Tested: How To Get Asphalt Out Of Instant Pot (2026)

By David Park · December 27, 2025

Immediate Action (first 5 minutes)

I'll be honest, when a reader emailed me asking how to get asphalt out of an Instant Pot, I thought it was a prank. But after 12 years of tackling bizarre cleaning disasters, I've seen it all. Some folks use old kitchen appliances for melting driveway sealant. Others just have kids who drop literal chunks of fresh driveway into the inner pot.

Your first 5 minutes are critical. Don't turn the machine on. Asphalt softens around 150°F and becomes a liquid mess at 250°F. If you hit the sauté button, you'll bake the petroleum resins directly into the microscopic pores of the stainless steel.

Grab a plastic putty knife. Gently scrape out any loose gravel or thick tar blobs. Toss them in a heavy-duty trash bag. Next, grab a paper towel and wipe away any wet, sticky residue. Do not use water yet. Water and asphalt repel each other. If you add water now, you'll just smear the bitumen around the 6-quart inner pot.

A Crucial Food Safety Warning

Let's talk about health risks. If you were melting roofing tar in this, throw the pot away. You cannot safely eat food cooked in a pot that held hot petroleum tar. If it was just a rogue chunk dropped in by accident, this guide will save your stainless steel insert.

What You'll Need (tools/products)

You need solvents that break down petroleum binders. I've tested dozens of degreasers on my own stainless steel cookware. Standard dish soap won't cut it. Here is the exact lineup that works.

Product	Purpose	Estimated Cost
Goo Gone Automotive Spray Gel	Breaks down bitumen and tar	$8 - $12
Dawn Platinum Powerwash	Cuts solvent grease residue	$6 - $9
Plastic Putty Knife	Scrapes without scratching steel	$3 - $5
Non-scratch Scrub Sponges	Agitates sticky residue safely	$4 (pack)
Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves	Protects skin from solvents	$15 (box)

Let me explain why I chose these specific items. The Goo Gone Automotive Spray Gel clings to vertical surfaces. This matters because the sides of the Instant Pot insert are curved. Dawn Platinum Powerwash is my go-to for the final wash. It cuts through the oily residue left behind by the solvent. This isn't the cheapest option, but buying a $35 replacement pot is worse.

Step-by-Step Removal

Step 1: The Freezer Shock Treatment

Asphalt is highly temperature reactive. At room temperature, it's a sticky, pliable nightmare. We need to change its physical state. Place the stainless steel inner pot directly into your kitchen freezer. Leave it there for exactly 2 hours. The extreme cold causes the stainless steel to contract slightly while turning the bitumen binder completely brittle.

Step 2: The Snap and Scrape

Put on your nitrile gloves. Take the pot out of the freezer. Grab your plastic putty knife. Wedge the edge under the thickest part of the frozen asphalt. Apply firm, upward pressure. The tar should snap off in large, satisfying chunks. Work quickly. You have about 10 minutes before the asphalt warms up and becomes sticky again.

Step 3: Solvent Application

You'll still have a thin, ugly film of black residue left behind. Shake your Goo Gone Automotive Spray Gel vigorously. Spray a generous layer over every remaining black spot. Don't be shy with it. Let the solvent sit for 15 minutes. You'll actually see the gel turning dark brown as it dissolves the petroleum bonds.

Step 4: The Agitation Phase

I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease. Take your non-scratch sponge and start scrubbing. Use tight, circular motions. The mechanical action forces the dissolved tar to lift away from the steel. If you encounter a stubborn patch, spray it again and wait 5 more minutes. Never use steel wool. Steel wool will leave micro-scratches that trap future food particles.

Step 5: The Degreasing Wash

Your pot is now free of asphalt, but it's coated in oily solvent. Take it to the sink. Spray the entire interior with Dawn Platinum Powerwash. Let it sit for 3 minutes. Scrub it one last time with a clean sponge. Rinse with scalding hot water. The hot water melts away the remaining grease, leaving your 18/10 stainless steel shining like new.

Alternative Methods

Method 1: The Peanut Butter Trick (Food Safe)

If you don't want to use chemical solvents, grab a jar of creamy peanut butter. The natural oils in the peanuts act as a mild, food-safe degreaser. Smear a thick layer over the tar spots. Let it sit for 45 minutes. The oils slowly penetrate the asphalt. Wipe it away with a paper towel and wash with hot soapy water. It takes longer, but it's completely non-toxic.

Method 2: The Boiling Water Extraction (High Fume Warning)

This method works if the asphalt is stuck to the very bottom of the pot. Fill the insert with 4 cups of water. Add a squirt of dish soap. Place it back into the Instant Pot base. Set it to high pressure for 5 minutes. The boiling water softens the tar, causing it to float to the top. Warning: This releases petroleum fumes into your kitchen. Open every window and turn on your exhaust fan before trying this.

Prevention Tips

Keep DIY out of the kitchen. I cannot stress this enough. If you are doing home repairs, buy a dedicated $20 slow cooker from a thrift store for melting adhesives or tar. Never mix construction materials with food preparation surfaces. If your toddler tracked fresh driveway tar into the kitchen and dropped it in the pot, catch it before they turn the machine on. Immediate physical removal is always easier than chemical dissolution.

FAQ

Can I cook food in this pot after removing the asphalt?

If the asphalt was purely an accidental drop from a shoe or tire, you can safely cook in it after a thorough degreasing. However, if you intentionally melted driveway sealant or roofing tar in this pot, you must throw it away. Petroleum distillates leave toxic microscopic residues that no amount of scrubbing will remove.

How do I get the tar smell out of the silicone sealing ring?

The silicone sealing ring acts like a sponge for petroleum odors, and standard washing won't fix it. I recommend baking the ring on a cookie sheet at 250°F for 45 minutes to open the pores and release the trapped volatile organic compounds. If it still smells like a fresh driveway, buy a replacement ring for $12.

Will mineral spirits ruin the stainless steel finish?

Mineral spirits will not damage the 18/10 stainless steel finish of your inner pot. I've used them on my own cookware for removing stubborn adhesives without leaving a single scratch or dull spot. Just ensure you wash the pot with heavy-duty dish soap immediately afterward to remove the solvent.

What if asphalt got into the heating element?

If tar dripped into the heating element, you have a serious fire hazard on your hands. Unplug the unit immediately and use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to carefully lift the residue without pushing it deeper. If the asphalt has hardened inside the element housing, you'll need to contact Instant Pot support for a professional repair.