The Safety Checklist To Hit Before Putting Ingredients In An Instant Pot

What makes the Instant Pot so popular is right in the name — it's instant. A cross between a pressure cooker and a slow cooker, the Instant Pot's ability to slow-cook foods at an incredibly fast speed has made it something of a cult favorite in kitchens across the country. 

Indeed, the popularity of the Instant Pot is comparable to that of the air fryer, as it is a unique piece of kitchen equipment that some see as the ultimate kitchen appliance. In fact, Lila Thulin of Slate dubbed the device a symbol of not only an entire economy but also a "religion." Melissa Clark of The New York Times reported that, although the Instant Pot isn't perfect, the appliance's incredibly quick cooking time and deliciously tender results made her a believer. Suffice to say, the Instant Pot's many features, from being a rice cooker, slow cooker, and pressure cooker — along with its efficiency in the kitchen — have earned it a permanent place in many homes across the country.

Still, just because the Instant Pot is convenient it doesn't mean that the device doesn't have the potential to be dangerous. At the end of the day, it's still a kitchen appliance and should be treated with the proper care and maintenance that any tool deserves to continue operating safely. You should always keep an eye out for certain signs that your Instant Pot may need to be fixed or, worst case scenario, thrown out.

You wouldn't use a microwave if the door didn't close all the way, nor would you use an oven if you noticed the heating elements were flickering. Just as you want every part of your appliances to work the way they are supposed to, you also want to ensure that all elements of your Instant Pot are functional and accounted for.

Some key components to pay close attention to include the lid, the lid's seal, and the heating element. Ensure the lid has a clean, undamaged silicone rubber seal that forms a tight, unbroken seal when placed onto the pot. Beforehand, you should also make sure that the main heating element is not only thoroughly cleaned but also dry and free from any liquids before use. In the event that you notice or hear air escaping from the Instant Pot, even if the lid is on, immediately turn the appliance off and wait for it to cool down before inspecting the seal. Never open the Instant Pot while it's active, as the pressurized hot air could scald you.

If the silicone rubber seal on the lid has cracked, you could easily replace it yourself using a replacement ring, which can be acquired online for relatively cheap and installed very easily. If the heating element is damaged, you may have to take it to a professional to see if it can be repaired.

While you may sometimes hear stories on the news about fires being caused by unattended ovens, you may not have heard about any injuries caused by an Instant Pot. Although it is true that such incidents are very uncommon, accidents involving Instant Pot cookers have been known to happen from time to time.

The Legal Examiner reported that a Pennsylvania woman was preparing soup in an Instant Pot when, upon noticing an error message on the device's interface, she opened the lid under the belief the appliance was no longer active. The device, however, was still pressurized and the sudden opening of the lid released boiling hot soup, which splashed onto the woman's two-year-old daughter. While the child survived, they did so with extreme burns.

Similarly, KTRK 13 reports that a woman in Texas was also preparing soup in her Instant Pot when, after placing a kitchen towel over the top to control escaping moisture, the Pot "exploded" and scalded her with steaming hot liquid. While the woman also survived, she was left with severe burns on her neck and arm.

Is this meant to scare you? No. This is simply to demonstrate how it is of the utmost importance that you follow each basic rule of safety when using the Instant Pot. While the Instant Pot does have many built-in safety features to ensure that the device does not harm its user, it is still always best to keep caution on your mind.