If I have one complaint about the Instant Pot it would be this: It is hard to get the leftover smells out! When I make Chicken Tikka Masala in my Instant Pot, it smells like Chicken Tikka Masala until I make something else that smells more powerful. The Instant Pot owner’s manual says that you should regularly take out and wash the silicone sealing ring with dish soap to get rid of smells. I have done this on several occasions, but it doesn’t seem to completely solve the problem. I have a friend that bought an extra sealing ring. One she uses for her dinner-lunch main dishes and the other one she uses for yogurt making and less “smelly” food. That is a pretty inexpensive solution. But after an internet search, here are some other ideas that might actually get those smells out.

1. Soak your sealing ring in white vinegar. Dilute the vinegar with some water and allow the sealing ring to soak in the vinegar-water solution for at least an hour. Take it out and wash it with dish soap. Allow it to air dry (putting it out in the sun is ideal) and then put it back in.

1. Steam clean the entire pot out with vinegar. Vinegar to the rescue again! This time, try filling the Instant Pot with 2 cups of white vinegar. Press the “steam” button and run the steam cycle for about 2 minutes. Take the ring out to dry.

2. Steam clean the pot with water and lemon. Some people prefer the scent of lemon to vinegar. (Most people actually). Put 2 cups of water in the Instant Pot and lemon rinds. Run the steam cycle for 2 minutes. Take the ring out to dry.

1. Add some baking soda too. In addition to the 2 cups of water and lemon rids, add a tablespoon of baking soda. Steam clean for 2 minutes. Take the sealing ring out to dry.

1. Deep clean the entire pot. Maybe your smell issues go beyond the sealing ring. Follow the owner’s manual to help you deep clean. Take out your inner pot and take the lid apart. You can clean the pot and lid with dish soap and some vinegar mixed in. You can use a microfiber cloth to clean around the exterior housing of the pot, but make sure you don’t submerge it in water.

Hopefully that gives you some easy, practical ways to help get those funky smells out. If you end of trying any of them, let me know in the comments below! I would love to see what is working for everyone. And of course, feel free to add any new ideas. Keep loving that Instant Pot!