Instant Pot Inner Pot: Stainless vs Ceramic (and the Sealing Ring)

Written by Lara Yehia. Lara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy.

Published October 2026 · Last reviewed October 20, 2026

Instant says its standard inner pot is stainless steel with no chemical coating. It also sells a ceramic-coated pot, and the sealing ring, float valve and pot are the parts you replace. We read Instant's product pages, Duo manual and chemical disclosure to sort out which spare is which.

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Inner Pots, Rings and Valve Parts at a Glance

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Instant Pot Inner Pot: Stainless Steel or Ceramic?

Short answer: the standard Instant Pot inner pot is uncoated stainless steel. Instant says it is “made from food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, with no chemical coating”. Instant's ceramic option is a different pot: an aluminum pot with a ceramic non-stick coating inside (Instant FAQ, Instant store).

Stainless steel. The 6-quart listing describes “Durable, premium quality stainless-steel (grade 304 [18/8]) with rolled edges”, a “Tri-ply bottom for even heating” and a mirror-polished surface. The Duo's own listing describes its pot the same way: “stainless steel (18/8) with a tri-ply bottom”. What 18/8 means is in our stainless steel grades guide.

Ceramic-coated. Instant's store names it “Instant Pot® 6QT Aluminum Inner Cooking Pot with Ceramic-Coated Interior” and says “The aluminum exterior is designed for fast, efficient heating, while the ceramic-coated interior makes clean-up easy.” The Amazon listing we link calls the coating “ceramic non stick interior coating, plastic PTFE and PFOA free”. Instant's own store page does not name the coating's chemistry. Instant pitches it for “sticky, saucy foods like oatmeal, sushi rice and BBQ riblets”.

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Do Instant's Chemical Disclosures List the Spare Pots?

No. Instant's detailed disclosure (revision dated 9.10.25) lists whole cookers by cooking surface, not parts, and we found no row for a separate inner pot, ceramic pot or sealing ring (Instant detailed disclosure). Its disclosure page says its products “contain iron, chromium, manganese, nickel, phosphorus, aluminum, carbon black, titanium dioxide and/or PFAS” (Instant disclosures). Which cookers sit in which table is in our pressure cooker guide.

Which Inner Pot Fits Your Instant Pot?

Match two things: the size (3, 6 or 8 quart) and the series. Instant's steel spare is “Compatible with most* 6-quart Instant Pot® Multi-Use Pressure Cookers”, and the 6-quart Amazon listing names the “6Qt Duo Plus 60, Duo 60, Duo Viva 60, Duo Nova 60, DUO CRISP AF”. Instant's store page says it is “Not compatible with Instant Pot® Duo Evo™ Plus series” (Instant store), and the Amazon listing adds “or Instant Pot Pro series”.

The Duo Evo Plus and Pro take a different pot, Instant's Evo pot with handles. Instant says it is “Only compatible with Instant Pot® Duo™ Evo Plus, Instant Pot® Pro™ Crisp & Air Fryer and Instant Pot® Pro™ Multi-Use Pressure Cooker” (Instant store). Check the model name on the back of your cooker before you order.

Genuine or look-alike? Amazon also sells third-party pots labelled for Instant Pot. The Duo manual says: “DO use only an authorized Instant Pot inner cooking pot to reduce the risk of pressure leakage.” (Duo manual). Every pot we link is Instant's own.

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The Instant Pot Sealing Ring: Material, Colors and When to Replace It

Short answer: the sealing ring is silicone. Instant says its rings are made from “the highest quality food safe Silicone”, are “BPA free & Dishwasher safe”, and should be replaced “every 12-18 months”, or every 6 to 12 months if odors and stains bother you (Instant store).

Instant explains why rings pick up smells: “the sealing ring is porous and may absorb odors and become discolored.” That is the point of Instant's colored 2-pack, which lets you “use one for sweet and dairy, and the other for savory foods” (Instant ring page, Instant 2-pack page). More on the material itself in is silicone safe for cooking?

How to Tell a Ring Is Worn

Instant's FAQ: “Before cooking, ALWAYS check for cuts, deformation and correct installation, as sealing rings stretch over time with normal use. If you notice stretching, deformation, or damage to your sealing ring, DO NOT use it.” The Duo manual's troubleshooting table lists “Sealing ring damaged or not properly installed.” among the causes of steam leaking from the side of the lid.

How to Get the Smell Out

The Duo manual's method: “add 1 cup (8 oz / 250 mL) water and 1 cup (8 oz / 250 mL) white vinegar to inner cooking pot, and run Pressure Cook for 5–10 minutes, then use Quick Steam Release.” It also says to “Store sealing rings in a well-ventilated area to disperse odor” and to “store the lid upside down on the cooker base.”

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Why not a cheaper third-party ring? Instant says “The use of third party sealing rings may have unexpected effects on your product, and would void the Instant Pot® warranty”, and the Duo manual says to replace the ring only with “an authorized Instant Pot sealing ring”. Genuine rings carry the marking “Instant Pot®” or “MDMY-CH-50-”, per Instant's store page.

Float Valve, Silicone Cap and Condensation Collector

The float valve is the small pin in the lid; the Duo manual says it “drops into lid when all steam is released.” A small silicone cap sits on it. Instant's FAQ: “If the silicone cap is damaged or missing, it must be replaced prior before pressure cooking.” It adds that a cap with “small gouges” should be replaced too (Instant FAQ).

The Duo manual lists the anti-block shield, sealing ring, steam release valve, float valve and silicone cap together: “Hand wash with hot water and mild dish soap or wash in dishwasher, top rack.” It also says to “Remove all small parts from lid before washing” and to “check the steam release valve, steam release pipe, anti-block shield and float valve for clogging before use.” The condensation collector at the back of the base should be “emptied and rinsed out after each use.”

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Caring for the Steel Pot: Rainbow Stains, Spots and Warping

Rainbow marks on the steel are normal, says Instant: “This is common and normal in all stainless steel cookware.” It blames “exposure to high heat, cooking starchy food (e.g. rice, pasta) or even detergent staining”. For white spots, the Duo manual says “Hard water stains may need a vinegar-dampened sponge and scrubbing to remove”, and for burned food, “soak in hot water for a few hours before cleaning.” Our guide to cleaning stainless steel pans covers stubborn stains.

Instant's FAQ and the Duo manual do not mention pitting or chips. When to retire a pot: Instant's FAQ says to turn it upside down on a flat surface, check that the rim is flush all the way around, and “Replace the inner pot if it appears to be warped or damaged before pressure cooking.” Stay under the fill lines too: Instant says not to fill past the PC MAX line (two-thirds), or past half for rice and dried vegetables.

For pressure safety beyond the parts (releases, canning, recalls), see are pressure cookers safe?

How We Chose

On October 19 and 20, 2026, we read the Amazon listing for each part we link (with a U.S. delivery address), Instant's store pages and FAQ, the Duo user manual attached to the Duo's Amazon listing, and Instant's detailed chemical disclosure. We linked Instant's own pots and rings because Instant's manual and store pages say to use authorized parts. The float valve kit is the exception: Instant's store listed none when we checked. We did not test these parts. For choosing a whole cooker, including stovetop models, see our non-toxic pressure cooker guide.

Questions People Ask

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We report what each company's documents say; we do not make legal judgments about any company's disclosures. Cupindy is not affiliated with Instant Brands or any seller named on this page. Product names are trademarks of their owners.