A Texas woman sued Instant Brands and Corelle Brands, LLC after her Instant Pot Duo Nova’s lid opened when it was still pressurized, resulting in burn injuries when hot food and steam were ejected onto her body.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker injury cases in all 50 states. If you were burned by a pressure cooker, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Quick Facts About This Lawsuit
- Defendants: Instant Brands LLC, Instant Brands, Inc. and Corelle Brands, LLC
- Product: Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker (Duo Nova 60)
- Lawsuit filed: July 23, 2026
- Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, Case No. 1:26-cv-02058
- Alleged defect: The lid can reportedly be rotated and removed by hand while the cooker remains pressurized
- Injury alleged: Severe burns from scalding contents forcefully ejected from the cooker
- Claims: Strict liability, negligence, breach of express and implied warranty, and punitive damages
What Happened in the Instant Pot Duo Nova Lawsuit?
The Instant Pot Duo Nova Lawsuit was filed by a woman from Austin, Texas who was using her Instant Pot Duo Nova 60 pressure cooker on July 18, 2021. According to the complaint, she was able to turn and open the lid when the unit was under pressure. As the pressure was suddenly released, the hot contents of the pot were forcefully expelled onto her body.
The lawsuit alleges the incident happened during normal use of the pressure cooker. The case also claims that the pressure cooker’s “safety mechanisms” failed to lock the lid when the unit was pressurized.
What Is the Problem?
The complaint claims that the Instant Pot Duo Nova’s lid can be rotated and opened with normal force when it is pressurized, despite Instant Brands’ advertising claims that the lid “locks into place once the cooker has pressurized” and cannot be opened until pressure is released. This is the design defect at the heart of this lawsuit.
The manufacturer is also accused of failing to use safer, economically-feasible alternative designs that could have prevented the lid from opening. The lawsuit claims that Instant Brands knew about the risk and failed to re-design the product.
What Do Instant Brands’ Safety Claims Say?
Instant Brands has marketed the Duo Nova as having “10 safety features,” with promotional advertisement videos claiming that it is “not going to explode.” The lawsuit also includes other marketing statements, claiming that once the lid is locked and pressurized, “there’s no way to open the pressure cooker.” The lawsuit argues that these representations were false and misleading.
Why Was This Lawsuit Refiled in 2026?
The lawsuit was originally filed in March 2024 to preserve the plaintiff’s statute of limitations. However, Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2023, and the case was stayed and dismissed without prejudice in April 2025.
The bankruptcy court overseeing Instant Brands’ reorganization signed an order lifting the litigation stay on product liability claims effective July 9, 2026. The plaintiff refiled her lawsuit on July 23, 2026, citing that order.
Have Other Instant Pot Lawsuits Been Filed?
Yes. This is not the only lawsuit alleging that Instant Pot pressure cookers can open while still pressurized. Similar complaints have been filed in federal courts in Indiana and other states involving people who were burned while using the Duo Nova, Nova Plus, and other models. The plaintiffs in this litigation generally argue that the pressure cookers are flawed, defective, and unreasonably dangerous because the lids can open before all of the pressure has been released.
What Should I Do If I Was Burned By My Instant Pot?
If your Instant Pot’s lid opened when it was pressurized and you suffered burns or other injuries, you may want to speak with a product liability attorney about your legal options. Document your injuries, keep the pressure cooker if possible, and avoid discarding any packaging, receipts, or the user manual.
Do I Have an Instant Pot Duo Nova Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker injury cases in all 50 states. If you were burned by a pressure cooker, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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