If you own an Instant Pot, the right accessories can do far more than add convenience. The best instant-pot-accessories help you cook more efficiently, improve food texture, simplify cleanup, and expand what your pressure cooker can do beyond basic soups and stews. A well-chosen set of Instant Pot tools can turn one appliance into a more flexible system for steaming, baking, meal prep, reheating, and storing leftovers.
This guide explains the most useful instant-pot-accessories, how each one works, and which options make the most sense for different cooking styles. Whether you use a 3-quart, 6-quart, or 8-quart model, choosing the right accessories can help you get more value from your Instant Pot without wasting money on gimmicks you will never use.
Instead of buying random add-ons, focus on accessories that solve real kitchen problems. The strongest accessory choices improve safety, support better cooking results, and match the way you actually prepare meals. Some are essential for nearly every home cook, while others are best for specialty uses like yogurt making, cheesecake baking, or multi-level meal prep.
If you are researching instant-pot-accessories because you want to cook healthier meals, save time during the week, or get more versatility out of your appliance, start with the products below. These are the accessories that consistently provide practical value.
A stainless steel steamer basket is one of the most useful instant-pot-accessories for everyday cooking. It keeps food elevated above the water line so ingredients steam instead of boil. That matters because vegetables stay firmer, seafood cooks more gently, and delicate items are less likely to break apart during pressure cooking.
Why it matters:
Best for: Broccoli, carrots, green beans, potatoes, fish fillets, tamales, and dumplings.
A steamer basket is especially helpful if you cook healthy meals regularly. It encourages steaming instead of overcooking and makes the Instant Pot more useful for side dishes, not just one-pot meals.
Recommended product:
Instant Pot Stainless Steel Steamer Basket
An additional stainless steel inner pot is one of the smartest instant-pot-accessories for busy kitchens. If you make multiple dishes back-to-back, an extra insert saves time because you do not need to wash and dry the original pot between recipes. You can also use it for food storage, which is helpful for batch cooking and meal prep.
Benefits:
If you meal prep weekly, an extra inner pot is close to essential. It reduces downtime and makes your Instant Pot much easier to use for high-volume cooking.
Recommended product:
Instant Pot Stainless Steel Inner Cooking Pot
Stackable racks are some of the most efficient instant-pot-accessories because they help you use vertical space inside the cooker. Instead of making one layer of food at a time, you can separate ingredients and cook more in a single cycle. That can improve workflow, especially when preparing meals for more than one person.
Use cases:
These are especially useful for egg trays, chicken breasts, vegetables, and reheating separate items together. If efficiency is a priority, stackable racks are among the best instant-pot-accessories to own.
Recommended product:
Stainless Steel Air Frying/Steaming Rack
Silicone egg bite molds became popular for a reason. They are affordable, versatile, and easy to use. While many people buy them for sous vide-style egg bites, they also work well for mini desserts, portioned breakfast recipes, and small meal-prep items.
Ideal uses:
Among lower-cost instant-pot-accessories, egg bite molds deliver strong value because they support both savory and sweet recipes. They are also easy to store compared with bulky metal pans.
Recommended product:
Silicone Egg Bite Mold Set
A reusable silicone lid fits directly over the inner pot and turns it into a practical storage container. This is one of the simplest instant-pot-accessories, but it solves a common problem. Instead of transferring leftovers into another container, you can cover the pot and place it in the refrigerator.
Why it’s useful:
It is not exciting, but it is functional. For many households, this is the kind of accessory that gets used more often than specialty bakeware.
Recommended product:
Instant Pot Silicone Storage Lid
A springform pan expands the baking potential of your Instant Pot. It is one of the most valuable instant-pot-accessories for users who want to make cheesecakes, casseroles, lasagna, or dense dessert recipes under pressure. The removable sides make release easier and help delicate foods keep their shape.
Best for:
Choose a pan sized correctly for your model. For most 6-quart Instant Pots, a 6-inch or 7-inch pan works best. Size compatibility matters with all instant-pot-accessories, but especially with rigid pans.
Recommended product:
Instant Pot Compatible Springform Pan
A tempered glass lid is ideal when you are using sauté mode, slow cook mode, or simply keeping food warm. It allows you to see inside the pot without removing the pressure lid and is especially useful for recipes that do not require sealing.
Best uses:
Not every user needs one immediately, but it is one of the more practical instant-pot-accessories if you use multiple cooking modes frequently.
Recommended product:
Tempered Glass Lid for Instant Pot
A silicone sling makes lifting hot pans and bowls out of the Instant Pot much safer. Removing food containers from a deep pressure cooker can be awkward, especially when dealing with hot liquid or heavier dishes. A sling adds grip, control, and confidence.
Benefits:
This accessory solves one of the most common Instant Pot frustrations: getting finished food out of the pot cleanly and safely.
Recommended product:
Silicone Instant Pot Steamer Sling
The Instant Pot steamer basket is a simple yet versatile accessory designed to expand the cooking options of your Instant Pot. It lets you steam vegetables, fish, dumplings, and more, preserving nutrients while keeping foods separate from liquids below. What this accessory does A steamer basket is a perforated, generally stainless steel, container that fits … Read more
When I first got my Instant Pot, I expected it to be great for soups, roasts, and quick meals. But what I didn’t expect was how one accessory would completely revolutionize my cooking experience: stackable wire racks. Originally marketed as dehydrator trays, these racks have far exceeded their advertised use. They were designed with food … Read more
Introduction If you’ve just brought home your first Instant Pot, you’re probably excited—and maybe a little overwhelmed—by the possibilities. From pressure-cooked meals to slow-cooked stews, this appliance is incredibly versatile. But to unlock its full potential, you’ll want a few key accessories that can make cooking safer, easier, and more fun. In this guide, we’ll … Read more