Pressure Cooker Burn Lawyer: Are Pressure Cookers Dangerous?

How Pressure Cookers Work

An electric pressure cooker is a staple in the kitchen and can provide efficiency and convenience that stovetop pressure cookers cannot.

Pressure cookers are also commonly known as multi-pots or one-pots.

More and more users are using the names of pressure cooker brands when referring to electric pressure cookers because of the product’s popularity.

Many people started calling pressure cookers “instant pots” after Instant Pot pressure cookers by Instant Brands, Inc., while others used “crock pots” from Sunbeam Products Inc.’s Crock Pot.

Regardless of what you call them, pressure cookers work by trapping steam pressure inside the cooking pot, which raises the water temperature and helps cook food quickly.

This high-pressure environment can help tenderize and cook food faster than stovetop pressure cookers or other methods.

This makes pressure cooking an excellent way to save time and energy, especially for busy parents or during the holidays.

How To Use a Pressure Cooker

When pressure cooking, use only foods suitable for your particular pressure cooker and follow all instructions regarding pressure cooker operation.

Let’s use the Instant Pot as an example.

Most Instant Pot recipes start by adding the liquid first.

Thin liquids, like water or broth, usually come first, and thick sauces, like tomato sauce and paste, come next if the recipe requires them.

Starchy foods should come last to prevent food from burning or sticking to the bottom of the inner pot.

Always put enough liquid to cover the food in the pressure cooker.

Add more liquid if necessary to ensure the food is covered, but don’t exceed the maximum fill line.

Most pressure cookers require at least a cup of liquid for safety reasons.

After placing all ingredients in the inner pot, close the pressure cooker’s lid by following the arrows.

Check the rubber gasket, and set the steam release valve to the sealing position to keep steam inside the pot.

Ensure that the heating element is clear of any debris.

Be sure to double-check everything before you choose the cooking time and pressure setting.

Electric Pressure Cooker Safety Features

“Are pressure cookers safe?” is a common question many users have.

Electric pressure cookers are not dangerous in and of themselves, but there are specific safety measures you should take when using one.

Before anything else, read the instructions for your particular model carefully before use, as each manufacturer might have different safety precautions or directions on how to operate the appliance safely.

Most modern pressure cookers have built-in safety mechanisms to ensure safe operations. Standard safety features include:

• Pressure regulator
• Lid-locking system
• Automatic pressure release valve
• Thermal sensor

Let’s use Instant Pot again as an example.

The pressure cooker has a thermal sensor that senses possible issues and displays a burn message if an issue occurs.

This burn warning indicates that food is possibly burned and stuck to the bottom of the inner pot.

When the thermal sensor detects too much built-up pressure, the Instant Pot will stop cooking and a burn notice will appear.

Users can troubleshoot the issue by:

• Canceling the cooking program
• Turning off the appliance
• Checking the pressure cooker’s lid
• Checking the steam release valve
• Making sure the inner pot is clean
• Adding more liquid

Be extra cautious when releasing the built-up pressure in your pressure cooker.

You can do this by:

• Natural release: Let the pressure cooker sit and release pressure naturally.
• Cold water release: Run cold water over the lid of the closed pressure cooker for a few minutes.
• Quick release: Set the steam release valve to the venting position.

Protect your face, hands, and exposed skin for extra measure, and keep a safe distance from the pressure cooker when releasing steam.

Additionally, be sure to keep young children away from the pressure cooker while it is in use.

Causes of Pressure Cooker Explosions

In unfortunate cases where safety features fail, product defects exist, or a person uses a pressure cooker incorrectly, a pressure cooker explosion can occur.

A few common causes of pressure cooker explosions include:

• Overfilling the pressure cooker
• Not enough liquid
• Faulty gaskets, valves, lids, and locks
• Wrong pressure settings
• Safety feature malfunction
• Defective wiring or manufacturing
• Built-up pressure and heat from a blocked steam release valve

While you can prevent these with proper use and maintenance of the pressure cooker, there are cases of exploding pressure cookers due to faulty manufacture and design.

Some of these unfortunate instances include severe bodily injuries and property damage.

Pressure Cooker Explosions in the News

In March 2022, legendary boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux suffered severe burns and injuries after a defective pressure cooker exploded all over his face and chest.

The scalding water also gravely burned his corneas, resulting in 80% vision loss.

It’s still uncertain whether the Olympic gold medalist will be able to compete inside the ring again.

In January 2023, Jennifer Latham and her family lost their home in Clermont County, Ohio, because of a faulty Instant Pot.

Jennifer had the pressure cooker on and went upstairs with her husband and two children when the fire alarm went off.

By the time they reached downstairs, the kitchen was already in flames.

Fortunately, the family was able to escape the house safely.

Aside from their home, they tragically lost their two pet cats in the fire.

Defective Pressure Cooker Recalls

Due to these high-visibility cases, defective pressure cookers have been recalled because of safety issues.

In 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled 1,000 Instant Pot pressure cookers distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The thermal probe in the pressure cooker caused electric shock, with three reported cases at the time.

In 2018, 107 complainants reported that their Instant Pot was overheating and a fire hazard, resulting in five cases of minor property damage.

Distributor Double Insight said a manufacturing error led to a tooling misalignment that overheated and melted the cooker’s underside.

The CPSC recalled 104,000 defective units and suggested a replacement or refund for the affected customers.

Potential Injuries From Defective Instant Pots

Pressure cooker explosions can cause serious injuries, property damage, or death.

Severe Burns

A defective pressure cooker can cause severe burns to the face, body, and hands.

Injuries can range from minor redness to third-degree burns.

This kind of injury can lead to scarring, pain, and mobility issues.

Potential Eye Injuries

A pressure cooker explosion can cause cuts and burns to the eyes, resulting in corneal abrasions.

Victims may experience temporary, partial, or permanent vision loss.

Repairing the corneas may require reconstructive surgery, leading to long-term medical bills.

Debilitating Injuries

Aside from intense heat and steam, a pressure cooker explosion can cause its lid or other components to fly.

Because of the extreme impact, victims may suffer from broken bones, lacerations, internal injuries, hearing loss, and psychological trauma.

This kind of injury may cause permanent disability or disfigurement.

Medical Treatments You May Have To Undergo if You're Injured

If you’re severely injured due to a pressure cooker explosion, you may have to undergo the following treatments:

• Skin grafts: This procedure involves taking healthy pieces of skin from another part of your body and using them to cover the burned area caused by the explosion.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy helps victims of pressure cooker explosions recover mobility, strength, and range of motion in the affected areas.
• Reconstructive surgery: This operation helps reduce scarring or disfigurement caused by the blast. It can involve tissue expansion, laser resurfacing, and other procedures to repair the damage.
• Psychological therapy: Some pressure cooker explosion victims suffer psychological trauma due to their injuries. Psychological therapy can help them manage the emotional and mental distress of the incident.

What To Do if You're Injured by a Defective Pressure Cooker

If a pressure cooker explosion has injured you or someone you know, take the following steps.

Seek Medical Attention

Get immediate medical attention — prioritize your health and safety before anything else.

Seek help from a healthcare professional, and they will provide the necessary care to treat your injuries.

Retain Evidence

Collect evidence to record the incident, such as medical records and bills, photos and videos of the injuries and scene, witness statements, and other relevant proof.

These items will prove helpful in your legal case against the manufacturer or distributor of the defective pressure cookers.

These documents will help your lawyer build a strong case.

Contact an Attorney at TorHoerman Law

Pressure cooker lawyers can help you recover financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Hire a respected law firm with the expertise and experience in handling pressure cooker lawsuits, like TorHoerman Law.

We have an extensive network of experts who can help strengthen your case and maximize your compensation.

TorHoerman Law: Your Instant Pot Lawyer

If you or a loved one have suffered serious burns, serious injuries, or other harm from a defective Instant Pot or any other faulty pressure cooker, contact an experienced Instant Pot attorney who can help protect your rights and seek financial compensation. 

The expert lawyers at TorHoerman Law can assist you in filing a lawsuit to seek proper financial restitution for the pain, suffering, medical expenses, and other losses caused by defective Instant Pots.

We can evaluate your case and explore all of your legal options.

The numerous safety components on a pressure cooker’s design should prevent boiling liquid, hot food, hot steam, and other extremely dangerous contents of a pressure cooker from exiting the slow cooker.

Defective pressure cookers can potentially explode, causing extreme physical pain, thermal burns, and other painful bodily injuries.

Pressure cooker manufacturers need to provide proper instructions to handle potentially dangerous pressure cookers.

If your pressure cooker exploded and you’ve been injured, you may be eligible to file a Pressure Cooker Explosion Lawsuit.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for a Pressure Cooker Lawsuit instantly.