Find out why the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot is free of PFAS, PTFE and PFOA.
The Instant Pot is available with two different inner pot options: a ceramic non-stick pot and a stainless steel pot. These two materials work very differently, which is why the chemical safety profile is not the same for both.
PTFE, PFA and FEP are the specific PFAS substances used to create a non-stick coating. These substances are only relevant for coated cookware, such as the ceramic inner pot, where trace contamination can occur during the coating process.
The stainless steel inner pot has no coating at all. It is made from food-grade 304 stainless steel, a solid metal alloy with no non-stick layer applied to it. Because there is no coating, there is no PTFE, no PFOA, and no intentionally added PFAS present in the stainless steel pot.
The silicone sealing ring used in the is also PFAS free and BPA free. It is made from food grade silicone.
Source on 304 stainless steel food safety and composition: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-contact-substances/food-contact-substance-notification-program
What to do
- No action is needed if you own or are considering the stainless steel inner pot, it does not require any special cleaning or precautions related to PFAS, PTFE or PFOA.
- If you already own the ceramic non-stick inner pot and have concerns, refer to the separate article on ceramic inner pot PFAS information.
Conclusion
The stainless steel inner pot of the Instant Pot contains no PTFE, no PFOA and no intentionally added PFAS, since it has no non-stick coating. It is made from plain food grade 304 stainless steel. The accompanying silicone sealing ring is also PFAS free and BPA free.