The Instant Pot has revolutionized the way we cook. But like any appliance, it's not without its quirks. One concern that a few customers have raised is the issue of the Instant Pot overheating.
But do Instant Pots overheat?
Does this mean your beloved multicooker is about to become an extra in a Bruce Willis movie?
Not quite.
The Instant Pot was designed with multiple safety features, including temperature control, to prevent it from going all Hans Gruber.
In just a few minutes, you'll learn about the causes of overheating, the infamous "burn notice", and how to prevent overheating issues.
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How Your Instant Pot Works
Before I talk about how and why overheating occurs, let's have a look at how an Instant Pot works. Your electric cooker combines a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and steamer (and loads more) to produce a culinary best friend.
When set to pressure cook, the Instant Pot builds pressure, which allows food to cook at higher temperatures without drying out. It's a clever system that carefully regulates its internal temperature to prevent overheating and your appliance from turning into a crispy crockpot.
Here's a couple of things worth remembering about the pressure cooker:
- It's designed to build pressure and heat quickly.
- Its built-in safety features prevent serious damage.
- It requires sufficient liquid to build pressure and cook properly.
Instant Pot Safety Features
The Instant Pot has a couple of safety-focused features to prevent overheating.
The temperature control system monitors the climate inside the pot and adjusts it as needed.
If the temperature gets dangerously high, your Instant Pot CPU automatically shuts down to prevent any nasty accidents or appliance-ending incidents. There's a pressure release valve, too, that allows excess steam to escape, preventing the pressure from building up too much and causing overheating.
Reasons a Pressure Cooker Might Overheat
While the Instant Pot's safety features prevent some overheating issues, a few common user errors can lead to it happening anyway.
Overfilling the Pot
If you overfill your pressure cooker pot, the steam can't circulate properly, and the pressure levels will rise. When the pressure gets too high, your Instant Pot will overheat and shut down, leaving you frustrated and hungry.
The cooking pot will have a maximum fill line that you should definitely avoid exceeding. It's better to cook in batches than to risk overheating your pot by trying to cook everything at once.
How Much Liquid You Use
Every recipe needs a specific amount of liquid (water or stock) to build the optimal amount of pressure to cook food properly. A lack of liquid in the pot will lead to overheating as the appliance works harder than a political spin doctor to reach the required level of pressure.
Always add the recommended amount of liquid for your recipe. If you're unsure, consult your Instant Pot manual or look up Instant Pot-specific recipes online.
Food Sticking to the Inner Pot
Something as simple as food sticking to the cooking pot can trigger the dreaded burn warning and strike fear into your heart. Foods like rice or pasta commonly stick to the base, especially if you've neglected your water levels (again, read your manual!).
When ingredients stick to the bottom, the temperature will soar, and your appliance will shut down.
The Dreaded Burn Notice: What It Means
This safety feature lets you know that something's wrong and needs correcting before your beloved multicooker is transformed into a hefty yet expensive paperweight.
The Instant pot "burn notice" usually means that the bottom of the pot has gotten hotter than the face of the sun because you haven't taken heed and have overfilled your pot or not used enough water for your recipe.
When the "burn notice" appears, the Instant Pot shuts down to protect itself. This safety feature is there to help you; it's a sign that your Instant Pot is doing its job to keep you safe.
How to Deal With a Burn Notice
So, what should you do if your Instant Pot displays the "burn notice" warning?
These simple steps should sort out your problem.
Step 1 - Don't panic.
Step 2 - Press "Cancel" to power down the electric pressure cooker, and wait for the pot to cool down before opening it. This part is super important if you're not a fan of getting burned.
Step 3 - When the pot has cooled, open it up and check your food. Look for any particles stuck to the bottom and scrape them off with a non-abrasive utensil. Also, check if there's enough liquid in the pot (please check your manual!).
Step 4 - If your eyes are bigger than your belly and you put too much food in the pot, remove some of the contents. If there wasn't enough water, add more.
Step 5 - Close the lid and try again.
If the "burn notice" is persistent, you might have a more serious internal issue. In this case, contacting Instant Pot customer support is the best way to resolve your issue.
How to Prevent Overheating
Preventing your Instant Pot from overheating is easier than you might think. By following my sage council, you can ensure your pot operates safely and efficiently.
The first step to avoiding overheating is making sure all your components are squeaky clean before you start cooking. It might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people just can't be bothered to get rid of the pesky particles before they start.
Secondly (and for the final time), pay attention to the amount of liquid you're using. Too little can cause overheating, while too much can prevent the pot from reaching pressure.
Finally, make sure you're using the proper settings for your recipe. The Instant Pot has various settings designed for different meals, and it gets upset when you wing it and don't use the optimal function for each job.
Proper Maintenance and Cleaning
Keeping your Instant Pot clean is one of the easiest ways to prevent overheating. After each use, clean the inner pot, the lid, and the silicon ring.
Also, make sure to check the steam release valve and the float valve regularly. These parts are crucial for the pot's pressure-building and releasing process.
When to Contact Customer Support
If you've tried all the troubleshooting steps and your Instant Pot is still overheating while pressure cooking, it's time to contact customer support. They can help you diagnose and fix the problem.
Remember, it's always better to seek professional help than to try to fix a potentially dangerous issue on your own.
The contact information for customer support is in your user manual or the Instant Pot website.
Sometimes, your Instant Pot might overheat due to a manufacturer defect. If this is the case, your pot might be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Check your warranty information to see if your pot is still covered. If it is, contact customer support to arrange a repair or replacement.
Remember, it's important to register your Instant Pot when you first get it to ensure that your warranty is activated and that you can get help if needed.
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