Pressure Cooker Lawsuit: Explosion & Burn Injury Claims
If you were burned when a pressure cooker exploded, or its lid blew off, you may be able to file a pressure cooker lawsuit against the company that made or sold it. These claims usually argue that the cooker was defectively designed or came without proper warnings. Many have been filed against major brands, including Instant Pot, Crock-Pot, and Ninja.
You were making dinner. You followed the instructions. Then, in a split second, scalding food and steam hit your face, chest, or arms. Injuries like these are painful, frightening, and often take months to heal. And they are not your fault.
Below, we explain why pressure cookers explode, the injuries they cause, which models have been recalled, and what you can do next if you or someone you love was hurt.
What Causes a Pressure Cooker Explosion?
Most pressure cooker explosions happen when the lid opens while the pot is still under pressure. Modern electric cookers are sold with locking lids and safety sensors meant to stop this. When those safety features fail, the pot can release boiling liquid, food, and steam all at once.
Common problems named in pressure cooker explosion lawsuits include:
- Faulty lid locks that let the lid twist open before pressure is fully released
- Pressure that builds when the lid isn’t fully locked, so the lid can suddenly detach
- Blocked or failed pressure release valves that trap too much steam inside
- Misleading pressure indicators that make the pot look safe to open when it isn’t, or incorrect fill lines that lead people to overfill it
- Worn gaskets or seals that cause the lid to fail during cooking
Manufacturers often blame the user. But you should be able to trust a kitchen appliance to work the way it was sold. In legal terms, these cases fall under product liability, which simply means a company can be held responsible when it sells a product that is unreasonably dangerous when used as intended.
Which Pressure Cooker Brands Have Been Recalled?
Millions of pressure cookers have been recalled or flagged by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) because of lid and burn hazards. Some of the largest pressure cooker recalls and warnings include:
Date | Brand / model | Units (U.S.) | Hazard |
Feb 2026 | Gourmia 6-quart, model GPC625 (CPSC warning, not a recall) | ~43,500 | Lid can open while pressurized; hard-to-see pressure valve and wrong fill lines; 4 severe burns reported |
May 2025 | ~1,846,400 | Lid can open during use; 106 burn injuries reported | |
Oct 2023 | Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers (Best Buy) | ~930,000 | Wrong fill markings can lead to overfilling and ejected contents; 17 burn injuries reported |
Aug 2023 | ~860,000 | Lid can unlock and be removed during use; 61 burn injuries reported | |
Nov 2020 | Crock-Pot 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cooker, model SCCPPC600-V1 | ~914,000 | Can pressurize when lid isn’t fully locked; 99 burn injuries reported |
Not on this list? You may still have a claim. A recall is not required to file a pressure cooker lawsuit. Many cases involve brands and models that were never recalled. What matters is whether the product failed and caused your injury.
To check your model, look for the model number on the label on the bottom or side of the unit, then search it at CPSC.gov. If your cooker is recalled, stop using the pressure-cooking function right away.
Instant Pot Explosion Lawsuits
Instant Pot is one of the most popular electric pressure cookers in the country, and it’s also named in a growing number of injury lawsuits. People filing Instant Pot injury lawsuits say the lid opened while the pot was still pressurized, spraying them with scalding food and liquid.
In July 2026 alone, at least two new Instant Pot explosion lawsuits were filed. Both involve the Instant Pot Duo Nova 60, and both claim the company knew about safety problems but kept selling the product without fixing them.
Other brands are facing similar cases. In April 2026, a federal judge in Colorado upheld a jury verdict against Sunbeam, the maker of Crock-Pot, for a woman badly burned by a Crock-Pot Express. The companies have appealed. And in August 2026, a new lawsuit was filed over a Ninja Foodi explosion injury.
If you suffered an Instant Pot explosion injury, keep the cooker, its lid, and any packaging. These can be key evidence in your case.
Can I File a Pressure Cooker Lawsuit?
You may be able to file a pressure cooker lawsuit if the cooker malfunctioned during normal use and you were injured as a result. You don’t need to prove the company meant to hurt you. In many cases, you only need to show the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury.
A pressure cooker lawsuit is usually built on one or more of these claims:
- Design defect: the cooker’s design is unsafe, like a lid that can open under pressure
- Manufacturing defect: your specific unit was made wrong, such as a faulty gasket or valve
- Failure to warn: the company didn’t give clear warnings about the risks
Time limits matter. In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury claim. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. Miss it, and you may lose your right to recover.
What to Do If Your Pressure Cooker Explodes
If your pressure cooker explodes, get medical care first, then protect the evidence. The steps you take in the first few days can make a big difference in your claim.
- Get medical treatment right away. Burns can look worse over the first few days, and medical records document your injuries.
- Don’t throw the cooker away. Keep the base, lid, gasket, and valve exactly as they are. Don’t clean or repair it.
- Take photos. Photograph your injuries, the cooker, and the kitchen as soon as you can.
- Save the paperwork. Keep the box, manual, receipt, and any recall notices.
- Write down what happened. Note the date, what you were cooking, and how the lid failed while details are fresh.
- Don’t talk to the manufacturer first. If the company contacts you or asks you to send the cooker back, speak with a lawyer before you agree to anything.
- Reach out for a free case review. A lawyer can tell you whether you have a claim and what your options are.
How to Find a Pressure Cooker Accident Lawyer
The best pressure cooker accident lawyer has product liability experience and the resources to take on large manufacturers. These companies have teams of lawyers and engineers on their side. You deserve a team in your corner.
At Ethen Ostroff Law, we believe in Justice For All. If you were hurt by a pressure cooker, we’ll listen to what happened, review your claim for free, and connect you with the right legal team for your case. Whether we represent you directly or connect you with a trusted partner firm that focuses on pressure cooker cases, we’ll make sure you get the help you need.
You can reach us from anywhere in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or across the country. There’s no cost to talk with us, and no obligation.
Pressure Cooker Lawsuit FAQs
What are the most common pressure cooker explosion injuries?
The most common injuries are second- and third-degree burns to the face, neck, chest, arms, and hands. Hot food and steam are forced out under pressure, so they usually strike the upper body. Some people also suffer eye injuries, permanent scarring, and emotional trauma that lasts long after the burns heal.
Can I file a lawsuit if I was injured in a pressure cooker explosion?
Yes, you may be able to file a lawsuit if your pressure cooker malfunctioned during normal use and injured you. Claims usually argue the cooker had a design or manufacturing defect, or lacked proper warnings. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you generally have two years from your injury to file.
How do I find a pressure cooker accident lawyer?
Look for a lawyer with product liability experience who offers a free case review. Ask whether they’ve handled defective product cases and work with safety experts. Ethen Ostroff Law can review your claim for free and connect you with the right legal team for your pressure cooker case.
Which brands of pressure cookers have been recalled?
Major pressure cooker recalls include about 1.8 million Ninja Foodi OP300 Series cookers (2025), about 930,000 Insignia and 860,000 Sensio Bella, Crux, and Cooks cookers (2023), and about 914,000 Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cookers (2020). In 2026, the CPSC also warned consumers to stop using the Gourmia GPC625. You can check your model number at CPSC.gov.
What can lead to a pressure cooker explosion lawsuit?
Most pressure cooker explosion lawsuits start when the lid opens while the pot is still pressurized. Common causes include faulty lid locks, failed pressure release valves, worn gaskets, and misleading pressure indicators. If a defect like this caused your injury, you may have grounds for a claim.
What should I do if my pressure cooker explodes?
Get medical care first, then keep the cooker exactly as it is. Don’t clean, repair, or return it to the manufacturer. Take photos of your injuries and the cooker, save the box and receipt, and talk with a lawyer before you speak to the company.
Hurt by a Pressure Cooker? Let’s Talk
You trusted a kitchen appliance to keep you safe, and it didn’t. You deserve answers, and you don’t have to find them alone. Call Ethen Ostroff Law at 610-510-8883 or fill out the form at EOL.law for a free case review. We’ll listen, explain your options, and help you take the next step.
Justice For All — that’s our promise at EOL.law.
