Instant Pot Injuries: When Kitchen Convenience Turns Dangerous

Instant Pots and other electric pressure cookers have become essential kitchen tools for millions of home cooks. These countertop appliances promise fast meals, tender meats, and one-pot magic with the push of a button. But beneath the convenience lies a growing record of explosions, burns, and product recalls, many involving serious, preventable injuries.

You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one has been burned or injured by a pressure cooker, whether it's an Instant Pot or another brand. At Morgan & Morgan, we believe no one should suffer because a product failed to do its job safely.

What Is an Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is a multi-use pressure cooker that combines the functions of a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, and more. Its digital interface and “set-it-and-forget-it” ease have made it popular with busy families, home chefs, and meal preppers.

However, despite their popularity, the Instant Pot and similar electric pressure cookers have repeatedly made headlines for malfunctioning in dangerous ways.

What Can Go Wrong?

Pressure cookers operate by sealing steam inside a locked chamber, rapidly raising the temperature and pressure to cook food faster. When they work correctly, they’re efficient. When they don’t, scalding steam and food can erupt in seconds, often causing second and third-degree burns.

Common product failures include:

• Lid detaching during use or under pressure
• Steam valves failing or becoming clogged
• Locks malfunctioning and allowing the lid to open too early
• Sensors and safety switches failing
• Faulty wiring or overheating elements

Even small failures can have catastrophic results. Victims have reported injuries to the face, arms, hands, chest, and abdomen, in some cases requiring skin grafts, hospitalization, or permanent disfigurement.

Instant Pot Recalls and Other Brands at Risk

In 2025, concerns about pressure cooker safety continue to mount. Just two years ago, over 900,000 Instant Pot pressure cookers—specifically the 8-quart “DUO” model—were recalled in 2023 due to a serious burn hazard. The manufacturer, Instant Brands, acknowledged that the product could overheat and spray hot contents, even when used as directed.

But Instant Pot isn’t the only brand linked to safety issues. Other recalls have involved:

• Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cookers (Sunbeam)
• Power Pressure Cooker XL (Tristar)
• Bella Pressure Cookers
• Fagor and NuWave pressure cookers
• Breville Fast Slow Cooker

Some of these recalls followed dozens or even hundreds of injury reports.

Who Might Be Held Responsible for an Instant Pot Injury

If a defective pressure cooker caused your injury, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. These cases typically fall under one or more legal categories:

• Design Defect: The cooker’s design posed an unreasonable risk even when used as intended.
• Manufacturing Defect: Something went wrong during production, such as faulty parts, poor quality control, or assembly errors.
• Failure to Warn: The product lacked proper instructions or warnings about known risks.

Manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure their products are safe and to warn consumers about foreseeable hazards. When they fail, and someone gets hurt, they can be held financially accountable.

Types of Potential Compensation

Victims of pressure cooker explosions may be eligible to recover damages for:

• Medical expenses (hospital bills, surgeries, rehab)
• Lost wages or reduced earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Emotional trauma
• Punitive damages (in cases of gross negligence)

If the injury resulted in a death, surviving family members may also pursue a wrongful death claim.

What to Do If You’ve Been Injured

Pressure cooker injuries are often traumatic and messy. But documenting everything can strengthen your legal case. Here’s what to do:

• Get medical attention immediately: Even minor burns can worsen or become infected.
• Do not throw away the cooker: Preserve the appliance, power cord, manual, and packaging. These items are evidence.
• Take photos: Document your injuries, the exploded cooker, and the aftermath in your kitchen.
• Collect records: Save your medical reports, purchase receipts, and any communication with the manufacturer or seller.
• Contact a product liability attorney: Don’t deal with the manufacturer or insurance companies alone. An experienced lawyer can protect your rights and guide you through the legal process.

Morgan & Morgan Is Here to Help

At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve taken on powerful companies that put profit before people and won. Our attorneys have the experience, resources, and track record to handle complex product liability cases, including exploding Instant Pots and dangerous pressure cookers.

We fight For The People, not the corporations. If a pressure cooker explosion seriously injured you or someone you love, let us help you pursue justice and fight for the compensation you deserve.

We don’t get paid unless we win. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.