Given its faster and safer cooking features, Instant Pot has become a household name. As an all-in-one unit, it’s easy to cook a variety of dishes in a fraction of the time of traditional stove-top cooking.
Since Instant Pot is an electronic unit, many users have been complaining about a few common errors. One of the more prominent is the popping noise.
If you’re one of these users, and your Instant Pot’s weird noises are bothering you, we urge you to keep reading. We discuss a few of the more prominent reasons and solutions.
Instant Pot Making Popping Noise
If your instant pot is making a few unusual noises, the good news is that it’s not broken! There are in fact several explainable reasons which are easier to fix than you might think!
- Wet Inner Pot
Essentially, an Instant Pot works by inserting an inner pot into a metal body. The main unit then cooks the ingredients inside the inner pot. Users often don’t realize that the inner pot needs to be properly dried before it connects with the external unit.
A wet inner pot is one of the top reasons for an unusual popping sound. If you suspect you may not have dried the inner pot correctly or at all, start by switching the unit off. Remove the inner pot.
If you have already added ingredients, you will have to be incredibly careful not to spill anything. Use a clean dry cloth to dry the outside of the inner pot. Wait for the external unit to be completely cooled down and then clean and dry the inside as well.
This means that you’ll be cleaning and drying the outside of the inner pot as well as the inside of the main unit where the pot goes into. Once you’ve done this, gently replace the pot. You can now plug the unit back into the power outlet and switch it on as normal.
- Seal
The next most common reason your Instant Pot will be making popping sounds could be a result of the seal. Users often only seal the pressure valve partially or forget to seal it off completely. It’s also possible to open by itself in some cases.
A clear indication that the seal is the reason for the popping sound is an inability to build pressure combined with the strange sounds. If this is the issue, the steam produced in the Instant Pot will be released through the valve.
Here you need to check the pressure valve and make sure it is tightly sealed. It’s important to note that unless you fix the pressure valve, it will keep making a noise and the food won’t cook.
- Insufficient Liquid
Another common misunderstanding in the actual use of the Instant Pot is that you don’t need to add water. Without any water, the pot won’t be able to create the necessary pressure and food won’t cook.
To solve this problem, open the Instant Pot and add one cup of water to create pressure. After that, add water according to the recipe. This will then enable the pot to create the necessary pressure. Your food will start cooking and the popping noise will be eliminated.
If you have added too much liquid to the Instant Pot, use the sauté function to reduce the liquid content and thicken the remaining liquid. Be sure to use recipes specifically for Instant Pot as they will list the exact amount of liquid needed to build adequate pressure.
- Gasket Or Sealing Ring
Both the gasket and sealing ring are essential for optimizing the Instant Pot’s performance. This is because both seal the unit and prevent the air pressure from escaping unnecessarily.
That means, if the gasket or sealing ring is not sealed properly, it could result in that popping sound you keep hearing. Additionally, users often place the gaskets incorrectly which will impact the performance. Steam will also leak from the side.
Fortunately, it’s an easy problem to fix. Simply turn off the Instant Pot and ensure the gasket is correctly placed. Check the edges and stuffing in the gasket to see how it should fit. Alternatively, you can also check your user’s manual for a more accurate guide.
- Valves
Part of what makes Instant Pots so effective is the pressure valves as they optimize the pressure in the unit. It’s important to remember that these need to be closed for the unit to build pressure.
If the valves aren’t closed properly, pressure will be released from the valves which in turn will result in unevenly cooked food and of course the popping sound. To rectify this problem, simply check the valve and make sure that it’s closed during cooking.
If the valve seems damaged or broken, it might be time to replace it. Your user manual should provide details of where replacement valves can be ordered.
- Temperature
If you’ve tried all of the above measures and your Instant Pot still makes a popping noise, another option to try is to lower the temperature. The reason this works is that, at a lower temperature, Instant Pot will be able to stabilize.
In addition to lowering the temperature, you should also ensure that the heating elements are working properly. You can check the heating elements by checking the continuity. If you suspect the heating element is the problem, you can contact an electrician to replace the faulty component.
Benefits of Using an Instant Pot
If you haven’t invested in an Instant Pot yet, we have to let you know that you’re definitely missing out! There are several benefits to using the Instant Pot and we think you should know what they are.
- Saves Time & Energy
Electric Instant Pots are regarded as the second most energy-efficient kitchen appliances. According to experts, only microwaves are more efficient. Since the inner pot or cooking chamber is fully insulated, the cooker doesn’t need to use as much energy to heat up.
Additionally, since Instant Pots require less liquid, they boil faster and therefore food is prepared faster. Experts agree that compared to more traditional cooking methods, you’ll reduce your cooking time by at least 70%.
- Retains the Nutrients & Vitamins in Food
Boiling and traditional steaming can easily cause water-soluble vitamins to pour out of food, ultimately reducing its nutritional value. Instant Pots, on the other hand, cook food deeply, evenly and quickly.
This type of cooking allows food to retain about 90% of the water-soluble vitamins that would otherwise be lost.
- Eliminates Harmful Microorganisms
Essentially, pressure cookers enable water to boil at temperatures higher than 212°F (100°C). This means they can easily destroy bacteria and toxins that may be in your food.
Because of this, many users opt to use their pressure cookers as a tool to sterilize baby bottles and glass jars. It’s also ideal for distilling water.
- Preserve Food’s Taste and Appearance
Cooking food in an open pot on the stove top exposes food to a considerable amount of heat and oxygen. This in turn leads to dulled colors and in some cases even reduced flavor.
Instant Pots, on the other hand, saturate food with steam which goes a long way toward allowing the retention of phytochemicals and bright colors. Furthermore, the airtight seal allows flavors to develop faster and more intensively.
- Wide Variety of Recipes
More good news is that investing in an Instant Pot won’t leave you short of tasty recipes to cook in it. Since the Instant Pot is so popular, there are many cooking blogs, websites and even Facebook groups that continuously share new and interesting recipes.
Among the copious amounts of recipes, you can easily enjoy anything from tacos to Korean-style ribs. With so many new and fun recipes to try, the Instant Pot will take dinner at your home to the next level!
- Easy to Cleanup
In addition to fast and tasty cooking, your Instant Pot is also super-easy to clean. Using the right cleaning methods makes it easy to clean the inner pot by hand. More good news is that the inner pot and the cooker’s various parts are dishwasher-safe, making the cleaning process even simpler.
- Handy Pre-set Function
Another feature that makes the Instant Pot a hit with users is its pre-set function. Simply place the correct amount of ingredients in the pot, seal it correctly and pre-set the pot to start cooking at the required time.
Final Thought
With the simple solutions we’ve offered, you should be able to easily sort out the popping sound in your Instant Pot. It’s essential to use the Instant Pot for recipes that contain the right amount of liquid to ensure adequate pressure builds up.
Furthermore, ensure that all components are used correctly and checked properly before using the pot. In most cases, a few simple tweaks to how you use the Instant Pot will provide you with the solutions you need!