Reasons why Instant Pot is NOT sealing: Troubleshooting all the various reasons an electric pressure cooker may not seal properly and how to fix the issue so you can get back to pressure cooking with success.
If you have been frustrated because your Instant Pot is not coming to pressure, you are not alone.
I get emails daily asking me to help troubleshoot the various reasons why someone’s electric pressure cooker is not coming to pressure and I have been there a time or two myself when making one of my Instant Pot Recipes.
9 times out of 10 the reason why your Instant Pot won’t come to pressure is because it is not sealing correctly.
Why Isn’t My Instant Pot Sealing?
Do not panic if your pressure cooker is not sealing, there are plenty of reasons this occurs and is easily remedied.
First, you may be wondering how do you KNOW if your Instant Pot is not sealing properly.
There are TWO ways to determine if your Instant Pot is not sealing.
- Depending on your recipe, it can take anywhere from 5 to even 30 minutes for pressure to be reached and cook time to begin on a pressure cooker. If that time has elapsed and the float valve has not popped up and cook time has not begun, chances are high your pressure cooker is not able to seal.
- If cook time begins on the Instant Pot begins but the float valve has NOT popped up, the Instant Pot is not sealed.
Please note that if you have large quantities of frozen food or lots of liquid in your instant pot, it may take up to 45 minutes to fully reach pressure.
Reasons WHY the Instant Pot is Not Sealing
Once you have determined that your instant pot is not sealing, REMOVE the lid from the Instant Pot to investigate the issue and determine the cause.
The reasons can include:
- Pressure valve knob was turned to “vent” instead of “seal.”
- Sealing Ring is not properly installed or missing.
- Sealing Ring is dirty (often food debris like starchy cooking liquid from rice or beans). Just clean and replace ring.
- The Instant Pot lid is dirty.
- The float valve or anti caking shield is dirty.
- Sealing Ring is broken. The sealing ring can break or tear after wear and tear or an encounter with a sharp knife or dish disposal (been there, done that!)
- Sealing Ring is too hot and is expanded. The sealing ring expands to seal in pressure in the Instant Pot. If you just used your Instant Pot for another recipe, or did a quick release to add an ingredient with a shorter cook time, your sealing ring may be already too expanded to be able to achieve a proper seal.
- Either place the seal in the freezer for 5 minutes to let it cool and return to normal size, or insert a spare sealing ring.
- Not enough liquid was added to the instant pot for pressure to be achieved.
- You MUST have at least 1 cup THIN liquid for all recipes!
- Food has burned or scorched onto the bottom of the inner pot.
- Liquid needs to be able to make contact with the bottom of the inner pot in order to build steam. If you place thick liquids (like tomato sauce) on the bottom of the inner pot the food is likely to scorch or burn as the Instant Pot tries to come to pressure.
- This can also happen if you brown meat or vegetables first and don’t deglaze the pan or scrap up any food bits that have formed on the inner pot.
- Or if you overfill your instant pot with food and the liquid can not properly circulate, causing the food to scorch or burn.
How to Fix the Issue
No matter what your issue is, once the issue is fixed (even if is as simple as moving your pressure valve from the venting to the sealing position) you MUST be sure that too much liquid has not evaporated while your instant pot was trying to seal.
If is very possible you need to add additional liquid if your pressure cooker once your sealing issue has been resolved. Remember for pressure to be reached, you MUST have at least 1 cup of water for all recipes.
If liquid has evaporated, simply add in more water, stock or juice to make up for the liquid that was lost.
A Few More Trouble Shooting Tips for Instant Pot Not Sealing
- How to get lid BACK on after “fixing” the issue
- Sometimes, you may struggle to get your lid back on your instant pot if you disrupt the cooking cycle. This can happen when you vent valve is still pointing to “sealing.” Turn your knob back to “venting” and try again.
- Ensuring you have enough liquid in a recipe
- ALWAYS remember to check to be sure that you still have 1 cup of liquid in inner pot of your pressure cooker AFTER you fix your sealing issue. It is very common for liquid to be lost if you pressure cooker is struggling to come to pressure or if your knob was accidentally left on “venting” position. Just add a bit more liquid and start the cooking time over again.
- Frozen Food Coming to Pressure
- Remember that frozen food, especially large cuts of frozen meat will take longer to come to pressure. Give your pressure cooker 45 minutes to come to pressure before becoming concerned.
- How to get lid BACK on after “fixing” the issue
If these tips did not solve your issue, contact Instant Pot Customer service who will be able to direct you accordingly.
For More Basic Instant Pot Tips, be sure to read up Instant Pot 101.
My Favorite Instant Pot Accessories
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(And in case you misplace your Floating Valve, you can get an extra to fit your model on this here.)
Kristen Chidsey
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So im making pulled pork for the second time. It came out amazing last time, however, i dont remember smelling it while it was cooking.. this time before the timer even started, it filled my entire house with the delicious smell of BBQ. though the smell is pleasant, i worry that i may have a sealing issue. Does anyone know if this is normal?
It does sound like your instant pot is not sealed. You will know if your float valve does not float up, then it is not sealed.
I close the lid and it is loose so it does not come on the ring is good I haven’t used it that much so I can’t tell what is wrong with it
Hi Roxana! So sorry for you issues. If you lid has always been loose and your instant pot has never come to pressure, you may need to call customer service–and they are phenomenal. You also want to be sure you are locking your lid in place–watch the video to see how that is done if you are at all confused–you should hear a beep. If you lid is not on correctly, your IP will usually flash “lid.” Hope that helps.
How often, if ever, do you need to replace the seal ring on the Instant Pot?
Hi Bevin! You need to replace your instant pot inner ring any time there is a tear in it. I have been using my (daily) for two years with no issues though. It just depends on user, dishwasher, etc.
Hi!! I’m new to having am instant pot. I watched your video and it was so helpful. Thank you!!
My question is the venting/sealing knob on my instant pot seems very loose. When I turn it to sealing it doesn’t seem like it is in the position and is too loose? Is the knob suppose to feel like that or is it suppose to be tight in position? I tried cooking eggs, the pot came on I selected eggs and after 10 sec it beeped but no time displayed on the pot and it never beeped when it was done which makes me think that it was not working. I have the Lux 8 quart instant pot. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Mary! The vent knob does not really lock into position, so it can be easy to knock out of place. A few times I will hear steam coming out of knob for too long and realize I knocked the knob accidentally. When this happens, I have to open pressure cooker and add more liquid and start again. Have you tried the water test yet? It sounds silly, but it does help you get familiar with the instant pot. Here are my instructions: https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-water-test/ And here are my instructions for Instant Pot Eggs: https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-hard-boiled-eggs/ If those don’t work, let me know, but it may be time to call Instant Pot.
I’m trying to cook and for some reason my instant pot is not pressuring. I’m so frustrated help
Hi Alaka, I understand you are completely frustrated. I would love to help you,but will need a bit more detail.
-Do you have a full 8 ounces liquid in your pressure cooker?
-Is your sealing ring completely sealed on your lid?
-Is your vent knob pointed fully to the sealed position?
There could be other things happening but those are the most common issues. If you could let me know what you were cooking and what settings you had your instant pot on, I can better help you 🙂
Nice post! Our new Viva IP from Sam’s club is not getting a countdown most of the time. The seal appears intact, the red pressure valve comes up and we can see steam coming out of the pressure knob in the sealing position However we have noticed the knob doesn’t seem to lock in place and can turn clockwise without securely locking like my friends IP model. Not sure if I have a defective unit. Any ideas?
Hi Frank!
It sounds like a defective model if the knob won’t stay into place. That is EXTREMELY frustrating. I would contact Sams. They have amazing customer service and should replace or refund (or direct you to a fix) You should never see steam coming out of your vent knob once pressure has been reached. Best of luck!!
Thank you! Took me a while to realize why my squash didn’t cook! Beyond a newby here. All fixed and super excited.
YAY!! So glad all is fixed and working well.
I cooked hard boiled eggs as I usually do using the 5/5/5 method. Eggs were part runny inside. Is this lack of pressure??? Thank you.
Hi Debbi! I am sorry you had issues with your eggs this past time. It may have been your vent knob was left open or your IP was on low pressure instead of high pressure. It could also have been that your eggs had extra large yolks–which occasionally happen with eggs. Next time, check pressure and vent knob, but I would still use 5/5/, especially since it has worked for you in past.
I was attempting to cook a turkey breast for dinner. Time was slipping away. No pressure, read your site, realizing I’d not added liquid. Problem solved. Thanks for saving supper.
YAY!!! I am so grateful I was able to help you. That makes my day, as much as it saved your dinner 😉
Thank you for your video! I tried each of the fixes you showed and one of them worked! I had already bought a replacement InstantPot so I will send my newly fixed original off to college with my daughter! Thanks again!
Oh YAY!!! You and your daughter must be SO happy!