Is Instant Pot trivet necessary?

Instant Pots have become one of the most popular kitchen appliances in recent years, allowing home cooks to quickly and easily prepare meals by pressure cooking, slow cooking, sauteing, steaming and more. But with all the different components that come with an Instant Pot, you may be wondering – is the trivet really necessary?

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What is an Instant Pot trivet?

The Instant Pot trivet, sometimes called a steam rack or elevated rack, is a small circular or square platform that sits at the bottom of the inner pot. It has a grid-like design with lots of holes in it, which allows steam to flow up through the gaps.

The main purposes of the Instant Pot trivet are:

Elevate foods above the bottom of the pot – This prevents food from sitting in water or liquid at the bottom of the pot during cooking. The elevation allows steam to circulate all around the food for even cooking.
Keep foods from burning – The trivet protects delicate foods from scorching on the direct heat of the inner pot bottom. Things like custards or cakes can bake on top of the trivet.

Aid in steaming – The trivet can hold foods up in the steam for even steaming, whether you are steaming vegetables, seafood, eggs and more. The trivet allows steam to surround the food.

So in summary, the main role of the trivet is to lift your food above the bottom of the pot and into the steam for gentle, even cooking.

Is the Instant Pot trivet really necessary?

For most cooking uses, the Instant Pot trivet is considered an essential accessory and is highly recommended. Here are some of the reasons why the trivet is so useful:

Prevents scorching and burning – Any foods that are sensitive, delicate, or have a tendency to burn can benefit from being elevated off the pot bottom. Things like potatoes, rice, cheese, milk, custards, etc. are protected.
Aids in steaming – The trivet helps promote full steam circulation for evenly steamed vegetables, seafood, eggs and more.
Allows liquids to boil – Elevating food means water and cooking liquids can boil below without overflowing onto your food above.

Keeps food out of cooking juices – The trivet prevents food from simmering in juices, oils or liquids, keeping it more separated.
Makes removing food easier – Food is up off the bottom so you can remove it more easily with tongs or a spoon without scratching the non-stick surface.
Can help with stacking – The trivet provides a second level, allowing you to cook different foods in layers. You can stack a trivet with a second food on top.

Some recipes require it – Certain Instant Pot recipes will specifically instruct you to use the trivet, especially those with liquids that need to boil or delicate foods that require steaming.

Without the trivet, you miss out on key functions and can end up with foods that are overcooked, burned or mushy on the bottom. So for most typical uses, it’s recommended to use the trivet.

Cases when you may not need the trivet

There are a handful of exceptions where the trivet may not be mandatory:

Thick stews and chili – Hearty stews and chilis that cook for a long time can simmer directly in the liquids.
Large cuts of meat – Roasts and large meat pieces may cook fine directly in juices/sauces.
Soups and broths – Liquid-based dishes don’t need the trivet.

Sauteing aromatics – Sauteing onion, garlic etc at the start can be done directly in the pot.
Making quick one-pot meals – Some simple one-pot meals may cook alright without the trivet.

For very wet recipes or recipes with a long cook time, the trivet may not be absolutely vital. But it can still be useful if you want to easily remove meats and vegetables from the cooking liquid. As a general rule of thumb, it’s better to use it unless specified otherwise.

What are the different types of Instant Pot trivets?

Instant Pot trivets come in a few different styles:

Trivet Type	Description
Standard round trivet	Round shape sized to fit inner pot base; often has grid pattern and comes with Instant Pot
Elevated round trivet	Taller circular trivet provides more lift; good for steaming
Square trivet	Square shape gives more surface area for larger items or stacking
Specialty trivets	Unique shapes like hearts or rings; may be flat or have compartments

The standard round trivet with holes that comes with Instant Pots is suitable for most cooking needs. But elevated or special trivets can provide more lift for steaming or accommodate specific shapes like round cake pans.

Key features to look for

Here are key features to look for when selecting an Instant Pot trivet:

Sturdy construction – A quality stainless steel trivet will last and resist warping. Avoid thin aluminum trivets.
Legs/lift – Tall legs give better lift for steaming. Standard trivets have short legs around 0.5 inches high.
Holes for steam flow – Lots of holes allow maximum steam circulation from below.

Shape – Round is universal but square offers more surface area.
Right size – Trivet should fit your Instant Pot’s inner pot and not exceed its width.
Easy to clean – Look for a simple design that is easy to wipe down after cooking.

How to use an Instant Pot trivet

Using a trivet in your Instant Pot is simple. Just follow these basic steps:

Place the trivet in the bottom of inner pot. It should fit snugly and cover most of the pot bottom.
Add water or other cooking liquid to the inner pot, around 1-2 cups.

Place food you want to steam or cook gently on top of the trivet. It can hold multiple food items.
Secure lid and select pressure cook setting as directed in recipe.
Once cooking completes, use tongs to lift trivet and remove food resting on top.

Discard any cooking liquids and clean trivet after use.

The trivet can hold multiple foods at once like vegetables in a steam basket. Just don’t overload. Use a second trivet on top if stacking foods in layers.

Tips for using an Instant Pot trivet

Add at least 1 cup water for steam – The water below the trivet creates steam.

Arrange foods evenly for stability.
Flip or rotate foods midway for even cooking.
Add seasonings, herbs or lemon juice to the water for extra flavor.

Brush or toss foods with oil or sauce for more flavor.
Use cooking spray on trivet to prevent sticking if needed.

Common problems and solutions

Here are some common issues that may arise when using an Instant Pot trivet and how to troubleshoot them:

Problem	Solution
Food sticks to trivet	Lightly oil trivet first or use non-stick cooking spray. Gently release food after cooking.
Food burns or scalds	Use a taller trivet for more lift off pot bottom. Make sure liquid is covering pot base.
Steam release seems weak	Ensure you are using at least 1 cup liquid. Check that trivet is not overloaded.
Condensation drips down	Gently blot moisture with paper towel. Increase heat slightly to maintain steam.
Food cooks unevenly	Reposition or flip food midway through cooking for even exposure to steam.
Liquids boil over	Use less liquid in pot. Keep liquids below trivet level.

Taking precautions like oiling the trivet and not overfilling liquids can prevent many common trivet issues. Adjusting heat, liquid amount or steam time may also help resolve problems.

Alternative steaming options

While the trivet is the standard Instant Pot steaming accessory, there are some other items you can use in a pinch:

Steam basket

A stainless steel steam basket with extendable feet can cradle food above liquids. Allows steaming larger batches.

Rack or trivet from other pans

A cooling rack, grill pan rack or sturdy oven trivet can work.

Canning rack

A canning rack with tall feet lets you steam in jars or ramekins.

Metal bowl or ramekin

Flip a heat-safe bowl or ramekin to create a small pedestal for elevating food.

Crumpled foil

Make a quick lift by crumpling heavy duty foil into a flat mound to raise foods up.

In a pinch, basic kitchen items like these can substitute for an Instant Pot trivet. But for regular use, a good quality stainless steel trivet designed for Instant Pots is still recommended.

Conclusion

An Instant Pot trivet might seem like a simple accessory, but it serves important functions like lifting foods into the steam, preventing scorching, and making removal easy. While a trivet may not be absolutely necessary for every single use, it’s a very useful tool to have on hand and is recommended for most Instant Pot cooking.

The best approach is to get in the habit of using the trivet whenever possible. It protects delicate ingredients, promotes even steaming and cooking, and helps make the most of your Instant Pot’s multi-use functionality. For minimal effort, the trivet provides maximum benefits and is considered an essential add-on by most Instant Pot fans and cooking experts.