You hear a thunderous boom, and you rush to your kitchen. Heart pounding, you see the smoking metal cylinder on the counter—it is your Instant Pot pressure cooker. Steam erupts as you open the lid, revealing the explosion’s aftermath: scattered black beans and salsa now embedded into the ceiling and walls.
Sold as a safe, efficient appliance, few understand that these complex devices put extreme pressure on vessel integrity, with potential explosiveness if things go awry.
Once a rising kitchen star, recent years have exposed the Instant Pot’s dark side with numerous reports of dangerous malfunctions. In 2022, the market size of pressure cookers worldwide reached $5.08 billion, and it is estimated to increase from $5.48 billion in 2023 to $8 billion by 2030.
As Instant Pots multiply in households nationwide, so too have incidents pressuring manufacturers over design flaws and lax safety standards. In this blog post, we will unpack triggers ranging from user error to faulty parts compromising chamber integrity.
Understanding the Risks
The seemingly straightforward cooker has benefited from over 250 years of scientific advancements and recognition. However, similar to any other device, despite the continual improvements in its design, absolute safety can never be guaranteed.
In general, an Instant Pot explosion can be blamed on device defects and user actions. Botched manual settings, overloaded chambers, and clogged vents prevent proper pressure release of the inbuilt pressure. Similarly, loose lids, warped bases, and subpar components, like gaskets, risk your safety.
Pressure cookers generate intense steam to shorten cook times. However, containing extreme heat and force is precarious, with no room for carelessness. As contents boil, pressure rises until exiting steam equalizes internal strain. It is this instant that poses the maximum risk.
A loose lid, and everything just blasts outside. Beyond burns, projectile foods and appliance parts also inflict lacerations, fractures, and lung damage.
Navigating Your Kitchen Confidently
Your basic safety starts with the most obvious step: studying appliance guidance to avoid basic errors. Most of the manufacturers provide a visual handbook where you can learn about each component’s function, and placement. Do not ignore this.
Moreover, important parameters like water levels, cooking times, ingredient volumes and venting vary by recipe. If you wish to test your appliance, run water-only recipes first. This can be a good starting point.
It is very important to clean release valves to prevent clogging. When encountering abnormal sounds and leaks, call for professional help rather than troubleshooting alone.
Also, avoid overstuffing, foaming ingredients, and layering foods that impede venting. Meat, grains, and produce require different settings; don’t wing it. You need to be sure that the pressure inside is released before opening the lids.
Instant pots have been around for several centuries and do not pose a random risk. But, you can never be sure of any mechanical component’s malfunctioning. What rests with you is taking precautions.
Holding Manufacturers Accountable
Recent years have exposed defect trends across Instant Pot models, prompting lawsuits and agency investigations into inadequate safety measures.
Several plaintiffs allege manufacturer negligence misrepresenting durability, while many victims cite faulty gaskets rupturing violently mid-cooking.
Several pressure cooker brands, including Breville, Crock-Pot, and Instant Pot, have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to potential safety concerns raised by consumer complaints. The agency urges consumers to adhere to safety practices while prioritizing manufacturer instructions and authorized repairs.
As per TorHoerman Law, in 2015, Breville recalled more than 35,000 units of its Slow Cookers. Instant Brands Inc., the manufacturer of Instant Pot, also recalled over 1,000 units of its popular multi-cooker product in the same year.
One of the biggest recalls was when about a million units of pressure cookers, purchased between 2017 and 2023, were taken off the market. It was in response to identified issues with pressure control and lid security. Investigations revealed inconsistencies in pressure regulation, with models reaching high temperatures even when lids weren’t properly secured.
While legal agencies analyze hazardous defects, consumer vigilance remains vital. It is critical to report issues as it helps create paper trails, establishing legal accountability, and incentives aimed at improving security features.
The manufacturers owe you assurance that a staple kitchen appliance won’t terrifyingly betray their trust at supper time. As consumers, reporting incidents and supporting safety advocacy groups sends a strong message: we expect better. This collective action drives change, pushing manufacturers to prioritize safety and stricter standards.
The future of pressure cookers requires collaboration between regulators, manufacturers, and consumers to ensure efficiency and peace of mind. Ongoing efforts to implement stricter safety regulations and hold manufacturers accountable are crucial for achieving this goal.
