4 Instant Pot Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know

Updated on 10/27/2018 at 3:40 PM

If you're one of those parents who value your evenings but still know the importance of serving up your squad a nutritious, home-cooked meal, then there's no doubt the Instant Pot is a frequent flier in your dinner rotation. And while we're utterly obsessed with the fact that we can cook a savory curry in a half hour, easily defrost chicken, and whip up pasta in no time, it's always better to be safe than sorry when you have kids running around. But rather than launching into a panic, we've rounded up some tips to help ensure accidents don't happen in your home. Here's what parents should keep in mind when dinner time rolls around.

1. Don't leave the Instant Pot unattended when the kids are home.

While it's tempting to plop all of your ingredients into the pot and get the million other things on your to-do list done, try to stay relatively close to the kitchen. Despite the fact the cord is short, it's possible for little ones to potentially pull the Instant Pot off the counter. Another helpful rule to enforce? Making sure your kids aren't in the kitchen when you're cooking. Period.

2. Avoid the steam.

Although watching a stream of hot gas shoot out of the lid is more than mildly entertaining, don't let your children get too close, as it's really freakin' hot.

3. Don't overfill your Instant Pot.

As with any pressure cooker, putting too much liquid in your Instant Pot can lead to dangerous pressure levels. Be sure to fill it up no more than two-thirds of the way. Cooking food like rice or pasta that absorbs water? Stick with only filling it up halfway just to be safe.

4. Try not to open your pressure cooker early.

While it's certainly tempting to take a peek at the meal you're cooking up, try to keep the lid on for as long as the instructions suggest. It's also important to keep your Instant Pot sealed until it's completely depressurized, as explosions — although rare — have occurred.