Nationally, about 16 percent of households use their Instant Pot at least once a week. While the Instant Pot is technically a multicooker device, it’s most popular for its pressure cooking feature. Over 96 percent of Instant Pot owners claim to use the pressure cooking function regularly, with its saute and slow cooking methods also enjoying frequent use.
However, the Instant Pot is known to malfunction or suffer from defects that have caused consumers to suffer serious, sometimes fatal, burn injuries. If you’ve suffered Instant Pot burn injuries, it’s important to explore your legal options. As an injured consumer, you may have the right to sue Instant, the pressure cooker’s manufacturer, for compensation related to your medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The experienced burn injury attorneys at Singleton Schreiber are award-winning civil trial attorneys known for fierce defense of consumer rights. Backed by decades of experience handling complex product liability disputes, we’ve forced manufacturers, retailers, and insurance companies to pay our clients billions of dollars in jury verdicts and privately negotiated settlements.
Don’t settle for less than you deserve if you’ve suffered burn injuries while using an Instant Pot pressure cooker. Contact our law office to set a time for a free consultation and put our top-rated legal team in your corner.
How Can Instant Pot Pressure Cookers Cause Burn Injuries?
The Instant Pot’s pressure cooking feature works by trapping steam - or water vapor - inside of the device’s cooking chamber as it heats. As the pressure builds, the boiling point at which the liquids inside rises, too. When fully pressurized, the boiling point can reach 250 degrees, and the pressure inside the Instant Pot can equal 15 PSI, depending on the model.
When exposed to pressure and high temperatures, food can cook up to 70 percent faster than traditional cooking methods.
However, this process has to unfold seamlessly to be safe for at-home cooks. Instant Pots contain a number of design and safety features to minimize the risk of harm to users - including a steam release valve, silicone seals around the lid, and a locking handle. If there’s ever a problem with one of these components, there’s a chance that the water vapor inside the Instant Pot can escape and cause serious burns. Alternatively, the Instant Pot may explode if the heating elements or sensors fail.
Some of the most likely causes of Instant Pot burn injuries stem from:
- Faulty seals: A silicone ring attaches to the underside of the Instant Pot’s lid, which prevents steam and water vapor from escaping while the device heats up and is under pressure. If the seal cracks, becomes broken, or doesn’t fit properly, users can suffer catastrophic burn injuries to their hands, neck, or face.
- Defective vents: The Instant Pot is fitted with a spring-action vent, which when turned to “sealed,” keeps the chamber pressurized. When the pressure cooking cycle is complete, the vent will allow the steam to escape in a slow, controlled nature or, alternatively, can be turned to allow for a “quick release” of the steam. If the vent fails, it can allow a stream of steady, hot 250 degree water vapor to escape and potentially cause serious burns if they make contact with a person’s skin.
- Faulty lid locks: The Instant Pot lid locks when the contents are under pressure to prevent the operator from opening the device. If the lid was able to be opened during pressurization or before the pot has depressurized, it could cause the food inside to explode outward.
Alternatively, Instant Pot burn injuries can result from electrocution due to problems inherent in the device’s wiring system. In fact, the Instant Pot has been recalled in the past for issues related to its thermal probe and risk for electrocution.
What Are the Most Common Types of Instant Pot Burns?
Like other types of pressurized cookers, the Instant Pot is most likely to cause scalding burns. A scalding burn occurs when the skin comes into contact with hot liquids or water vapor.
Research shows that 40 percent of individuals who are burned by Instant Pots and other pressure cookers suffer scalding burn injuries to the face.
Other parts of the body that often suffer scalding burns when a pressure cooker malfunctions include the left upper arm, right forearm, upper torso, and neck.
Scald burn injuries can be relatively minor or pose a serious threat to a victim’s well-being, Ultimately, it will depend on the temperature of the liquid you come into contact with, the part(s) of the body affected, and the length of time you were exposed to the scalding element.
It’s common for Instant Pot burn injury victims to suffer:
- First degree burns, which are characterized by redness and swelling at the site of the burn. These are often called superficial burns because they do not penetrate beyond the outer layer of the skin and cause minimal or no long-term damage.
- Second degree burns, which are characterized by painful blisters, swelling, and a wet appearance. Known as partial thickness burns, these scald burns destroy the outer layer of the skin and move into the dermis. Treatment for second degree scald burns can range from ointments and bandaging to the need for more intensive surgical repairs and antibiotics.
- Third degree burns tend to be the most serious type of scalding burn and involve destruction of the skin and damage to subcutaneous tissues, including muscle, tendons, and nerve endings. Full thickness scalding burns can appear charred or white in appearance and, due to nerve damage, present with a noticeable lack of pain. Treatment often requires extensive monitoring, debridement of damaged tissue, and, in some cases, surgery or skin grafts.
Depending on the extent of your Instant Pot burn injuries, it can be costly. Medical treatment, alone, can cost tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars. If you’re unable to work because your Instant Pot was defective, the loss of income you experience can be devastating. Fortunately, as an injured consumer, you may have the right to bring a product liability lawsuit against Instant to force them to take accountability for your damages.
Singleton Schreiber Fights For Instant Pot Burn Injury Victims
You’ll have a limited time to seek compensation for your Instant Pot burn injuries. Call Singleton Schreiber to get a jump start on your case.
We’re local lawyers with national resources who fight tirelessly for clients across the United States, with law offices conveniently located in California, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, and Utah.
We offer a free consultation. Contact us to discuss the details of your Instant Pot burn injury case today.
