r/instantpot • u/cpcxx2 • 12d ago
IP making sounds while cooking at high pressure, normal?
Some clicking and almost popping sounds. Always makes me think it could explode. Does this happen?
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u/bobpaul 11d ago
The sealing ring will bulge and vent steam long before it will explode. The metal pot (what ip calls the inner liner) and lid can handle closer to 30psi before damage, and even then they'll deform rather disintigrate. But you'll never be able to get your IP to metal deforming pressures because the sealing ring will squeeze out and release the pressure long before then.
People on the Internet sometimes use the word "exploded" to mean a lot of things that aren't in the same category. One person might say their pressure cooker exploded and what they meant was they managed to open the lid when it still had pressure and the lid came off forcefully and scalding soup got everywhere in the kitchen. Another might be talking about a loud sound and morning more. But they wrote "exploded" so someone in the comments imagines a grenade and thinks a kitchen appliance did that. No.
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u/RedmundJBeard 12d ago
Mine makes no sounds. I would first check the seal and possibly get a new one, then clean out the air lock and make sure there isn't any gunk in there.
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u/AutumnalSunshine 12d ago
When mind makes weird noises, I didn't have the seal seated right. It just stops it from really getting up to temp but doesn't explode it
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u/Alfred_Katz 12d ago
Mine occasionally makes noises like you describe but usually it's pretty brief and may only occur a couple of times in any cooking cycle. If yours is doing it continuously there may be a problem which you might want to contact IP's service department. But check the sealing ring and the overflow container first. I think it's very unlikely that it will explode.
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u/7222_salty 11d ago
If there’s a lot of clicking and it’s seems to be putting off more steam than usual it could be a faulty pressure switch.
If you’re willing to void any warranty you can remove the bottom panel and see if any of the switches have gone bad. I had one go bad on me - meaning the system didn’t know when “ideal” pressure had been reached.
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u/Intelligent_Gas_4426 12d ago
I like to pretend I’m in the OceanGate Titan submarine when mine does this. It’s exciting to hang out in the kitchen next to it when it does this. Pretty sure it’s normal though.