The Instant Pot Sealing Ring is a pretty important part of your Instant Pot. Without it, the Instant pot cannot build pressure and cook your food! Cleaning and replacing your Instant Pot sealing ring is important to ensure the Instant Pot works effectively.
Jump to:
- What Is an Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
- Why Should I Change My Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
- Replacing Sealing Ring Regular
- When Should I Replace My Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
- Top Reasons to Replace Silicone Instant Pot Ring
- Working Out Why My Sealing Ring Won't Seal Properly
- Where Can I Buy Replacement Sealing Rings
- Buying a New Instant Pot Sealing Ring Online
- Instant Pot Sealing Ring Red vs Clear
- What's the Difference Between the Red Sealing Ring and Clear Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
- Use an Instant Pot Authentic Sealing Ring
- How to Clean Instant Pot Sealing Ring
- Should I Have an Extra Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
- How to Use Different Color Instant Pot Sealing Rings
- FAQ's
- More Instant Pot Tips to Know
What Is an Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
What Is A Sealing Ring? - The Instant Pot sealing ring is a rubber ring that fits inside the lid of the Instant Pot. It creates an airtight seal so that pressure can build up inside the pot, allowing it to cook your food quickly.
Instant Pot Safety Mechanisms
In effect, the sealing ring acts as an Instant Pot safety mechanism as it keeps the steam inside the Instant Pot Cooker and allows the Instant pots to withstand high-pressure force and keep it contained.
Why Should I Change My Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
Over time, the Instant Pot sealing ring can become worn out and stretched, leading to leaks and a loss of pressure during cooking.
It can also absorb odors and flavors from previous meals, which can transfer onto your current dish.
Replacing Sealing Ring Regular
Replacing the sealing ring regularly can ensure that your Instant Pot is functioning properly and producing flavorful meals.
When Should I Replace My Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
Typically, you will know that your sealing ring needs to be changed because you will notice that the Instant Pot is not coming under pressure.
Additionally, you may notice that there’s a lot of steam coming from the sides of your lid when you try to cook something.
It can be a struggle to know when to change your Instant Pot sealing ring, because it may work one day, and just simply not work the next day.
Top Reasons to Replace Silicone Instant Pot Ring
To prevent a catastrophe, check your Instant Pot sealing ring regularly for the following:
- Discoloration
- Stretching
- Debris
- Small tears or cracks
If you have any of the above, you should consider buying a replacement sealing ring before the one you’re using stops working on your pressure cooker.
Depending on your level of usage and when your ring shows signs of wear and tear, it should be replaced every 6 to 18 months.
Instant Pot recommends replacing it closer to every 6 to 12 months.
Working Out Why My Sealing Ring Won't Seal Properly
If your Instant Pot not coming to pressure this can mean the sealing ring needs replacing, there are other reasons this function may not be working. Check out my Instant Pot Troubleshooting Guide to find out more!
Where Can I Buy Replacement Sealing Rings
You can buy Instant Pot sealing rings wherever these electric pressure cookers are sold including Walmart, Target, Kohls, or Williams Sonoma.
My top recommendation is to buy them on Amazon.
Buying a New Instant Pot Sealing Ring Online
On Amazon, you can easily find whatever size you need, buy them in bulk, and choose different colors so you can use different rings for different dishes.
If you need a new sealing ring now, here are my top recommendations from Amazon: It's cheaper to buy a silicone sealing ring in a pack of 3 than to buy silicone rings separately.
- 6 Quart 4-Pack Silicone Sealing Rings
- 8 Quart 3-Pack Silicone Sealing Rings
- 3 Quart 3-Pack Silicone Sealing Rings
Instant Pot Sealing Ring Red vs Clear
When purchasing a new sealing ring you can buy a clear replacement ring, a blue sealing ring or a red Instant Pot sealing ring.
What's the Difference Between the Red Sealing Ring and Clear Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
The only difference between the red and clear sealing rings is their color. They both function exactly the same and can be used interchangeably in your Instant Pot.
Some people choose to have multiple colors so they can use a different color for sweet dishes versus savory dishes, or keep one solely for pressure-cooking meats to avoid cross-contamination.
All Instant Pot sealing rings are food safety bpa free. They are made with the highest quality food-safe silicone to achieve the highest safety standard.
Use an Instant Pot Authentic Sealing Ring
No matter which color you decide to go with, make sure you use an Instant Pot Brands silicone ring as they are designed, engineered and built to fit Instant Brands pressure cookers.
Use Instant Pot authentic products when replacing parts on your Instant Pot to ensure the highest safety standards.
Instant Brands use optimal material to ensure the Instant Pot Cooker continues to function safely and effectively.
If you use third-party unapproved sealing rings then you negatively impact the highest safety standards manufactured by Instant Brands.
Non-authentic Instant pot parts will affect the safety risk posed by the pressure cooker.
How to Clean Instant Pot Sealing Ring
If you want your Instant Pot sealing ring to last longer than 6-months, it’s important to clean it and inspect it after each use.
If you are having issues with a funky odor, follow the steps below to clean the sealing ring:
- First, fill the inner pot with two cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water, and a lemon rind.
- Close your Instant Pot lid and put your steam release valve into the sealing position.
- Then, hit the “steam” button on your Instant Pot and set the time for 2-minutes.
- Once it’s done, release the pressure. Then, remove the sealing ring from the lid and let it air dry completely.
Should I Have an Extra Instant Pot Sealing Ring?
We recommend always having a replacement ring on hand in case the one you are using goes bad without notice.
Additionally, no matter how well you clean your Instapot sealing ring, it may still hold onto odours.
For that reason, we recommend having a sealing ring for savory dishes and for sweet dishes so the odors do not transfer between the two types of dishes.
How to Use Different Color Instant Pot Sealing Rings
Many potheads (Instant Pot users) have different colored rings for different flavored foods when using their electric pressure cooker.
Here is an example of how you might use different color replacement rings.
Blue Sealing Ring
Blue sealing rings can be used for savory foods such as chicken, tikka masala, and curry.
Red Sealing Ring
Red sealing rings could be used for sweet foods such as cakes, desserts, or pancake bites.
Clear Sealing Ring
Many people also use a third clear sealing ring for common uses like cooking hard-boiled eggs.
Having different coloured sealing rings is optional, but a good way to make sure you always have one on hand.
FAQ's
Some Instant Pots come with one sealing ring, however, some come with a spare one which can come in super handy.
Wondering how to put a seal ring on Instant Pot? Here are some easy instructions to follow:
To install the sealing ring in your Instant Pot, simply slide it onto the circular edge on the inside of the lid.
Make sure the silicone seal is securely in place before using your Instant Pot.
It is not recommended to put the Instant Pot sealing ring in the dishwasher as it may damage or warp the silicone.
Hand wash your sealing ring with warm soapy water and let air dry for best results.
No, different Instant Pots require different-sized sealing rings. Make sure to buy the correct size for your specific model.
No, it is not safe to use your Instant Pot without a sealing ring as it will not build up enough pressure to properly cook your food.
Always make sure the silicone seal is securely in place before using your Instant Pot.
Replace Your Instant Pot sealing rings regularly to keep your electric pressure cooking safely and securely.
No! The Instant Pot sealing ring is considered a consumable item and thus not covered under the Instant Pot warranty. It’s important to regularly check and replace your sealing ring for food safety reasons.
More Instant Pot Tips to Know
Here are some more tips for using the Instant Pot correctly. Enjoy.
- Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid: How to Use It
- What is the Pot-in-Pot Method
- Instant Pot Troubleshooting Guide
If you have any other Instant Pot questions head on over to the Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners Facebook group for assistance. We’d love to help you use your Instant Pot like a pro.
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