Essential Instant Pot Accessories for Beginners

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Welcome to the exciting world of Instant Pot cooking! Whether you’ve just unboxed your new Instant Pot or you’re a seasoned pressure cooking enthusiast looking to enhance your culinary journey, understanding the right accessories can truly transform your experience. I’ve been an avid Instant Pot user for over nine months, and it has undeniably become an indispensable tool in my kitchen. From quick weeknight meals to gourmet desserts, this versatile appliance consistently delivers incredible flavors and simplifies my cooking routine.

The Instant Pot isn’t just a pressure cooker; it’s a multi-functional device that can steam, sauté, slow cook, and more. While it’s fantastic on its own, a few key accessories can unlock its full potential, allowing you to tackle a wider range of recipes with greater ease and precision. These aren’t just gadgets; they are practical additions that can save you time, reduce cleanup, and open up a world of new cooking possibilities. If you’re wondering what essential tools can elevate your Instant Pot game, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve compiled a list of the most helpful Instant Pot accessories that I’ve personally tried and recommend, perfect for both beginners and experienced cooks alike.

Below, you’ll find a curated selection of Instant Pot accessories that have proven to be incredibly useful in my kitchen. Each item offers unique benefits that will make your Instant Pot even more versatile and enjoyable to use.

Fat Daddio Cheesecake Pan

The Fat Daddio Cheesecake Pan is truly a game-changer for anyone who loves baking in their Instant Pot. Its springform design makes it incredibly easy to release delicate dishes without any sticking, ensuring perfect presentation every time. I’ve used this pan countless times, and each instance has yielded fantastic results. It’s not just for cheesecake; its versatility extends to a wide array of recipes, both sweet and savory. Imagine serving a perfectly moist and creamy cheesecake, baked to perfection with the consistent heat of pressure cooking. Beyond desserts, this pan shines for baking quick breads like my delicious pumpkin spice bread and hearty banana bread. The pressure cooking environment creates a steaming effect that results in incredibly tender, moist, and evenly cooked baked goods, often surpassing oven-baked results. Its durable anodized aluminum construction ensures even heat distribution, which is crucial for preventing burnt edges and undercooked centers. This pan is an absolute must-have for anyone looking to expand their Instant Pot repertoire beyond just savory meals.

Egg Bites Container

If you’re a fan of those fluffy, protein-packed egg bites from your favorite coffee shop, then an Instant Pot egg bites container will be your new best friend. I’ve personally used this silicone mold multiple times, and the results are consistently superior to any oven-baked method. Before discovering this accessory, I would bake my egg bites in a muffin tin, often struggling with inconsistent textures and the risk of overcooking. The Instant Pot, combined with this specialized container, utilizes a gentle steaming process that locks in moisture, creating an incredibly tender and custardy texture that’s simply irresistible. The individual compartments make portion control easy, and the non-stick silicone ensures effortless removal. They are perfect for quick, healthy breakfasts or snacks, and fantastic for meal prepping throughout the week. You can whip up a batch of delicious bacon egg bites in a fraction of the time it would take in a conventional oven, and with far less effort. Say goodbye to dry, rubbery eggs and hello to perfectly cooked, flavorful bites every time.

Instant Pot Sealing Ring

Let me emphasize this: additional Instant Pot sealing rings are absolutely essential! This might seem like a minor detail, but it makes a huge difference in your cooking experience. The sealing ring is crucial for the Instant Pot’s pressure cooking function, creating an airtight seal. However, these rings can absorb strong odors from highly aromatic dishes over time, even after thorough washing. Imagine cooking a rich, savory seafood, sausage, and chicken gumbo or flavorful Jerk Chicken, and then trying to make a delicate cheesecake for dessert. The lingering scent of garlic, spices, or seafood can easily transfer to your sweet dishes, creating an undesirable flavor profile. While deep cleaning can help reduce odors, it’s often not enough to completely eliminate them. This is precisely why having a spare set of sealing rings is incredibly wise. I recommend dedicating one ring specifically for savory meals and another for sweet desserts. This simple separation prevents flavor cross-contamination, ensuring that your lemon cheesecake tastes like lemon, not last night’s curry. It’s a small investment that greatly enhances the versatility and enjoyment of your Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Egg Steamer

Making perfectly cooked, easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs was one of the first recipes I attempted in my Instant Pot, and I was instantly hooked. The results were consistently impressive – no more stubborn shells or green-tinged yolks! When I discovered the Instant Pot egg steamer, it elevated this simple process to an even higher level of convenience and efficiency. While you can certainly make boiled eggs directly on your Instant Pot’s trivet, a dedicated egg steamer rack is designed to hold multiple eggs upright, preventing them from rolling around and allowing for more even cooking. This accessory ensures that each egg is perfectly steamed, resulting in a consistent texture and, most importantly, shells that practically slide right off. It’s a fantastic tool for meal prepping a batch of hard-boiled eggs for salads, snacks, or deviled eggs. You can explore my detailed method for preparing eggs in the Instant Pot here. Adding an egg steamer to your collection will make this beloved, versatile food even easier to incorporate into your diet, saving you time and frustration in the kitchen.

Instant Pot Glass Lid

While your Instant Pot comes with a standard pressure cooking lid, an Instant Pot glass lid is a highly practical accessory for several cooking functions where pressure isn’t required. It’s particularly useful when using the sauté, slow cook, or steam settings. For example, when preparing the delightful egg bites I mentioned earlier, I often use the steam setting, and this glass lid allows me to monitor the cooking progress without lifting the lid and releasing valuable heat or steam. This visibility is incredibly convenient, especially when simmering stews, making soups, or slow-cooking a hearty chili. While I haven’t extensively used the slow-cooker function on my Instant Pot yet, I can imagine this glass lid would be indispensable for that setting, allowing you to peek in on your meal without disrupting the slow, even cooking process. It also comes in handy for keeping food warm after cooking, or for simply covering the inner pot when it’s sitting on the counter. The glass lid offers a clear view into your cooking, adding a layer of convenience and control that the standard pressure lid doesn’t provide.

Instant Pot Silicone Lid

One of the many joys of cooking with an Instant Pot is the sheer volume of delicious food you can prepare – which often means plenty of leftovers! This is where the Instant Pot silicone lid truly shines. Designed to fit snugly over your Instant Pot’s inner pot, this lid transforms your cooking vessel into an instant storage container. While I typically prefer to meal prep and store my leftovers in separate glass containers, there are countless times when I simply don’t have the energy or time to transfer everything immediately. On those busy days, or when I’ve made a large batch of something like a hearty dip for a gathering, this silicone lid is an absolute lifesaver. It creates an airtight seal, preserving the freshness of your food and preventing spills, making it perfect for refrigerating contents directly in the inner pot. This saves on extra dishes and makes cleanup a breeze. It’s an incredibly practical accessory for busy cooks, allowing for seamless transition from cooking to storage, and ensuring your delicious Instant Pot creations stay fresh and ready for your next meal.

Steaming Rack

A high-quality steaming rack, often referred to as a trivet, is an indispensable accessory that comes included with most Instant Pots, but having an extra or a different style can significantly enhance your cooking. These racks are absolute perfection for steaming a wide variety of foods. From crisp-tender vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and green beans to delicate fish fillets or succulent dumplings, a steaming rack ensures your food is cooked gently and evenly, retaining its nutrients and vibrant colors. Steaming in the Instant Pot is incredibly efficient, as the pressure cooking environment creates a powerful steam bath that cooks food quickly without submerging it in water. Beyond steaming, these racks are also crucial for “Pot-in-Pot” (PIP) cooking, allowing you to elevate a separate dish (like a cheesecake in a Fat Daddio pan!) above the liquid in the main pot. This method is fantastic for cooking multiple items simultaneously or for baking without direct contact with the cooking liquid. Whether you’re aiming for healthier meals or just need a versatile tool for various cooking techniques, a sturdy steaming rack is an essential component of your Instant Pot arsenal.

Inner Pot

An extra Instant Pot inner pot might seem like a luxury, but I can confidently say it has been a true lifesaver for me on countless occasions. This stainless steel insert is where all the magic happens inside your Instant Pot, and having a spare makes a world of difference, especially if you’re like me and often have several different recipes in progress at once. During busy periods, such as holiday meal preparation or when hosting guests, I often don’t have the luxury of fully cleaning the inner pot before needing it for the next dish. Some recipes leave behind stubborn residues that require soaking or significant “elbow grease” to clean thoroughly. With an additional inner pot, you can seamlessly transition from cooking one meal to another without any delay. Imagine making a savory stew and immediately needing to prepare a dessert or side dish; a clean, readily available inner pot eliminates downtime and stress. It also allows you to store leftovers in one pot while keeping your primary pot free for the next culinary adventure. This simple addition saves time, simplifies cleanup, and greatly enhances your efficiency in the kitchen, proving to be an invaluable asset for any serious Instant Pot enthusiast.