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Can You Use Slow Cooker Liners in an Instant Pot?

Can You Use Slow Cooker Liners in an Instant Pot?

When you’re making chili in your Instant Pot, you’re probably not thinking about the clean process up afterward. While it’s easy to just take out the pot and run it under hot water, things can get complicated fast if residue is crusted on. With that said, you may be wondering if there’s a simpler way to clean and use your device, perhaps by using slow cooker liners—but can these be used in an Instant Pot?

You can use slow cooker liners in an Instant Pot. However, you can only do this if you’re using the slow cooker function. If you’re trying to make rice, boil water, or anything else, this is not recommended; you risk melting the plastic or damaging the device.

Using a slow cooker liner in your appliance puts the “instant” in “instant pot.” So not only could you have a meal in a matter of minutes, but cleaning up will be just as convenient. Continue reading to learn more about using slow cooker liners in an Instant Pot and when it is and isn’t safe to do.

How to Use a Slow Cooker Liner in an Instant Pot

A slow cooker liner is basically a piece of plastic that goes inside your appliance’s pot. The idea is that when you’re making something, the food never comes into contact with the metal pot but rather, the plastic liner. This makes cleaning up after meals a breeze.

With that being said, here’s how you can use your slow cooker liner in your Instant Pot:

  1. First, remove the lid from your instant pot.
  2. Take one of the plastic liners and mold it to meet your pot’s shape.
  3. Add in your food.
  4. Program the appliance to your desired setting.
  5. Put the lid on your instant pot.

However, only do this if you’re using the slow cooker function. Although the liner can withstand high temperatures, it’s more designed for a “low and slow” cooking method––not an intense all-at-once broil.

Which Cooking Liners Are Best to Use in Instant Pots?

There’s no standard cooking liner that you can go out and buy. Many brands, like Reynolds, KOOC, and Yengoth have their own versions. At their core, these products are the same; they’re sheets of plastic. However, some may fit your instant pot better than others. With that said, check your Instant Pot’s dimensions before you decide what cooking liner to buy.

Can You Use Plastic Instead of a Liner with Instant Pots?

You might think to yourself: “Why would I spend extra money on a slow cooker liner when I have plastic wrap in the pantry?” Well, there’s why:

  • Some plastic wraps have BPA. BPA (also known as bisphenol A) is a chemical in plastics that can lead to birth defects, cognitive issues, and prostate cancer when exposed to high temperatures. Most (if not all) slow cooker liners are BPA-free. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the plastic wrap sitting on your shelf.
  • Most plastics cannot stand high temperatures. Slow cooker liners are designed for hot temperatures. In fact, they can withstand temperatures of more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s because although slow cooker liners look like plastic, some brands actually use heat-resistant nylon. With this material, they don’t melt or warp with use.

Ensure that when you’re buying a slow cooker liner, it’s not just garden-variety plastic wrap. Taking one minute to check could save you a lot of time—and your Instant Pot!

Can You Reuse Liners in an Instant Pot?

You can only use a slow cooking liner once per use. Although the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cleared these products for use, chemicals from the product could eventually leach into your food over time. Additionally, you could get holes and punctures, which would completely defeat the purpose of the product.

Moisture could also collect under the liner, which could alter how long certain meals need to cook. That’s why most slow cooker liners, like Reynolds’s array of liners, come in packs of five.

Conclusion

In short, you can use slow cooker liners in your Instant Pot; slow cooker liners are designed to withstand incredible temperatures. However, you should consult your liner’s packaging before making any decisions, as some are not compatible with all appliances.

In addition, slow cooker liners are only effective when your Instant Pot is set to slow cooker mode. They are not recommended for use with any other cooking setting.