The pressure cooker that serves us the most comforting food at home, can cause severe harm and injuries. Sometimes, it can even be fatal. Who would’ve thought?
Pressure cooker explosions happen more often than we know and we think. They can occur because of defects, maintenance issues, or user errors. No matter how latest the model of the cooker, this is a real possibility.
In this article, we will highlight the potential causes of such explosions, and suggest ways to stay safe.
How Do Pressure Cookers Work?
According to Wordmetrics.org, 200,000 kitchen accidents occur annually in the USA alone. Burn injuries constitute a major part of these and more than half of these incidents involve steam and hot liquids. Part of them involve pressure cookers.
To understand how and why these accidents may happen, we must take a look at the pressure cooker’s mechanism.
The basic principle is simple. When something is cooked in a pressure cooker, the steam is trapped inside the cooker. This builds up pressure inside the vessel. The pressure further raises the boiling point of water. All of this helps the food to cook faster as compared to a regular cooking pot.
These days, cookers come with pressure-release valves and regulators. These help release the tension inside the vessel by automatically releasing the steam. Cookers have lids that can be locked and a valve for the steam to escape.
Common Causes of Pressure Cooker Explosions
A recent study overviewed a group of patients admitted to treat pressure cooker burns. It found that 15% of these accidents were due to product-related issues. More than 80% of the accidents occurred due to user error.
Pressure cookers may have safety features like locks and automatic steam release, but these do not promise the prevention of accidents. It then makes sense for us to learn about why explosions happen and what we can do about it.
Faulty Gaskets
The pressure cooker has a rubber gasket that makes the vessel airtight. It is placed between the lid and the main pot. Due to wear and tear, the gasket may crack, stretch out, be misaligned, or lose its shape. Anything wrong with the gasket can lead to leaks in the cooker and may result in explosions.
Before you use a pressure cooker, make sure to check the gasket and inspect it for quality. Do this before every single use.
Clogged Valves
Food may get stuck and clog the valves of the cooker. When you cook thick meals, it can easily block the valve. This can prevent the steam from escaping and the pressure inside the cooker can reach an unsafe level.
Before cooking, inspect the valves and clean them to make sure they are unclogged. Clean out the space around the valve, just in case.
Overfilling the Pressure Cooker
In 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled more than 900,000 pressure cookers because the internal volume markings were wrong on all the pieces. The markings could’ve prompted users to overfill the pots causing mishaps.
As a general rule, the contents inside the cooker must not be more than two-thirds of their capacity. However, it is best to read the instruction manual of the brand you buy and ensure that you are aware of the correct measurements.
Ensure that the cooker is never overfilled, so that the steam can release easily.
Unsecured Lid
Pressure cooker lids are meant to be locked and not opened until the steam has safely been released from the vessel. An unlocked or misaligned lid can allow the steam to blow up the lid and find an escape in an unsafe manner.
Before setting up the cooker on the stove, ensure the lid is locked securely and does not open without the proper maneuver.
Damaged Parts
Pressure cookers last years and years but they may start giving up sometime or the other. Basic wear and tear in the components can cause a big mishap and maintenance is important. Keep an eye out for cracked or broken lids, clogged valves, broken or misaligned gaskets, or anything and everything that is not at par with the quality standards.
What to Do if a Pressure Cooker Starts Acting Up or Explodes?
A pressure cooker may explode for many reasons and all of them can not be in our hands. It is important to know what we can do if a cooker accident like an explosion takes place.
If you feel like something seems wrong, trust your gut. The cooker may make weird noises, the steam may come out of unusual places, or something else we may not know of. Abnormal behavior is a sign to stop cooking and check what’s wrong.
Steam and Pressure Release
Don’t force open pressure cookers when the lid hasn’t unlocked itself from the pressure. Let the steam be released and the pressure be reduced on its own. The best method is to open the lid after the cooker has cooled down.
Customer Support and Help
If you think you have received a faulty piece, or your cooker is starting to act up after multiple uses, you should seek help. You can contact customer support and get assistance on how to resolve the issue while preventing any accidents. You can also get help from local stores and handymen to alleviate the problem on a more urgent basis.
Legal Course
If an accident takes place due to no fault of your own, you can take legal action against the brand. A pressure cooker explosion is no joke and may cause serious harm and injuries. In some unfortunate cases, it can also be fatal. Taking legal action not only helps you receive the right help and compensation but also prevents such accidents from happening to someone else.
Safety Precautions to Prevent Pressure Cooker Explosions
To minimize the chances of such an accident, you can take care of some essentials.
Make sure you inspect the cooker regularly and check all the parts for optimum functioning. Ensure that the valves are unclogged and clean, especially if the previous meal splattered during the steam release.
Make sure you follow the guidelines and fill the vessel up to instructed levels only. Do not overfill the cooker. Make sure there is enough space for foods that tend to grow in size after being cooked. For example, rice and beans.
According to TorHoerman Law, even faulty wiring and digital indicators can malfunction and lead to pressure cooker accidents. So, make sure your cooker gets a regular maintenance check. Monitor it while cooking and stop cooking if something seems wrong.
After cooking, unlock the lid safely and without force. If you need to use force, it is better to wait for the cooker to release the pressure naturally.
Remember
It is important to remember that you must not be scared of cooking with a pressure cooker. These guidelines and information are meant to help you and ensure your safety. With the right steps and vigilance, you can prevent pressure cooker accidents. Comfort meals are back on the table.
