5 (Dollar Store) Instant Pot Accessories–So you bought an Instant Pot? Yay for you! You can get cooking right away. But some Instant Pot recipes ask for special equipment or different items. Here are a few items that you can find at the Dollar Tree in your neighborhood. What are your favorite Instant Pot accessories?
5 (Dollar Store) Instant Pot Accessories
Don’t you just love the dollar store? Our Dollar Tree has a bunch of useful items. If you haven’t read 6 Things You Should Be Buying at the Dollar Store yet you may want to! Today I went to Dollar Tree looking specifically for items I could use with my Instant Pot. Here’s what I found:
1. Binder Clips
You can find these in the office supply section of the store. Why would you need a binder clip you ask? Have you ever noticed that when you stir stuff in the Instant Pot the inner liner pot spins around and around?
You can see what I’m talking about in the first few seconds of this video:
To get better “traction” while stirring get a big binder clip and clip the inner pot to the outer pot. Here’s a picture illustrating how to do this:
It works really well to keep the pot in place and you can stir much easier!
2. Foil
Foil comes in handy for all sorts of recipes in the Instant Pot. For my desserts I usually cover them with foil (like this carrot cake) so liquid doesn’t drip onto them. I also make a foil packet for my peppers when I make fajitas so they don’t get mushy.
In addition, I use use foil to make a foil sling. A sling is perfect when cooking pot in pot recipes. It allows you to lift out the bowl/dish that is inside your Instant Pot. Here is a photo to illustrate how a foil sling works:
3. Stainless Steel Bowl
I found this little stainless steel bowl that fit inside my Instant Pot. I like to use this bowl for pot in pot rice, as explained by This Old Gal.
You may want to bring your Instant Pot inner pot into the store to make sure the stainless steel bowl will fit! Don’t feel awkward, I did it!
4. Flour Sack
I make yogurt almost weekly in my Instant Pot. I like to make 2% Greek yogurt. It is so creamy. Every morning for breakfast I’ll eat berries and yogurt and granola. It’s my favorite! To strain my yogurt I use these flour sacks.
I get a glass bowl and set my colander on top (you can buy a colander at the dollar store too). Then I place two layers of flour sacks on top. I scoop the yogurt into the colander (on top of the sacks) and let the yogurt strain for a couple of hours. It works perfectly and then I just toss the towels into the laundry.
5. Scrubbing pads
I love using these green scouring pads to clean out stuck-on-food out of the bottom of my Instant Pot. They work great and there are 5 in a package.
If the bottom of your pot is cloudy I recommend buying Bar Keepers Friend. Use one of these green scouring pads, a little of the Bar Keepers Friend and a little water and scrub. Your pot will come out looking shiny and new. I couldn’t find Bar Keepers Friend* at my Dollar Tree, but I swear I’ve seen it there before. It’s at Walmart for about $2.00.
Like Amazon Better?
Don’t want to venture out of the house? I’m totally with you most of the time! Online shopping is so convenient. Here are my favorite Instant Pot accessories that you can buy from Amazon:
Pyrex container* for pot in pot cooking
Corningware* for pot in pot cooking like this lasagna
Fat Daddios 7 inch by 3 inch cake pan* for pot in pot cooking and baking (like these boxed brownies)
Digital Scale* for measuring all my foods, especially meats and pasta (I can never estimate how much pasta I’ll need)
Steamer Basket* for steaming vegetables and making hard boiled eggs
Instant Read Thermometer* for making sure meats are at the correct temperature
Trivet* for getting meats up off the bottom of the Instant Pot and many other uses such as pot in pot cooking (like this meatloaf)
Bundt Cake Pan* for making desserts like pumpkin chocolate chip bread
What Pressure Cooker Do You Use?
I use a 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. I love this Instant Pot because it has the yogurt making function which I use almost weekly. It has two pressure settings (high and low), and there are also little slots in the handles so that you can rest the lid there instead of putting it down on your counter-top.
Send Me Free Recipes
Like this article for 5 (Dollar Store) Instant Pot Accessories? Get all my new recipes and articles delivered to your email inbox by signing up below.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Just reading about those little green scouring pads that everybody’s raving about. I have a non stick inner pot and usually nothing sticks to it but in the event something does, (I haven’t cooked everything yet) I hesitate to use them for fear of scratching and ruining my pot. On my other non-stick items I use a combo of baking soda with a drop or two of Dawn. Wipe on…let sit for a few minutes…wipe out and rinse. Works wonders!
Thanks! Great tip!
And for much even more stubborn caked on foods, add a spritz of hydrogen peroxide. That’s my go to solution for all sorts of cleaning problems.
Both Pat & Mandy know what they’re talking about! I’ve been cooking for 66 years now, & I’ve relied on basics through most of them. However, I just received my mini Instant Pot and your tip about foil use to prevent drips isn’t “jelling” for me. Chalk it up to “senior moments” (LOL!)! Could you explain it a little plainer, for me? By email, preferably! At least I can use a computer! Blessings!!!
And you can also use baking soda with hydrogen peroxide
If you don’t have it tonight and your instant pot got stuck on food, add hot water with a drip of dishwashing liquid and a fabric softener sheet for 15-20 min sand voila!
Best ever is the new Dawn foaming dish soap. Spray, let sit a minute and clean. Comes right off
Another use for the binder clips while doing prep work, i sometimes use the levers of the clips (the part you pinch), adjusted a number of different ways so that you can keep the utensil from falling into the food. The utensil handle will usually fit and be suspended over the food. Of course, I don’t always need it but it is available, if needed.
Good idea!!
Hi Karen,
I was pleasantly surprised to find you on Pinterest! I am a fan of your You Tube channel as well! Enjoy your recipes, tips and tricks! Just joined your email list! Many thanks for making my pressure cooker life so much more enjoyable! And I’ve been using pressure cookers for 40 years! LOL!
Haha! You are a trendsetter Elaine!
Love your tips. So helpful!
Could you please add me to your email list.
Thank you!
Okay will do!
We bought a 3qt one because we moved into our motorhome and travel full time now.
I cut most of the recipes in half and can make them in our small instant pot.
Just very hard to find accessories for the baby one.
How adventurous!!!
We live in a 32 foot class C motor home about 6 month of the year. The other 6 months we live in a 600 sq ft condo on the beach. I have a 6 quart instant pot that goes everywhere we go. It isn’t that much bigger a footprint from the 3 quart and it sooo much more useful. Ours fits in the dinette seat. From cheesecake to full dinners that are ready when you are I wouldnt travel without it!! Consider trading up to the 6 quart for versatility.
I was given my instant pot from a neighbor but no paper work. How can I get it to cook longer than 30 min?
Are you talking about pressure cooking for more than 30 minutes? Or the saute setting? I would watch this video to get familiar: https://youtu.be/EJd6dC5d62U
Hi Karen, could you use the binder clips inside the pot while pressure cooking. I am wondering if you could attach 2 & use them to pull out a pot for pot-in-pot cooking. My small springform pan is 8 inches and I can’t get a trivet around it, but it does fit in the pot.
No not for pressure cooking as they have plastic on them and would melt.
Hi Karen ,
My name is Tina I recieved a item that the name is “prepAmeal. Pressure Cooker/Electric Instant Pot, it has lots of functions including making yogurt, with a led digital panal. I got it for Xmas, it does have some accessories. Like the egg steamer, rice steamer, measuring cup, stiring spoon, mitts for lifting pot. But my question is are all recipes able to be used interchangeable? Because I’m clueless, never used a Pressure Cooker, and I’m so intimidated, but eager. I tried one night and failed miserably. I didn’t get the top on right. So steam was escaping. Then I was afraid to mess with it. I can’t tell witch way the steam release turns on top there is no markings. There’s arrows in the book but it depends which way your looking at it. But I don’t want to give up.
So I figure if I do a easy recipe and it comes out right I’ll be set & on the right path. Thanks & I love all the tips of items to get at dollar tree!
Hi Tina, I hope you can figure it out! Really you just need to find the button that pressure cooks and how to seal the pot. If you can do that you can make any of my recipes!
Tina, try going on internet to manufacturer of your pressure cooker, you should be able to get a manual on line from them or just try typing in prepAmeal and see if it will come up. Wish you luck.
Nora
Ahhh. The story of my life. “A day late and a dollar short.” I just last week bought at a hefty price a package on Amazon with about all of the attachments you can buy.
Your suggestions are great. Thank you for the suggestions. I hope others use them well. 🤗
You’re welcome Lois!
You’re supposed to be able to use your Instant Pot as a slow-cooker correct? Bur SOP says do not remove cover while cooking. You have to remove the cover with an Instant Pot to see how your food is progressing. Answer:
Instant Pot glass lid. Used to come with unit. No longer and good luck finding any in store.
Wal-Mart folks did even know what I was talking about. (as well as Nordic-Ware spinners for old microwaves).
Sears does carry the lid but wants $20+ for one. Thank goodness for E-Bay. Got both my spiinner and I-P glass lid from them.
Good tips!
In Canada check at Walmart…Canadian Tire…amazon.ca Cost is 20 dollars. Go online to see where available….search Instant Pot accessories
I bought my instant pot this past December, at Walmart. It did include the glass lid. It is a Pioneer Woman Instant Pot, so that may be why, but you still can get them. Amazon also has them, but yeah they’re $20.00 or more.
I don’t know if I would want the glass lid. I’ve always heard that the Instant Pot performed badly as a Crock-Pot. So I’ll just stay with my Crock-Pot
I got my glass lid @ Bed Bath & Beyond… I believe that it was $15.99😊
BB&B…also…if they don’t have it in stock…they can order it for you & also ship to your house👍😊
Tape Measure and Thrift Store for CHEAP Glass Lids
Check all the casserole lids etc. you already have first…
Amazon carries the glass lids.
In Germany I got a fitting glass lid for little money at Ikea!
I like making Chili with dry black beans in my IP. No pre soak needed. I brown my meat (if I use it), add my washed and sorted dry black beans, add water as needed per amount of black beans, add seasonings, tomatoes, any other veg i happen to have on hand, tomato paste. Then i “set it and forget it”!. I let it it do a natural release! You cant over cook the beans.
Soooo good especially in the winter. Enjoy!
Yum! sounds awesome!
Could you please add me to your emails for recipes. [email protected]
especially no gluten or dairy if I have a choice.
Thank you
Okay I’ve added you!
Hello,
Thank you for sharing, I just got my multi-function insta-pot in November 2019 as a gift, I’ve used it a couple of times and love it.
I love making soups and batch meals. I like to divide into smaller portions and freeze Thank you for the tips on what to look for at the dollar store. I look forward to your emails.
Thank you from Northern Indiana
You’re welcome Pamela! Glad you are here.
Don’t know how I lived 70 years without this “baby”. Use it almost everyday. Best invention ever. Thanks for all the great tips.
you’re welcome!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all if us new to instant pots. I am 70, trying to figure it all out. Love the idea of cooking with less time. Even though our kids are grown, we aren’t as active, things take us a lot more time than they used to.
Is there any info on how to convert old family recipes for the IP?
Thanks again. Our own kids are too busy to explain this to us.
What type of recipe are you looking to convert? This is a good article: https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/how-to-convert-a-recipe-into-a-pressure-cooker-recipe/
Thank you Karen, I’m always wondering how to convert to an IP recipe.
If you bake your own bread; save the liquid from straining your yogurt. You can use it in your bread recipe.
I saw that mentioned in a Greek yogurt cookbook
Elbert
Good tip!
I bought a small instant pot but do not know. How to adjust your recipes for a small instant pot. Any suggestions…..
Please read this article. I think it will really help you! https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/how-to-halve-instant-pot-recipes/
Please ad me love all ur info on instant pot.. thank you
okay will do
Karen,how do you fry for example. Pork roast and Chinese chicken?
I haven’t fried in fact only have used it twice but I am needing to know when searing/frying do you use a pot inside the pot or just fry it on the bottom of the Insta Pot??
I fry in bottom of Instant Pot liner.
Send me anything to do with the instanta pot
Okay I added you
Please add me to your mailing list.
Thank you
[email protected]
okay added you!
Please add me to your list [email protected]. Thank you 😊
Okay I’ve added you 🙂
Would love your recipes please add me to your mailing list.
[email protected].
I’m 2 years old and love my instant pot. Thank you in. Advance.
done!
Hi Karen… Love your ideas… Would you please add me to your email list?
sure 🙂
Please to mailing
added you!
Great recipes
Please send me the recipes.
Do you mean you want to sign up for my email list? Please go here and add your email: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/join-the-365-days-email-list/
Please can you send me Recipes and newsletters Thank You.
yes, just added you!
[email protected]
I am new to IP cooking Being 81 I pretty much do things the old fashioned way, but I am willing to learn. My granddaughter is with us now & she knows how it works, so we wi seewhathappens. I will let you know. The
Barb Title
[email protected]
You can do this!
I enjoy reading and making many of the recipes!!! Family and friends enjoy them too!!
Glad to hear this Dawn!
Can u make cake in instapot n does it turn out like u do in oven can u please lmk I make my cake fr scratch.
I have this one cake recipe. https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/instant-pot-chocolate-bundt-cake/
I bought a Ninja Foodi last October but still haven’t taken it out of the box because I’m such a mess.
I enjoy reading about the possibilities.
Just do it!!!
Karen, fwiw, for those of us north of the border, Bar Keeper’s Friend can be found in store at Canadian Tire. 😎
Nice! Thanks for sharing.
I find it at True Value Hardware
Thanks. I am a newbie. Pot is just now out of the box.
Excited to learn.
Started just after Christmas, intimidated at first..now use several times weekly..just don’t forget to close steam vent
I seen someone suggest putting a spoon across the top of the insta pot when you remove the lining to make sure you don’t accidentally pour anything into it. I also watched like 3 videos to gain confidence so when I first used it 2 nights ago I knew what I was doing. Thanks for the advise about the craft section of Walmart having the pans!!!
Great tip since my daughter and myself have both done this one time already LOL advanced voice
We have an Emeril Lagassee electric pressure cooker. Is that the same ad an Insta Pot? We haven’t used it yet but I’m really excited to try it. Thanks.
I bet you could do most everything in it that I do on my site. What size is it?
‘Use my instant pot but it didn’t get hot.What did I do wrong?
Do you mean you set it to saute setting and it didn’t ever switch to HOT on the display?
For years I used the old fashioned stove top pressure cooker. Then I switched to a rice cooker. I love both methods. This Christmas, my husband is buying an Instant Pot for me……I can hardly wait!
you will love it!
I love mine! Pinterest has a ton of easy recipes too!
A lot of staining happens with different recipes inside the pot itself. It looks like it needs a whole lot of scrubbing but most times I just swirl some white vinegar in there. It comes out looking brand-spanking-new 😉
Walmart has springform pan‘s in all sizes, as well as round cake pans in 6 inch size, and small Bundt pans, they are all located in the craft section, and the cake decorating aisle
This is great info! I’m going to share this on the IP FB page. Thank you!
I FINALLY found a six inch Bundt pan. At Joann’s (the fabric and craft store) in the baking supply aisle, it was less than $6.00 with my coupon. And, of course, no one shops at Joann’s without a coupon!
nice!!
You can buy small pots, pans, cake pans etc. that can be used in the instant pot on the wish.com website for as little as a$1.00 or 2.
These are great! I just spent good money on a milk but bag for straining my yogurt! Look out Dollar Tree, here I come!
I bought a 3qt instant pot with Yogurt setting, well worth it! No straining.
I make the cold start yogurt every week in my 4 qt instant pot. Just terrific!
If you need the recipe let me know.
365 days of slow cooking inspired me to buy my instant pot. Made jambalaya last night, which was my first time to use it. Loved it! Where would I find a bunds pan small enough to fit my 3 qt instant pot?
I would try amazon! That’s where I do a lot of instant pot shopping 🙂
I got some great buys at our local Chinese supermarket – a lid for the pot to use the IP as a slow cooker, and a strainer basket to use when cooking up bones for chicken stock. I took the inner pot along to make sure it fit properly.
Walmart is really missing the boat. I looked all over and they havent woken up to selling accesories for the instant pot!
I know it’s so annoying!
I shop at Walmart and was having difficulty finding assessories for my instant pot I have an 8 quart until I went over to the craft section and looked in the cake decorating aisle, they have a lot of things you can use in your Instant pot There including spring form as well as bundt pans to fit..
I found your suggestions very interesting. I may visit my dollar tree store today. I still have not gotten up the courage to use my instant pot yet. I found some of the information a little scary after reading some people’s experiences the first time!!!! Like forgetting to put the pot back in before adding ingredients etc.
You can do it Brenda!!!
You will love your instapot.
I never used an old pressure cooker as it scared me to death. This is so much easier. Just put the internal pot in first and then add the ingredients. Frozen chicken cooked to tenderness in 15 minutes….can’t beat that. Just give it a try once without guests and you should be rewarded with a finished product that you can turn to with confidence. I bought a small book to keep my notes on receipts I use the most often. Don’t worry just enjoy!
Try the boiled eggs first using the 5-5-5 method: 5 minutes at high pressure, 5 minutes resting before releasing the pressure, then 5 minutes dunked into ice water. As always, boiling eggs from room temp or at least after setting out a while helps prevent cracking. Just put 1-2 cups of water in the removable pot, put the eggs onto the steamer rack, seal the lid & besure that the pressure vent is closed. Fabulously easy to cook and delightfully easy to peel perfect eggs. You will be using it every day after that!
I won’t say “GOOD LUCK” cause you will have nothing but luck. So i’ll Just say ENJOY!
Best hard-boiled eggs — ever!!! They come out PERFECT
That’s what I like to hear!!!
5-5-5 is fantastic for Hard Cooked eggs ! And the best thing is they peel so easily!
😉
I seen someone suggest putting a spoon across the top of the insta pot when you remove the lining to make sure you don’t accidentally pour anything into it. I also watched like 3 videos to gain confidence so when I first used it 2 nights ago I knew what I was doing. Thanks for the advise about the craft section of Walmart having the pans!!!
I was sold the first time I used mine on New Years Day. Made my ham and black eyed peas in 30 minutes. They were fabulous !!! Have used it almost every day since!!
Have finally gotten the instant pot but scared to use . I cooked 2 things and the meat was dry . What am I doing wrong ? I’ll do eggs first !
Did you naturally pressure release the meat? https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/what-is-natural-pressure-release-and-quick-release/
I recommend reading the manual TWICE, doing the water test. Them cook something you like to eat.
I made Baby Pork Back Ribs as my first dish.
I recently bought an Instapot from a yardsale site.
Unfortunately it didn’t come with any booklets or instructions.
Where can I get one from ???
I would go directly to the Instant Pot website. They have downloadable manuals there. https://instantpot.com/english-manuals/
You will love it! It’s a bit scary at first, but if you watch a few YouTube videos on whatever you want to make, it’ll get better and you gain more confidence.
I’ve had mine since before Christmas and totally love it! You can use a long wooden spoon and a towel over the top when you let the steam out.
You can do it Brenda!
Most instant pot recipes books contain charts for meats, vegetables, and poultry.
Where can I by a time table for the Instant Pot? It tells the length of times to cook foods. I do not have a computer to print a copy of some I have seen on this tablet I own.
Do you have the little manual/cookbook that came with your Instant Pot? I use mine all the time as a reference. It has a table in there of lots of different foods.
Also you can print things at your local library using their computers
Amazon sells cheat sheet magnets that you can keep right on the side of the instant pot! They are very cheap…like 3.50!
I just found cheat sheets on Pinterest today some you can print and some you can buy.
wow i didnt think about the doller store ty a good tip mark
I love those green pads. I cut them into fourths and use them. Works the same and saves money!
If you can’t find Bar Keepers Friend look for Bon Ami which is pretty much the same thing. I have used it for years.
Thanks so much for these tips! I love the Dollar Tree! Also, when cleaning out my pressure cooker, I will throw in a dishwasher pod and let it soak for a few hours or overnight if the food is really stuck on. You will be amazed at how clean the inner pot becomes!!
Wow that is a great tip!
Thank you. Never thought of that!
I would be wary of things like that bowl with everything made in China and the risk of lead.
Gotcha! I will stick with my corningware dish 🙂
Those little scrubbing pads also make great filters for small appliances, vacumns, etc. I worked at a printing company and we used them to separate the ink washed from the rollers from water before disposing of the water. I’ve used them in the vacumn in an emergency too.
Wow I would have never thought of that! What a great idea 🙂
Karen, what a helpful post! Thank you so much.
I am listing all those great finds and will be picking up some of them on my next Dollar Tree visit.
Another great place to look for Instant Pot accessories is a Thrift Store. I found a collapsable steamer with little legs on it. And another stainless steel steamer, no legs, but just the size to fit on the IP trivet.
Also, a really nice wooden spoon with slots in the bowl, and a flat edged wooden spoon/stirrer tool perfect for the task of de-glazing the bottom of the IP.
Thrifty buys are all around us. Thanks again for alerting us to some possibilities.
Oh now I’m totally going to visit my thrift store! What a great idea.
If you can’t find Bar Keepers Friend look for Bon Ami which is pretty much the same thing. I have used it for years.
Fish season package, where Cain i buy the season packages.
Wounder wal mart have packages?
I bet Walmart would have them.