Pressure Cookers Or Canners
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Containers, Tableware & Packaging · CPSC Code 412
Up 14% over 5 years
The verdict
Pressure Cookers Or Canners carry a danger score of 38/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 1,838 ER-treated injuries a year that are rising by about 14% over the last five years.
- 38/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 1,838
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 10.9%
- end in hospital admission
- 25-34
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 412 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 38/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for pressure cookers or canners - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume1,838 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)10.9%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend+14%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Pressure Cookers Or Canners (CPSC product code 412, in the Containers, Tableware & Packaging category) generate an estimated 1,838 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 36,750 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 38/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are rising by about 14% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2022 (3,027 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2007 (946 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for pressure cookers or canners is burn, scald to the face, accounting for approximately 8,126 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by burn, scald to the upper trunk (4,924 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 9,129 cases over the NEISS window, and females appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 10.9% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 165 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how pressure cookers or canners fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 315 | 286 | |
| 5-14 | 588 | 782 | |
| 15-24 | 1,513 | 2,941 | |
| 25-34 | 2,665 | 6,464 | |
| 35-44 | 2,244 | 5,400 | |
| 45-54 | 2,120 | 4,060 | |
| 55-64 | 1,421 | 2,058 | |
| 65-74 | 800 | 1,761 | |
| 75+ | 421 | 913 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Burn, Scald | |
| Upper Trunk | Burn, Scald | |
| Lower Trunk | Burn, Scald | |
| Lower Arm | Burn, Scald | |
| Hand | Burn, Scald | |
| Lower Arm | Burns, Thermal | |
| Face | Burns, Thermal | |
| Upper Leg | Burn, Scald | |
| Foot | Burn, Scald | |
| Wrist | Burn, Scald | |
| Upper Trunk | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Trunk | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Leg | Burn, Scald | |
| Upper Arm | Burn, Scald | |
| Hand | Burns, Thermal |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
60YOF C/O BURNED (R)NABD. BL WRIST AND (L) FOREARM, BLISTER NOTED (L) FOREARM SHE OPENED PRESSURE COOKER AND THE STEAM WITH WATER CAME OUT SHE WAS AT HOME.DX: BURN OF ABDOMEN WALL, BURN OF ARM
22 YOF SPILLED HOT WATER FROM PRESSURE COOKER ON FOOT DX SCALD BURN TO FOOT
44YOM - PATIENT PRESENT FOR BURN. PT WAS USING A PRESSURE COOKER AND IT EXPLODED. DX: SECOND DEGREE BURN TO FACE.
23YOM WHO HAS HX OF AUTISIM WAS USING A *** PRESSURE COOKER AND CUT HIS HAND. DX LACERATION OF HAND
24YOM WALKED IN TO ED WITH BURNS TO LEFT SIDE OF FACE. PATIENT REPORTS PRESSURE COOKER EXPLODED IN HIS FACE. DX:FACIAL BURN, SECOND DEGREE; ACCIDENTAL SCALDING BY STEAM; FACIAL PAIN.
74YOF WAS COOKING USING A PRESSURE COOKER, SUSTAINED BURN TO CHEST AND ABDOMEN, DX BURN TO CHEST & ABDOMEN
14 MOM TOUCHED A HOT PRESSURE COOKER TODAY. +BURNS BILATERAL PALMS. DX: BURN.
81YOM STATES THAT HE WAS USING A PRESSURE COOKER LAST NIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE COOKER EXPLODED AND HOT BOILING WATER HIT HIS ABDOMEN DX: SECOND DEGREE BURN OF LOWER ABDOMEN
51 YOM DROPPED BOILING WATER ONTO HIS LEFT FOOT FROM HIS *** 10 DAYS AGO. DX: CELLULITIS LEFT LOWER EXTREMITY, DEEP PARTIAL THICKNESS BURN OF FOOT
26YOF POST BURN FROM OPENING PRESSURE COOKER & SOUP CONTENTS EXPLODED ON TO HANDS & WRISTS, BURNING WAS 10/10 DX SUPERFICIAL BURN OF MULT SITES ON HAND & WRISTS
37YOM, OPENED AN *** PREMATURELY AS IT DID NOT DEPRESSURIZE YET AND SPLASHED WITH HOT WATER TO THE ARM AND ABDOMEN DX: BURN INVOLVING10-19% OF BODY SURFACE
41YOM, WAS COOKING WITH PRESSURE COOKER FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN IT EXPLODED AND HAD LIQUID SPLASHED ONTO FOREARM AND HAND DX: BURN
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
The consumer stated that she used the cooker three times successfully, following the instruction. The fourth time she went to use it, the cooker seal failed. The consumer was reaching up to the cabinet to the left the range. The cooker was on the right back burner. The consumer stated that the steam was coming out from the failed seal. The consumer felt the cooker explode The consumer was injured from the steam. The consumer was burned under her right breast (1st and 2nd degree burns). The consumer has two marks on her breast from something hitting her. The consumer also received steam burn on her face. The consumer was wearing eye glasses and they were severely damaged. The consumer believes that if she wasn't wearing glasses, she could have lost her eyes. The consumer's brother took the consumer to the bathroom and put cold water on her. The consumer was treated by family who is a CNA. The consumer called her doctor and spoke over the phone. The consumer was provided prescription medication for her burns. The consumer spoke to the manf. They informed her that she might not have used the cooker properly. They asked for the consumer to return the cooker. The consumer does not want to send back the cooker because she would like to have it tested for product safety. The consumer also contacted the retailer and filed a complained with them. Their insurance company has opened a claim. The consumer stated that the retailer will mostly pass the claim to the manf. The consumer stated that the manf is trying to blame her for misusing the product. The consumer asked the manf to send that statement to her in writing. The consumer was informed by the manf that there have been no complaints on this product.
My instapot pressure cooker melted and started to catch fire while using it.
The hot air accumulated in the instant pot brand I bought last year made an inflatable and then an explosion. Although I write to the company customer care section constantly asking me photos and information. I send it but so far, no one has looked for solutions or problems have not been interested.
I purchased Zojirushi NP-NVC10 Induction Heating Pressure Cooker in December 2013. The cooker has experienced some problems in recent days, and I was electrocuted and almost burned my hand when I touched the lid and metal part. It seems the product is dangerous especially when if hands are wet.
(09/22/2016) The consumer stated that she had apples in the pressure cooker. She let the pressure off and tried to open the product. The consumer stated that the steam was out and as she tried to open it, the cooker exploded. The consumer stated that the steam and apples blew out and burned her left arm. The consumer went to the ER at [REDACTED] Hospital in [REDACTED]. The consumer had to go to the Trauma Unit. The consumer had second and third degree burns.
I have owned and used a [REDACTED] unitank beer fermenter for 2 1/2 years. I have probably brewed 30 to 40 five gallon batches in my unitank since receiving in January 2019. Around five or six of those have been pressure fermentations (the [REDACTED] is "rated" up to 15 psi according to the manufacturer). A few weeks back, it was my intent to brew a beer in the fermenter and to ferment at 10 psi. I use a tri-clamp Blichmann spunding valve to control psi. I sanitized the [REDACTED] placed all connections and lid on the fermenter, and started to pressurize with the spunding valve by keeping it full open at first, and closing the valve until it released CO2 at 10 psi. Never got there. At 9 PSI the band clamp closure failed, the lid exploded off and cracked my knuckle severing two tendons. These severed tendons required orthopedic surgery 10 days later to reattach. I just thank God the lid did not hit me in the face or head.
Our client was cooking when her pressure cooker exploded. She was covered in steaming hot water and suffered gruesome burns over her arms, stomach and breasts.
the pressure cooker exploded on the stove while I was cooking bean soup; spewing hot bean soup in a 4 ft radius around the pressure cooker
Showing 8 of 165 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to pressure cookers or canners on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are pressure cookers or canners?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, pressure cookers or canners have a danger score of 38/100 (low risk). An estimated 1,838 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from pressure cookers or canners?
The most common injury is burn, scald to the face, accounting for approximately 8,126 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from pressure cookers or canners increasing or decreasing?
Up 14% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for pressure cookers or canners injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 9,129 cases recorded over 20 years. Females are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by pressure cookers or canners?
Of all ER visits involving pressure cookers or canners, approximately 10.9% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (89.1%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with pressure cookers or canners?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Containers, Tableware & Packaging
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 38/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 25-34 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
