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!
Janet
Saw this great video about the float valve. I hope this helps!
https://youtu.be/SJW4QNwTmn0
Markee
What if the float valve won’t pop up? What do I do then?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Markee – have you made sure it’s none of the reasons in the article? Have you done a water test? If it comes up during the water test, then it’s something having to do with the recipe you’re using – maybe not enough liquid?
Lisa
I am new at all this. Last night I used it and it never went to count down. It stayed “On”. Then after awhile it went to “burn “. I did a quick release and when I opened. It had cooked and some of the chicken got scorched. I had plenty of liquid. I don’t know but it was still delicious.
Also my release valve is and came very wabblie. I thought it was broken when I got it cause it was so loose. Is that normal?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Lisa – depending on what you’re cooking it does take time to go from “On” to counting down. However, since you ultimately got a “burn” error, it sounds like there was something about the recipe you’re using that caused this. If you want, I can take a look at the recipe and see if anything stands out. The steam release handle is supposed to be wobbly in order to allow steam to escape so that is not an issue.
Don
I am trying to cook Chili tonight. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED to the point of nearly tossing the InstaPot in the Trash. I’ve got a VERY wet Chili mix in the pot and it kept trying to come up to pressure but then went into BURN mode repeatedly as the pressure weight was steaming away but not popping up. I finally decided to move the pot a little because all the steam was going straight up into a light fixture and as soon as I grabbed it by the handles on the side and touched the tabs on the lid, the valve popped up instantly!@#$%
It seems like the lid was just slightly not at full lock all the way to the right and the pressure on the lid tabs was enough to get it to seal and pop up.
I’ve been fighting with it for about 90 minutes now and just looked again and while it is still pressurized, it’s gone into burn shut down mode again.
If my Chili is ruined, I’m going to sledge hammer it in the garage tomorrow. I’ll post a YouTube video if I do. There is no way the lid should not have a very solid lock into place. There should be resistance to make you very firmly lock the lid into place so this doesn’t happen.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Don, I can sympathize with your frustration and I’m sorry you’re having trouble with the Instant Pot. So have you tried cooking other dishes in the IP? Do you get the burn error with other recipes? It could be that the recipe you’re using has some fillers that are causing the sticking. I would suggest that you read my post on the burn message and use the layering technique: put any dense sauces or starchy ingredients on top. I don’t think it’s the lid, but without knowing more about the recipe, I can’t give you a clear answer.
carla
Today is the first time I’ve had a noPr message, been using IP for about a year…mostly yogurt…the IP has paid for itself in yogurt. Thank you so much for this thorough discussion of the noPr message. First time making chicken stock today and of course I want to get as much out of it as possible. Filled it full without over filling it. Received noPr message about when it should have heated up sufficiently to seal. Following your advice, I just reset it (shut off, turned on, set 45mins at high pressure) and not too long after that it had sealed and was counting down. Just needed a bit more time to get up to pressure. No issue at all. Thank you!!!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Thanks for your comment, Carla. I’m glad to hear you got it figured out!
Viki Nelson
Hi. I love my instant pot and your website. I’ve been having recent problems with my float valve not rising although there’s plenty of steam coming out. I’ve gone through the fix-it list to no avail but done a runaround by placing a silicone spatula over the hole to block the steam which essentially forces the float valve up. This leaves me with a few questions: 1) is this safe to do (not from a burn perspective, but explosion) and 2) what else could be keeping the valve from rising on its own? Thanks so much!!!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Viki, I would not advise that you block the steam in any way – that is dangerous. You could gently tap the float valve with a chopstick. One thing that I’ve heard people do is to gently push down on the lid when the float valve appears to be ready to go up. I can’t attest to how well the food cooks in this instance, but it isn’t dangerous like blocking the steam. Always make sure you have enough liquid, and that your sealing ring, float valve, and anti-block shield are completely clean. You might try to borrow a sealing ring to see if it’s the problem.
SAM
Thank you for your hard work. However it is absolutely absurd that they would sell a product that works this poorly and needs so much attention. I’ve spent hours at times trying to get it to work and not burn my soup or other meal. My first electric pressure cooker worked way better than this ever has, even when the instant pot was right out of the box. I’m never buying another one. I’ve never been able to use all the “special” settings since I can hardly get “manual ” to work.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Sam, I’m sorry you’ve been having trouble. I did have a learning curve initially, but once I figured out what not to do (to prevent sealing issues), I’ve pretty much not had any major problems. I hope it works out for you. If you can’t get it to work even with soup and no tricky ingredients (tomato sauces, starches) then maybe you have a defective unit and need to contact the company. I wish you luck.
Chris
Many thanks for all the helpful information. There were some comments about manually tightening the steam release handle when it appeared it had become unseated. Someone asked how to do that but I didn’t see a response. Do you know how? Also wondering if there is a rough guide about how long to wait for the pot to pressurize. I realize it depends on what you are cooking but since my IP never seems to come to
Pressure , wondering if this could be my issue. I will try the water test again and also the tip about pressing down on the lid.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Chris, I must have missed that question – I’ll go in and check. To answer your question re: steam release handle, it is supposed to be loose and wobbly, so that should not be an issue. The steam release valve has a nut on the inside of the lid and it should not be loose (a rare situation, by the way). You would tighten it with a wrench, but not over-tighten.
You definitely need to try the water test to eliminate ingredients or specific recipe as a possibility. If it doesn’t come to pressure, then you have an issue. If you’ve tried all the suggestions I made, you may want to contact the company. Good luck.
Sue Leroux
THANKS! I’ve been working with the company to figure out why my IP is not holding pressure. They determined my sealing ring was defective and sent me a new one today. (It was the right size but loose in one section.) Imagine my consternation when the new ring didn’t work either! But I read your suggestions and decided that I might not have enough liquid in my beef bourguignon, even though I added what the IP-tailored recipe suggested. And voila, the valve just sealed and I am cooking away. I SO wish the IP included an indicator that assured you of whether you had a good seal BEFORE you discovered this in the middle of cooking. Thanks for recounting the hundreds of reasons an IP might not build pressure!
Paint the Kitchen Red
The newer models try to address this issue by giving a ‘Burn’ error if the IP is not going to seal. The problem is that it can sometimes be too sensitive and people get the ‘burn’ error when they shouldn’t! Can’t win 🙂 Anyway, I’m glad you figured it out. Read my Burn Message article to see if you can possibly cook the recipe you have without changes, by layering ingredients that can stick (e.g. tomatoes, etc.)
David
I would like to have two Instant pots. One 6 qt, one 8 qt. I like the look of the duo plus & the Ultra. The Ultra because I am forgetful & I like the pressure venting. Haven’t used them before. Which would you recommend for the 6 qt? I may start on that first. Don’t know which is better to learn on. Also are the accessories interchangeable? Wonderful info. Thanks, David.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi David, thanks for your comment. I have the Duo and the Ultra. What I think you’ll find is that once you start with one, you’ll just get used to it. I really don’t think you can go wrong with either (the Duo Plus is similar to the Duo in terms of using the buttons, etc). For me personally, because I’ve been using the Ultra more lately, I like it better, and yes I do like the push button steam release a lot. The accessories like pans, trivets (not sealing ring or inner pot) for the 6 quart can be used in the 8 quart but not vice versa due to the diameter. The accessories for the same size Ultra can be used in the Duo/Plus and vice versa. That being said, when you first get the Ultra, you might notice that all the instructions on blogs and websites tend to be for the Duo (i.e. press this button, etc) and you’ll have to learn how to translate that. You can use my Instant Pot Ultra Quick Start Guide to get familiar with the Ultra. All the best!
Catherine P Goodwin
Thank you for writing this. Turns out, I justneeded to clean the bottom of the pot after searing!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Catherine, very common issue; especially for new users – glad you got it figured out!
Bonnie
Thanks for this list of things to check! I was beginning to become concerned that it was taking so long for my IP to pressurize. It just needed more time, thankfully. The food I put in there wasn’t overly hot, so it had to get up to temp first.
This was a great way to pass the time and as I was finishing, the timer started!
Paint the Kitchen Red
I’m glad you figured it out; thanks for commenting!
Dave
New instant pot ultra here, and it never worked. I’m getting the infamous “burn” message with everything and it leaks steam continuously, even with the test run with water only. This problem seems common, browsing amazon reviews. Their customer support takes days to respond with some of the common advice I see here, which is a little silly for a product fresh out of the box. I might have to try appealing to Amazon for a return, because the customer service is awful. After sending photos of the outside, product tag, inside of the lid, the serial number (ironically next to a “QC pass” sticker), and video evidence of the steam leaking, they still take forever. A broken new product and horrible customer service completely kills this brand for me. Those considering jumping on the IP bandwagon should consider this before buying. With a product so prone to failure and requiring such debugging, you’re also saddled with this level of customer support. And I think the fad may subside once people’s products start nearing that warranty date.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Dave – I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had such a bad experience. My experience has been the opposite because I own two products and any sealing issues have been user-generated. I hope that the problems you’re describing get solved with the next generation of Instant Pots.
Dave
No worries. Worse things in the world. It’s hard for me to overlook the odd customer service, but perhaps the issue is specific to this ultra line. Customer service has concluded the cause was a faulty pressure sensor at the base of the unit. I’m guessing there’s no fixing this, because they quickly began shipment of a new unit, before I could reiterate that I originally asked for a refund! I’m just glad some manner of resolution has been made, though I’m afraid to unbox the next one and discover a similar issue. Nonetheless, this might help you troubleshoot some of the newer units.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Yes, you’re right – other readers will benefit from you having shared your experience – thank you! And glad to hear that you’re getting a replacement. No sense waiting, just get it out and test it right away!
MandyW
Dave thanks for sharing your experience. I just bought an Instant Pot during a BF sale and I’m going to be rigorously testing it tomorrow and making sure there are no problems with it before the return period expires.
My mother cooked with an old fashioned pressure cooker and buying an instant pot seemed like a no brainer. However, I really don’t want to spend more time troubleshooting than necessary or ruining meals because it’s unreliable. I want cooking to be simple not a hassle and these issues make it seem like a hassle.
The bandwagon may just be that. Let’s see how well my new 10in1 6qt instant pot works and if it’s worth the still hefty price tag.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Mandy, I think it’s a great idea to test it out. Many people buy the IP and don’t open it for months and then have no recourse. That being said, the problems that occur are usually avoidable if you follow certain guidelines: use enough liquid, layer tricky ingredients, deglaze well, etc. For your first few recipes, avoid tomato-based sauces and make recipes that have plenty of great reviews. A soup would be a great choice. Just to get familiar with the appliance. btw, the model you purchased is a great one – I love it! All the best!
Diane
I love my IP and I love your helpful information. I’ve only had it for a month but I’ve used it a lot without any problems – until tonight. It wouldn’t pressurize so after reading your blog I did the water test and that worked fine. I’m hoping that it’s fine now but I’m going to make sure it’s all clean and not scorched and that there is enough liquid! Fingers crossed! Thanks again for all your useful information.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Thanks for letting me know, Diane – I’m always happy to be of help. It probably was a one-time thing, maybe something stuck in the nooks and crannies or food stuck on the bottom.
Sarah M
My steam release handle seems very loose recently. During a water test steam was escaping with the countdown going on. I had to keep moving it and adjusting it till it finally stopped leaking.
Yesterday’s beef stew got burnt because all the water had steamed out, I was shocked because it was in the sealed position but not actually sealed.
Can a replacement be bought? Or how to tell if it’s faulty?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Sarah – the steam release handle should be pretty wobbly to begin with. Is it more than usual? I wonder if it’s time to replace your sealing ring? I feel mine is ready to be replaced!
Cindy L.
This is exactly the problem I have. My sealing ring is brand new. I got this last year for Christmas but haven’t pulled it out to use until about a month ago. I’ve made about 4 or 5 dishes and each and every time, it releases steam throughout the process, even when it says it’s pressurized. I really am getting annoyed and angry that we wasted the money on this thing. Everything is always scorched on the bottom no matter how much liquid I put into it. I seriously needed this to work for us. We are living the RV life and this gas stove won’t bring a pot of water to boil, but that’s another story. I do not feel that I should have to buy another ring when this one is still new and in very good shape. Oh and it’s not just the 8 quarts having problems because mine is a 6 quart. I do not overfill it, etc.
Cindy L.
I didn’t make something clear, my husband bought this for me for Christmas, hence the gift and wasting money.
Madli
My grandma, may she rest in peace, taught my mom to put some oil inside the lid then put the sealing ring in. I blot any excess oil with a paper towel and it seals right up.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Madli, I’ve never heard of that before. Thank you for sharing.
Cindy L.
I’m pretty sure your grandmother was talking about a stove pressure cooker and not an electrical one. If all else fails I suppose it’s worth a try but I don’t know how safe that is. Just an FYI for others.
joshua
I had an issue with steam coming from the sides, not the vent, even though the lid closed. I use my IP a few times a week for 2 years and never had I seen that before. I hit cancel, removed the inner pot with these handy clamps I got for the task, checked everything out and it turned out that I had a remnant piece of food on the rim of the inner pot from when I sauteed first before transferring to a pot within a pot (quiche), That was enough to prevent proper sealing. Just another thing to check.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Joshua – so interesting! Thank you so much for sharing that. I’m sure you’ll be helping out someone who has the same issue in the future.
sabrina
I have 2 IP, one old Lux 6in 1, and one new Ultra 10 in 1. Had no problems with Lux, but the Ultra ‘s first water test failed as steam was coming out of that safety shield. The floating valve was up, but no counting down. I tried 3 times, the same result. I was so frustrated. I inspected the lid, no problem, I just played a little with the upper part of the shield. Tried again, it worked. It work without any issue until today. Actually it first happened a few days ago, when I did some soup. I boiled the meat before and it worked, but after adding some vegetables (next day) it failed to seal like in the fist water test. The floating valve was up, but steam was coming from the blocking shield on and on, and no counting down. I tried to move that shield to no result. I suspected it was too much liquid. I moved the inner pot in the LUX it worked!. Today I used the pressure menu to boil some meat in 2 l water. The same problem. I ended up using the old LUX. I removed the shield to clean it, although it looked clean. It was clean but still used some detergent and a lot of water to clean it. I did the water test. It worked. I wonder why it happens. I have never ever opened that shied in the LUX lid. It always worked. I love my new Ultra as it has options the Lux lacks. but There is something wrong with the lid, though that shield looks the same with the LUX. I don’t know what’s wrong.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Sabrina, when you say ‘safety shield’, I think you’re referring to the steam release valve (the wobbly round part) on the outside of the lid right? Sounds like your steam release valve is defective, maybe. Try also cleaning the hole that the valve is covering too. Sorry for your troubles – I hope you’re able to contact the company to try and get the lid replaced.
Cameron Haase-Pettingell
I have pressure issues when I try to use my IP 2x in a nite
I have a
Instant Pot LUX60 -EMW-MM 6 Qt
I purchased it from Amazon about Apr 2017
I love my Instant Pot, but once I cook in it as a pressure cooker, it will not re pressurize. I have never been able to use it 2x in a night in pressure mode. This has happened about dozen times
-for example, I make a sauce and want to cook pasta in it.
liquid is not too high
I know it is heating because the food is burnt to the bottom.
the valves are clean, there is enough liquid, I clean the top after the first use – I have tried the following in many variations
I have tried the clean the top, changing gasket -still not re-pressurizing –
I have tried putting the top in the freezer thinking the metal had expanded and with new gasket still no re-pressurizing.
I am in Boston, so in total frustration, tonight I put the whole pot outside, – ajar, freezing temps ( 30 min) and then changer the gasket still no pressure.
My husband thinks the metal is expanding due to the heat but thought cooling it down would correct that
Help
I really want to be able to use my Instant Pot 2x in a night in the pressure mode.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Cameron – that sounds so frustrating 🙁 The fact that it always works fine the first time but not subsequent times even with cooling it down is stumping me. Just a thought – have you tried to do two water tests, back to back? Just to eliminate all other variables? You could also open a ticket with the Instant Pot support at https://support.instantpot.com/
Ruth
Thanks for this list. My pot has been failing to seal recently. I will go through your list as a checklist the next time. Very handy. I use it every day, especially when traveling with the RV.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Ruth – I hope you find our what’s happening with your IP. It could be it needs to be cleaned thoroughly or the sealing ring needs to be replaced.