The Instant Pot accessories no one should live without

As an Instant Pot owner knows, mastering the cook times of all your favorite ingredients is perhaps the biggest learning curve to using this new device. Since ingredients are cooked under pressure and thus out of sight, you can’t exact check in on them the way you would when something is in the oven or even in a slow cooker.
This magnet is going to quickly become your favorite accessory, hands down. At a glance, the cheat sheet will allow you to check cooking times for things like grains, vegetables, and meats. Plus, since the Instant Pot is metal, it can stick right to the device itself. (There’s also a larger, companion chart that can go on the fridge.)
Perhaps the best part about these magnets though is you’ll no longer need to Google “how long do I cook chicken” every time you bust out the Instant Pot.
Amazon reviewer MA writes:

“This is the third set I’ve purchased. Everyone I know has realized how great Instant Pots are and it seems I’m the only one who knows about these cheat sheets. They’re magnet. You put the small one directly on the pot — no, the heat does not bother it. It’s a quick reference. And the larger one goes on the fridge. Love the big one. It has sections by topic: vegetable, meat, poultry, ligaments, etc. So you can quickly look at what you’re going to cook and tells you how much water to add and for how long without having to look it up online, on your phone or in a cookbook. Love this item. If you have an Instant Pot, you need one of these. I just found another friend who has one, so I may end up buying a fourth one real soon.”

You may think that your baked creations would guarantee you a win on Cupcake Wars when in reality they may not even get you past the first round on Nailed It. Step up your baking game with this round cheesecake pan from Fat Daddio’s.
Amazon reviewers are obsessed with this round cheesecake pan, raving about how well it works and how easy it is to release the cake. The commercial-grade pan comes with a lifetime guarantee, and it’s heartening to see that 77 percent of people have given it a 5-star review, out of more than 1,400 reviewers.
There are two drawbacks to this device, though we’re of the camp that these are minor complaints. For one, the sticker is very hard to remove, and only seems to come off by using a magic eraser. (Although some reviewers report that they didn’t have the same issue.) Secondly, the pan isn’t dishwasher safe, which could prove to be a hassle for some, but not for us.
If you can get past those two things, then this is a worthy investment you’ll come to rely on — especially for those who love cheesecake.
Amazon reviewer Donna Turner, who gave the pan a 5-star review, writes:

“I bought this pan to make cheese cake in my instant pot. It’s perfect. No problems! Unlike some reviewers, the glue used on the label came off easily and if it hadn’t I wouldn’t have worried because it would have been covered with parchment paper or I would have just turned the disk over. But alas, some people just like to complain.”      

One of the Instant Pot’s most used functions is steaming, offering users the ability to steam foods fast and as part of a one-pot meal with all ingredients cooked simultaneously. This Hatrigo steamer basket was made especially for this function. This basket seamlessly slides in and out of the pressure cooker, allowing you to prepare your favorite foods with ease. 
Available in three, six, and eight quart sizes, the deep mesh basket also comes with a removable divider. The divider basket provides three separate compartments for steaming so you can cook eggs, vegetables, and whatever else has an upcoming expiration date, all at the same time.
With more than 3,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews, it’s hard to find anything bad to say about this accessory.
Amazon customer Hilda C. Crangle writes: 

“The basket’s handle assures you don’t have to worry about balancing food items when you remove them from your pressure cooker. You can rinse rice without having to pick out the remaining pieces of uncooked rice as the mesh is tightly woven. You can steam vegetables, potatoes, eggs, and more. Bonus for me…2 silicone baby food trays fit snugly in the basket for my version of Starbucks Egg Bites.” 

Although we’re sure you love everything about your Instant Pot and can’t get enough of all of its functions, like many Instant Pot owners there’s probably one small quirk that makes you love the Instant Pot just a little bit less. Although these fan favorite kitchen appliances are known for their pressure cooking function, this feature also has a less loved side effect. 
When the steam from the pressure cooker is released, it is often directed upwards, leaving your cabinets and other kitchen furniture vulnerable to water stains. This little steam release accessory redirects steam to the direction of your choice — just make sure not to point it at your face or hands, as you could become badly burned. 
Amazon customer J. Burnett writes: 

“Cabinet savior is accurate! This snaps together easily, slides over the Instant Pot release switch & diverts the steam out the side, rather than straight up your cabinets!”

Egg bites are essentially a hand held omelette. Starbucks has had these delightful drops of sunshine on their menu for a while now, but these morning pit stops can quickly add up. The Rottay egg bites molds help you make the perfect egg bites right in your Instant Pot. The set also includes a steam rack, silicone spoons, and a silicone spatula.
The uses for this accessory don’t stop at eggs though. These are also the perfect molds for brownies, yogurt, and even baby food, making these egg bites molds one of the most versatile companions for your Instant Pot.
Amazon customer Dove Family writes: 

“These egg molds work wonderfully in my Instant Pot Duo Crisp! The trivet fits perfectly at the bottom and the egg molds sit right on top of each other. I have used them 4x times now and have made a variety of recipes. The eggs always come out perfect and I even used this to make mini-muffins. Those were a hit with my daughter!”

If you read our comparison piece about the Ninja Foodi, then you know that one place where the Instant Pot falls short is that it can’t make things crispy. Unless you have this device, that is. The MICHELANGELO Air Fryer Lid instantly transforms your Instant Pot into an air fryer, thus eliminating the need to invest in an entirely different cooking device (and sacrifice yet even more cabinet space.) So we guess Miley was right when she said you can get the best of both worlds.
Just snap the MICHELANGELO Air Fryer Lid on to your Instant Pot and let it get to work. Watch your food fry, foil, and crisp in minutes, making the perfectly crisp fast food fries you crave without the excess oil. The air fryer lid also comes with a fryer basket, trivet, heat-resistant mat, and tongs — everything you need to live out your fried food fantasies.
Amazon customer Juls writes:

“I LOVE THIS THING! I am beyond pleased. I live in a small space and I LOVE to cook. That sometimes poses a problem. I was torn between getting an instant pot or an air fryer. I settled on the IP and I use it daily but there are just some things that taste better fried or baked. When I found this I was excited! Very little space was lost and I feel like I have gained a whole other appliance PLUS not having to remove food from the IP to the oven for a broil! W-I-N!! Air fryer lid sits perfectly atop my 6qt IP. I like the easy presets and I love the fact I can see my food cooking.”

Unless you want to risk potentially dumping your whole meal in the sink, a strainer is the only solution. This strainer is not only adorable and comes in a range of adorable colors, but it also is super handy and sure to be one of your most used items.
The Salbree strainer snaps directly onto your pressure cooker so you don’t have to hold it in place while lifting the heavy pan over the sink. It also comes with silicone mitts and other accessories to assist you in all of your straining needs.
Amazon customer Kelly Pederson writes: 

“I make a lot and I mean A LOT of plain pasta for my son. He is not a fan of sauce and I started using my instant pot to make the process faster and less work for me. This clip n strain is just what I needed. It attaches to the IP liner securely, works perfectly, and is just what I needed to make straining the pasta quick and easy.”

Take your Instant Pot everywhere from potlucks, to bake sales, or just to a friend’s house. Now you never have to worry about lugging around one of your heaviest kitchen appliances, or dread spilling your entire meal in your back seat — simply carry your precious pot in this Quick & Carry, Travel Tote Bag.
Available in three-, six-, and eight-quart sizes, this travel bag is the perfect home for probably the most important appliance in your home. Not only can it be used for Instant Pots, but this bag is also great for carrying similar sized gadgets like rice cookers, crock pots, and air fryers. Its also great for no appliances at all: easily store everything from snacks, clothes, and toys in this seamlessly versatile bag. 
Amazon customer Sheila writes: 

“Who knew that traveling with my six quart instant pot and ALL the accessories could be made sooo easy! I had been hauling my six quart back and forth to our vacation home in the eight quart box, stacking extra seals, glass lid and other accessories. Now ALL the items(except the extra pot liners) can be transported safely and neatly, with compartments for all!”

This Instant Pot accessory set is essentially the holy grail of Instant Pot accessories. It includes 60 parchment papers, two steamer baskets, one steamer rack, one non-stick springform pan, one egg rack, an egg bites mold, a set of kitchen tongs, one dish plate clip, two oven mitts, and three magnetic cheat sheets that feature the cooking times of several different meats and potential recipe ingredients. It’s essentially a grab bag of many of the items we’ve already included on this list.
With so many different tools included in this set for only $36.99, this starter set is a steal and makes a great addition when gifting the Instant Pot to friends and family. 
Amazon customer Melissa Hall writes:

“This item was a gift for my sister but I decided to keep it for myself. All items are conveniently pancaked in one box. All of the items are extremely durable and easy to clean.” 

Sure, you could technically just use the mitts you already have in your kitchen drawer for your Instant Pot, but these mini silicone mitts make things so much easier. 
The ridged gripping surface of these little mitts allows you to grab the inner pot of your Instant Pot with ease. Regular oven mitts might be too thick to securely grab the inner pot in order to lift it out, so save yourself the hassle and potential burns/spilled meals with these mitts made specifically for your Instant Pot. 
Amazon customer Elizabeth Van Pelt writes: 

“It seemed a bit silly to get “Instant Pot” mitts when I have other silicone ones I use for the oven, but these are fantastic for removing the inner pot from the Instant Pot – my regular silicone ones are thicker and just won’t fit under the inner pot rim like these do. I can get a good grip and not worry about dropping the pot. Because they are thinner I don’t use them for the oven, but for the Instant Pot, these are perfect.”

If you’ve dreamed of making dinner and dessert in your Instant Pot at the same time, these mini loaf pans can make that dream a reality. Both of these cute little pans will fit in your Instant Pot at the same time, so you can multi-task by cooking two things at once.
Perfect for meatloaf, lasagna, casseroles, breads, and all kinds of dessert, these loaf pans will get the edges of your casseroles and pasta dishes crispy and golden brown, but are also able to make soft, tender desserts and breads. They’re also non-stick for easy cleanup and are compatible with both six-quart and eight-quart Instant Pots.
Amazon customer Admin Girl writes: 

Fit side by side in my 6qt instant pot. Perfect size for the two of us. Can cook meatloaf in one and a veggie in the other or make two meatloaves and freeze one. Work really well and are a good weight – definitely not flimsy! WTG Instant Pot!

If you *really* like using the slow cooker function on your Instant Pot to make beans, soups, stews, and other tasty things, it can be a bit frustrating when you can’t see what’s going on in the pot. After five or six hours, who knows if the food is burned, needs more liquid, or is perfectly cooked if you can’t see anything?
This glass lid solves all those problems. It’s also great to use instead of the pressure lid when sautéing or using the keep warm function. It can also be used in the oven with the inner pot (up to 428F) and is dishwasher safe. This lid comes in two different sizes to be used with six-quart and eight-quart Instant Pots. 
Amazon customer betteboop57 writes:

Oh my gosh!!! My Instant Pot electric pressure cooker now really feels like a slow cooker!! I love the it that I can see inside the slow cooking process now. It fits my 6qt Instant Pot perfectly! It has a small vent, so condensation doesn’t overflow and jiggle the top, like my old slow cooker had. VERY well made!

Getting the inner pot and other bakeware out of the Instant Pot isn’t the easiest. Many compatible pieces of cookware have thin rims that make them hard to grab, especially when they’re piping hot and full of just-cooked food. 
This bakeware sling will help solve that problem. The silicone bottom trivet can handle the heat of the Instant Pot while the long handles will help you remove your cookwear with ease. Just put it underneath your inner pot or pan of choice before starting up the Instant Pot, and you’ll be able to pull out your food masterpiece without any trouble. 
Amazon customer Leslie writes:

Was tired of making foil slings for meatloaf, cheesecake, etc. in my Instant Pot. Saw a few stories about folks using this and could not find at my local stores. Glad I found on Amazon and have used so many times since I received. Super easy to clean (I have not put in dishwasher but really no need to). Food does not stick. I just shake it out after washing and it drys quickly. Great product. Recommend.

If you’ve ever wanted to use your inner pot as a storage container, you can with this silicone lid. This lid will mean one less dish to wash, since you can just pop it on the leftovers in the inner pot after dinner and store it in the fridge until tomorrow. This silicone lid creates an airtight, spill-proof seal around the inner pot, so you can travel with it or store soup or stew leftovers without having to worry about spillage.
Amazon reviewer Cathryn B. writes:

Love this cover! Love to be able to store my pot in the fridge without the use of plastic wrap or a plate. The cover is of thick silicone but is not as sturdy as hard plastic. It seals well but not as tight as gladware or other containers in your cabinet. You have to make sure the lip of the cover goes over the lip of the pan to get a good seal. Once done, you do not have to be as afraid of spillage as you would be if it was just plastic wrap. 100% recommend buying for all those instant pot lovers out there!