Let The Instant Pot Do Its Job
In the olden days of manual pressure cookers, my mom had to time the pressure build and when to take off the lid. Things are a bit easier with an Instant Pot because it can time everything for you, so let it do its job.
The pressure cooker can take from a few minutes at the very least to 40 or more to get to where it needs to be. Do not open the cooker until it has depressurized completely to avoid explosions, even if you just want a quick peek.
Pro tip: If the float valve is still up or the lid is difficult to turn, the cooker is most likely still pressurized. Give it time and follow the recipe instructions for releasing pressure.
What Does Snopes Say About Instant Pot Explosions
Nothing, actually.
I searched Instant Pot just to be general, Instant Pot exploding, and Instant Pot explosion. Neither of these searches was fruitful as it relates to exploding Instant Pots.
I did find an article about the Multicooker melting down that I mentioned above, but I didnt find even one article that mentioned exploding Instant Pots.
So again, while its possible one has actually exploded due to a manufacturers defect, there is really no evidence of it. At least not that I could find.
Do Instant Pots Use High Heat
High-heat cooking is associated with a loss of vitamins, and meats cooked at high heat have been linked to certain carcinogens.
Because Instant Pots cook food so quickly, it makes sense that people think Instant Pots use extraordinarily high heat, but you might be surprised to learn that oven baking and grilling use much higher heat than Instant Pots or any other pressure cooker.
For example, you would bake chicken breasts in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes. Youd grill chicken breasts for five to seven minutes on each side at about 500 degrees. Instant Pot operates at about 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Most other pressure cookers operate at about the same temperature, give or take a few degrees.
So how is it possible that Instant Pots cook food so quickly at such low temperatures?
In a sense, pressure cookers are just more efficient. The increased pressure raises the boiling point of water and doesnt allow steam to escape, thereby creating a faster cooking environment.
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Free Consultation With A Pressure Cooker Lawyer
Faulty and defective designs may cause a pressure cooker to explode, resulting in severe burns and injuries.
OVERVIEW: Pressure cookers have been used for generations to cook food under pressure, using steam or water-based fluids. The earliest designs were introduced in the 1600s, and stove-top pressure cookers gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. However, pressure cooking remained dangerous due to the risk of cooking hot contents under high pressure.
Following the introduction of Instant Pot and other modern pressure cookers over the past 10 years, a number of manufacturers have promoted these counter-top products with electric heating elements as safe, easy and convenient. Many of these modern pressure cookers also can be used as air fryers, slow cookers, rice cookers, egg cookers, canners and with other multi-cooking settings, but they continue to carry serious risks in the kitchen.
PRESSURE COOKER BURNS AND INJURIES: If a modern pressure cooker fails, the lid may explode off while the contents are still under high pressure. This can cause hot contents to forcefully blow up in the face of consumers, or spray scalding liquids in the kitchen.
- Automated Pressure Control
- Pressure Lowering Features
- Automatic Shut-Off Temperature Controls
Consumers have reported problems with pressure cookers sold by a number of different companies under various brand names, including:
Reasons Why Instant Pot Explode
- Save
Afraid you might get hurt if your instant pot explodes? YES, that instant pot of yours can explode at any time if it is malfunction, causing you serious damage. There have been a number of cases where instant pot explodes during cooking.
Why does it happen? How can you save yourself from getting severe injuries? Here, in this article, youll get all the information you need about instant pot explosions.
Can My Instant Pot Explode?
Instant pots are used for Pressure-cooking that helps to prepare food in no time. Usually, the food that may take hours of cooking, can be cooked in a few minutes using an instant pot. The pressure inside the Instant pot is regulated between 10.12 11.6 psi with the help of a pressure regulator.
Whenever, due to any reason, this pressure inside the pot exceeds a limit of 15.25 psi, your instant pot explodes. This is because the steam building inside the pot reaches its maximum limit that needs immediate evacuation. Therefore, at this moment, the chances of your instant pot exploding suddenly during cooking are higher than anything else.
Instant Pot Explosion Scenarios
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Real Cases Of Instant Pot Explosion
There are cases that have been reported time and again. Some victims have sustained burns, severe injuries, blindness, amputations, and in some cases, death.
In August 2016, a 48-year-old woman suffered severe burns after a pressure cooker exploded in a cafeteria in New Jersey where she worked. The woman sustained burns on her arm and hand.
In September 2016, A woman in Australia was cooking meat in her pressure cooker when it exploded, spilling hot content on her face, neck, and arm. She sustained 2nd-degree burns on 10% of her body.
: Instant pot explosion in Breville.
In September 2014, a 2-year-old girl in Florida had one of her legs amputated after suffering a 60% burn on her body. Her grandmother was bathing her when the cooker exploded, splashing hot liquid on her body.
Protection For The Pressure Regulator
If there is too much pressure within your pot, it will produce steam, so dont be concerned if it starts producing a hissing noise or releasing steam. When the pressure within the pot exceeds 15.23 psi, the steam inside is automatically released until the temperature reaches its ideal range.
There are practically no chances of an instant pot exploding if all of these safety elements are considered while constructing it. However, there are still explanations and examples of quick pots exploding. Manufacturers make every effort to supply you with quick pots that have characteristics that avoid explosions.
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Do Regular Pressure Cookers Explode
Stove-top pressure cookers with clamps to hold the lid in place have been known to explode if the lid was improperly locked, if too high of heat was used creating excess pressure, or if a faulty gasket on the lid had not been replaced.
But this mostly applies to old-school pressure cookers like your grandma used to use.
They had a locking lid that kept the pressure in, but unlike todays modern Instant Pots, since they were heated on a stovetop, they had no protection against temperature, overheating, or shutting off under potentially dangerous situations.
Not sure what I mean?
Imagine heating a can of carbonated soda and then shaking it up . That would pretty quickly become dangerous as the pull-top lid could easily weaken and start to shoot scalding hot soda in all directions.
Old stove-top style pressure cookers essentially work in the same way.
Of course, Im sure there are tens of thousands of people who have used these older model pressure cookers who have never seen one explode or been injured, but they could and do happen occasionally.
Now having said that, chances are if there was an old pressure cooker that exploded, it was probably caused by user error such as:
- Filling it up too high
- Putting too much cooking liquid in it
- Leaving it on the burner too long
- Putting the burner temperature too high
The Yum Yum Factor
Common Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Injuries
According to a local CBS News report, one couple in Florida bought a Tristar Products Power Pressure Cooker XL, set it up in their kitchen and tried to cook soup in it. However, when the husband went to open the pot, the lid blew off. He suffered second-degree burns to his arms, elbows and fingers, while his wife sustained a burnt and swollen hand. Unfortunately, many people have suffered similar injuries in pressure cooker accidents.
Among the most common injuries that occur in electric pressure cooker explosions are:
The injuries that people suffer in pressure cooker explosions can be highly painful and may require extensive medical treatment. A person with second- or third-degree burns, for instance, may need to undergo skin graft procedures or plastic surgery as well as require ongoing therapy and rehabilitation. Victims may also be unable to work due to their injuries.
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How Do I Keep My Instant Pot From Exploding
To ensure an Instant Pot does not explode, avoid filling past the fill line, ensure the lids gasket is present, clean, and in good condition, and make sure the lid is fully locked into place.
The best strategy is to just follow the manual that comes with your Instant Pot and dont do anything it tells us not to do.
If you have misplaced the manual that came with your Instant Pot, youre in luck! All of the product manuals are available online. Just to go to their manual page and download the one for your model.
Dont want to bury your head in the manual? No problem!
Here are the things you want to make sure you do :
1. Dont overfill your Instant Pot
Your Instant Pot has a line on the inside showing you the max you can fill it.
Dont go over that line. For basic pressure cooking, you can fill it up to about 2/3 maximum. However, for things that expand when you cook them dont fill it up more than halfway.
After all, since these things increase in size when you cook them, we have to give them space to do that.
2. When you move the steam valve to open, keep hands and face away from the lid
The Instant Pot has a steam release valve on the top of the lid on the backside.
It doesnt lock in place and moves easily. In the 6 oclock position, its locked and moving it to either side will release the pressure.
3. Dont try to open the lid before you have released the pressure
The lid and the contents inside are under pressure while the Instant Pot is cooking.
Gimmie Freebies
Instant Pot Lawsuit Filed In California
In February 2020, a lawsuit was filed against Instant Brands Inc. by a woman from California who was severely burned by an exploding Instant Pot pressure cooker.
The lawsuit claims the Instant Pot is defective because the safety features failed and she was able to open the lid when it still contained a dangerous amount of pressure, resulting in an explosion of hot food.
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Can An Instant Pot Blow Up
No, an instant pot cannot blow up. The instant pot does not burst into flames or go off in a pyrotechnic fashion. They have several safety measures pre-installed to make sure everything runs smoothly. If the sensors detect an issue, theyll shut down or lower the internal pressure. Misuse is almost always to blame for any problems that have arisen.
Are Instant Pots Safe And Can They Explode
If you do a Google search for Can Instant Pot Explode, youll get a list of lawyers that specialize in burn injuries and explosions.
Instant Pots build high heat quickly. I would not be surprised to find lots of people that have been burned by them, and on occasion, have one explode on them. Typically those types of injuries are due to user error rather than a defective product.
That doesnt mean it doesnt happen. It just means that if you follow the manufacturers instructions, you should be safe.
Instant Pots are incredibly safe. They have a myriad of safety features built in to ensure that they remain safe and dont explode. Ive used mine many times without issue.
A few of the safety features are listed below.
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Tip #: Check Equipment Before Cooking
Before you turn on the pressure cooker, check the equipment. Always check the rubber gasket before you turn it on. The rubber gasket should have no cracks around it nor should it be worn out. Some brands advise you to change the rubber gasket once per year.
How often you should replace it depends on how frequently you use it. You might keep an extra rubber gasket on hand to replace it easily if you discover a ripped gasket. Dont leave dried food around the rim. It can break the gasket.
How Does The Instant Pot Work
It works pretty much like traditional pressure cookers only that its electric with digital set buttons. It has an air-tight lid that prevents steam from escaping creating high-pressure surroundings, making food cook rapidly. Unlike the old pressure cookers, these modern ones have built-in safety features that minimize the chances of instant pot explosion even though some cases have been reported.
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Pressure Cooker Explosion: Instant Pot Lawsuit
If you or someone you know has been injured by a defective instant pot, call 916-970-9100 today for a free and confidential case evaluation, or fill out the form on this page. We have a 25+ year successful track record of holding corporations responsible for defective products, including electric pressure cookers, and are available to answer your questions, free of charge or obligation.
Pressure cookers have long been a time saving kitchen appliance. They utilize a combination of heat and steam to create a high amount of pressure to cook foods quickly, resulting in flavorful dishes in far less time than conventional cooking methods. The temperature inside a pressure cooker runs approximately 40 degrees hotter than the boiling point of water, and the steam it generates, while necessary for rapid cook times, can be extremely dangerous.
If a pressure cookers lock, vent, lid, seal, or gasket is faulty, the pressure cooker can explode, causing severe injury or even death to anyone nearby. People who have experienced a pressure cooker explosion have suffered burns, amputations, blindness, concussions, broken bones, and disfigurement, not to mention damage to their homes. If you or your loved one experienced any of these injuries due to a defective pressure cooker, contact our Sacramento pressure cooker lawyers today for legal representation.
Final Words On Instant Pot Explosion
the Instant Pot is a great product designed with the users convenience and safety in mind and, just like any other tool out there, you can easily hurt yourself and others when you do not use it right.
I hope this article has helped clarify some things for you as far as the Instant Pot is concerned. We would love to hear your comments and contributions below.
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What Happens If You Overfill A Pressure Cooker
Overfilling a pressure cooker has various effects, including loss of flavor and texture. This is caused by the excessive pressure generated by the glut of liquid. Too much pressure breaks down food. As for the risks it is also possible for the food to block the pressure valve if the pot is filled too high.
I Am No Facial Steamer
Trust me! You will not get a deep cleaning with a single dose of pressure cooker steam.
Always tilt the lid away from yourself when opening. Wear Waterproof Heat Resistant Silicone Gloves especially when you are doing a Quick Release.
Save the Instant Pot Silicone Mitt for Sesame Street Elmos impersonation.
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Use The Pressure Cooker Correctly
Before you begin using a pressure cooker, read all instructions and safety warnings carefully, and follow those instructions to the letter. Dont overfill the pot with food or liquids, including foods that expand when cooked. Use the recommended amount of liquid.
Learn the correct procedures for venting steam from the pressure cooker and opening the appliance. Make sure you understand how the safety features work and follow the right procedures every single time. Take precautions, such as using tongs rather than your bare hands to open pressure release valves.
After each use, clean the appliance thoroughly as directed, paying specific attention to valves and vents that could be blocked by built-up food residue.
Extra Layers Of Protection
In protecting yourself, you are not alone. These days, most modern instant pots have few layers of protection that will provide you with extra safety if anything goes wrong.
Lets take a closer look at them now from the base of the instant pot working upwards.
- Electrical fuse
Monitoring electrical current flowing through the instant pot is one of the primary protection layers for your instant pot. More often than not, there can be either surge in the electrical network providing too much power to the device.
Another situation that can cause the issue is that there is a liquid present in the wiring of the instant pot. A case like that could create sparks and overload the electrical insides of the instant pot.
In these situations, that the electrical current goes beyond the safety limit, the fuse blows and cuts off the power, effectively stopping the cooking.
- Thermal fuse
Works on a similar principle as the electrical fuse, but monitors the wiring temperature and other parts of the instant pot.
The thermal fuse does not monitor the temperature in the pot, but everything around it.
- Automatic pressure control
It is a pressure sensor that maintains an ideal pressure level inside the pot. You can find a detailed picture of how pressure control works here.
Nice, right?
- Burn protection
Now, this is a big one. The burn or overheating protection is quite essential as it prevents your food from turning to charcoal brick.
For example:
- Automatic temperature control
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