Here are the top reasons for your Instant Pot not sealing. This guide helps you troubleshoot a common problem most Instant Pot users encounter: the Instant Pot won’t come to pressure. Learn how to seal your Instant Pot correctly the first time, and how to avoid the issue.
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➡ Need more help? Check out my Instant Pot troubleshooting guide!
Pressure Release Valve Parts
Here are some of the parts that I refer to throughout this article. The steam release mechanism varies by Instant Pot model; some newer models may look slightly different.
- Float Valve: a metal pin that pops up once the Instant Pot has pressurized.
- Steam Release Valve: Steam is released through the vents in the steam release valve. It’s also referred to as the Instant Pot pressure valve, pressure release valve, or venting knob.
- Steam Release Handle: Steam is released through the vents in the steam release handle. To seal the Instant Pot pressure cooker, 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 Button: Click it counterclockwise to spring it up into the Sealing position. To release pressure, push the button until it clicks down into place in the Venting position.
- Steam Release Switch: To put it in Sealing mode, slide it into the Seal position. To release pressure, slide it into the Vent position.
- Silicone Sealing Ring: a flexible ring that creates a seal between the Instant Pot’s base unit and the lid, allowing pressure to build up and pressurize the Instant Pot. It’s also referred to as a gasket.
- Float Valve: a metal pin covered with a silicone cover 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 and blocking the steam release pipe. The anti-block shield covers the exhaust valve and can be removed and cleaned.
Why Is Your Instant Pot Not Sealing?
One of the most common issues people encounter with Instant Pot (aka Instapot) is that their Instant Pot won’t pressurize or seal.
This happens to me, and I’m sure it happens to most electric pressure cooker users. Usually, it’s an easy fix!
New Instant Pot users, in particular, have difficulty troubleshooting what’s wrong when their Instant Pot is not sealing. They may think that the pressure sensor is busted or something is wrong with the unit.
If the countdown timer has begun and the float valve is not rising, the Instant Pot won’t seal.
If the Instant Pot is not pressurizing but counting down, timer has begun and the float valve is not rising, the Instant Pot won’t seal.
I’ve compiled a list of possible reasons why your Instant Pot is not pressurizing. You’ll most likely be able to troubleshoot your issue in one of the following cases.
Another common problem when the Instant Pot is trying to come to full pressure is the Burn or Food Burn Message, so I encourage you to read that article too!
📍 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. I’ll go into detail shortly.
- Once you diagnose the reason for your Instant Pot not coming to pressure, make sure you have enough liquid in the Instant Pot before you continue with pressure cooking.
- Often, some of the liquid evaporates while the steam is leaking. If you restart the pressure cooking process without compensating for the lost liquid, you will likely have more sealing issues.
Should steam come out of the Instant Pot when pressurizing?
Yes, steam will escape from the steam release and float valves until the Instant Pot is sealed.
When you initially program the Instant Pot to pressure cook, the display says On. After a few minutes (anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the quantity and temperature of the food), you’ll see steam coming out of the pressure release (steam release) handle and/or float valve on the top of the lid. This is perfectly normal.
After some hissing, steaming, and hesitation, the float valve usually rises to the Up position, and the Instant Pot is sealed. After a few minutes, the display should start counting down from the number of minutes you programmed the Instant Pot to pressure cook.
Should steam come out of the Instant Pot once sealed?
No heavy steam should come out once the float valve is in the sealing position (up position).
However, I have occasionally seen tiny wisps of steam when it’s sealed, and this is not a cause for concern. This usually happens when cooking something with a lot of liquid, such as soup.
1. The Instant Pot Pressure Valve is in Venting Position
Different models of Instant Pot have different pressure release mechanisms.
- Steam Release Handle: The venting knob can be turned from Venting to Sealing.
- Steam Release Button: When the button is up, it seals, and when it’s down, it vents.
- Steam Release Switch: The switch can go from Vent to Seal.
When using the Instant Pot for something other than Slow Cook, Yogurt, or Sous Vide, the pressure release needs to be in the Sealing position.
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, ensure it’s in Sealing position, and resume pressure cooking.
If you have trouble closing the lid, it’s probably because the contents are hot. Move the steam release handle to the Venting position and make sure the lid is properly closed. Then, move the steam release handle to the Sealing position.
2. The Silicone Sealing Ring (Sealing Gasket) is not Properly Seated
If the ring cannot be rotated around in the sealing ring rack, it’s not seated correctly. You should be able to turn it in place, maybe 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 the way around the ring rack to make sure it’s properly seated. Then, try turning it in the ring rack. It should move/rotate around the ring rack. A new sealing ring can be harder to move, but you should be able to.
3. Sealing Ring is Missing/Misplaced
It’s possible that the sealing ring or gasket was removed for cleaning and not 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 gasket.
4. Not Enough Liquid in Instant Pot to Build Pressure
This is one of the most common Instant Pot issues when it’s trying to come to pressure. According to the official manual, the Instant Pot requires at least 1 cup of liquid. I’ve used as little as ½ cup and done fine with many Instant Pot recipes. Remember that it needs to be thin liquid such as water, broth, lemon juice, and soy sauce.
Some liquids like canned tomato sauce are too dense and require thinning out with broth or water. If your Instant Pot isn’t sealing, this is one of the more common reasons.
SOLUTION: Add more water or broth. If the final result is a dish that’s too thin or liquidy, you can use the Saute function and let the liquid reduce and thicken, or you can add 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 pot, the liquid won’t make contact with the bottom, 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 browned bits are 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 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, transfer the contents to a large bowl, and 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 well. Once the inner pot is clean, resume cooking, but add more liquid.
[Read More about layering problem ingredients such as sauces, pasta, rice, etc.]
6. The Sealing Ring has Expanded Too Much and Instapot 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 finished 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 running it under cold water to contract it. You can also try turning the sealing ring over and replacing it.
7. Instant Pot Sealing Ring has Debris or Food
The Instant Pot sealing ring must be clean to create a proper seal.
SOLUTION: Make sure no food is stuck to the sealing ring and clean it with soap and water.
8. Too Much Water has Evaporated Before Problem was Fixed
If the pot wasn’t initially sealed properly and you corrected the problem, it’s possible that too much liquid evaporated, leaving the pot without enough liquid in the pot 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. Add more liquid if necessary.
9. The Sealing Ring is Damaged or Torn
If your seal is heavily used or pulled on too hard, it can wear out or tear, and you may need a new seal.
SOLUTION: Purchase a new sealing ring. Keeping a spare sealing ring on hand is always a good idea.
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 start time. When you press the timer button, the time that shows up is the number of hours until cooking starts. So, if your Instant Pot timer is not starting, this could be the reason.
SOLUTION: Press Cancel to cancel the timer. Select Manual or Pressure Cook mode (or another cooking option, e.g., Poultry or 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 or Liner is Dirty
The Instant Pot lid and the area where it fits on the base unit need to be clean and free of food debris.
If food is 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: 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. Thoroughly clean the inside, outside, and rim of the inner pot.
12. The Instant Pot Float Valve or Anti-Block Shield Has Debris
When you cook pasta or other messy foods, the Instant Pot valve and anti block shield can become dirty and 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 the Instant Pot takes longer to come to pressure.
SOLUTION: If you’ve added frozen food to the pot, wait a bit longer to see if the Instant Pot will seal. If you’re cooking a large quantity of frozen food, I recommend thawing it first, because it will take a very long time to come to pressure and cook!
14. Large Quantity of Liquid in Instant Pot
If you’re making 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 ensure that your ingredients do not exceed the Max Fill mark (⅔ full). For foods that expand (e.g., rice, beans, and pasta), you should not exceed the ½ full mark.
SOLUTION: Wait longer to see if the Instant Pot will seal. If you’re above the recommended max fill lines, split up the recipe and cook it in two batches.
15. The Float Valve is Up, but Instant Pot Just Says On and the Countdown Timer Not Starting
If the Instant Pot just says ‘On,’ it could be because there is 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 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 start. If the ‘On‘ never changes to counting down, you must 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, open a support ticket.
16. The 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. Test the outlet to make sure it is working with another appliance or an electrical outlet tester.
17. The Wrong Size Inner Pot was Used
If you have multiple Instant Pots of different sizes, you may be using 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 a common issue!
SOLUTION: Make sure you use the correct inner pot.
18. The Float Valve is Missing
If you remove the float valve while cleaning the Instant Pot lid, you may forget to replace it.
SOLUTION: Put the float valve back in and replace the silicone cover.
19. The Steam Release Handle is Missing
If you remove the steam release handle while cleaning the Instant Pot lid, you may forget to replace it.
SOLUTION: Put the steam release handle back onto the lid and push it down to make sure it’s properly seated on the steam release pipe.
20. 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 and this means your Instant Pot lid won’t close properly.
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.
21. The Exhaust Valve is Loose
In rare cases, the exhaust valve inside the anti-block shield can become loose, such as during shipping.
SOLUTION: Carefully tighten the valve so it’s not loose anymore. Don’t overly tighten it.
22. The Steam Release Handle is Not Properly Seated
If you remove the Instant Pot steam release valve or handle while cleaning the 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 valve or handle.
SOLUTION: Push in the Steam Release Valve and move it from Sealing to Venting a few times so it sits properly.
23. Instant Pot Display Says noPr
If the Instant Pot is showing the noPr error message, it could be that it couldn’t reach a high enough temperature during the pre-heating stage. This could be due to the quantity of food or liquid, frozen ingredients, or any of the reasons in this article.
SOLUTION: If you’re not making any of the above mistakes but get the noPr error, press Cancel and try restarting the pressure cooking program again.
24. Instant Pot Leaking Steam Even Though the Float Valve is Up
There’s a metal safety clip inside some older pressure release valves. It appears to prevent the Instant Pot from overpressurizing.
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 were set to the Venting, allowing steam to escape.
Newer models of the steam release handle and sealing valve do not have this problem since they now have a silicone retaining ring that prevents them from being improperly seated on the steam release pipe, thus 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 thank Donald Task and the Reddit Instant Pot community for bringing this problem and solution to my attention!
25. No Liquid for Pot in Pot Cooking
The pot-in-pot cooking method is used for cakes, eggs, lasagna, and other dishes that require steaming. If you don’t add water to the bottom of the pot, it will not come to pressure.
I hope this Instant Pot troubleshooting guide has helped you find out the reason for your Instant Pot float valve not sealing so you can get back to cooking your favorite Instant Pot recipes. 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 to 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 Instant Pot customer service to file a support ticket.
✅ Why Trust Neena at Paint the Kitchen Red?
I’m Neena, and I have a lifetime of experience working with pressure cookers. I know how to maximize the potential of a pressure cooker to consistently produce delicious and easy meals. With my Instant Pot expertise, I can provide valuable insights, troubleshooting advice, and innovative recipe ideas so you can trust me on all things Instant Pot!
➡ New to the Instant Pot? Get my Instant Pot instructions for beginners.
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 Directions for Beginners
- 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
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Troubleshoot Common Instant Pot Problems
Find out some of the frequently encounter Instant Pot problems and how to fix them. From the burn message to error codes, these resources will help you out.
Ashley says
Hi, I just got my ninja foodie, I’ve tried doing the pressure cooking practice one with water but all that’s happening is a lot of steam from all the way around the lid, I have stopped it and checked the seal ring, make sure there’s enough water. I can’t think of anything else to do. I’ve tried maybe 10 times but still can not get it to get to the pressurizing point. It just steams with the lights going around in a circular movement.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Ashley, is it new? Is there a way to contact the company or return it? The only other thing I can say is that if the steam is coming out from around the lid, you might try to get a new sealing ring because it appears that the lid is just not able to create a seal.
Zabs says
I’m not sure if my comments are being posted. I’d swear I’d replied to your post, but not seeing it? !
I have same issues with both same ninja foodi deluxe xl af instant pot combo and figured out the trick to get lid to seal, to pressurized:
1. Put instant pot lid on, turn to lock position.
2. Make sure the steam valve level is open.
3. Set your cooking time and start.
4. At the end of preheating (bout 10 to 12 minute), you’ll start hearing /seeing stream hissing/coming out of the floating valve, a bit from the sides. This is important part of the process…..you’ll need to push hard, on the top pot handle to seal, might take a few tries (be careful not to burn yourself, if you push other parts of the lid) , til the floating valve pops up securely.
5: Switch the steam valve to close position.
Hope this helped!
Laura says
Thank you so much for this post. I haven’t taken everything apart and scrubbed yet but I didn’t know I had to clean half those parts before this post! Did I read you correctly that if I’m making something very liquidy and the pot seals and time runs appropriately that a little bit of steam leaking is normal?
Thank you again!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Laura, yes it’s normal for slight amounts of steam to escape. If it’s sealed (i.e. float valve is up) and your food is cooked appropriately you should be okay.
Chitra says
Hi -I have the LuX series 5 quart and purchased it a year ago and never used it . Tried to open the box and used it for the first time and kept rice in PIP. The Turned on the Instant pit and pressed the Rice function . The display said 10 mins and it went to the ON position . The float Valve never came up and the steam kept coming and this went on for 15 mins . I just turned it off after 15 mins .
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Chitra, first of all do a water test. So you know that the Instant Pot is not malfunctioning. i.e. you pressure cook 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. If that works, then it was the recipe you used. Possibly not enough water?
carol wacholz says
I am looking for a sealing ring for my instant pot. my lid doesn’t have a sealing ring rack, it has four slots and the ears of the sealing ring go in them. My pot is a Farberware, I bought it at Wal Mart. I have checked them out and they don’t sell the rings. The model number is WM-CS6016WP. Also it has E214884 and 9H06 on it. I need help Please.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Carol, I’m so sorry but I am not familiar with your brand. Your best bets are either the company website or amazon. If you enter your model number in amazon search they seem to have a sealing ring they sell.
Marc says
my vent valve wont sit properly on it after cleaning. Today noticed a small wire (butternut squash shaped) on the lid where the vent valve goes on. But have no idea how it supposed to be placed… Anyone???
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Marc, feel free to email me at paintthekitchenred@gmail dot com and send me a photo. I’m not sure which part you’re referring to.
Tennant says
I think I have the same problem
Luc says
I came to your site to understand why the instantpot was not pressurizing.
My issue was not of the above. The issue ended up being the rubber seal ring was put in backwards. because of this, steam was not escaping on the sides, but it was also not pressurizing. After I pulled it out and put it back in, it work like a charm.
Thanks for helping me brainstorm my way to resolving this issue.
Kat1 says
I’ve only used this unit a couple of times so it’s pretty new but when I tried to use it last night it wouldn’t hold pressure, just kept steaming. I checked the silicone seal and it was on there but seemed uneven and would not spin around metal sealing ring – was super tight. I feel like maybe the sealing ring is bent?
Kat1 says
I had a 6 quart and upgraded to an 8 quart. I don’t remember dealing with a sealing ring before. But now I’ve only used this one twice and the sealing ring is very hard to put on and when I finally get it in place, it doesn’t look even and doesn’t move around the steel ring it sits in. Any suggestions? I’m wondering if I can buy a new lid. I don’t know if kids are sold on their own. Of course I didn’t register this like I should have:(
Paint the Kitchen Red says
The sealing ring does loosen up over time and it is a bit harder to move around when it’s new. However, if it’s so tight that you can’t get it in and out, it could have a kink in it that’s causing your sealing issues. Before looking for a new lid, you might want to borrow or buy another sealing to see if that’s the issue.
Renee Fransman says
Having the same problem. Please help!!
Neena Panicker says
Make sure you’re not using the wrong size of sealing ring. If you’re using a generic brand sealing ring, try and get an Instant Pot branded sealing ring for your size of Instant Pot.
Angela says
Thank you. I had like 5 of these going on! I cooked without the seal, then tried again but the flaot valve wouldn’t raise even though the timer was counting. I had debris in the rim, loose sealing valve, so many things. I kept going down you list and FINALLY the pot is coming to pressure. Much appreciated!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Lol, at least you got them out of the way all at once 🙂 You’re most welcome.
Ronak Shah says
Great Info! Thanks
I noticed when I apply pressure with my hands and push the lid down, It seals right away. As soon as lift pressure, the sealing valve drops down. ( I understand its not safe, but I can feel that I am able to push the lid down and pressure valve jumps up right away)
I have followed all other check list items & Its fine.
Is it normal or defective ?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Have you tried using a brand new sealing ring? Have you done the water test? If you’ve done both then I think that there may be an issue with the lid.
Chris Riggle says
I melted the area around the locking pin and now it is loose and removable. Also lost the spring. I can put the lid on and manually lock and unlock the lid. Would it be safe to use the pot as a pressure cooker?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Chris, I would not use it to pressure cook. There is a swap group on Facebook – see if you can get another lid. I’m sorry this happened to you 🙁
Ysenia Crouse says
I saw steam coming out of my IP, I realized I forgot to insert the sealing ring after cleaning. I’m wondering how long should I wait until opening the lid? The handle is warm to the touch
Paint the Kitchen Red says
As long as the Instant Pot is not sealed, you can open the lid at any time. Just keep your face and hands away from the steam. You could rinse the lid off under cold water to cool it down and then add the sealing ring and start cooking again.
Tyson Brown says
Our instant pot had the steam release handle is set to pressure, the float valve is up but it releases a lot
If steam, and the food comes out drier than we would want… (making refried beans most recently). Any tips?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Tyson, the first question I have is: does it happen with every food that you cook in the Instant Pot? Some foods with a lot of liquid can release steam while cooking – it happens to me sometimes. But if it’s every recipe then it sounds like you have steam leaking and that’s why food is drying out. If you’ve thoroughly cleaned all the parts then you might want to contact the Instant Pot Company’s support.
Jen says
I also have this problem. My IP worked great until today. The float valve goes up and the display says On indefinitely. Steam continues to come out the top, eventually when I stop it the water is almost all gone. It happens with just 3 cups of water in the pot. I’ve used two different sealing rings and checked all the parts. Will have to call IP or return it.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
The reason the display says On is that the steam is escaping. It’s either your float valve, sealing ring or a defect. Since you checked the first two already, it might be a good idea to contact the company.
Maria Fawal says
Hi I just bought an insta pot and it has a clear color seal and a red seal do I put the red one on at the same time as the cleAr one or do I remove one seal and put the other because I tried to put the red one on top of clear and it comes off I tried to snap on but doesn’t on the same art up Manuel it doesn’t say it’s extra
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Maria, some newer Instant Pots are shipped with an extra sealing ring. You use just one at a time. You can do what I do and keep the extra one for when you’re making desserts. Hope you enjoy your new Instant Pot.
Jack says
I have smaller pot. There are some cutouts in one side of gasket that seem to need to be aligned directly opposite the valves. Cook on!
David M says
I found one that wasn’t on your list! Lever pointed in the wrong direction! My lever was pointed towards the relief valve (up) when it should have been pointed DOWN. I thought it was in the lock position, but I was wrong. Problem solved. Hope this helps others!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
David, are you referring to the steam release handle? Glad you were able to solve your problem.
cat says
Any suggestions for “float valve down, there’s no pressure, and the countdown timer has started”?
The lid and pot have been scrubbed, valves and vent move freely, and I replaced the seal. Every 3–4 times, the IP functions properly.
The rest of the time it doesn’t come to pressure, but the countdown timer starts. Problem is occurring across a variety of successful recipes.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Cat, did you clean the anti-block shield too? I just had to open mine up and clean it with a tiny bottle brush and it stopped acting up. Other than that, since you’ve done everything I recommend, it sounds like your Instant Pot may have a defect. You could try and open a support ticket.
Kelly says
Where is the anti block shield? I have the same problem.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Kelly, if you look at the image for #12 above, you’ll see a picture. The anti-block shield is the round metal part with holes in it.
Pamela Kidd says
We just put a ham in our new instapot. Within about 2 mins, it started steaming. It is in and set to the meat setting but the dial on top is loose and it does not seem to be pressurized. Can you help??
Paint the Kitchen Red says
The steam release handle is supposed to be wobbly because it allows steam to escape to maintain optimal pressure. The float valve in the UP position indicates that the Instant Pot is pressurized.
Sheryl says
What great information!!! Thank you so much!!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
You’re welcome – glad to help!
Lisa says
Great suggestions. I’ve not yet had issues but I’ve been lucky as I’ve not inspected the lid that closely.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Good to be aware of possible issues – you’ll be able to avoid them!
Sun Lee says
Hi, this is most helpful site for beginners like me! However my pot still has some issues, when I use pressure mode it’s only displayed ‘on’ do not showing me remaining time and steam released through the steam release handle until it’s unpressurized. This was consistently happened since the first use. It will be great if you can give me some suggestions please. Thank you.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
You’re not the first person to complain about this recently. Is your food being cooked or is the only issue that the countdown is not happening? If your IP is new, I suggest just returning it and getting another one. You could also open a support ticket.
Joan says
I just did my initial water test. Set to Sealing, float valve came up, “on” stayed on (didn’t count down), steam released the whole time. Finally, after 20 minutes I turned it off cuz I knew something was wrong. Went online for troubleshooting and ended up “moving” the seal around…it was “stuck” in one place, but probably more important….the valve between Vent and Seal is loose (which I knew it would be), but I might have had it NOT in the small groove between Vent and Seal, but lifted it up to be more over the word Sealant (NOT knowing there is a small section to toggle between). It worked the 2nd time.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thanks for sharing, Joan. Basically what I think you’re saying is that the steam release handle wasn’t pushed down all the way? That happens, even to me :), when I wash the handle and put it back on but forget to push it down all the way.
Jen says
Hi I’m having the same problem but have the duo evo plus, therefore the lid switches to seal automatically when you close the lid. I’ve checked and it’s in the seal position, is it possible it’s not actually going to the seal position even though the switch is in the right place???
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Jen, I don’t think that is likely. If you take out the steam release handle and flip the steam release switch, you should see the plastic piece holding the steam release handle going up and down. So I don’t think that’s your issue. If steam is escaping, there’s something wrong with the lid.