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 an Instant Pot steam rack.

What is a Trivet?

What’s 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 cooking 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 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 an Instant Pot steamer basket with the vegetables on the steam rack.

Vegetables can also be placed directly on the Instant Pot 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.

Use a trivet for Instant Pot recipes:
– 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, chicken breasts, 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 into 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 pot.

8. Cooking with Thick Liquids

Some recipes have thick liquids that can prevent the Instant Pot from generating enough steam to pressurize the Instant Pot.

Some examples of recipes that are in this category include mole sauce, pasta sauce, sauces made with a lot of chili powder.

I use the pot in pot method when I have a recipe with a thick liquid that can cause the burn message.

9. Pot in Pot Rice

Ever since I got my first Instant Pot, cooking rice using the pot in pot method has become one of my favorite ways to cook rice.

• Add water to the Instant Pot (water level should be slightly lower than trivet height).
• Place trivet in the Instant Pot.
• Add rice and water to an oven-safe container.
• Place the bowl of rice and water on the trivet and pressure cook.
• Find out more on how to cook pot in pot rice.

10. Cooking Multiple Instant Pot Recipes Together (Pot in Pot Method)

I frequently cook different foods that have approximately the same cooking time together. This is one of my favorite Instant Pot trivet hacks!

• Add 2 cups of water and place a steam rack on the bottom of your Instant Pot.
• Place a bowl containing the first food on top of the trivet.
• Add a second steam rack on the bowl.
• Place the second bowl of food on the top rack. [Read more about Pot in Pot cooking.]

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Trivets for Instant Pots

There are many different types of pressure cooker trivets and they have different purposes. These are some of the trivets that are useful:

Instant Pot Trivet Alternative

Trivets are easily available and are fairly affordable. However, if you don’t want to purchase one or you’ve misplaced your pressure cooker trivet, there are a few alternatives that you can substitute for a trivet.

Make sure you use substitutes that are suitable to be used in an oven i.e. heat resistant.

• Metal lid of a large jar or bottle
• Rings from a large mason jar lid
• Large cookie cutter
• Small round cake rack
• Steamer basket
• Small metal colander
• Balls of aluminum foil

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: