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.
In this article, I share with you a list of common Instant Pot problems and how to solve them.
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 Terminology
Here are some of the parts that I refer to throughout this article:
DUO
- Float valve
- Steam release handle
ULTRA
- Float valve
- Steam release button
- Steam release valve
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:
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.
If your Instant Pot is not sealing, here are the more common issues:
| 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 |
| The lid is not closed properly | Open the 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 is leaking from the sides
If the steam is gushing out or coming out the sides, here are the more common reasons:
| 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 is leaking from the float valve
If steam is leaking from the float valve continuously for over 2 minutes, here are some reasons:
| 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 is leaking from the steam release handle/valve
If steam is leaking from steam release handle/valve continuously, here are some reasons:
| 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 Display Won’t Turn On | Instant Pot is Dead
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.
Instant Pot Error Codes:
| 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 or Food Burn | Instant Pot is overheating | See Problem #5 above |
| PrSE | Pressure has accumulated during a non-pressure cooking program | Move steam release to the Vent position. |
| noPr | Working pressure is not reached during the 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 | Faulty temperature sensor | Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service. |
| 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. |
| C7 | Heating element has failed | Create a support ticket with Instant Pot customer service. |
| Not enough liquid | Add thin, water-based liquid to inner pot based on size: 6 Qt – 1 1/2 cups (12 oz / 375 mL) 8 Qt – 2 cups (16 oz / 500 mL) | |
| Steam release is in Vent position | Move steam release mechanism to Seal. |
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’ and You Don’t Have ‘Manual’ Mode
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 | How to Turn Chime 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 cover most of the models: Which Instant Pot Buttons to Use.
12. Instant Pot Lid Smells | Sealing Ring 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. This helps with reducing odors.
13. Inner Pot/Liner Has Rainbow Stains | How to Remove Stains
Sometimes your inner pot (liner) 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 it.
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.
Pressure 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.
Some newer Instant Pots come with the Sous Vide smart program. If you have that functionality, you’ll be able to make perfectly cooked tender and moist chicken breast.
[Read More: How to Use the Instant Pot Sous Vide Smart Program]
Another key to preventing meats 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 Stove and the 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.
18. Instant Pot Says On But No Timer
Recently, a number of readers have reported this problem and I myself experienced it the other day for the first time. The Instant Pot display says On and the float valve comes up but it never starts counting down, but the food gets cooked.
If this happens to you, after the float valve comes up, just set a separate timer for the desired cook time and press Cancel when the time is up. Do a pressure release according to your recipe and continue as usual. [Read More: Instant Pot Natural Release or Quick Release?]
Clean out the Instant Pot thoroughly and do a water test and most likely you’ll find out that it was a one-time problem. If the problem persists, you might want to contact Instant Pot Support and open a ticket.
In my case, I have a suspicion it could have been too little liquid when I was cooking my Instant Pot Boiled Eggs. But that’s just a guess.
If your Instant Pot says On and your float valve does not go up, then you probably have an issue with the Instant Pot sealing. [Read more: Reasons Why Your Instant Pot is Not Sealing]
19. Instant Pot Keypad is Unresponsive. Instant Pot Buttons Don’t Work.
First, check the power supply: make sure your Instant Pot plug is pushed into the outlet all the way and if you have a detachable power cord, make sure it’s pushed into the Instant Pot base unit properly.
Once you’ve checked the power supply, if you’re still having the issue it’s worth trying out this a solution from one of my readers that actually works for some people. Thank your for sharing this hack!
“I have an Instant Pot DUO-60 and the keypad became unresponsive. When switched on, the keypad went straight to the Saute setting and wouldn’t do anything else. I discovered that by holding down the Cancel button BEFORE switching the mains power on, then releasing the button, the keypad reset itself and it is now working fine. I hope someone finds this tip useful..”
— David
If the issue persists, your keypad’s electronics/circuit board is likely faulty. You will probably need to contact Instant Pot Support and open a 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!
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Margaret Bazzell
i tried to roast a 4.6 chicken in my instant pot but it just press acooked it. did not look or have any taste too it.If i us the saute buttom do have to put the lid on to use
Paint the Kitchen Red
Margaret, you can pressure cook the chicken and then broil it afterwards, either in the oven or using the [eafl id="14160" name="air fryer lid" text="air fryer lid"] attachment, but there’s no way to roast a chicken in the Instant Pot. When you use the Saute function, you cannot have the Instant Pot lid on, but you can use a [eafl id="12997" name="Instant Pot glass lid with a venting hole" text="glass lid"] that comes from the Instant Pot company.
DEBORAH HOWELL
I was making Chicken TIkka Masala. All went well until I slid the slider on top to Vent. It vented steam for over 12 minutes! while the chicken continued to cook. I finally gave up, unplugged the pot and opened the lid. Chicken was way overdone and burned on the bottom. What could cause it to take so long to depressurize?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Deborah, that sounds like a LONG time! Did it actually release steam for that amount of time? It could be that the float valve was just stuck in the UP position but the steam had already released. That can happen. I would try another recipe and maybe it was just a one-time thing.
Deb
I’m hoping you can help me.
I have an Instant Pot Ultra and the steam release button fell off. I see that there’s a small screw inside the lid but it’s not stable and retreats into the lid whenever I try to screw the button back on.
I called Customer Service and was told that they don’t sell replacement parts or repair Instant Pots and that I needed to buy a new lid, as I’ve had it for 3 years and it’s no longer under warranty.
Any suggestions?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Deb, you might want to visit the Facebook group where people sell and swap Instant Pot parts. Maybe you can get a lid that goes with the Ultra.
Sur
My duo 8 qt cooks fine, but after pressure is reached and cook time is complete it no longer goes to “L” w a timer, it just goes to off. Am I suddenly doing something wrong? My pot has the “Manual” button.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Sur, it’s most likely because the Keep Warm function is off. Turning it on will cause the L000 to show up after cooking is done.
Elizabeth
We received an instant pot duo evo for Christmas. The first few times it worked fine. Now the last few times we tried the instant pot pressures up and starts cooking. Then the lid chimes sound and the lid error flashes. It starts cooking and this repeats . I tried replacing the seal with the extra seal and the same thing happens. When I tried to sautee it just says lid and wont heat up. I can’t find an answer and am having a hard time getting through to ther company. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Elizabeth, I think you may have a faulty sensor. I would try to return or exchange the unit if you can.
Don
Within 10 seconds of turning my IP to Saute, the whole unit shut off. I have tried several fixes found on the internet and none of them work.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Don, I’m not sure why that’s happening. You don’t have the lid on, right?
Don
Correct!
Don
I figured it out. After you touch Saute, you have to touch “Start”. Who knew?
Thank you!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Ahhh, I forgot to mention that pressing the Start button is required for some models.
Rebecca Flaugh
I got an IP for Christmas and have tried to use it several times. It never seals the first time. Sometimes Ill take off the lid after about 30 min. to make sure it hasn’t burned again, and when I put the lid back on, viola, it seals. So after further exploration, I found that steam was coming out of a little hole above the little plastic condensation cup on the back. This hole is related to the lid lock pin. I used a skewer to push it in, on another attempt to get the pot to seal on its own, and the pot went into pressure and the countdown came on. I shouldn’t have to do this, right? Is there something I am missing here? I have tried so many times to get it right, and have read so many articles as to “why” it wont seal and I haven’t seen but one partial article about this specific problem.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Rebecca, no you shouldn’t have to do that. When the lid is off and you push on the lid locking pin, does it move freely or does it stick? If you are able to return the unit, try and get a replacement. If you can’t, then open a ticket with the Instant Pot company.
Leanne
I put frozen veggies and water in to make broth and realized the cord was at the bottom inside the inner pot. Realized pretty quickly, put cord in rice to hopefully dry insides. Is it ruined? Should I just buy a replacement cord?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Leanne, you might be able to get it to dry out over time, but I wouldn’t take a chance for now since the liquid may have penetrated the nooks and crannies. I would get another cord, and you can keep this one as an extra when it’s all dried out.
S K Ansari
Our instant pot when we turn on it shows directly 10 minutes timer and non of the buttons are working, so for instance if we need to cook meat, we take the plug out when it finishes off its 10 minutes and then we repeat this proceedure 4 time to cook the meat. I opened it and checked all the circuts and fuses but everything seems to be ok. Could someone tell me what will be the issue with my instant pot? My instant pot model is IP-LUX50 Electric Pressure Cooker
Paint the Kitchen Red
Is it a new unit? I would definitely return it if it is. I’m not sure how to diagnose your issue, so I would open a ticket with the company.
Greg Schnasse
Question: I somehow forgot to put the inner pot into the instant pot and dumped a 16oz bag of raw great northern beans directly into the instant pop. I was able to get most out, however, not all of them, as they are still rattling around. I know, that was not very smart!!!
Do you have any solution to this problem?
Thank you.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Greg, these things happen to the best of us 🙂 I would follow the directions in the section titled “ACCIDENTALLY POURED LIQUID INTO INSTANT POT BUT FORGOT TO PUT IN INNER POT/LINER”.
Donna
My ip said burn and the water came out the bottom all over the place.🥺. Is it a gonner?
Paint the Kitchen Red
You might be able to remove the bottom plate and let it dry out as mentioned in the article.
Jayne
I don’t see how to ask a question on here so I will reply to a question. Why is the thimble gasket coming off when I use the Instant pot?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Jayne, I’m not sure which gasket you mean. Do you mean the anti-block shield (round with holes all around)? It should be secure and not easy to remove. You might need a replacement lid.
Ferdinand
Hello, I’ve had an Instant Pot Duo 60 for some time. Before, I had a Power Quick Pot and I had never noticed this singularity with this pressure cooker. With the Instant Pot, when I remove the lid at the end of cooking most of the time, drops of water from the lid flow to the bottom of the pot under the heating element. It’s quite curious, how is it that this happens with the Instant Pot and that it never happened with the PQP? The design is very similar, one has a wider border and the PI less. So that the condensation collector is useless in my case and it would have been better placed under the device. Is this a fault specific to this model of the brand or is it the same with the other models? Thank you for your reply.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Ferdinand, I’ve not encountered this issue. Usually, the condensation from the lid flows onto the edge of the Instant Pot base (around the handle and then the liquid drains into the condensation collector through the hole in the lip. Is it flowing down the sides of the Instant Pot to the bottom?
Ferdinand
Hello and thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, very often this sinks under the heating element. I think it cannot be without effect in the long run. And why with the Instant Pot when this was not happening with the PQP?
Paint the Kitchen Red
That’s unfortunate, Ferdinand. Sorry, but I don’t have any ideas about why this might be happening to your Instant Pot. Almost like it’s going over the lip of the Instant Pot, past the groove where the liquid would normally drain into the condensation collector.
Carlene
Instant Pot IP
LED Display not displaying cook time correctly. Far right minute display won’t light and then center numbers become minute countdown. I do note that the display works in the warm mode and counts up with accurate display.
The pot has never had exposure to water on interior housing or exterior base. Any ideas?
Ie if I enter 45 minutes on manual setting, it reads:
H/4/5/H. The H is blank on each
Paint the Kitchen Red
Carlene, sorry to hear this. It’s not something I’ve encountered or heard of before. Is the Instant Pot new? If it is, you might want to return it. If not, your only option may be to open a ticket through Instant Pot support.
Lori
I have the same issue except I’m not even sure mine is in minutes because it goes up over 60 I. the middle and it resets back to zero after 280 this is manualanual mode is on I can’t adjust it and keep warm light is on when I turn the keep warm light off manual goes off. Are there any options for me….. I might have used mine 10 times max.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Are you saying it was working differently and now you’re having an issue or has it always been this way? It’s possible that it’s counting just minutes, so 2 hours would be 120.
DYmisha Wilburn
I’m new to the instant pot but as I tried to cook pork chops tonight, I couldn’t adjust the timer to 7 minutes. It would only allow 4 minutes cook time. What is wrong with the insta pot? Thank you!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Dymisha, is it possible you were looking at the hours? The Instant Pot display is HH:MM – H=hours, M=minutes. Let me know if you have further issues.
Vanessa
My Instant Pot Ultra is giving me the PrSE error when I have the slow cooker lid on the unit, or no lid at all. Does this mean the pressure sensor is malfunctioning?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Vanessa, as far as I know the error shouldn’t occur when you have a glass lid or no lid. Are you using the Saute mode and vave you tried it at a lower temperature? You might need to contact the company and report the issue. Good luck.
Lianne
I just got my first instant pot a few weeks ago and have used it a few times with lots of success! But, when it’s time to press the quick release button on my instapot once the pressure cooking is done, I have to press and hold down while the steam releases. Why is this! In all the YouTube videos they just click it and it goes without holding.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Lianne, that is not normal. The steam release button should lock into place and it it isn’t you probably want to either return it or submit a ticket to the company and maybe they’ll send you a replacement lid.
R
Thank you for your article. I recently got the ultra and on first attempt realized the steam was gushing from the release valve (not surprising given the cap wasn’t sitting flat before it started). Instruction manual was useless in solving the issue.
Half an hour on the phone and no one pick up (hanged up and was about to return it since it takes less time).
Turns on the issue is I had not realized the solution was to turn the push button. Thanks for your help.
Joy
My instant pot is nit heating up though the power is on. What is gonna be the problem?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Joy, it’s very hard to answer that question without more details. Have you tried doing the water test? Pressure cook 2 cups of water for 5 minutes and see if it comes to pressure. If not, you might need to check the sealing ring, check the lid for cleanliness.
Pam
Why did the Instant Pot spew liquid all over my countertop? Too much liquid in pot?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Pam, if you’re doing quick release and you are making rice, pasta, soup, etc. you should use the intermittent pressure release (quick release in bursts) and that helps reduce the mess. Read my post on natural vs. quick release. Hope that helps.
Karen
When I use my InstantPot on slow cook I always use the InstantPot glass lid.
Sometimes when I set slow cooker, within a few minutes it starts to boil. I turn it off and re set it again and so far it’s been ok. Why is it doing this please. It’s as if the sauté function is over riding it?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Karen, the slow cook function is not ideal on the Instant Pot. I’ve not used it much because I didn’t like the results and much prefer to pressure cook. I have heard that you need a minimum amount of liquid (like 2 cups) in order for the slow cooker function to work well – I can’t attest to that though. I’ve also heard that high altitude can affect how it slow cooks. If you’re at high altitude, it reaches boiling point faster.