These are the Instant Pot accessories that come with your pressure cooker and the ones you should buy (that you will actually use!).
Whether you are opening the box of your brand new Instant Pot or you are trying to decide the best ones to make your recipes easier, this list is for you.
Instant Pot Accessories Included In The Box
First, I'll show you the accessories that are included when you buy the Instant Pot. Then, I'll share my favorite accessories that are worth the money.
Stainless Steel Inner Pot
All Instant Pot models come with a stainless steel inner pot. This is dishwasher-safe. It isn't non-stick, which is why lots of people upgrade to a ceramic version.
Steaming Rack /Trivet
This is a collapsible stainless steel rack that you can use to keep food up above the broth or liquid.
Plastic Rice Paddle
The plastic rice paddle is the best thing you can use to fluff your cooked rice. It mixes it together without smashing the rice too much.
Soup Spoon
The soup spoon is the perfect size for serving soup. You can also use it to release steam as a quick release.
Measuring Cup
It also comes with a small measuring cup. I do not use this cup as it is smaller than the standard 8 oz cup. You don't actually need this. But if you do use it for measuring rice, make sure to use the same cup to measure rice and water.
Condensation Collector
This is a very important accessory. It literally catches the condensation that your IP will create. If it wears out or cracks, you will need to replace it.
Extra Sealing Ring
Some models come with an extra sealing ring. Since this is such a vital part of making your IP work correctly, you need to keep at least one extra sealing ring on hand at all times. If your sealing ring needs to be replaced, it won't allow your IP to come to pressure correctly.
Instant Pot Accessories You Should Buy
These are the accessories that are smart purchases. They are worth the money because if you cook in your IP a lot, you will definitely use them.
Must-Have Instant Pot Accessories
I am going to start the list with "must-have" accessories followed by "nice-to-have." Below are my favorite accessories I use often:
Oven-Safe Glass & Metal Bowls
To do Pot-In-Pot cooking, you need a set of stackable stainless steel bowls. They can also be used to steam delicate fish or cook rice while daal or chicken cooks in the main pot. I like the ekovana Stackable Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Insert Pans, which come with lids for stackable cooking.
Glass bowls are great for making bread pudding or yogurt. I prefer the Pyrex brand, as these bowls are multifunctional—good for cooking, serving, and storing. Keep in mind that using an oven-safe glass bowl rather than a stainless-steel bowl will require an additional 5 minutes of cooking time.
Cake Pan
A 7-inch round pan with a removable bottom works great for making cake, cheesecake, and frittata in the Instant Pot. My favorite is made by Fat Daddio’s.
Digital Thermometer
A must for making yogurt, a thermometer is needed to confirm milk is warmed to the right temperature before adding the yogurt starter.
Extra Sealing Rings
With all of the curries and daals you’ll be making, the Instant Pot sealing ring eventually will retain some of the odors. It is a good idea to have an extra sealing ring for desserts and yogurt. I like the color options because they help me distinguish between sweet and savory usage.
Immersion Blender
An immersion blender is a game-changer for preparing soups and daals because you can blend them directly in the pot, which makes for easy cleanup.
Silicone Spatulas
These spatulas do a fine job of handling the delicate grains of cooked rice and also help take out every bit of the food into your serving bowl, making cleaning the pot even easier.
Spice Grinder
The trick to tasty, heartwarming Indian food is using a combination of whole and ground spices in a dish. A basic mortar and pestle set works great for grinding roasted spices, but an electric spice grinder makes the prep time much faster.
A blender with low sharp blades will do the trick when grinding small amounts of wet or dry spices.
Steamer Basket
Ideal for steaming vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, or cooking fish. This steamer basket also works well for making chicken wings.
Tall Trivet/ Steam Rack
Necessary for pot-in-pot cooking. (For more on pot-in-pot cooking, see this page.) You can cook rice in the main pot and delicate fish over the steam rack, or beans in the main pot and rice over the steam rack.
Nice-To-Have Instant Pot Accessories
These are the things that you will probably use too. They are completely optional, but I think you'll appreciate having them and will use them pretty often.
Air Fryer Lid
This Mealthy Crisplid as well as the Instant Pot Airfryer Lid turns your Instant Pot into an air fryer. You can also use it with other recipes - like chicken tikka masala - to crisp up your food.
Ceramic Non-Stick Inner Pot
If you prefer something that is easier to clean then you should invest in a non-stick inner pot. This makes clean-up a lot simpler than the stainless steel pot, but it isn't dishwasher safe.
Steam Diverter
When you do a Quick Release, the steam will go straight up in a very fast burst. If your Instant Pot is underneath your cabinets, this could damage them over time.
A steam diverter sits on top of the steam release and directs it to the side instead of straight up.
Tempered Glass Lid
The Instant Pot tempered glass lid is used for sauteeing or slow cooking. This is a great way to protect your countertops if something you are sauteeing is splattering a bit.
This does not seal as well as the included lid, so you cannot use it to pressure cook.
Stackable Egg Steamer Rack
When you make hardboiled eggs in the Instant Pot, this steamer rack keeps them in the perfect position. Plus, it's just so much easier to lift them out after you steam them.
I love using hardboiled eggs in my Egg Biryani recipe.
Final Thoughts
There are so many accessories that people invent to make Instant Pot cooking easier. This list is not exhaustive and is a work in progress. If you have a favorite Instant Pot accessory that isn't listed, please let me know. It might just make it on this list.