Instant Pot Duo Multi-Cooker
Silicone is only a gasket/seal — what touches your food is Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) and Stainless Steel (grade unspecified). And it sits in a hot path, where silicone matters more.
Food-grade 304 stainless inner pot with a stainless lid underside and steel anti-block shield - the only food/steam-contact non-metal is the silicone sealing ring, landing it at silicone-only.
The verdict: Silicone only
The inner cooking pot is uncoated food-grade 304 stainless, and the underside of the lid that faces the food and catches condensation is stainless too, with a 304 steel anti-block shield over the steam pipe. The one non-metal part in the sealed food/steam path is the silicone sealing ring (plus a small silicone float-valve cap). The plastic on the unit - outer lid housing, control panel, steam-release handle - sits outside the sealed cooking chamber. So contact-wise this is silicone, not plastic.
Verification: Manufacturer confirmed
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| inner cooking pot food-grade 304 (18/8), no chemical coating | Stainless Steel 304 / 18-8 | Yes primary 🔥 |
| lid underside (food-facing) stainless; steam condenses on this surface inside the sealed chamber; specific grade unspecified | Stainless Steel grade unspecified | Yes incidental 🔥 |
| anti-block shield 304 steel shield over the steam release pipe | Stainless Steel 304 / 18-8 | Yes incidental 🔥 |
| sealing ring silicone gasket seating the lid; the main non-metal contact part, replaceable | Silicone | Yes seal 🔥 |
| float valve cap small silicone cap on the pressure float valve - not a food surface | Silicone | Yes incidental 🔥 |
| steam release valve / handle food-grade PP + steel; sits above the sealed chamber | Polypropylene PP, #5 | No |
| outer lid housing / control panel / handles | Plastic other / unspecified | No |
The mainstream electric multi-cooker: one countertop unit that pressure-cooks, slow-cooks, sautes, steams, makes yogurt, and cooks rice, run from a digital control panel with presets. The 304 stainless inner pot lifts out to serve or wash, and the whole thing is a familiar, well-supported appliance with cheap, easy-to-find replacement parts. The silicone sealing ring is a wear part that absorbs food odors over time and should be swapped periodically.
Pros
- Uncoated 304 stainless inner pot and stainless lid underside
- Steel anti-block shield; food/steam path is metal except the seal
- Silicone sealing ring is replaceable (and swappable for a fresh one)
- Doubles as pressure cooker, sauté pan, yogurt maker, steamer
- Slow-cook mode uses the same 304 stainless inner pot - a metal-crock slow cooker with no glaze
Cons
- Silicone sealing ring is required and absorbs food odors
- Plastic outer lid, control panel, and steam handle (out of food path)
- Not fully plastic-free; strict silicone-avoiders should use a stovetop pot
- Electronic unit is not as repairable/long-lived as a bare pot
Categories: Rice Cookers · Slow Cookers
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- manufacturer https://instantpot.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions inner pot is food-grade 304 (18/8) stainless with no chemical coating; sealing ring is silicone; float valve has a silicone cap
- manufacturer https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Stainless-Steel-Cooking/dp/B008BKHGX0 official stainless steel inner cooking pot listing (304)
- review https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Instant-IP-DUO50-IP-DUO60-Anti-Block/dp/B0CH9RGFZ7 replacement-parts listing confirming the anti-block shield is 304 stainless and the steam release valve is food-grade PP + steel
- review https://www.corriecooks.com/how-to-use-instant-pot-as-slow-cooker/ confirms the Duo's Slow Cook mode uses the same 304 stainless inner pot (vented lid, no pressure) - a glaze-free metal-crock slow cooker
Spot a mistake or something out of date? Let us know — corrections are how this stays accurate.