Recent Pressure Cooker Recalls & Lawsuits

Several major brands and retailers have been pulled into recalls and burn injury lawsuits over allegedly defective pressure cookers and lids.

1. Ninja Foodi pressure cooker recall

In May 2025, federal safety regulators announced a recall of roughly 1.8 million Ninja Foodi multi-function pressure cookers after reports that the pressure-cooking lid could open while the appliance was still under pressure, causing hot contents to spray out. More than 100 burn injuries have been reported so far, including many second- and third-degree burns, and at least two dozen lawsuits have already been filed.

2. Ambiano pressure cookers sold at Aldi

In October 2025, Ambiano electric pressure cookers sold exclusively at Aldi were recalled after nearly a dozen incidents in which the contents were forcefully expelled while still under pressure. At least eight people suffered serious burn injuries. The recall covers tens of thousands of units in 6- and 8-quart sizes, with multiple model numbers.

3. Amazon / Instant Pot lawsuits

Reports of multiple lawsuits involving Instant Pot-brand pressure cookers sold through Amazon. In one recent case, a Colorado woman alleges that an Instant Pot she bought on Amazon could be opened while still pressurized, despite marketing that claimed built-in safety systems would prevent that from happening.

In an earlier lawsuit, a Florida mother claimed that an Instant Pot sold by Amazon allowed the lid to open under pressure, causing severe burns to her two-year-old child.

Across different brands and models, the pattern is similar:

• Lids that can open when they should remain locked
• “Safety” systems that fail to warn that pressure is still present
• Hot food and liquid erupting onto users often onto the face, chest, arms, and hands

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Why Pressure Cooker Burn Injuries Are So Devastating

Pressure cooker failures don’t usually cause minor kitchen accidents. They often result in catastrophic, life-altering injuries, including:

• Second- and third-degree burns
• Skin graft surgeries and lengthy hospitalizations
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Nerve damage and limited mobility
• Psychological trauma, including anxiety and PTSD-like symptoms

Children are especially vulnerable. A device placed on a countertop can erupt at adult-chest height, which is face-level for a small child.

These injuries can impact every part of a person’s life: work, daily activities, relationships, and self-image.

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Common Safety Failures We See in These Cases

While every case is unique, certain alleged defects appear again and again in lawsuits and recall notices:

• Lid locking failures – The lid can be rotated or opened even though pressure has not been released, allowing contents to explode outward.
• Misleading “safe” indicators – Lights, beeps, or digital displays may suggest it’s safe to open the cooker when it is not.
• Inadequate warnings and instructions – Labels and manuals may downplay the risks or fail to clearly explain critical safety steps.
• Design that invites foreseeable misuse – For example, a design that appears safe to open when there is still hidden pressure inside, or that makes it too easy to bypass safety mechanisms.

If a manufacturer markets an appliance as safe, with multiple “fail-safe” features, the law can hold them responsible when those promises are not kept and people are seriously hurt.

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What to Do If Your Pressure Cooker Explodes

If you’ve experienced a pressure cooker incident, your first priority is your health and safety. Once emergency needs are addressed, certain steps can help protect your legal rights.

1. Get immediate medical care

• Go to the ER, urgent care, or a burn center as needed.
• Follow up with specialists (burn surgeons, dermatologists, mental health providers) as recommended.
• Keep copies of discharge papers, prescriptions, and bills.

2. Preserve the pressure cooker and its parts

If it is safe to do so:

• Do not throw the cooker away
• Do not try to repair it, and do not let anyone else tinker with it
• Place all pieces (lid, inner pot, seals, etc.) in a safe location
• Keep the original box, manuals, and any packaging you still have

This device is critical evidence. In many cases, an engineering expert will need to examine the product to determine how and why it failed.

3. Gather and save documentation

Try to collect:

• Photos of your injuries at different stages of healing
• Photos or video of the cooker, the kitchen, and the scene after the incident
• Receipts, online purchase confirmations, or bank/credit card statements
• Any recall notices, emails, or product registration information

If the product was purchased on a website (such as Amazon or a retailer’s online store), take screenshots of order history and product listings where possible.

4. Be cautious with recalls and returns

If you learn that your cooker has been recalled, the recall process may ask you to return the device or destroy it to receive a refund or replacement. Before doing that, it’s wise to:

• Talk with a burn-injury or product liability attorney
• Ask whether returning or destroying the cooker could impact a potential claim

Once the only copy of the product is gone, it can be much harder to prove exactly what went wrong.

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Do You Still Have a Claim If There Was a Recall?

Yes, you may. A recall is usually an admission that something about the product is potentially unsafe. Even if:

• You already received a refund or replacement, or
• The recall was announced after your injury

…you may still have a legal claim for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring, and other damages related to the incident.

The key questions are:

• Was the product defective in how it was designed, manufactured, or labeled?
• Did that defect cause or contribute to your injuries?
• What are the full short- and long-term impacts on your health, work, and life?

An experienced attorney can help you sort through these issues.

What Our Firm Looks for in a Pressure Cooker Case

When we evaluate these cases, we typically look at:

• Brand and model – (e.g., Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot, Ambiano, and other electric pressure cookers and multi-cookers)
• Type and severity of injuries – We focus on serious burns, especially those requiring hospitalization, surgery, or resulting in permanent scarring.
• Evidence and documentation – Whether the product is preserved; whether photos, medical records, and proof of purchase are available.
• Whether a recall or similar incidents exist – Prior complaints, recall notices, and other lawsuits can help show the company knew or should have known about the danger.

Even if you’re not sure your incident “qualifies,” it is worth having an attorney review the facts.

How McEldrew Purtell Can Help

Our firm investigates pressure cooker explosion and burn injury cases nationwide, with a focus on catastrophic injury and wrongful death. In these cases, we:

• Work with engineering and safety experts to analyze how the device failed
• Build the medical and life-care evidence to show the full impact of the injuries
• Deal directly with manufacturers, retailers, and insurers so you can focus on recovery

We also regularly work with other law firms as co-counsel in serious burn and product liability cases.

You don’t have to have everything “figured out” before you call us. Part of our job is to help you understand:

• Whether you may have a viable case
• What your options are
• What the process would look like if you decide to move forward

Talk With a Pressure Cooker Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been burned by a pressure cooker, whether it was a Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot, Ambiano, or another brand, you deserve answers.

We are currently investigating pressure cooker cases involving serious burns, hospitalizations, or permanent scarring. Initial consultations are confidential and at no cost to you. Contact us today!