Best Buy Insignia Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Alleges Defective Lid Caused Severe Burn Injuries

Recall of about 930,000 Insignia pressure cookers in 2023 followed dozens of reports of contents being expelled under pressure.

A California woman has filed a product liability lawsuit claiming an Insignia pressure cooker malfunctioned and released scalding food onto her even though the appliance appeared to have finished depressurizing.

Denise Fuller-Hines brought the complaint (PDF) against Best Buy Co. Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota on September 24.

According to the lawsuit, the pressure cooker was able to remain dangerously pressurized while giving users the impression it was safe to open. Fuller-Hines alleges the defect allowed the lid to be opened before the internal pressure had fully dissipated, causing hot contents to erupt from the cooker and strike her body.

Pressure Cooker Injury Risks

Best Buy’s Insignia pressure cookers are designed with safety features intended to keep the lid locked while pressure remains inside the appliance.

However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about 930,000 Insignia pressure cookers in October 2023 after determining that incorrect volume markings on the inner pots could lead users to overfill the devices. That could cause hot food and liquid to be expelled during pressure release or if the cooker was opened before it had fully depressurized.

At the time of the recall, Best Buy had received 31 reports of contents being ejected under pressure, including 17 reports of burn injuries.

Similar allegations have been raised in a number of pressure cooker lawsuits, with plaintiffs claiming defects in lid-locking and pressure-release systems may allow the appliances to open while dangerous pressure remains inside.

When that happens, lawsuits indicate scalding food, liquid and steam may suddenly erupt from the cooker, potentially causing severe burns that require hospitalization, skin grafts and other extensive medical treatment.

Insignia Pressure Cooker Burn Allegations

According to the complaint, Fuller-Hines was using an Insignia 6 Qt Multi-Function Pressure Cooker, model NS-MC60SS9, to prepare food on December 14, 2024, when she was allegedly able to rotate and open the lid while pressure remained inside. Scalding contents were forcefully ejected onto her body, resulting in severe burns.

Fuller-Hines maintains she was using the cooker normally and as directed at the time.

Best Buy allegedly represented that the cooker’s safety features would prevent the lid from being removed while pressurized. However, the lawsuit claims the device could retain dangerous pressure even after appearing to have fully depressurized, leaving consumers unable to detect the alleged hazard, as evidenced by the 2023 Insignia pressure cooker recall.

As a result, Best Buy knew or should have known of the defects, but put profit over safety and continued to sell the pressure cookers to consumers. Fuller-Hines also claims safer, economically feasible designs could have prevented the lid from opening under pressure and alleges Best Buy failed to adequately test and inspect the pressure cooker.

“Further, Defendant’s representations about ‘safety’ are not just misleading, they are flatly wrong and put innocent consumers like Plaintiff directly in harm’s way.”

— Denise Fuller-Hines v. Best Buy Co. Inc.

The lawsuit raises allegations of defective design, defective manufacture, failure to warn and negligence. It seeks compensation for significant bodily injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain, mental anguish and diminished enjoyment of life.

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