Whether it’s your Instant Pot not sealing, error codes, burn message, or leaking steam, find out how to troubleshoot common Instant Pot problems encountered by beginners and experienced users.
I’ve owned a few Instant Pots over the years and I’ve learned a thing or two about them. Through my blog and on social media, I hear from owners who ask for help with various problems with their Instant Pot.
Here are some common Instant Pot problems and how to solve them. But before I start, I just want to say to those of you who have an Instant Pot and have yet to open it:
I URGE YOU TO OPEN THE BOX AND GIVE YOUR INSTANT POT A TEST RUN!
I hear from many people who never take the Instant Pot out of the box, and finally get around to it months later and they encounter a defective product or have problems with their Instant Pot, but the warranty has expired.
At that point, they’re disappointed and frustrated but unfortunately, they have no recourse for their Instant Pot issues!
Instant Pot Beginner Guides to Help You Out:
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| Instant Pot Ultra Manual | Instant Pot Duo Manual | Instant Pot Tips and FAQs |
Instant Pot Terminology
Here are some of the parts that I refer to throughout this article:
1. Instant Pot is not Sealing | Instant Pot is not Building Pressure
This is one of the most common Instant Pot problems encountered by new owners.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| The sealing ring is not properly seated or is missing | Install sealing ring properly |
| Steam release handle (DUO model) is in the ‘venting’ position | Move steam release handle to the ‘sealing’ position |
| Steam release button (ULTRA model) is in the down (‘venting’) position | Turn steam release button counter-clockwise so it goes into the up (‘sealing’) position |
| Food is stuck on the bottom of the inner pot (This usually happens after having used the ‘Saute’ function.) | Clean the inner pot completely. Always deglaze after using the ‘Saute’ function. |
| There isn’t enough liquid to create steam and bring the Instant Pot to pressure. | Add more liquid |
| Lid is not closed properly | Open lid and close again, turning clockwise all the way |
But that’s not all – there are many more reasons. I’ve written a whole article dedicated to this topic!
Find out why your Instant Pot is not sealing and what you can do to fix this problem. [Read More: Reasons your Instant Pot is Not Sealing]
2. Instant Pot is Leaking Steam
It’s normal to have small amounts of steam escape from the steam release handle/valve and float valve while pressure is building.
Particularly if you’re making a recipe with a lot of liquid, like a soup, your Instant Pot will take time to come to pressure.
There will be small amounts of steam coming out until the Instant Pot is pressurized and the float valve is up. There’s no need for concern; it’s not a problem.
However if your Instant Pot continues leaking steam, you may have a problem.
Steam leaking from the sides
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Sealing ring is missing | Install sealing ring |
| Sealing ring is stretched out | Put sealing ring in the freezer for a few minutes |
| Sealing ring is damaged | Replace sealing ring |
| Sealing ring has food debris | Remove sealing ring and thoroughly clean it |
Steam leaking from float valve
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Food debris on the float valve silicone seal | Clean the float valve silicone seal |
| Float valve silicone seal has worn out | Replace the float valve silicone seal |
Steam leaking from steam release handle/valve
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Steam release handle (DUO model) is in the ‘venting’ position | Move steam release handle to the ‘sealing’ position |
| Steam release button (ULTRA model) is in the down (‘venting’) position | Turn steam release button counter-clockwise so it goes into the up (‘sealing’) position |
| Steam release handle/valve is not seated properly | Make sure the steam release handle/valve is pushed in properly (it will be wobbly – that’s normal) |
| Pressure control failure | Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service. |
[Read More: Reasons your Instant Pot is Not Sealing]
3. Float Valve Won’t Go Up | Float Valve is Stuck
- You might think your float valve is stuck. But is it, really? Different models of the Instant Pot have different positions that the float valve can be in when sealed. (See above image)
- Examine your Instant Pot lid and note where the normal/down position is when the lid is not on. Some models have a red colored float valve.
- If your float valve is in fact stuck in the ‘up’ position, it could be due to debris or stickiness from food. Use a long spoon or chopstick to gently push down on the float valve.
- If your float valve is stuck in the ‘down’ position, it’s probably because your Instant Pot is having trouble sealing. See Problem #1.
4. Instant Pot is Taking Too Long to Cook Food
Total Cook Time = Time to Come to Pressure + Pressure Cooking Time + Time for Natural Release of Pressure (NPR)
For example, if a recipe says to pressure cook for 10 minutes, the Instant Pot can take from 5 to 15 minutes to come to pressure. Pressure cooking takes 10 minutes, and naturally releasing pressure can take another 5 to 20 minutes.
The quantity and density of liquid and food in the Instant Pot determines how long the Instant Pot takes to come to pressure and to release pressure.
So why use the Instant Pot? First, you don’t have to watch the stove. You can even leave the house.
Second, it’s one-pot cooking: you don’t have to mess up a bunch of pots and pans; you also get all your cooking done without dirtying your stove!
Third, the Instant Pot takes less time to cook meats, grains, and legumes, hands-down. You can cut down on cooking time even further by cutting up your meat into smaller pieces.
For example, if you pressure cook a large chunk of pork shoulder, pressure cooking time is 90 minutes. Cutting up the pork into smaller chunks, can reduce the pressure cook time to 45 minutes, and cutting them into bite-size pieces can reduce the pressure cooking time further, to 15 minutes.
5. Instant Pot Display Says ‘Burn’
If you’re a new Instant Pot owner, the ‘burn’ message is a problem you’ll have at one point or another. There are many reasons for the ‘burn’ error.
It all comes down to the fact that the Instant Pot is overheating. Here are some of the ways you can prevent this issue:
- Make sure there’s enough liquid and that it has reached the bottom of the inner pot.
- Allow the Instant Pot to cool down after using the ‘Saute’ function.
- Use the layering technique to prevent scorching: layer starches like pasta and rice, tomato products (e.g. tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato puree), and dense sauces (e.g. alfredo sauce) on top of other ingredients and don’t stir.
- Always deglaze the inner pot after you’ve used the ‘Saute’ function. This means that after sauteeing your food, add a couple of tablespoons of liquid and scrape up the brown bits so there’s nothing stuck on the bottom.
But that’s not all. I’ve written a comprehensive article on the ‘burn’ error, what causes it, how to avoid it and how to salvage your meal.
[Read More: Instant Pot Burn Message]
6. Instant Pot Won’t Come to Pressure When Making Recipes with Tomato Products or Store-bought Sauces
This is another common problem Instant Pot owners have. Tomato products (e.g. tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato puree) in the pressure cooker can be tricky. Tomato products can be thick and dense and may contain sugar which leads to scorching.
Many store-bought sauces (e.g. alfredo sauce) have a high content of sugar, or fillers like corn starch or flour which can also cause scorching.
One common outcome is the ‘Burn’ error. [Read More: Instant Pot Burn Message]
Here are some things you can do to prevent the problem:
- Layer these sauces on top without stirring.
- Thin sauces with water or broth, to make them less dense
- Use Pot in Pot method of cooking [Read More: Secrets to Pot in Pot Cooking]
7. Instant Pot is Dead and the Display Won’t Turn On
There are a few common reasons your display isn’t turning on.
- If your Instant Pot has a detachable cord, it might be loose. Check the cord and make sure it’s pushed in all the way.
- Your outlet may be faulty. Try plugging the Instant Pot into another outlet.
- It’s possible that an Instant Pot fuse needs to be replaced, possibly faulty due to a power surge or other electrical issue. Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service.
8. Instant Pot Display Screen is Showing Error Code
If your Instant Pot display screen starts blinking with an error code, here are the common codes (which can vary by Instant Pot model) and how to troubleshoot:
| Error Code | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Lid | Lid is not in the correct position for the selected program | Make sure lid has been turned clockwise all the way when pressure cooking, and make sure lid is NOT on for ‘Saute’ function |
| burn | Instant Pot is overheating | See Problem #5 above |
| Ovht | Instant Pot is overheating | See Problem #5 above |
| noPr | Working pressure is not reached during pre-heating cycle. | If the lid leaks steam, see Problem #2 above. If there is no steam leaking and you have frozen food in the Instant Pot, try restarting the current program |
| C1 | Faulty temperature sensor | Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service. |
| C2 | ||
| C5 | Temperature is too high | Make sure inner pot is placed properly in base unit and make sure there is enough liquid in inner pot |
| C6 | Faulty pressure sensor | Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service. |
| C6L | Faulty low pressure sensor | Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service. |
| C6H | Faulty high pressure sensor | Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service. |
Remember to keep your receipt in case of manufacturer errors. The company is pretty good about helping people identify the problem and even sending out replacements.
9. Recipes Mention ‘Cook on Manual’, You Don’t Have ‘Manual’
Some (older) versions of the Instant Pot DUO have the ‘Manual’ button rather than ‘Pressure Cook’. Many recipes that are posted online are created by people who own the older version.
If a recipe refers to ‘Manual’ mode, use ‘Pressure Cook’ mode instead. It’s the same thing.
10. Chime is Annoying, You Want to Turn it Off
I love that chime, but I know many people don’t like it because it disturbs others or its irritating. Here’s how you turn it off.
- Instant Pot LUX, DUO: Press and hold the ‘-‘ button for 3 seconds to turn off sound. Press and hold the ‘+’ button for 3 seconds to turn sound back on.
- Instant Pot ULTRA: Press the knob for 5 seconds. In the menu, SOUND will be highlighted. Press the knob to select SOUND. Turn the knob to select ‘OFF’ (it will be blinking). Press Start to confirm your selection
11. There are so Many Buttons and Functions that it’s Confusing to Use!
Yes, there are many functions, which are basically just presets, as you would have on your microwave.
For example, the Soup function is preset to cook for 30 minutes at high pressure. The Meat/Stew function is preset to cook for 35 minutes at high pressure.
However, you don’t need to use the presets. You can use the Pressure Cook function and set the pressure cooking time. As a matter of fact, you can get by with using just a few functions/buttons (varies by model):
- Pressure Cook (also called Manual on some models)
- Saute
- Keep Warm
- Cancel
- Start
Barbara over at Pressure Cooking Today has one of the most comprehensive guides that covers most of the models: Which Instant Pot Buttons to Use.
12. Instant Pot Sealing Ring Smells | Instant Pot Lid Smells
The sealing ring is made of silicone and it will retain the odors of whatever you last cooked (and more!)
There are many ways to try and remove the odors (e.g. keep it out in sunlight, soak it in denture cleanser, use lemon juice, vinegar, etc), and I’ve tried them all. They work okay but the odors don’t ever completely go away.
Personally, I don’t really find that the odor from the sealing ring transfers to whatever dish I’m cooking. So I don’t worry about the smell unless I’m making a dessert.
I have a second sealing ring for desserts. You can purchase sealing rings in multi-colored packs which helps you remember which one is used for sweet or savory dishes.
One thing you should never do is store the Instant Pot closed, with the sealing ring in the lid. I always store my lid upside down on the unit.
13. Inner Pot has a Rainbow Stain
Sometimes your Instant Pot inner pot can get a rainbow or blue-purple stain especially when the pot is overheated. This happens to stainless steel pots, in general.
Barkeeper’s Friend is my favorite product for cleaning my Instant Pot inner pot. I use it to clean all my stainless steel pots and my kitchen sink.
You can get Barkeeper’s Friend in powder or liquid form.
I prefer the liquid. Be sure to shake it up before using.
14. Meats are Dry and Tough
One of the most common complaints I hear from new Instant Pot users is that they pressure cook meat or chicken and it comes out dry and tough.
Chicken breasts, pork chops, beef tenderloin don’t do as well in the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot is best for meats that have a higher fat-content like chicken thighs, pork shoulder, beef chuck.
Cooking a boneless, chicken breast in the Instant Pot may not give you the best or ideal results. Using chicken breast with skin and bone will give you better results, because of the fat content.
That being said, people do cook these leaner cuts of meat and chicken in the Instant Pot. e.g. if you really want to try and cook chicken breasts in your pressure cooker, here’s an article from Pressure Cook Recipes about Cooking Chicken Breast in the Pressure Cooker.
Another key to preventing meat from becoming dry is to use Natural Pressure Release (NPR). Allow the float valve to go down on its own.
This allows the meat to rest, the fibers to relax and the juices to be re-absorbed into the meat rather than evaporating. This applies particularly to meat that is not immersed in liquid (like soups, stews, curries, and gravies.
Finally, contrary to a lot of advice about pressure cookers, more is not always better when it comes to meat. Meat becomes tender in about one-third the time it takes for conventional cooking. Pressure cooking meat for too long can cause it to become dry and tough.
As meat overcooks, the muscle fibers are depleted of fat and juices. To salvage the meat from this stage, you can cook the meat even further until it breaks down to the point it’s falling apart. You’ll lose flavor and nutrients, but you’ll have tender meat!
Laura from Hip Pressure Cooking has some great articles including Choosing the Right Cut of Meat.
15. Placed Instant Pot on Stovetop and Instant Pot Bottom Melted
My thanks to Dale Falconer for providing the above photographs
Believe it or not, this is a common problem! Many people leave their Instant Pots on the stovetop thinking that as long as they don’t turn on the burner, they’ll be fine.
But the problem is that someone in the household accidentally turns on the burner or the Instant Pot is placed close to an adjacent burner that’s turned on.
If this happens to you, I suggest you get a replacement unit because you don’t want to take a chance with the circuitry being damaged.
There are a few places you can go to for Instant Pot spare parts including base units, lids, valves:
- The Instant Pot company website: Replacement parts (Disclosure: if you purchase from the site, I will receive a small commission)
- Instant Pot Facebook group for parts: Instant Pot Parts Swap or Sale
- ebay.com
16. Accidentally Poured Liquid into Instant Pot but Forgot to put in Inner Pot (Liner)
Hard to believe, but forgetting to put in the inner pot and accidentally pouring liquid into the Instant Pot base unit is a common problem!
People wash the inner pot in the dishwasher and forget to put it back in the Instant Pot base unit before cooking.
If this happens to you, don’t panic! According to the Instant Pot Company, here’s what you can do for water or food spills:
- Unplug the Instant Pot right away!
- Wipe the inside of the Instant Pot base unit and heating element with a dry cloth to remove as much of the liquid as possible.
- Place the base unit upside down to let all the liquid drain out of the cooker base.
- There is a plastic vent cover on the bottom of the base that you can take off by unscrewing the screws.
- While you have the cover off, please be gentle with the wires and circuitry.
- Try to carefully reach up into the cooker housing to see if you can remove any food debris (if necessary).
- Clean and dry everything as much as possible for 72 hours. Use a fan to speed up the drying out.
- Put everything back together, insert the inner pot and plug the unit in.
- If it turns on, attempt to heat 2 cups of water in ‘Saute’ mode.
- If that test is successful, do a water test to check if the Instant Pot is working. If it is, you’re all set.
- If at any point, there is a burning smell, turn the unit off and unplug it. Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service.
- If you can’t get the Instant Pot to turn on and successfully complete a water test, it’s probably time to get another Instant Pot. *
If oil spilled into the base unit, you can attempt to turn the pot upside–down to allow it to drip out. However, there is no safe way to determine if it’s safe to use or not. Turning on the pot even to test would be a fire hazard.
* There are a few places you can go to for Instant Pot spare parts:
- The Instant Pot company website: Replacement parts (Disclosure: if you purchase from the site, I will receive a small commission)
- Instant Pot Facebook group for parts: Instant Pot Parts Swap or Sale
- ebay.com
The best way to prevent this problem is to put something in the base unit while the inner pot is out that will help you remember to replace the inner pot (e.g. a long wooden spoon or ladle).
17. Upper Kitchen Cabinets are Getting Damaged
When the Instant Pot is placed on the countertop, the steam release can shoot straight up toward the upper cabinets.
Many people solve this problem by placing their Instant Pot on the stovetop. But this can cause even bigger issues. See Instant Pot Problem #15 above.
What I do is I carefully turn the Instant Pot so that the steam release opening is toward the front or side and this allows the steam to be directed away from my upper cabinets.
Just be very careful when doing a quick release (QR); keep your hands and face away from the flow of steam!
Another solution is to use the Instant Pot on a side table or cart, away from the cabinets.
If this article was helpful to you, please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!
You might also find these articles helpful:
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| Instant Pot Pot-in-Pot Cooking | Instant Pot Burn Message | 16 Reasons why Your Instant Pot is not Sealing |
Sue Stark
December 1, 2018 at 10:17 amYour site is so helpful I can’t thank you enough! My husband is now addicted to the Instant Pot and uses it constantly, I have to schedule a time to use it with him!
Paint the Kitchen Red
December 1, 2018 at 12:41 pmThank you so much, Sue! You’ve made my day 🙂
Ann Jawdat
December 8, 2018 at 1:45 pmMy instant pot is not building pressure and there is no required heat in it although the control desibly panel showing the circulation signal then then on mode but nothing will happen.
I tried that so many time nothing happens.
Please help me how to fix it , it’s only 18 months since I bought it .
Paint the Kitchen Red
December 8, 2018 at 7:00 pmHi Ann – how much liquid do you have in the Instant Pot when you’re doing this? The display can show’On’ for a few minutes before going to the number of minutes. How long have you waited for the ‘On’ to change to a number? Try it with just 1 cup of water and 2 minutes. It should go from On to 2:00 in a few minutes at the most. If it never does, then you need to open a ticket with the Instant Pot company.
Beverly
December 27, 2018 at 7:21 pmWhen I hit manual button on Duo6 instead of showing 30 minutes it shows 1. What causes this and how to fix it? Thanks!
Paint the Kitchen Red
December 28, 2018 at 6:59 amBeverly, it could be that your ‘Manual’ option is defaulting to 1 minute. For me, the manual (or pressure cook) option defaults to whatever I had last set it to. So you just want to press ‘Manual’ and the ‘+’ button until you reach your desired cook time and it should begin pressure cooking. The next time you use it, it should default to whatever you set it to this time. Hope that works for you.
Catherine
January 1, 2019 at 6:05 pmI received an 8 qt instant pot for Christmas, I Love it and have become a big fan, I am sure people are sick of my bragging about it. Tonite I made pork and sauerkraut, it was delicious, however there are black circular stains on the inner lid and upper part of inner pot. I tried baking soda and vinegar, using a magic eraser, to no avail what causes this?
Paint the Kitchen Red
January 2, 2019 at 8:39 amCatherine, I have not seen or experienced this. Here’s an article on stainless steel stains that might help you out. Maybe #6 pertains to you? Also try Barkeeper’s Friend. Good luck!
Hilary
January 5, 2019 at 5:06 pmHi,
I’ve been using Pot in pot (pip), both with stainless steel containers that stack closed and with glass containers. Since I started doing this, I’ve found that things don’t cook the way they used to. For example, I used to do chicken breasts in 5 minutes with a 10 minute natural release. Now it is raw when i cook it that way.
The pot comes up to pressure fine, but the food is just not cooking. What am i doing wrong?
Thanks!
Paint the Kitchen Red
January 6, 2019 at 11:21 amI generally use about the same amount of time when I do PIP, maybe add a couple of minutes. I’m not sure why the chicken is so undercooked that it’s still raw. I would just increase the cooking time by 25% and see what happens.
Steven Peterson
January 6, 2019 at 12:23 pmI don’t know what screwhead fits the screw on the bottom of the Instant pot. I’ve tried using all the heads I have but can’t fit the screw.
Paint the Kitchen Red
January 6, 2019 at 12:51 pmSteven, I have a ratchet screwdriver that has a 6 sided star shaped bit that works. Do you have an eyeglass screwdriver set? I think a flathead one would also work.
Huck
January 29, 2019 at 8:34 am#15 Torx bit
Pat
January 19, 2019 at 5:32 pmToday I made a delicious turkey and rice soup in my 6qt Instant Pot. When I turned the pressure release valve for a manual release, the steam was mixed with broth and spewed all over the cabinets and counter. Any thoughts why that would happen?
Paint the Kitchen Red
January 19, 2019 at 7:18 pmPat, when you’re making things like soups and pasta, the best way to release pressure is to wait a couple of minutes (if possible) and then release steam in bursts. Release, stop release. This decreases the mess. Hope that helps.
Kristi Hughes
January 21, 2019 at 3:40 pmMy Duo60 6 quart that I bought in 2017 does not seem to cook at the set time. Say if I set pressure cooker at 30 min. It will come to pressure and then say 8 min. I know it only took 10-15 min to come to pressure but dropped down to 8 min left. Also, when it’s done it used to count back each minute after pressure cooking until I realease steam. It used to do this but now it doesn’t anymore. These are my problems.
Paint the Kitchen Red
January 21, 2019 at 3:54 pmKristi, dang – that doesn’t sound good. Have you tried opening a ticket with the company? http://support.instantpot.com might be able to help you out. Good luck.
Jenny Phan
January 26, 2019 at 8:20 amHi, my problem is: after the cooking time done, the panel show OFF, not countdown the time for nature release. What should I do?
Paint the Kitchen Red
January 27, 2019 at 2:22 pmJenny, it appears that you have somehow changed your default setting to not have ‘Keep Warm’. If you have a DUO, When you’re beginning to pressure cook, press the ‘Pressure Cook’ button a second time and the Keep Warm light should come on. Let me know if that doesn’t work for you. With other models, there are different ways of turning on Keep Warm – let me know.
Dale Kopchick
January 30, 2019 at 9:11 amHi,
Received my Instant Pot Duo-8 for Christmas and I love it, EXCEPT for the Saute function.
Whenever I saute it usually spatters grease on the pot, counters, cabinets, etc. Cleanup is such
a pain that I avoid using this function. Has anyone else experienced this?
Dale
Paint the Kitchen Red
January 31, 2019 at 2:25 pmDale, have you tried lowering the heat for Saute mode? That might help. I use a splatter screen if I’m adding any wet ingredients to the oil in the inner pot.
Melodie Fox
February 14, 2019 at 2:10 pmHello, My last two dinners did not turn out in my Power XL pot. The small 4 lb pork shoulder was even under cooked! I set it on “meat” and 20 minutes according to other recipies that I had read. That 20 minutes turned into two more cycles of 20 min before the the meat was done! It acts normal during this process , like it’s coming to pressure and all but the food is not. Suggestions?
Paint the Kitchen Red
February 16, 2019 at 10:08 amMelodie, have you cooked pork shoulder in your pressure cooker before and is just acting up now? In my Instant Pot, a 3 lb pork shoulder takes about 60 minutes to cook if I don’t cut it up. I actually cook for 90 minutes! 20 minutes seems too short unless you’re cutting it up into smaller pieces.
Cathy Miller
February 16, 2019 at 3:22 pmHi, I am a new Instant Pot user. A recipe I made before created a problem this time. It’s a corned beef and cabbage recipe. The problem came in when I steamed the vegetables. I left 2 cups of the liquid from the corned beef (as instructed) and layered the vegetables (potatoes/carrots/cabbage). I cancelled the previous setting, set it on steam and 5 minutes. It showed On, but never did the countdown from 5 minutes. After what must have been at least 30 minutes, the pot gave the error message NoPr and once flashed the burned message. The 1st time I did this recipe, I had no problem. What happened? Thanks for any insight you can provide.
Cathy Miller
February 28, 2019 at 2:44 pmAny answers to this?
Paint the Kitchen Red
February 28, 2019 at 3:14 pmI am so sorry – I somehow missed your original comment! The ‘NoPr’ error can happen if your Instant Pot can’t reach a high enough temperature during the preheating stage – possible reasons could be if you have too much quantity or frozen ingredients. Or it could be one of the reasons in this post about reasons your Instant Pot is not sealing. Sometimes what works is to press ‘Cancel’ and start again.
Gary Petrella
February 22, 2019 at 11:47 amHello,
I have the IP-DUO V2. When using the saute function, the temperature adjust does not work. It comes on in the “more” setting and will not change to “less” or “normal”. Any suggestion as to how to correct would be much appreciated. Other than that, all else works well. Thank you.
Paint the Kitchen Red
February 22, 2019 at 4:01 pmGary – Changing the mode between less/normal/more is different depending on the model (maybe you already know that). It’s done with the adjust button on some models and by selecting the function (eg. saute, meat, soup, etc) repeatedly on other models. If you’ve already tried that, I’m not sure what’s wrong – sorry!
Dana
March 7, 2019 at 6:32 pmI’ve been trying to use my instant pot for about a month now. When I use the manual option, it stays on the “on” function for literal ever. I waited for an hour one night. Not even joking. I usually have to unplug and start over at least three times before it will finally start pressure cooking and counting down the time I set. Help. Me. It’s not feeling like it was worth the purchase 🙁
Paint the Kitchen Red
March 7, 2019 at 6:53 pmDana, sorry for your frustration. Have you done a water test? I recommend this to rule out any issues with ingredients or instructions. Just pressure cook 2 cups of water on high. If you have the same issue, then there’s something wrong with your Instant Pot and you should file a ticket at support.instantpot.com. If not, then it’s the recipe(s) you’re using. Good luck!
Denise
March 21, 2019 at 3:50 pmHi There,
I have the 3 quart Instant Pot, and here’s my challenge. When I cook black beans using the “Meat/Stew” setting (after doing the proper soaking and abiding by liquid fill recommendations), the beans take up 2-3 hours to cook. This is when I add minutes to the default time for the meat/stew setting. I set the timer for 18 or 20 minutes and beans take up to 3 hours to fully cook, is this normal?
Paint the Kitchen Red
March 21, 2019 at 4:51 pmDenise, that seems awfully long! Have you tried using another mode or ‘Manual’ mode? Is it possible that your batch of beans is old? If so, try another batch of beans. Some beans that have been sitting on a shelf in the store or in your pantry can be very hard to cook no matter how long you do it for. Hope that helps.
Denise
March 22, 2019 at 1:09 pmThank you, I will give that a try, a “Manual” mode or another mode. The beans are “supposed” to be fresh, well at least they are supposed to be organic. I typically purchase them from a well known health food store. Maybe I will try another brand. Or maybe I have a faulty pot.
sandra
March 23, 2019 at 3:42 pmThank you so much for all the wonderful information about the instant pot that you have given us. I’m only sorry that I didn’t find it sooner. I get a burn Notice almost every time I use my instant pot. I have the Ultra. I have been in a dialogue with the company for almost 2 months now and they insist it’s working as it should. I have followed all directions and nothing helps. It was great to hear that I am not alone. Do you have any suggestions like only use my ultra for pot in pot. Possibly throw out the ultra and buy a duo 60 7 in one(people seem really happy with that one). I am new to this and need help. Thank you.
Paint the Kitchen Red
March 26, 2019 at 10:31 amArrgh, so frustrating! Duo vs Ultra should not make a difference. First of all, have you done a water test and what happened? If you haven’t yet, please read my detailed post about the burn error. Are you making any of the mistakes I’ve listed? What recipes are you making? Maybe I can take a look to see how you might be able to change them up.
Jessica Leonard
May 8, 2019 at 8:21 pmGreat article, thank you! I got a pioneer woman IP for Christmas and used it a couple of times a week flawlessly. A couple of weeks ago, tried to cook ground beef in it- everything looked like it was working normally but after the 30 min on manual when it beeped and I went to release pressure, none seemed to have built up. When I opened it it was hot and the liquid was boiling (I had a can of tomato sauce in with it)- and the meat was burnt on the bottom but still red on top. I cleaned it out and used it successfully to make rice, but then tried a chicken recipe I’ve done frequently and it did the same thing- seemed to work, went through the 25 min, and raw/burnt chicken with no pressure to release. I returned it to Walmart and exchanged for a new one and THE SAME thing happened, therefore I know it’s user error! Help?!
Paint the Kitchen Red
May 8, 2019 at 9:00 pmJessica, without seeing the recipe you used it’s hard for me to say what you might be doing wrong. Tomato sauce and/or too little liquid is probably the culprit. Please read these two posts and try and make sure you’re not making any of the mistakes outlined: Reasons your Instant Pot is not Sealing and Burn Message. If you want to email me through my contact page and send me the recipe links, I can try and see if there’s something that jumps out.
Faye
May 8, 2019 at 8:22 pmI have the 3 quart mini Lux. The 9 min lazy lasagna takes me 45 mins!!?? I can’t adjust the temperature on my instant pot to high when using the pressure cooker method.
Paint the Kitchen Red
May 8, 2019 at 8:56 pmFaye, the LUX only has one pressure setting and that’s HIGH, so that is not the issue. What happens when you make other simpler dishes? e.g. cube some potatoes into 1-inch cubes and pressure cook using a steamer basket for 2, maybe 3 minutes. Is it cooked or still raw? If it’s still raw, then there’s something wrong with your Instant Pot and you should either return it or file a support ticket with the IP company. Thanks for your question.
Eileen Luscombe
June 10, 2019 at 6:59 pmHow do I replace the pressure vent release. I have the part and unscrewed the screws on the lid. Cannot remove the inner lid. What next. I have had the unit about 6 months and my liquid has always evaporated and the valve seems loose and.just wiggles back and forth
Paint the Kitchen Red
June 11, 2019 at 9:10 amEileen, the pressure release handle is supposed to be loose and jiggly. Are you talking about the metal part that the handle sits on or the float valve? Does your float valve come up when you’re pressure cooking? Have you done a water test to make sure that the Instant Pot seals? You might need to create a support ticket at support.instantpot.com.
Lynn Marie Hampton
June 14, 2019 at 8:17 pmTwice now my dad has set the timer to 1 hour to cook a pot roast. The instant pot speeds timing up by more than 20 minutes. Does it have a way to tell if things are cooked through faster?
Paint the Kitchen Red
June 18, 2019 at 1:11 amLynn, there’s no sensor to let you know if something’s cooked. You kind of have to follow a tried-and-tested recipe or use trial and error. I think 1 hour for a 3 lb roast is an accurate timing. If you cut the roast up into smaller pieces, you can reduce the cooking time.
Barbara Carlson
June 17, 2019 at 12:31 pmInstant pot hasn’t been used a lot – like new— trouble we had was cooking corn beef & cabbage .. the dinner wasn’t the issue, it’s like the pot went crazy .. it released for over 2 hours, we had trouble to begin with setting the pot for desired time, settings, it never cooked the dinner ..
so here I have this beautiful pot as a gift 8qt and have a idea what to do.
Is there a trouble shooting method you can recommend & would I just put water in it?
Not sure I’d ever desire another one if this one malfunctioned so early in its lifespan..
1 year warranty is a joke 🙁
Thank You
Barbara
Paint the Kitchen Red
June 18, 2019 at 1:28 amBarbara, I’m sure that’s so frustrating 🙁 I’m assuming your float valve was up? If so, it’s possible that it may have been stuck in the up position, in which case you could gently tap it with a chopstick to see if it’ll fall on its own. If not, it’s okay to manually release pressure once you’ve reached the 30 minute mark after cooking is complete. I do that often when I need to naturally release pressure. If you’re still having issues, I’d first suggest doing the water test (as you mentioned). Pressure cook 1.5 to 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. Make sure it comes to pressure and the float valve comes up. Release pressure naturally and see how long it takes. It shouldn’t take more than 20 to 30 minutes (15 minutes is more like it). Good luck 🙂
Jessica
June 23, 2019 at 2:06 pmWhat can I do if my instant pot won’t unlock?
Paint the Kitchen Red
June 24, 2019 at 6:01 amJessica, if your float valve is down, your pressure has released so you can just use a bit of force to turn it. The silicone may be stuck. Be sure to clean the sealing ring thoroughly.
Priya
July 3, 2019 at 11:19 pmHi,
When cooking I smelt a burning smell and my instant pot turned off. I took the inner liner out and there was a small black burned area on my heating element. There was no stuff stuck to the inner liner. I contacted support and they say my base won’t work. Is there anything I can try to see if that’s true?
Paint the Kitchen Red
July 7, 2019 at 11:40 amPriya – have you tried cleaning the burnt spot off the heating element? You could use barkeeper’s friend to try and scrub it off. Unplug first, of course! You may have accidentally spilled some food on there.
Janet V Wagner
July 5, 2019 at 4:01 pmDoes the type of steamer basket used alter the cook time much?
Paint the Kitchen Red
July 7, 2019 at 11:36 amJanet, I use different kinds and haven’t seen a noticeable difference. But I would imagine that one that’s mesh vs holes would have a minimal difference.
Linda
July 9, 2019 at 8:43 amThanks for this troubleshooting guide. I was cooking corn on the cob for 2 mins with a quick release afterwards. I only used 1 cup of water, but it seemed like it took at least 20 mins for the steam to fully release. Is this normal? I don’t seem to have waited this long in previous recipes.
Paint the Kitchen Red
July 9, 2019 at 10:03 amLinda, that does seem like longer than usual, especially with 1 cup of water. But it does happen. It’s possible that your float valve was stuck in the up position, and you could have gently pushed it down with a chopstick. I frequently release the pressure manually after about 20 minutes of natural release, and don’t see a big difference in the end result.
Andrea
July 13, 2019 at 6:56 amI was cooking a ham in my instapot and the outside of the instapot caved in. When I saw it, I immediately turned the pot off. Have you ever come across this? Assuming not safe to use now
Paint the Kitchen Red
July 14, 2019 at 9:32 pmWow! I have never heard of that happening while cooking; maybe if it fell down or something but not like you describe! I would contact the company at support.instantpot.com and send them a photo too. I hope they can help you out. But, yes, definitely DON’T use it.
Alexander
July 14, 2019 at 5:40 pmHello,
I need help! I made chicken breast on my instant pot, released the steam, and left it on warm for about 10 minutes(like I normally do). For some reason, my lid is stuck! I don’t know what to do…
Paint the Kitchen Red
July 14, 2019 at 9:24 pmAlexander, if your float valve is down you should be able to open the lid. You might have to use slightly more force than you normally would. If the float valve won’t come down, and pressure has been completely released, gently press down on float valve with a chopstick. It might just be stuck. Once the lid is open, clean the float valve and lid completely.
Jan
July 15, 2019 at 10:39 amMy warranty has expired on my quick pot. First time using it and the malfunction switch is not working. Is there a quick fix for this problem.
Paint the Kitchen Red
July 17, 2019 at 1:20 pmJan, I’m not sure what switch you are referring to. Could you clarify either here or by email? You can reach me through [email protected].
Ann West
July 17, 2019 at 3:26 pmSo disappointed. New Instant pot Duo failed water test 4 times. When I pressed steam the keep warm button automatically came on- pressed steam again to cancel it out.
When it came up to pressure the float valve engaged fine , but as soon as the 2 minute timer appeared the pressure release valve started to vent continuously to 1 min, then the machine went to ” off” on the screen. Manually vented to release rest of steam.
Sealing ring ok, inside of pressure release valve not loose, but valve itself feels loose ( almost as if it doesn’t t engage in sealed position.)
There is a small notch at the bottom of the raised central ” line” on the valve toppiece that doesn’t look as though it should be there.
Did not expect to face this problem. My aunt has had a trouble free instant pot.