Yes, Instant Pot stainless steel inner pots are completely free of PFAS, PTFE and PFOA.
Many customers ask whether the stainless steel inner pot used in Instant Pot multi cookers contains PFAS, PTFE or PFOA, especially since these substances are sometimes associated with non-stick ceramic coatings.
The stainless steel inner pot works differently than a ceramic non-stick pot. It has no chemical coating at all, so there is no PFAS, PTFE or PFOA present in the material. This is different from ceramic inner pots, where trace contamination can occur during the production process due to shared manufacturing equipment, as explained in our related article on ceramic inner pots.
The food-safe silicone sealing ring used with the stainless steel inner pot is also completely free of PFAS, PTFE and PFOA.
Stainless steel used in food contact products sold in the EU falls under the general safety requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, which requires that materials do not transfer harmful substances to food. There is currently no separate EU-wide certification specific to stainless steel, unlike plastics or ceramics, which have their own dedicated EU measures. Some EU member states have additional national requirements on top of this framework.
What to do:
- No action is needed if you already own or plan to purchase an Instant Pot with a stainless steel inner pot.
- If you specifically want to avoid any risk of PFAS, PTFE or PFOA, the stainless steel inner pot is the recommended choice over ceramic coated alternatives.
The stainless steel inner pot and silicone sealing ring used in Instant Pot multi cookers are confirmed to be completely free of PFAS, PTFE and PFOA, and comply with the general EU food contact safety framework.
Source: Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, EUR-Lex consolidated text: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/1935/2021-03-27/eng