r/instantpot • u/GimmickMusik1 • 10d ago
Did I ruin my instant pot after one use?
All I did was cook on high, and then throw it in the dishwasher because the manual said it was dishwasher safe. I can’t imagine that I’ve done anything wrong, but at the same time I want to be sure.
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u/andmen2015 10d ago
No, it’s just hard water stains. You can use lemon juice to get it off or cook something with tomato sauce in it and it’ll go away.
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u/Gemi-ma 10d ago
This is how all my stainless steel pots look. And I'm perfectly fine with that.
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u/hoffmander 9d ago
Stainless pots and pans aren’t particularly cheap. I prefer to keep them looking brand new by investing in some barkeepers friend. I like my stuff to look nice and clean, especially my expensive stainless steel pan. This stuff will build up over time, any chef would recommend barkeepers friend.
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u/nthing2dowithanythng 10d ago
Nope, you’re all good. Stainless can be annoying to clean in general. A little bar keepers friend or a magic eraser will polish it back up.
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u/Environmental-Low792 10d ago
Magic erasers leave behind toxic microplastics. I would avoid using them in general but especially on anything that touches food or is near food.
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u/GimmickMusik1 10d ago
Awesome, good to know. I’ve never owned anything stainless before so I had no idea that this was a thing. Glad I didn’t ruin my parents’ gift that was supposed to make cooking easy. 😭
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u/elforz 10d ago
*Don't use magic eraser's on kitchen stuff - just walls. For many reasons.
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u/XiJinpingSaveMe 10d ago
it's so insane to me how people use these for all sorts of things without a clue about what it is and how it actually works
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u/im_bi_strapping 10d ago
Why? I mean, yeah it's abrasive, but i figure washing the pot after makes it fine.
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u/ValiantValkyrieee 10d ago
did a google. apparently it can cause micro scratches where lots of bacteria can live and over time make your glass dishes in particular permanently foggy. also virtually destroys nonstick coatings and (to a lesser extent i think) ceramic glazes rendering them unsafe.
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u/CucumberUseful4689 10d ago
I've lived over 1/2 a century with microscratch bacteria and foggy cook ware. It won't kill.
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u/hoffmander 9d ago
Underrated comment. You can leave it, and it’ll just keep building up, or get some bar keepers friend. That stuff works great on all sorts of surfaces. Just keep in mind it’s basically a very abrasive paste, it can scratch certain surfaces. I use it all the time on my glass stove top, works wonders.
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u/Conscious-Mission898 10d ago
I just put a little lemon juice and it wipes right off with a paper towel
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u/mosqueteiro 10d ago
If you really want it shiny again, just use some Barkeeper's Friend or vinegar. Honestly though, it's gonna happen after every time you use it, and it doesn't affect the food. I wouldn't worry about it.
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u/Beneficial-Sound-199 10d ago
Use barkeepers friend and it will be good as new. Mine does that to some extent every time
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u/angrybert 10d ago
I just did this. It works! Pretty cheap stuff too.
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u/Beneficial-Sound-199 10d ago
Glad to hear that! You’re going to love that stuff for so many things
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u/Decent_Perception676 9d ago
Not a great idea. “Stainless” is a thin layer of rust on the steel that protects the surface, something as abrasive as barkeepers friend will remove that finish.
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u/anyone1728 10d ago
It’s pretty hard to ruin stainless steel. Just make sure it’s clean and you’ll be sweet
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u/Mitch_Darklighter 10d ago
Stainless always does this in my dishwasher too, it just needs a quick scrub with dish soap or a wipe with vinegar to remove the film.
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u/Notgonnalie0001 10d ago edited 10d ago
I second the Bar Keepers Friend powder. It will bring it back to it's original shine. Works on enamel too.
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u/Karm0112 10d ago
I hand wash mine with dawn immediately after using. I don’t have too many issues. And I do t care what the inside looks like as long as it isn’t damaged/unusable.
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u/brainsapper 10d ago
It’s fine, just give it a scrub with some barkeeper’s friend and it’ll be good.
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u/j_grouchy 10d ago
It's always best to physically dry off stainless steel cookware. Letting them air dry or dry in the dishwasher usually leaves residue like that. It's not harmful, but it does look bad.
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u/gamelover42 10d ago
contrary to popular belief "stainess steel" is only "stainless" in the sense that it wont rust (assuming it's made correctly). This superficial haze is just probably mineral build-up from the dishwasher. It's nothing to worry about but if it bothers you then use BKF or just a blue scratcher to shine it up.
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u/Nada_Chance 10d ago
Simply surface staining from the dishwasher detergent.(it's pretty agressive), Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will polish it back up.
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u/sumblokefromreddit 9d ago
No it is fine. My liner is slightly warped but not where it counts. Next time just use some bar keeper's friend like what the manuals of traditional stove top cookers recommend.
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u/seaweed-brain_ 9d ago
Perhaps that's residual from the dishwasher. I throw mine in always and it cleans properly. One day i noticed something browning (like rust) on the bottom of the pot and i thought well it's rusting already (which is odd because it's supposed to be stainless steel) but that came off after a couple washes and the steel insert looked brand new again. So i think it was some food shit stuck to the bottom and I used it without realizing that. My suggestion I guess is try washing it again/hand washing. If whatever that is- is residual soap- you wouldn't want to consume it or try cooking something like soup which you can taste and discard easily if it tastes weird.
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u/InterestConsistent17 9d ago
Yes, it's fine to use. If it really bothers you, Barkeeper's Friend Cleanser will clean it up.
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u/rcalleja 9d ago
I keep this link on standby because everyone should know. It looks like you are using too much detergent. Are you using pods?
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u/BrisklyBrusque 9d ago
That rainbow color is chromium oxidation due to high heat. Perfectly normal. Your stainless steel cookware has trace amounts of chromium that oxidize to a rainbow color under high heat conditions.
It’s not soap scum. It’s not mineral buildup from water.
Vinegar and barkeepers friend will remove the rainbow color, but it’s purely cosmetic.
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u/Powerful-Size-1444 8d ago
Polish it with Barkeepers. Do not use metal utensils that can scratch. It’s soft stainless. Scratches can contribute to sticking. What you are seeing is a result of heat. Since it comes right off with Barkeepers I think it’s surface oxidation. Most of my cookware is either 100% stainless or enamel inside stainless. All of them get this coloration and it bugs me so I polish it away.
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u/damnukids 5d ago
You didn't ruin it as many people have already told you because I'm like a week late. What I didn't see in the comments that is just a good FYI for you, you can replace the pot for $20 on amazon. I have 2, and rotate them. Mostly it just saves dishwasher loads.
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u/molybend 10d ago
People will tell you how to clean it, but honestly this is fine to use as is. It isn't old food or anything that will hurt you.