooking system available anywhere in the world.
The versatility is unmatched by anything on the market today. Its ability to cook different foods in different methods is truly phenomenal.
To make that cooking experience easier and safer, I’ve discovered several Instant Pot accessories that can save time plus most items are under $10.
Here they are:
The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook: Fresh and Foolproof Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker
There are so many ways to cook different types of meals with the Instant Pot so the first thing I highly recommend getting is a recipe book and this one is the best.
I’m a visual person so I’ve always loved cookbooks with a picture attached to every recipe to show me how appetizing the dish is and how it should look when finished.
The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook is just how I like it. This cookbook is filled with gorgeous pictures and really shows off what the Instant Pot can do and how many endless recipe ideas you can come up with.
Instant Pot IP-POT-SS304-60 Genuine Stainless Steel Inner Cooking Pot - 6 Quart
One really important Instant Pot Accessory you’ll be thankful for getting is an additional Stainless Steel Pot.
Here’s why you need it:
It’s very handy to have an extra pot especially if you are cooking in large batches. It’s useful to store food in the fridge and continue cooking away in an extra pot.
If you are making different foods, it can save time by pulling one pot out when finished cooking and get started on another stainless steel Pot.
Why get this one?:
This is made by Instant Pot so it’s designed to be strong enough for the pressure cooking process.
You can also get the 3 quarts and 8 quarts for the other Instant Pot models.
Instant Pot Silicone Cover 5 & 6 quart
Here is one issue I encountered immediately after using the Instant pot for the first time.
It can create a lot of food!
From soups to stews and so much more, the Instant Pot is capable of producing large quantities of food in a very short period of time. Because of this, you’ll encounter this problem just like I did.
How do I store this food?
I didn’t want to clog my kitchen cabinets with reusable containers. I also didn’t want the food stored in plastic. So this is the one accessory that you definitely have to have and it’s very inexpensive.
It’s a silicone airtight lid so you can easily put on top of the instant pot and then put in the fridge. It’s also excellent to use if you’re transporting food. Maybe you’re going to a potluck, this will work perfectly because it’s spill-proof with a watertight seal.
It’s an excellent accessory to have on hand to avoid creating another dirty container. It’s also perfect if you planned to reheat your food back in the Instant Pot. Just take off this silicone lid and put the pot back inside the Instant Pot to warm up your food again.
Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid, Stainless Steel Rim, for 5 Qt/L or 6 Qt/L Models
Another great Instant Pot accessory that would be nice to have is the officially made Instant Pot glass lid.
I’m sure the makers of Instant Pot would have loved to include this glass lid but to keep costs down it’s something you can’t do without.
It’s perfect when serving at a table and you want to keep the food hot. It also looks a bit nicer for presentation.
Because it’s not too expensive, I think a glass lid Instant Pot is an ideal accessory.
Instant Pot Sealing Rings – 2 Pack, 6 quart
It’s recommended by Instant Pot to replace the safety sealing ring every year so this is an essential accessory that you definitely need to have.
The reason you need to replace the silicone ring every year is that if it gets damaged, it can be dangerous when pressure cooking so it’s important to have a few extras on hand.
One other major reason to get extra Sealing Rings is silicone can actually absorb odor which makes the Instant Pot smell upon opening it.
This two-pack of different color rings is perfect because it comes in two colors. One for savory foods like soups, curries, and chilies. And one for desserts and yogurts.
OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer
As you probably already noticed, an Instant Pot cooks foods at very high temperatures.
Removing hot foods from a hot Instant Pot can be challenging and a little dangerous if you’re not careful.
This Instant Pot accessory is an absolute must to make removing foods safely
Thankfully, this OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer is perfect for safely lifting out hot foods.
This particular version is also BPA free so it’s safe to steam vegetables directly on the basket.
It can also be folded up to be stored neatly and doesn’t take up space.
This OXO steamer isn’t designed specifically for the Instant Pot so it can be used in other pots as well.
OXO Good Grips Pressure Cooker Bakeware Sling, Red
You’ll be pretty amazed as to what else an Instant Pot can make. From baking to roasting, the Instant Pot is capable of doing everything.
To safely lift out cake pans or casserole dishes, this OXO Good Grips Baking Sling is another great Instant Post accessory every cook needs.
It’s similar to the OXO silicone steamer but this version has a firm and flat base to easily lift out cookware.
When you’re not using it, the baking sling can fold up and takes up very little space.
Pro Quality Nut Milk Bag - XL12"X12" Bags - Commercial Grade Reusable All Purpose Food Strainer - Food Grade BPA-Free - Ultra Strong Fine Nylon Mesh - Nutmilk, Juices, Cold Brew - Recipes & Videos… (1)
The Instant Pot is perfect for making your own homemade yogurt but to make the best yogurt you can, there are a few accessories you’ll need. One, in particular, is a bag to press through the excess moisture leaving you with a soft and silky smooth yogurt. This nut bag that’s perfect to do just that.
It works better than cheesecloth and can handle a higher capacity if you’re making a very large batch.
My family loves the Greek-style yogurt I’m able to make out of it in this particular size can handle 1-gallon milk jugs easily.
Instant Pot Yogurt Cups and Pressure Sterilization Rack
You can make anything in an Instant Pot including yogurt and it’s so easy. These yogurt maker cups are not necessary to making yogurt in the Instant Pot but they can help quite a bit.
Rather than pouring your milk directly into the pot, these yogurt maker cups are a handy way to make smaller batches of yogurt with different flavors in each. You also can make and then directly store your fresh yogurt easier in the fridge rather than scooping it out into another container.
They’re made from food grade polypropylene (PF-1002) plastic, BPA free, dishwasher and freezer safe.
Euro Cuisine GY50 Greek Yogurt Maker
When making yogurt and in particular Greek style yogurt which is traditionally thicker, separation is key.
After using an Instant Pot to make your Greek yogurt, you’ll need to remove as much whey from Greek yogurt to ensure it’s thickness.
This Euro Cuisine Greek Yogurt Maker is the perfect way to separate the excess moisture and make your yogurt super thick and creamy.
Instant Pot Official Large Mesh Steamer Basket, Stainless Steel
A steamer basket is ideal for any kitchen but can come in extra handy when using an Instant Pot making this an absolute must of an accessory.
This particular steamer basket is great for high volume use in comparison to the OXO steam basket. It’s more sturdy and can handle heavier items easily.
It’s stainless steel so it’s very safe to cook in and has legs so it will sit above water.
Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Springform Cake Pan with Tempered Glass Base, Premium Non-Stick Silicone
It’s almost unbelievable that the Instant Pot can bake inside but it can!
This perfectly designed Silicon Springform Pan made by Instant Pot is the perfect pan to create amazing cakes and dessert.
It comes in a 6.5″ diameter and 2.5″ depth and is made from food-safe silicone & BPA free.
It’s also heat resistant to 450F (230C), dishwasher and freezer safe.
There’s also a loaf pan shape available.
Aozita Stackable Steamer Insert Pans with Sling for Instant Pot Accessories 6/8 qt - Pot in Pot, Baking, Casseroles, Lasagna Pans, Food Steamer for Pressure Cooker, Upgrade Interchangeable Lids
I think I saved the best and most versatile Instant Pot accessory for last.
Most newbie Instant Pot cooks tend to make stews and soups without ever reaching the full potential of an Instant Pot which is capable of eliminating virtually every cooking device in your kitchen.
One reason you might only think of cooking everything at one go in the pot is because it’s designed that way. The inventor wanted to cook full meals as fast as possible with minimal preparation.
But, it can do so much more and this is the one accessory to help get you to the next level.
The Stackable Stainless Steamer Insert Pan is perfect for cooking multiple ingredients in separate compartments. Put veggies on one layer and roast beef on another without diluting flavors and it will also enhance the presentation.
And there it is, over 10 essential Instant Pot accessories that will make life so much easier when cooking with your Instant Pot.
I hope they help make you the best chef you can be!