Best Instant Pot Accessories
If you enjoy your time in the kitchen, you’re probably familiar with Instant Pot.
Combining a rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, and yogurt maker in one machine, The Instant Pot is a wizard in the kitchen!
It comes in handy for any culinary emergency; you can use the Instant Pot to prepare a quick meal for unexpected guests. And if you have more time to prepare, the Instant Pot can roast a whole chicken for dinner.
The Instant Pot can cook just about anything from macaroni and cheese to cheesecakes. But even with a properly functioning Instant Pot, you may be restricted from cooking certain dishes if you haven’t invested in choice accessories.
The right accessories can open up opportunities for you to cook exciting new dishes. But first, let’s look at a few things you should keep in mind before purchasing an Instant Pot for yourself:
Important Considerations Before Buying An Instant Pot
The Instant Pot has taken the cooking world by storm. Some people have begun contemplating replacing their stovetops and ovens with Instant Pots because of its versatility and convenience!
However, it’s still a steep investment, and you need to consider some things before going ahead and buying that Instant Pot for yourself.
Models
Instant Pot models come in many varieties, including Max, Smart, Ultra, Duo, Duo Nova, Duo Evo Plus, Smart Wifi, Lux, and Viva. This list can go on because there are various variations on previous models as well.
IP Duo is considered the most advanced variant, as it combines all the standard Instant Pot features with a yogurt maker.
IP Lux combines six features and is the best model for beginners, while IP Ultra is the go-to model for experts, as it effectively replaces the work of 8 appliances.
Every model comes with a unique combination of features to suit various types of consumers. It would be beneficial to conduct basic research on the features provided while keeping your cooking needs in mind.
Size
Instant Pots come in four sizes: 3-quart, 6- quart, 8-quart, and 10-quart.
The 3-quart size is great if you want to cook for yourself and your partner as It serves 1-2 people.
The 6-quart size is the most popular option because it can create the most recipes. It can feed 3-6 people, making it a great choice for preparing meals for the family.
The 8-quart and 10-quart models are perfect for when you’re hosting a party, a large family dinner, or prepping food for the week.
Accessories
Each model has different features, but they all come with a lid, a pressure valve, a plastic collector cup, stainless steel or nonstick inner pot, a sealing ring, and a steamer rack or trivet.
Besides that, there are a variety of accessories available to help you create unique recipes. The recipes specific accessories include springfoam pans for cakes, an air fryer lid for guilt-free frying, and yogurt cups to make yogurt.
Let’s take a look at some of the top-rated Instant Pot accessories.
Best Accessories For For Instant Pots
These accessories allow you to create unique dishes in a way you’ve never made them before!
1. Air Fryer Lid – Instant Pot
Six cooking techniques
This unique accessory allows you to turn your Instant Pot into an air fryer with just a quick switch. Doing so will allow you to unlock five new techniques: air fry, roast, broil, reheat, and dehydrate.
It’s easy to handle and store, and the controls are simple.
This air fryer lid uses 95% less oil to produce a perfectly crisp finish to whatever you fry. It’s perfect for fries, chicken wings, onion rings, and much more.
Air frying gets the job done without using a lot of energy or heating up your kitchen.
The EvenCrisp technology ensures a crispy and golden finish to your food while preserving your meat’s tenderness and juiciness.
It takes 70% less time than other cooking methods and does the job using just two tablespoons of oil.
It saves you space and gives you an oven, air fryer, roaster, broiler, and dehydrator all in one.
The bright dual display controls are easy to read and adjust, allowing you to cook from a temperature range of 100°F to 400°F. It’s dishwasher safe, easy to store, and a statement edition to your kitchen.
Why Buy This?
This accessory is perfect for the health-conscious. Get the same crispiness and tenderness of deep-fried food with just two tablespoons of oil and less than 70% of the time.
This accessory also gives you the luxury of trying out five other cooking techniques!
Pros
- 6 in 1 allows you to try six cooking techniques with one accessory
- Easy, simple controls
Cons
- Not compatible with some Instant Pot models
2. Stainless Steel Official Wire Roasting Rack – Instant Pot
Must Have Accessory
The trivet is the metal insert with collapsible sides that sits at the bottom of your Instant Pot. This elevates your food from the base of the pot, above the water.
This accessory is essential to buy if you want to take full advantage of your Instant Pot.
This trivet is useful when boiling eggs or steaming vegetables. Place your eggs on the trivet for a perfect hard-boiled finish.
Placing vegetables in water will cause them to lose their shape; Instead, place them on the trivet when cooking, to retain their texture and keep their nutritional value intact.
This accessory is also handy for cooking large cuts of meat and poultry.
If you want to roast a whole chicken or a stack of ribs, an Instant Pot will get the job done in half the time; but you’ll need a trivet to keep the meat elevated.
Why Buy This?
The racks are sturdy and elevated, draining excess oil off your food. The vented design distributes heat evenly, while the extended handles make for easy gripping and placing. It’s great value for money, allowing for easy steaming and roasting.
The best part is that you can use the same trivet as a serving tray!
Pros
- Drains oil and fat while cooking
- Durable
Cons
- May lose shape with use
3. Official Large Mesh Steamer Basket – Instant Pot
Most versatile
Whether you want a side of steamed asparagus and carrots or want to make dumplings, this steamer basket is perfect for you. It’s an exceedingly versatile and practical accessory for your Instant Pot, as it allows you to venture into steam cooking!
You can make anything from steamed Chinese dumplings and South Indian dosas to a plain old baked potato with this accessory.
You can prepare a quick breakfast for the entire family by stacking up to a dozen eggs in this basket or use it to steam rice if you’re in a hurry.
If you’re on a diet, this accessory will be of extra value to you. Steamed food helps preserve nutrients and doesn’t require oil.
The ergonomic design also prevents any food from getting stuck in the mesh. The smooth surface makes for easy cleaning, and it’s dishwasher safe as well. You can even use this as a colander when you need to drain pasta and can’t find your strainer!
Why Buy This?
This allows the most versatility for your Instant Pot. You can cook virtually any steamed dish you want, such as dumplings, sweet potatoes, or asparagus, in half the time. It’s a great investment for health-conscious individuals and those who prefer variety in their every-day food.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Deteriorates with frequent use
4. Official Round Cake Pan Gray – Instant Pot
Perfect for baking cakes
Turn your Instant Pot into an oven with this handy accessory!
This pan series is durable and meant to last long, as its nonstick coating guarantees good heat distribution and even baking, allowing you to make delicious cakes with-in minutes!
Their nonstick traits make for easy release after baking and keep your cakes intact; apply cooking spray for better results.
Their size makes them an excellent fit for Instant Pots, and their heavy-duty construction gives them added durability and high-temperature resistance.
You can use these pans to make cheesecakes, brownies, bundt-cake. When you’re not in the mood for something sweet, try a savory dish like lasagna or deviled eggs.
You can even store and reheat food in these pans. They can go straight from the Instant Pot to the freezer and back to the Pot for reheating.
The pans are dishwasher safe and very easy to clean.
Why Buy This?
This allows you to turn your Instant Pot into a baking machine effortlessly. It’s sturdy, long-lasting, and very convenient. You don’t need to fret over storing your cakes, as you can pop this in the freezer. Its nonstick coating also makes for easy release.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy slide for foods
- Even heat distribution
Cons
- Cakes can get a bit moist
5. Yogurt Cups and Pressure Sterilization Rack – Instant Pot
Best way to make yogurt
This brilliant accessory consists of one rack and five 6-ounce yogurt cups, each with spill-proof, airtight lids.
The rack can hold five bottles for sterilization. The sterilization process uses pressure steaming to kill any bacteria or viruses. This product is BPA free and made of food-grade polypropylene plastic that is dishwasher and freezer safe.
Make sure you start with cleaning your Instant Pot because you don’t want to infuse any lingering smells into your yogurt.
Instant Pot’s yogurt feature allows you to scald and pasteurize milk as well as incubate yogurt. You can add fruits or honey to your yogurt to give it extra flavor without damaging the fruit’s integrity.
Starting the yogurt-making process takes 5 minutes, after which you must let it incubate for ten hours and then store them in the fridge.
As complicated as it may first seem, the sterilization process is fairly simple.
These cups are easy to lift in and out of the Instant Pot, and they’re dishwasher safe as well.
Why Buy This?
These yogurt cups are a great addition to your Instant Pot accessory collection. They’re easy to fit, clean, and can yield five cups of yogurt. The pressure sterilizing rack makes it all the more handy and safe to use.
Pros
- Dishwasher and freezer safe
- Easy to clean and sterilize
- Easy to store
Cons
- Not as durable
- Not compatible for some models for Instant Pot
6. Official Cook/Bake Set- Instant Pot
Best multi-purpose tool
This is an 8-piece set that includes lower and upper wire egg racks, holding up to seven eggs, two stainless steel round pans (one featuring a removable base), two silicone lids with pressure release tabs, and a stainless steel divider. These pieces are BFA free and oven safe up to 450°F.
This multi-purpose accessory allows you to cook, bake, steam, and store your meals. The removable dividers lets you make different foods simultaneously, and they come equipped with lids to keep food from leaking. The lids also feature tabs for releasing pressure and steam.
The egg trays are perfect for both soft boiled and hard-boiled eggs and allow you to store them as well. They’re dishwasher safe and easy to clean and store.
Why Buy This?
This multi-purpose 8-piece set is a must buy. It allows you to cook and bake.
The pressure release tabs, the removable base, and the steel divider help protect your food and allow you to cook different food together in the same unit.
Pros
- Secure lids to prevent any leaks
- Multi-purpose
- Can cook different foods at one time
Cons
- Not as durable
Conclusion
We hope this will provide you with all the information you need about the best Instant pot accessories available currently.
Of course, every accessory is unique and caters to different types of cooks; however, most of these are multi-purpose and can suit many different people.
There might be accessories missing from the list that some might find more useful. In any case, consider your preferences, your cooking style, and your budget before choosing an Instant Pot model or accessory for yourself!