Here are the top reasons for your Instant Pot not sealing. This guide helps you troubleshoot a common problem most Instant Pot users encounter i.e. the Instant Pot not pressurizing. Learn how to prevent the issue and seal your Instant Pot correctly the first time.
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Instant Pot Terminology
Here are some of the parts that I refer to throughout this article:
- Float Valve: a metal pin that pops up once the Instant Pot has pressurized.
- Steam Release Handle (select models): Steam is released through the vents in the steam release handle. To seal the Instant Pot, turn this pressure knob to the Sealing position and to release pressure, move it to the Venting position. The steam release handle is sometimes referred to as the Instant Pot venting knob or pressure valve.
- Steam Release Valve (select models): Steam is released through the vents in the steam release valve. It’s also referred to as the Instant Pot pressure valve or venting knob. Please note that in this guide, I use the terms steam release handle and steam release valve interchangeably.
- Steam Release Button (select models): this button is used to seal the Instant Pot and to release pressure. Make sure it’s in the Up or Sealing position by clicking it counterclockwise to spring it into the Sealing position. To release pressure, push down on the button until it clicks into place in the Down or Venting position.
- Sealing Ring: a silicone ring that creates a seal between the base unit of the Instant Pot and the lid, allowing pressure to build up and the Instant Pot to be pressurized.
- Float Valve: a metal pin covered with a silicone ring on the inside of the lid which keeps it in place. It can be removed and cleaned.
- Anti-block Shield: metal cover that prevents food particles from entering the steam release pipe and blocking it. The anti-block shield covers the exhaust valve and it can be removed and cleaned.
Introduction
One of the most common problems Instant Pot users encounter is that their Instant Pot won’t pressurize (or seal). This happens to me and I’m pretty sure it happens to most Instant Pot and pressure cooker users.
So what I’m trying to say is that you’re not alone! New Instant Pot users, in particular, have a hard time troubleshooting what’s wrong when their Instant Pot is not pressurizing. (By the way, although some people call it an Instapot, the correct name is Instant Pot.)
Should steam come out of the Instant Pot when pressurizing? Yes, there will be steam escaping from the steam release valve and float valve.
When you program the Instant Pot to pressure cook, initially the display says On. After a few minutes (anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the quantity and temperature of the food), you’ll see and hear steam coming out of the pressure release (steam release) handle and/or float valve. Perfectly normal.
After some hissing and steaming and hesitation, the float valve usually rises all the way to the Up position and the Instant Pot is sealed. After a few minutes, the display should start counting down the number of minutes you programmed the Instant Pot to pressure cook.
Should steam come out of the Instant Pot once it’s sealed? In general, no, there should not be any steam coming out once the float valve is in the sealing position (Up position).
However, I have on occasion, seen very slight steaming when it’s sealed and this is not a cause for concern. This usually happens when I’m cooking something with a lot of liquid, such as soup.
If you’ve waited for longer than usual and the float valve is not rising, there’s a possibility that your Instant Pot is not going to pressurize. And if the countdown timer begins and the Instant Pot float valve is not rising, it’s definitely not going to seal.
I’ve put together a list of possible reasons why your Instant Pot is not pressurizing. You’ll most likely be able to pinpoint your issue in one of the following cases. Also make sure you check out my article on the Burn or Food Burn Message.
Pro Tip
There are various reasons for sealing problems, ranging from the Instant Pot sealing ring not being in place to the pressure release handle being in the Venting position.
Once you diagnose the reason for your Instant Pot not coming to pressure, and before you continue with pressure cooking, make sure you have enough liquid in the Instant Pot.
Oftentimes, the liquid has evaporated over a period of time while the steam was leaking. If you restart the pressure cooking process without adding back the lost liquid, you’re likely to have more sealing issues.
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, here are my guides on how to use some popular Instant Pot models:
- Instant Pot DUO Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO EVO PLUS Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO NOVA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO GOURMET Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO CRISP vs DUO CRISP
1. Pressure Release (Steam Release) Handle is in the Venting Position
This is one of the most common Instant Pot problems encountered by new owners.
- The steam release handle (available on some models) can be moved from Instant Potg Sealing position to Venting position.
- In addition to the handle on some models (e.g. Instant Pot Duo), there are other steam release mechanisms used on the various models of the Instant Pot. The steam release button (e.g. Instant Pot Ultra) is pushed down for Venting position and turned counter-clockwise for Sealing position. The steam release switch (e.g. Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus) slides from Sealing to Venting.
The pressure release needs to be in the Sealing position when cooking on any mode other than Slow Cook or Yogurt or Sous Vide.
SOLUTION: Open the Instant Pot and make sure there’s enough liquid. If too much liquid has evaporated, the Instant Pot won’t pressurize, so add more liquid if necessary. Close the Instant Pot and resume pressure cooking.
If you have trouble closing the lid, move the steam release handle to the VENTING position. Since the contents are warm, this will allow you to close the pot properly. Once it’s closed, move the steam release handle to the SEALING position.
[Read More: The different pressure release methods.]
2. Sealing Ring (Sealing Gasket) is not Properly Seated
If the ring cannot be rotated around the sealing ring rack, it’s not properly seated. You should be able to turn it in place, with a bit of effort. If the sealing ring hasn’t been installed correctly, you may find that steam is leaking out of the sides of the lid.
SOLUTION: Open the Instant Pot and push down the sealing ring all around the ring rack to make sure it’s properly seated. Try and turn it in the ring rack. It should move/rotate around the ring rack, albeit with some effort.
3. Sealing Ring is Missing/Misplaced
It’s possible that the sealing ring has been removed for cleaning and wasn’t placed back in the Instant Pot lid’s ring rack. If your sealing ring is missing, you will see the Instant Pot leaking steam from the sides of the lid.
SOLUTION: Replace the Instant Pot sealing ring.
4. Not Enough Liquid in Instant Pot
According to the Instant Pot manual, the Instant Pot requires at least 1 cup of liquid. I’ve used as little as ½ cup and done fine with many recipes. Some liquids like canned tomato sauce are too dense and require thinning out with broth or water.
SOLUTION: Add more water or broth. If the final result is a dish that’s too thin/liquidy, you can use the Saute function and let the liquid reduce and thicken, or you can use a thickener like cornstarch, flour, potato flakes, etc.
5. Food is Scorched at the Bottom of the Inner Pot
If food is scorched on the bottom of the Instant Pot, the liquid won’t make contact with the bottom of the inner pot and the Instant Pot won’t build steam. Here are a few of the reasons food gets scorched on the bottom of the Instant Pot:
- After browning or sauteing, if there are browned bits sticking to the bottom of the pot, you need to deglaze the pot. Deglazing involves adding liquid (e.g. water, broth) to the heated pot and stirring, to allow the browned bits to come free.
- The liquid is too thick. This can happen with thick sauces such as tomato sauce, mole sauce, or pasta sauce. Thick sauces should be placed at the top without stirring them in AND you can also thin them out with some water or broth.
- Starchy foods are making contact with the bottom of the inner pot. Starchy foods such as pasta, rice, etc. should be layered on top of other ingredients, without stirring them in.
- The Instant Pot is overfilled with food and there isn’t enough room for the liquid to circulate.
SOLUTION: Open the Instant Pot, remove contents to a large bowl, clean the inner pot by scraping it with a plastic or wooden scraper (You might even need to soak it with warm water and dish detergent for a bit.)
I have several of these pan scrapers that work really well. Once the inner pot is clean, resume cooking, but be sure to add more liquid.
[Read More about layering problem ingredients such as sauces, pasta, rice, etc.]
6. Sealing Ring has Expanded Too Much and Won’t Seal Properly
The sealing ring naturally expands when it’s heated. Once cool, it should return to its natural state. If you’ve just completed cooking something, the sealing ring may still be in its expanded state preventing the Instant Pot from sealing.
SOLUTION: Try placing the Instant Pot sealing ring in the freezer or run it under cold water to contract it. You can also try and turn the sealing ring over and replace it.
7. Instant Pot Sealing Ring has Debris or Food
The Instant Pot sealing ring needs to be clean in order to create a proper seal.
SOLUTION: Make sure there’s no food stuck to the sealing ring. Clean the sealing ring with soap and water.
8. Too Much Water has Evaporated Before Problem was Fixed
If the pot was not initially sealed properly and you corrected the problem, it’s possible that too much liquid evaporated and so there isn’t enough liquid to create the required steam. This can cause the Instant Pot to not pressurize.
SOLUTION: Open the Instant Pot, and check the quantity of liquid. You need ½ cup to 1 cup of liquid. Add more liquid if necessary.
9. Sealing Ring is Damaged or Torn
If your Instant Pot sealing ring is heavily used or pulled on too hard it can get worn out or tear.
SOLUTION: Purchase a new sealing ring.
10. Timer Function was Used Instead of Manual or Pressure Cook
Some older models of the Instant Pot have a Timer button. The Timer button allows you to set a delayed time to start cooking. When you press the timer button, the time that shows up is the number of hours till cooking starts. So if your Instant Pot timer is not starting, this could be the reason.
SOLUTION: Press Cancel to cancel the timer. Press Manual or Pressure Cook (or other cooking option e.g. Poultry, Meat) and wait a few seconds for the Instant Pot display to change to On. If you wish to use the timer functionality, select the cooking function (e.g. Manual, Pressure Cook, Poultry) first, then press Timer or Delay Start (on newer models).
11. The Instant Pot Lid Area is Dirty
The Instant Pot lid and the area it fits onto on the base unit need to be clean and clear of food debris.
SOLUTION: Open the Instant Pot lid and use a cloth or clean toothbrush to wipe around the rim of the Instant Pot lid and the base unit.
12. The Instant Pot Float Valve or Anti-Block Shield Has Debris
When you cook foods like pasta or other messy foods, the anti block shield and the float valve can get dirty and be obstructed.
SOLUTION: Remove the anti-block shield and float valve and clean with a clean toothbrush and soapy water. Clean the hole that the float valve goes into with a brush or pipe cleaner. Clean all parts of the lid. Dry well and replace the parts.
See my Instant Pot Beginner’s Guide to find out how to remove these.
13. Food is Frozen
Frozen food takes longer to cook and it also takes longer for the Instant Pot to pressurize.
SOLUTION: Wait a bit longer to see if the Instant Pot will seal.
14. Large Quantity of Liquid in Instant Pot
If you’re making a soup or cooking a larger quantity of food in the Instant Pot, you may have a lot of liquid. The more liquid you have, the longer it takes for the Instant Pot to seal.
You also need to make sure your ingredients are not going above the Max Fill mark (⅔ full). For foods that expand (e.g. rice, beans, and pasta) you should not go above the ½ full mark.
SOLUTION: Wait a bit longer to see if the Instant Pot will seal. If you’re above the above recommended fill lines, split the recipe up and cook it in two batches.
15. Float Valve is Up but Instant Pot Just Says On and Countdown Timer Hasn’t Begun
If the Instant Pot just says ‘On’, it’s could be because there can be a delay between the float valve rising up and the timer starting to countdown.
I’ve had this happen when I’ve used less liquid than is recommended. The Instant Pot comes to pressure and the float valve comes up, but the display just says ‘On‘ and never counts down. In my case, it was just a one-time thing.
SOLUTION: Wait a bit to let the timer begin. The float valve coming up locks the lid but the Instant Pot may need more time to pressurize in order for the timer to begin. If the ‘On‘ never changes to counting down, you’ll need to set an external timer and press Cancel when the time’s up. Try doing a water test to make sure the problem doesn’t recur. If the problem persists, you’ll need to open a support ticket.
16. Power Cord is Loose
Some Instant Pots have detachable power cords. The power cord needs to be pushed into the base unit all the way. It can come loose if you move the Instant Pot or accidentally bump it.
SOLUTION: Push the power cord all the way into the base unit. Also, make sure the power cord is securely attached to the wall outlet. Make sure the outlet is working by testing it out with another appliance or an electrical outlet tester.
17. Food is Stuck on the Rim of the Inner Pot or Liner
If you have food stuck to the rim of the Instant Pot inner pot, the seal will not be tight when you close the Instant Pot lid and steam can escape.
SOLUTION: Thoroughly clean the Instant Pot inner pot, particularly the rim, inside and out.
18. The Wrong Size Inner Pot was Used
If you have multiple Instant Pots of different sizes, you may have used the wrong stainless steel inner pot/liner. The 6-quart inner pot fits into the 8-quart Instant Pot. It’s an easy mistake and is a common problem!
SOLUTION: Make sure you use the correct inner pot.
19. The Float Valve is Missing
If you take the float valve out while cleaning the Instant Pot lid, you may forget to replace it.
SOLUTION: Put the float valve back in and replace the silicone cover.
20. The Steam Release Handle is Missing
If you take the steam release handle out while cleaning the Instant Pot lid, you may forget to replace it.
SOLUTION: Put the steam release handle back onto the lid and push down to make sure it’s properly seated on the steam release pipe.
21. The Lid Locking Pin is Stuck
The spring-loaded pin (lid locking pin) on the rim at the back of the lid could be stuck in the retracted position.
SOLUTION: Push on it from the inside and outside of the lid or gently jiggle it to get the spring mechanism to reset the pin.
22. The Exhaust Valve is Loose
In rare cases, the exhaust valve inside the anti-block shield can become loose; e.g. this can happen during shipping.
SOLUTION: Carefully tighten the valve so it’s not loose anymore. Don’t overly tighten it.
23. The Steam Release Handle is Not Properly Seated
If you take the Instant Pot steam release valve or steam release handle out while cleaning the Instant Pot lid, it may not be put back correctly. It needs to be pushed in all the way. If it isn’t securely seated, steam will leak from the steam release handle or valve.
SOLUTION: Push in the Steam Release Handle and move it from Sealing to Venting and back again a few times so it sits properly.
24. Instant Pot Display Says noPr
If the Instant Pot is showing the noPr error message, it could be that the Instant Pot couldn’t reach a high enough temperature during the pre-heating stage. This could be due to the quantity of food or liquid, the presence of frozen ingredients, or any of the reasons in this article.
SOLUTION: If you’re not making any of the above mistakes but you get the noPr error, press Cancel and try restarting the pressure cooking program again.
25. Instant Pot Leaking Steam Even Though the Float Valve is Up
There’s a metal safety clip inside some older models of the steam release handle and steam release valve. It appears to be there to prevent the Instant Pot from over-pressurizing.
Unfortunately, this metal ring can get bent over time or through shipping. This causes the steam release handle to tilt in the sealing position as if it was set to the venting, allowing steam to escape.
Newer models of the steam release handle and the steam release valve do not have this problem since they now have a silicone retaining ring and cannot get in the way of it sitting level on the steam pipe creating a good seal.
SOLUTION: Purchase a new steam release handle or remove the metal ring, straighten it with a pair of pliers, and put it back in. Here’s a Youtuber who’s posted a video on how to fix the Instant Pot not building pressure due to this issue:
I would like to thank Donald Task and the Reddit Instant Pot community for bringing this problem and solution to my attention!
I hope this Instant Pot troubleshooting guide has helped you find out the reason for your Instant Pot not sealing. Over time and with experience, you should encounter this problem less frequently.
If you continue to have issues with the Instant Pot not pressurizing, try and do a water test to see if it’s an issue with your unit. If the water test fails, you should either return the Instant Pot to the place of purchase or contact the company to file a support ticket.
If you found this article to be helpful, please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!
Karan
My boyfriend was making boiled eggs in the instant pot. After a few minutes, we started seeing steam leak out on all sides of the pot and wondered what was wrong. Apparently he had put a 6 qt insert into an 8 qt pot. This may be another reason why the IP won’t seal. 😛
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Karan – believe it or not, you’re not the first to do that and probably won’t be the last!
Jill
I came down here to the comments to add the same thing! I love having a 6 and an 8 IP, because I like to make rice in the smaller one. Apparently the small inner pot got put into the large pot accidentally, causing a night of absolute frustration when making some venison stew. I tried everything on your list and every other list I could find, and never solved the mystery until I was putting the stew in containers. If I could plead with you, might you put in a tiny edit for folks to check this if they have two pots?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hey there Jill – thanks for the suggestion. You’re right – I will add this as another reason – We’ll say 16+ reasons 🙂
Kellie
That Timer button is what was killing me! Thank you for explaining! I love this!
Paint the Kitchen Red
They changed the design on the new models and renamed it to ‘Delay Start’ 🙂
Diane
What a nice blog, thank you so much for contributing this helpful information!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Thank you, Diane, for your lovely comment!
Stephanie
Is it possible to loose a part of the float valve? It looks like something is missing. Top of the false is not solid, it looks like it has a hole in it. It will not build pressure. PLEASE HELP
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Stephanie, Some Instant Pots e.g. the Lux have a float valve that looks different – like there’s a hole. This post from Hip Pressure Cooking has images – is that what your’s looks like? In which case, you’re okay. The not building up pressure may be related to something else like those I mention in the article. I hope that helps.
Alex
Never had a problem with my Instant Pot before, so tonight I was surprised when it pressurized but wouldn’t count down. After an interminably long wait, I vented it and depressurized and checked things out. The contents were roiling and boiling. I tried the chili inside and decided it needed to cook a bit more. So I added some liquid and tried again. Same thing. So I tried a third time. Still no countdown. What’s up with that?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Alex – You probably already know this but if it had a lot of liquid in it, it can take a while (I’ve heard of 20 min!) for the countdown to begin, especially from cold start. Make sure the ring is clean and your lid too, in and out. Also all the little nooks and crannies. Turn your sealing ring over – sometimes that works. Or try and put your sealing ring in the freezer. Another thing that works for some people is, once they know it’s sealed and the float valve is up, try and gently push down on the lid – in that case it’s probably the sealing ring is just not sitting right… Let me know if you have any updates!
Dave Green
So… somehow my float valve got turned around in the hole and I didn’t notice… so it was not sealing of course. This happened when I cleaned the lid in the sink. Unplugged. Wait for vent and cool down. Turned the float valve around and started again. That worked.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Dave, wow – that’s a new one. Thank you so much for posting that because if it happened to you, it will probably happen to someone else and this will help them. Glad you figured it out, and thank you for commenting.
Trish
You mention when you first turn on the instant pot”you’ll see and hear steam coming out of the pressure release (steam release) handle and/or float valve.” Can you tell me why it does this? Why does it release steam when it is trying to pressurize?
The problem that I am having is that I set the instant pot and during the pressurizing I see exactly what you are describing above. It does not stop on its own (at least I havent let it), and I have to give the lid an extra tightening. It then stops and seals the pin drops seconds later.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Trish – The IP builds up pressure from steam in the tightly sealed pot, which cooks food at a very high temperature. So, during pressurization, it sometimes needs to let out the inside air for safety. A couple of questions:
– Have you tried a simple water test, with just 1 cup of water and do you have the same problem?
– Is it possible your sealing ring needs to be replaced? Have you tried putting it in the freezer? Or turning it over?
– Are you cooking items with a lot of liquid? In that case, it will take a long time to come to pressure. How long are you waiting before you push down on the lid?
– Have you made sure to clean it thoroughly?
Many people have the same issue as you and I’m not sure why it’s happening. Just make sure you don’t push down on the lid too early or you’ll seal it too early and your food won’t cook. You might need to open a support ticket or if you have the option, return it. Keep me posted. Here’s a link to Instant Pot’s ticket system: https://support.instantpot.com/
Shuba
Thank you so much for the article. I have Duo 6 qt for the past year and it was working great till yesterday.The float valve is stuck and I am unable to take it out to clean it even. Followed the getting started on IP site. It seems like there is something metal on either side of the valve that is preventing it from popping all the way up and even coming out for me to clean.. any help is greatly appreciated . I use my IP everyday to cook and lost without it ?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Shuba, The float valve comes out by removing the silicone cover. Have you tried to remove the silicone cover as shown in the Quick Start Guide post I have? I’m not really sure what you’re describing. You could send me a photo by emailing me at paintthekitchenred gmail.com. I’d love to help you out.
Colin Tucker
Follow up to my Duo question: the spring loaded pin at the back of the lid, on the outside, was stuck in the retracted position. Pried it loose, it snapped back into place and the IP is back in business.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Excellent – I’m really glad it worked for you and also I’m so grateful that you followed up, because your comment will most likely help someone else!
Coiln
Any advice for a Duo that leaks steam (a lot) from the front and back of the lid (not through any valve)? Only the 5th time I’ve used it, so it’s immaculate. Just trying to accomplish the IP water test per the FAQ.
JUDITH PAGE-LIEBERMAN
my comment is awaiting moderation. What does that mean? Am I to do something else here?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Judith – The comment should be visible. Can you see it now? I sent you an email at the email address you provided, to follow up regarding your problem. Let me know if you didn’t get it.
JUDITH PAGE-LIEBERMAN
Since I got my 3 qt Duo, i have have had nothing but problems. Only one meal cooked perfectly well with a small hardly visible mist escaping. Other than that, multiple attempts to cook rice and also beans have been undercooked, stuck to the bottom, and worst is the sputtering of water from the pot . My counters get drenched, I have had a problem finding a place in the kitchen where the steam does not drench the lights or cabinets above the IP. Even food comes out, with white water from rice and a real mess with oatmeal with milk. I have followed all directions multiple times. I have extended the cooking times by 5-10 minutes with no improvement. I think that so much liquid escapes that the food is cooking dry. The initial and subsequent water tests resulted in all the water evaporating and the bottom of the pot white with water residue. Nine days of waiting to hear from Instant Pot support, I tried email, online support and chat. Direct phone call was 15 minutes on hold until I hung up .
Paint the Kitchen Red
Judith, I think the company is swamped due to the holidays and the volume of purchases. I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble. Do keep me posted on your situation.
Ingrid
I just saw this on a Reddit Instapot site and it worked for me.
ps6000 • Nov 5, 2016, 8:03 PM
I think you need to wash it. Don’t be afraid of submerging it. Remove the ring, then everything else can take soap and water. I am guessing that its dirty.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Perfect, thanks for sharing. Yes, a very basic piece of advice but so helpful. I put my cover in the dishwasher – remove the sealing ring and put it in the dishwasher too.
Bonnie
Hi, I helped my daughter with her 6 qt IP, we made Mac and cheese, steam was escaping around lid, value did not pop up, no steam when did a QR. it was cooked but burned on the bottom?
We then made chicken noodle soup, same thing with steam escaping around lid, took 35 minuets to pressure, chicken was done but no steam when we did a QR.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Bonnie – if the valve doesn’t pop up, your pot isn’t sealed. So in the first case, it sounds like you didn’t have enough water or your sealing ring had issues. In the second case, you mention that it took 35 minutes to come to pressure. Depending on the quantity of liquid, the Instant Pot CAN take that long to come to pressure (esp if it’s filled with liquid, like in a soup, or if the ingredients were frozen or very cold.) Was the soup cooked properly and was the quantity of liquid intact? Did you see the countdown (i.e display changed from ‘On’ to the number of minutes you programmed it for)? If you did see the countdown, and you did a QR immediately upon cooking being completed, there would have been a lot of steam coming out since it was a soup. I would suggest you do a water test first to make sure your Instant Pot is working properly. https://www.paintthekitchenred.com/instant-pot-how-to-quick-start-guide/ Good luck and let me know if you have further questions.
Karen Wright
Just got a new instant pot and I’m very frustrated. I can’t get anything to work–the sealing ring is in place, not damaged, the support ring looks even all around and not bent, the pop-up valve moves freely and looks right, the anti-block cover is properly installed over the venting valve. I’ve washed everything thoroughly, and water flows through both valves in the lid. Yet when I seat the lid, when I push ANY button except for the “keep warm” button, I get “lid” flashing in the display and the unit beeps repeatedly. This happens on every cooking setting–even saute, when the lid isn’t even on. Can’t even slow cook. Any ideas?
Paint the Kitchen Red
The Lid warning comes on when you don’t have the lid on for normal cooking, or when you have the lid on for sauteing. Even with the error, are you able to begin pressure cooking? It sounds like you’ve done everything you can do. But before contacting the company and opening a support ticket, I would try to do a factory reset. It depends on the model but it could be holding down the Adjust button for 3 seconds or the Cancel button. Your manual will tell you how to reset, or you can let me know your model. Please keep my posted and thank you for commenting.
Karen Wright
Yes, on my unit the factory reset is holding the “cancel ” button for 3 seconds till it beeps, which I’ve done a few times with no change. I can’t do any cooking, on any setting, the “lid” warning apparently blocks all further attempts to cook. The error must be in the electrical portion of the unit and not the lid, since I get the “lid” warning when the lid isn’t even on and I press sauté. I’ve opened a factory ticket, we’ll see what happens. I brought this from the US to my home in the Caribbean, so I can’t just return it. Hoping they can help me.
Karen Wright
After I posted that last sentence made me start wondering. I brought this unit to my home unopened, in its original packaging, in checked baggage on a typical passenger airline flight. Don’t know where these are made, if they are always ground shipped, but is it possible that flying in the lower-pressure environment of the aircraft cargo hold somehow affected the lid sensor electronics?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Good point, but I’m pretty sure they’re shipped by air in the US, because Amazon delivers them in 2 days for Prime shipping. I really hope they help you out and that it’s an easy fix. Sorry for your frustrations 🙁
Brian
Karen – We have the same problem. First time out of the box, we get the lid error no matter what.. Did you figure it out?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Brian, here are some possibilities:
– Is it on Saute when you’re trying to close the lid?
– Do you have another Instant Pot and is it possible you switched lids?
– Did you try and unplug for a few minutes and let it cool down completely and try again?
– Try and do a factory reset by pressing the Adjust or Cancel key (depending on your model).
– Is the metal safety lid lock pin stuck (it’s a spring mechanism on the side of the lid)?
It might be a defective lid in which case you can either return it or open a ticket on the Instant Pot website. https://support.instantpot.com/ Good luck.
sls
My IP seems to have a defective relief valve. The silicone tip inside is not uniform.
Paint the Kitchen Red
If it’s new, you should be able to get a replacement from the company. If not, here’s a link: https://store.instantpot.com/collections/cookware/products/instantpot-float-valve-for-ip-duo50-60-smart-60
Christina J
I used my IP for the first time on Sunday with no issues. I tried again last night, and had some minor problems.
I pressed the poultry setting and set for 9 minutes. While the float valve seemed to pop up fine, the countdown never started and the IP just said ON. I thought maybe it wasn’t sealing correctly but after a while it cut over to “Keep Warm.”
I was worried it didn’t cook through all the way, so I hit cancel and tried again on the manual pressure cook setting. Set the timer 6 minutes this time since I knew the food must have already cooked some. Again, the countdown never started, but just stayed ON. After a little while, it switched over to “Keep Warm.”
After that I decided to open – the food was cooked and turned out just fine. I just can’t seem to figure out why the countdown never comes on. Any ideas?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Christina, the fact that the float valve was up means it did seal and although it can take some time to go from ‘On’ to the countdown, it shouldn’t go straight to Keep warm. I feel your unit is defective. Try the water test and see how it goes and then I would contact the company to troubleshoot, or I would return it.
Deborah Sheehan
I made beef barley soup today. At end of cooking time, I hit “cancel” and also turned the release to “venting”. No steam at all came out. Is this right?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hey there, Deborah. Did you do a NPR (Natural Pressure Release)? If so, then there would be no steam. If you did a quick release, then there would be steam coming out especially with a soup. If there wasn’t, your Instant Pot may not have reached pressure. Was the soup cooked well?
tania benatar
Lately, my IP has been giving issues after the countdown. it seals and then after the countdown starts it starts releasing steam. so my rice ends up dry. now I’ve been doing 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of water. is it too little?
its a 6 quart IP.
Paint the Kitchen Red
For long grain, basmati rice I too use 1:1. So I don’t think that should be the problem, but maybe you can try and add an extra 1/4 cup. I’ve heard of people moving the pressure release valve to vent and then back to seal. Can you try that?
Greg N.
I bought an InstaPot about a year ago, but could not get it to work properly for me after multiple attempts. I took it back to the store for a refund. The company’s phone support was of no help at all. My 40-year love of my crock pot was reaffirmed. I could count fewer than 5 meals that ever went south in it.
It is easy to see why there is the frustration that there is with the InstaPot: There are many variables to consider by the user who puts the IP to work even several times weekly. Too much water, too little water, liquid too thick, volume of the food too great in the IP, the chemistry of the cornstarch possibly complicating the process, or perhaps the lid fails to seal because the pot itself has become bent out of shape and is no longer truly round at its opening.
Using an IP is an endeavor that I am willing to undertake again this Christmas. The value of its speed of cooking and ease of operation can’t be overlooked. I need to adjust my expectations, become a student of the appliance’s related methodology, and give it another go.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Greg, I am glad that you’re rethinking your decision and are planning to give it another try. You’re right in that the pressure cooker is not as simple as the crock pot and there’s definitely a learning curve. I think almost every new user has a few failures that they learn from. I had a few fails when I first started using mine too! Do check back in to let us know how it went for you. And feel free to ask any questions.