Instant Pot Trivet – What is it and How to Use it

If you’re a new Instant Pot owner you might encounter recipes that call for a trivet and be asking ‘What is a trivet?’ Or you may be wondering how to use the round wire rack that shipped with your Instant Pot. In this article, I tell you everything you need to know about this important pressure cooker accessory, also known as a steam rack.

What is a Trivet?

The pressure cooker trivet is a raised steam rack that sits in the Instant Pot inner pot and serves to elevate foods above the liquid.

Does the Instant Pot come with a trivet? Yes, Instant Pots are generally shipped with a metal trivet. Although most Instant Pots are shipped with trivets that have handles, some are shipped with trivets without handles.

The handles help you lift the trivet out of the inner pot easily. If you have one without handles, I recommend that you purchase a trivet with handles. More on that later.

The trivet is also referred to as an Instant Pot steam rack. Trivets can be made of different materials including metal and silicone.

Of all the accessories, the trivet for Instant Pot is the one I use the most often. It is such a versatile accessory and I have many different kinds. I’ll go over them below.

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1. Boiled Eggs

One of my favorite uses of the Instant Pot is to make boiled eggs. They are so easy to make and more importantly, so easy to peel! Eggs can be cooked by placing them directly on a trivet or in a steamer basket.

[Find out how to make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs.]

2. Steamed Vegetables

I steam vegetables like beets, potatoes, asparagus, squash in the Instant Pot by adding 2 cups of water to the inner pot, placing a steam rack in the inner pot and a steamer basket with the vegetables on the steam rack.

Vegetables can also be placed directly on the steamer rack as long as they’re cut large enough so they don’t fall through.

[Find out how to make this Instant Pot Beet Salad.]

3. Cakes and Cheesecakes

You can make desserts like cakes and cheesecakes in the Instant Pot using the trivet. Add 2 cups of water to the inner pot. Place a trivet in the inner pot and place the cake pan on the trivet. The cake pan must fit in the inner pot without touching the edges.

Here are some Instant Pot dessert recipes that use a trivet:
– Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake
– Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake
– Instant Pot Cardamom Cupcakes
– Instant Pot Brownie Sundaes

4. Lasagna and Casseroles

You can make lasagnas and casseroles in the Instant Pot. Add 2 cups of water to the inner pot. Place the Instant Pot rack in the inner pot and place the casserole pan on the steam rack. The pan must fit in the inner pot without touching the edges.

5. Meats

You can cook ribs, hams, and whole chickens in the Instant Pot. Place the marinated meat on the rack above the level of the liquid. You can pour broth or seasoned liquids in the inner pot instead of water and this allows the meat to absorb some of the flavors of the liquid.

6. Delicate Foods

If you’re cooking delicate foods like fish filets, you can place the food on a rack, even if the food is submerged in liquid. This allows you to easily remove the food when cooking is complete, without the food breaking apart.

7. Avoiding the Burn Message

If I have recipes that are prone to getting the Instant Pot Burn message, I raise the food slightly by placing it on a low steam rack. I am usually able to avoid the burn message because the liquid is able to cover the entire bottom of the inner pot.

8. Cooking Multiple Recipes Together

I frequently cook two foods that have approximately the same cooking time together. Add 2 cups of water to the inner pot, place a steam rack on the bottom, place a bowl containing the first food on the steam rack, add a second steam rack on the bowl, and place the second bowl of food on the top rack. [Read more about Pot in Pot cooking.]

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Instant Pot Accessories for Trivet

Once you’ve figured out how to use your trivet, you might want to try out some other accessories that can be used with it. Here are some accessories that come in handy: