If you or a loved one sustains injuries during regular use of a pressure cooker, you might ask yourself, “Are pressure cookers dangerous?” Pressure cookers can be dangerous if defective, causing serious accidents and injuries to consumers and their families.
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Ankin Law can help you pursue compensation for your pressure cooker injuries. Call 312-600-0000 for a free case evaluation.
Common Defects That Make Pressure Cookers Dangerous
Pressure cookers can provide a versatile and efficient cooking experience. Modern units come with features to enhance their user-friendliness and safety. Unfortunately, despite the improvements, operating these units can have disastrous consequences if they come with defects. According to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data, 1,667 cases of pressure cooker injuries were treated in emergency departments annually in the United States between January 2003 and December 2019. Common defects that make pressure cookers dangerous include:
- Poor venting: Inadequate venting or a defective pressure release valve can allow pressure to build up to explosive levels.
- Faulty gasket: A gasket serves as a sealing ring around the lip of the pot. A faulty gasket compromises the pressure cooker’s ability to contain steam and pressure.
- Lid lock defect: A defective lid-lock system allows you to open the lid while the cooker is still under high pressure.
- Faulty lid seal: An insufficient lid seal can allow for spillage and expulsion of hot cooker contents.
- Failed automatic sensors and controls: Many modern pressure cookers come with automatic sensors and regulators to prevent pressure from getting too high and shut off power once the pre-programmed temperature is reached. When these features fail, a pressure cooker can overheat and release steam prematurely or explode.
- Poor quality materials: A pressure cooker must withstand high temperatures and pressures. A defective pressure cooker made with substandard material may crack, deform, break, and even explode during normal operation.
Injury Risks Linked to Popular Pressure Cooker Brands
Major household appliance manufacturers make and distribute popular cooking appliances, refrigerators, and other household appliances. The market size for major household appliance manufacturing in Chicago and the rest of Illinois is $1.4 billion. Nevertheless, defects are found even in the most trusted kitchen brands. Several popular brands have sold unreasonably dangerous pressure cookers, leading to lawsuits and recalls. So, what is an unreasonably dangerous product? This refers to a product with a manufacturing, design, or marketing defect that can injure or kill users.
Injury risks that have led to recalls or legal cases against popular pressure cooker brands include:
Burn Injuries
Burns are the most common injury linked to defective pressure cookers. Depending on a person’s proximity to the unit and the food temperature during a pressure cooker accident, burns can range in severity from first-degree to third-degree burns. People who suffer burns may also experience emotional issues, such as flashbacks and depression.
Numerous recalls have been ordered due to pressure cooker defects that pose burn injury risks. On May 1, 2025, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of SharkNinja pressure cookers, following 106 reports of burn injuries related to the Ninja Foodi pressure cooker and at least 26 lawsuits filed against the company. A defect allowed the lid to open while the device was pressurized. Other brands that have faced recalls or lawsuits due to some of their devices having defects that have resulted in burn injuries include Tristar, Breville, Cuisinart, NuWave, Wolfgang Puck, and Tabletops Unlimited.
Electric Shock
Faulty wiring and contact with electrical circuits on defective pressure cookers can cause an electrical shock. For example, in 2015, Double Insight recalled about 1,000 Instant Pot units manufactured between December 2014 and June 2015 due to the risk of electric shocks. The thermal probe could conduct electricity to the exterior of the cooker, posing an electrical injury risk.
Eye Injuries
Victims also name eye injuries in their pressure cooker lawsuits against popular brands. High-pressure steam and debris propelled into the face can cause eye injuries. These injuries can range from temporary irritations and corneal abrasions to damage to the eye’s internal structures. The injuries leave some victims with temporary vision loss or partial or total blindness.
In March 2022, a pressure cooker exploded in the face of former boxing world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. As a result, he lost 80% of his vision. Rigondeaux sued the manufacturer of the appliance as well as the CVS pharmacy that sold it to him. That could leave you questioning, “Can a retailer be held liable for defective products?” Any party in the distribution chain of defective kitchen appliances until it reaches a consumer could be held liable for injuries caused by the products.
Cuts, Scrapes, and Lacerations
Victims commonly report cuts, scrapes, bleeding, and lacerations among the pressure cooker explosion injuries suffered in lawsuits. During explosions, pressure cooker lids and other components can act as shrapnel, striking users and others nearby, resulting in gashes, lacerations, and puncture wounds. For example, in one case, a 79-year-old woman’s leg was cut badly below her knee after a pressure cooker blew up, and she would’ve bled to death if it weren’t for her son’s quick thinking and use of a belt as a tourniquet.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Defective pressure cooker accidents are known to cause traumatic scarring and disfiguring injuries. Expulsion of hot cooker content and flying debris can result in permanent scarring and disfigurement. The impact of scarring and disfigurement on a victim’s life can be significant in the long term, affecting self-esteem, relationships, mental health, and overall quality of life. In one case that ended with a $9.1 million verdict, a woman suffered permanent scarring and disfigurement to her face, shoulders, chest, and abdomen after her Sunbeam Crock-Pot pressure cooker exploded.
When to Speak with a Chicago Pressure Cooker Injury Lawyer
Consult a pressure cooker injury attorney if a dangerous or defective unit harmed you. You may be legally entitled to receive compensation from the liable parties. Building a pressure cooker injury claim can be challenging. You’ll need to consider and address many issues: Which companies should be held liable? How can I prove a product defect existed and caused my injuries? How much compensation should I seek? An attorney will help you deal with these and other issues.
A lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case to determine whether you have a valid claim and the best course of action. You could file an individual claim or mass tort lawsuit if a specific pressure cooker brand injured you and many other people. A mass torts lawyer will help you choose the best legal option based on your case. Your lawyer will help you find the right expert witnesses and evidence to support your case and file the necessary documents within Illinois’ deadlines.
When you’re injured by a pressure cooker, the manufacturer’s insurer could reach out to you and offer a quick settlement. You should consult a lawyer before accepting the settlement offer. Insurance companies often trick injury victims into accepting quick settlement offers before they’ve calculated the full extent of the damages resulting from their accidents. A lawyer will protect you from their underhanded tactics and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
Ankin Law pressure cooker injury attorneys are available to help you stand up to corporate giants and their insurers and hold them accountable in Illinois. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay anything upfront. Contact us today for a free consultation about your case.
