Dozens of lawsuits have been filed by consumers who were severely burned when a defective pressure cooker exploded hot food, boiling liquid, and scalding steam.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting pressure cooker induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or burned by an exploding pressure cooker — even if the pressure cooker has not been recalled yet — 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.
UPDATE: Best Buy Recalls 930,000 Insignia Pressure Cookers
In October 2023, Best Buy recalled 930,000 Insignia Pressure Cookers after at least 17 people were burned by explosions of burning-hot food, liquid or steam.
The problem is that the inner pot has incorrect volume markings, which can cause users to over-fill the pot.
According to Best Buy, hot food and liquid may be expelled when the pressure cooker is vented using the quick-release method, or the lid is opened when the unit is still pressurized.
Sensio Recalls 860,000 Pressure Cookers After 61 Burn Injuries Reported
In August 2023, Sensio recalled about 860,000 pressure cookers after at least 61 people were burned by an explosion of hot food when they opened the lid.
Some people reported severe burns, including 2nd-degree and 3rd-degree degree burns to the face, torso, arms, and hands. According to the recall notice:
“The pressure cooker’s lid can unlock and be removed during use, causing the hot contents to unexpectedly splash out, posing a burn hazard.
The recall involves certain Bella®, Bella Pro Series®, Crux® and Cooks® Electric and Stovetop Pressure Cookers, which were sold nationwide from September 2015 through September 2020 at stores like JCPenney, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Target, Amazon.com, and more.
Nearly 1 Million Crock-Pot Pressure Cookers Recalled After 99 Burn Injuries Reported
On November 24, 2020, Sunbeam Products recalled about 940,000 Crock-Pot Express Pressure Cookers after 99 burn injuries were reported, ranging from 1st- to 3rd-degree burns. There were 119 reports of the lid detaching during use, according to the recall notice:
“The recalled Crock-Pot multi-cooker can pressurize when the lid is not fully locked. This can cause the lid to suddenly detach while the product is in use, posing burn risks to consumers from hot food and liquids ejected from the product.”
The recall involves Crock-Pot® 6-Quart Express Crock Multi-Cookers (Model Number SCCPPC600-V1). They were sold from July 2017 through November 2020 at Walmart, Target, other stores nationwide, online at Amazon, and other online stores, for $70 to $100.
$27 Million Awarded in Pressure Cooker Lawsuit
A $27 million settlement was awarded to the family of a 2-year-old girl who had several limbs amputated after she was severely burned by a Vasconia® pressure cooker that exploded.
Pressure Cooker Lawsuits
A growing number of lawsuits and injuries have been linked to the following pressure cookers:
- Bella Pressure Cooker (made by Sensio)
- Bella Cucina “Zip Cooker”
- Breville Fast-Slow Pressure Cooker
- Chef’s Mark Pressure Cooker
- Cooks by JC Penney Pressure Cooker
- Cosori Pressure Cooker
- Crock Pot Pressure Cooker
- Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker
- Fagor EZ Lock Pressure Cooker
- Farberware Pressure Cookers
- Gourmia Pressure Cooker
- Insignia Pressure Cooker from Best Buy
- Instant-Pot
- Maxi-Matic Pressure Cooker
- Mealthy MultiPot Pressure Cooker
- Mirro Pressure Cooker
- Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Ninja Foodi TenderCrisp Air Fryer & Pressure Cooker
- Nutri-Pot Pressure Cooker
- NuWave Pressure Cooker
- Oster Pressure Cooker
- Philippe Richard Pressure Cooker
- Presto Pressure Cookers
- QVC Cook’s Essentials Pressure Cooker
- Sensio Pressure Cookers
- SilverOnyx Pressure Cooker
- Sunbeam Crockpot
- Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL
- Tristar Power Quick Pot Multi-Cooker
- Walmart Pressure Cookers
- Zavor Pressure Cookers
- And more
What is a Pressure Cooker?
Pressure cookers are popular kitchen appliances because they cook food faster and more efficiently than a traditional stovetop pot. As heat in the pot increases, liquids boil and produce steam.
The locked-on lid traps the steam inside the pot. Pressure increases and temperatures in the pot increase to 250ºF, which is hotter than the boiling-point of water. When the food is done cooking, valves release the pressure so that the lid can be safely opened.
Today, some of the most popular pressure cookers are electric products that plug into the wall and use a heating element to cook the food. There are also stove-top pressure cookers that must be placed on a hot stove to cook food inside the pot.
Pressure Cooker Explosions
Pressure cookers explosions are extremely dangerous because they typically involve large amounts of steam and sticky food. Scalds can cover vast areas of skin in extremely painful burns. Food can stick to clothing and cause deep 3rd-degree burns that require skin grafting.
In some cases, pressure cooker explosions can eject pieces of metal or plastic shrapnel, or defective parts such as valves or the lid itself. Anyone standing nearby can suffer major cuts, bleeding, or blindness.
Types of Pressure Cooker Injuries
- Burns
- Scalds
- Scarring
- Lacerations
- Bleeding
- Blindness
- Infection
- Amputation
- Death
Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL Class Action Lawsuits
In June 2018, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich led an 18-state bipartisan objection to an unfair class action lawsuit settlement for the Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL.
The class action claims that the Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL is defective because it can explode and cause injuries — but under the settlement, 3 million consumers would lose their ability to file injury lawsuits against Tristar, and class action lawyers get $2.5 million cash.
The lawsuit claims that certain models of Tristar pressure cookers are defective because they can:
- Suddenly release steam when the lid is open
- The lid can be opened when the pot is pressurized
- The pressure release valve may not accurately indicate pressure-levels
- A faulty gasket can allow the lid to open when the pot is pressurized
- The unit may not seal properly
- The pressure cooker can develop pressure when the lid is not completely closed
Pressure Cooker Lawsuits
In recent years, dozens of lawsuits have been filed by people who were injured when their pressure cooker exploded. Many of these lawsuits involve products that were advertised as having “safety features” — such as a lock-on lid that won’t open until all of the pressure is safely released — that failed to prevent an explosion.
Here are a few examples of Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL lawsuits:
- In September 2020, a man from Virignia filed a Power Pressure Cooker XL lawsuit after he was burned by an explosion of hot food when he opened the lid.
- In September 2020, a woman from Colorado filed a pressure cooker lawsuit against Tristar Products when she was burned by a Pressure Cooker XL that exploded when she opened the lid.
- In September 2017, a group of 6 people filed a pressure cooker lawsuit when they are burned by a exploding Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL.
- In June 2015, a federal lawsuit (PDF) was filed in Florida against Tristar by a woman and her husband who suffered 2nd-degree burns when the cooker exploded hot soup (Case No. 1:15-cv-22364).
- Another Power Pressure Cooker XL Lawsuit (PDF) was filed by a woman from Texas who was permanently scarred when it exploded hot pinto beans (Case No. 1:15-cv-00108).
- In October 2014, a lawsuit (PDF) was filed by Lili K. and her husband, who were both burned when a Tristar Power Pressure Cooker XL exploded hot soup.
List of Pressure Cooker Recalls
- ALDI Pressure Cookers
- Alcan Pressure Cookers (Rochedo®)
- Breville Fast Slow Cookers
- Cook’s Essentials Electronic Pressure Cooker (QVC)
- Crock-Pot Express Pressure Cooker
- Crofton Chef’s Collection Stainless Steel Pressure Cookers
- Double Insight Multi-Cookers (Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicooker) – Walmart
- Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers (HSN)
- Manttra Pressure Cookers
- H&H Asia Limited — Crofton Chef’s Collection 6L Pressure Cooker
- HSN Bella Cucina Zip Cookers
- HSN Ultrex Pressure Cookers
- Instant Pot
- Power Pressure Cooker XL
- Prestige Smartplus Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker
- QVC Pressure Cooker
- Rena Ware Nutrex Pressure Cookers
- Tower Pressure Cookers
- 3-Squares Tim3 Machin3 Cookers
Do I have a Pressure Cooker Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting pressure cooker induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or burned by an exploding pressure cooker — even if the pressure cooker has not been recalled yet — 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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