10 Tips And Tricks For Cleaning Your Stovetop Pressure Cooker | ZAVOR® (2024)

1. Pressure Cookers can last for a long time, but you must clean and maintain it to keep it not only looking good but working at its best too.
2. Don’t forget the lid. Yes, the pot is the largest part of the pressure cooker, but the lid is what makes it a pressure cooker.
3. Don’t forget the small components. Before you can clean the lid, you must remove some parts, such as the gasket and pressure valve. Remember to clean the removable components separately, so you can get them squeaky clean.

• The pressure cooker pot is dishwasher safe, but the lid should be washed by hand with warm water, mild dishwashing soap, and a non-abrasive cleaning pad for general cleaning.
• The outside has a beautiful mirror finish; to keep the finish, don’t use a metal scouring pad or abrasive cleaners since they could potentially scratch the pot.
• After cleaning, dry with a soft kitchen cloth or paper towel.
• To keep silicone gasket in the best condition, remove it and wash it with warm water and mild dishwashing soap each time you use it. After washing and drying it, cover it with a thin coat of vegetable oil before putting it back onto the lid.
• The silicone gasket should be replaced approximately every 12-18 months, depending on how often you use it.

1. Burnt Food Stuck on the Pot

Fill up your pot with room temp water and put it on the stove on low heat for 10-15 minutes. This will help loosen up any burnt food bits from the pot. After heating the pot for a few minutes, let it cool and clean with a dish sponge and soap.

2. Food Stains

Little black food stains are common that build up over time due to regular cooking. To help with that, fill the pot up with water covering all the stained areas. Then drop 5 to 6 outer layer onion skins (not the dry, flaky layer) into the water. Place it on the stove on high heat and close the lid. Don’t build pressure; we just want to boil the water. Let this mixture boil for 20 to 30 minutes. Turn off the heat, let the cooker cool, and gently scrub the stains away.

3. Mineral Deposit Buildup

In some cases, depending on water quality, you might experience a white layer or film in your pressure cooker. This layer is known as mineral deposit and can be easily cleaned. Vinegar is excellent because it is acidic and helps dissolve the grime. Fill the pot up with water and add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Let the solution sit in the pot overnight. In the morning, wash and dry the pot as usual. If it is still there, you can repeat the process over again in a couple of days to get rid of the rest of the buildup.

4. Old Hard Stains

To remove stubborn stains and any discoloration in the interior of the pressure cooker, try adding the juice of half a lemon and 1 to 2 cups of water to the pressure cooker pot. Cook at high pressure for 15 minutes, then remove from heat. Let pressure release naturally, then wash as usual.

5. Hard to Reach Areas

The pressure valve is a small part that may need something like a small brush (i.e., soft toothbrush, pipe cleaner, q-tip) to clean the interior with warm soapy water. This helps remove any bits of foods lodged in the valve so the pressure cooker can perform at its best.