Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Lawsuit Claims Safety Features Failed to Prevent Explosion

According to allegations raised in a recently filed product liability lawsuit, the Instant Pot pressure cooker contains dangerous design defects, which failed to stop the lid from coming off while the hot contents remain under pressure, causing the pressure cooker to explode and seriously burn a man from Kentucky.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Darryl Doss in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on February 20, pursuing damages from the manufacturer, Midea America Co., indicating that the company placed profits ahead of consumer safety by knowingly utilizing defective safety technology to cut costs.

Pressure Cooker Explosion Risks

Doss’s claim joins a number of similar pressure cooker lawsuits filed in recent months against the makers of the Instant Pot, as well as other popular devices, including Crock Pot, Ninja Foodie and others. Each raise similar allegations that the modern electronic devices are prone to explode when the lid is removed, even after it appears all steam has been released from the pot.

Modern electronic pressure cookers like the Instant Pot pressure cooker have become popular in recent decades, amid marketing that has promoted advanced features that were supposed to prevent pressure cooker explosions that have plagued older, stove-top designs.

However, Doss and other plaintiffs allege that devastating pressure cooker explosions could have been avoided if the advertised safety features had not failed.

According to Doss’s claim, he suffered serious and substantial burn injuries on March 7, 2023, while using an Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker. The scalding hot contents exploded onto him after Doss opened the lid, thinking the pressure had been released.

Doss indicates the explosion occurred because the pressure cooker was designed in a way that he was able to rotate and remove the lid while the contents were still under pressure. However, the manufacturer advertised the device as having safety mechanisms, such as “pressure control features” which were supposed to prevent such incidents.

The lawsuit also notes that Midea knew the safety features were defective and could have redesigned the Instant Pot pressure cooker to use both safer and economical alternative designs.

“Defendant knew or should have known of these defects, but has nevertheless put profit ahead of safety by continuing to sell its pressure cookers to consumers, failing to warn said consumers of the serious risks posed by the defects, and failing to recall the dangerously defective pressure cookers regardless of the risk of significant injuries to Plaintiff and consumers like him,” Doss’s lawsuit states. “Defendant ignored and/or concealed its knowledge of these defects in its pressure cookers from the Plaintiff in this case, as well as the public in general, in order to continue generating a profit from the sale of said pressure cookers, demonstrating a callous, reckless, willful, depraved indifference to the health, safety and welfare of Plaintiff and consumers like him.”

Doss’s complaint indicates Midea America violated New Jersey’s Product Liability Act, indicating that the Instant Pot pressure cooker was “defective and unreasonably dangerous” for use by consumers.

Pressure Cooker Recalls

As more of these electric pressure cookers have been introduced in recent years, the CPSC  has issued several similar pressure cooker recalls over problems where lids were able to be opened while contents are under pressure, allowing hot contents to be expelled and causing a scald or burn injury to individuals in the immediate area.

Last year, a Best Buy Insignia pressure cooker recall was announced for nearly 1 million devices, and a Sensio pressure cooker recall pulled about 900,000 devices off store shelves. Both were linked to pressure cooker explosions linked to failures of the lid safety designs.

Given design problems linked to sold by various manufacturers, including Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot, Crock Pot and others, financial compensation may be available to those who have suffered injuries due to pressure cooker explosions. Pressure cooker injury lawyers provide free consultations to help determine whether individuals nationwide are eligible to pursue a lawsuit.