Skip to main content

Relax, everyone! Your Instant Pot is probably not going to melt

Instant Pot Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicooker melted model
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You might have heard reports that certain models of Instant Pots are overheating and melting. In fact, we at Digital Trends reported on it last week.

But before you chuck your Instant Pot out the window and swear off the brand forever, take a deep breath and relax. Chances are very, very good that you don’t in fact own the model — the Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicooker — that is having the, er, meltdowns.

Recommended Videos

Some users have reported that their Instant Pot multicookers overheated and melted the bottoms of the devices, and in some cases, the countertop beneath. Pictures of melted devices have appeared online. The news spread like wildfire, as outlets ranging from CNBC to Self magazine reported on the issue with headlines like “Some Instant Pots are literally melting right now.”

This caused confusion for those who have Instant Pots or those who were thinking about buying one — are they safe or not? The confusion was so intense that even the fact-checking site Snopes weighed in.

But Instant Pot lovers, fear not: There have been no cases of melting with the company’s other devices. Representatives of Instant Pot have made it clear that the problem is limited to just one of their newer multicooker models and not their very popular pressure cooker models, which are what most customers own.

Company spokesperson Anna Di Meglio told Digital Trends in an email that “this matter does not involve Instant Pot Pressure Cookers.” She also forwarded us the text of an email the company had sent out to consumers regarding the melting issues, which told users to immediately stop using the affected device and to wait for other steps regarding a replacement model. The letter assured users that the company was taking the issue very seriously.

“We anticipate receiving additional information soon, and we will provide an update regarding replacement products as soon as possible,” the letter stated. “We are truly sorry for the inconvenience.”

Instant Pot pressure cookers are extremely popular and have a bit of a cultish following — there’s even a Facebook group devoted to them called Potheads IP. The devices were must-have Christmas gifts last year, and you can find hundreds of recipes for the devices online — even yogurt. The appliance can do everything from slow cook ribs to pressure cook roasts — and make the rice to go with that roast.

So if you own an Instant Pot that is not a Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicooker, you should be just fine. Let us know how that yogurt turns out.

Kim Wetzel
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before joining Digital Trends as Home Editor, Kim was an adjunct journalism professor at Linfield College and high school…
30 early Black Friday deals for 2024: TVs, laptops, headphones
Digital Trends Best Black Friday Amazon Deals

Update 11/11/24: We’re officially on our way to Black Friday, and our coverage spans everything currently available at a discount. Check back regularly, as we’ll be adding to all of the best early Black Friday deals below as more and more deals pop up.

Black Friday may not officially be here yet, but early Black Friday deals have arrived, and they’re all worth shopping. We’re seeing plenty of great early Black Friday TV deals, early Black Friday laptop deals, early Black Friday smartwatch deals, and much, much more. Below we’re giving it all a home, and rounding up all of the best early Black Friday deals available right now. Scroll down through the aisle and don’t hesitate to make a purchase, as we’ve already seen pricing change several times and have even seen some deals disappear entirely.
SAMSUNG Galaxy SmartTag2 -- $21 $30 29% off

Read more
Early Black Friday chest freezer deals: up to 40% off today
The Insignia 7-cubic feet chest freezer placed in a garage.

Update 11/11/24: With so many great chest freezers on the market, it's probably no surprise that we're seeing a lot of early great Black Friday deals roll around. To that end, we've gone out and added a couple of new deals that we like, as well as updated all the current deals to their latest prices. Either way, be sure to check back as we update this article regularly!

While Black Friday officially starts on November 29, retailers are getting started early this year. That means great early Black Friday deals, including on things like chest freezers. Here, we search high and low for the best deals on chest freezers to hit the market. That means we're looking at sources like Walmart's, Amazon's, and Best Buy's early Black Friday deals among others to get you the best deals possible. Whether you're wanting to store ice cream, meat, or a party's worth of frozen pizza, these are the best chest freezers for you.
Hisense 5 cu. ft. Garage Ready Chest Freezer — $165 $189 13% off

Read more
Best cordless drill early Black Friday deals: DeWalt and more
A DeWalt drill being used.

Update 11/11/24: We know that having good home tools is important -- and how expensive they can get -- which is why we're excited to see a lot of great early Black Friday deals on cordless drills. With this update, we've added a couple of new drills that we found, as well as updated all the previous pricing on deals so you're getting the latest information. We should also mention that it's worth checking back as we update this list regularly with new and better deals.

If you're buying anything this Black Friday, there's a big chance you might want a drill/driver to go with it. A drill/driver is one part drill, one part (screw)driver, and it can help out in many situations. For example, say you take part in one of these early Black Friday TV deals, you very well might want to wall mount it. Then, say you grab an easy coffee maker from Keurig's early Black Friday deals. An extra side table in your study would sure go nice with that and a drill/driver could very well make the table's construction much easier.
Really, with so so many of your early Black Friday purchases, there might be a chance to pick up a cordless drill or driver and get to work. As such, we've compiled a list of the best cordless drill deals throughout Black Friday deals that are available now, so you can get a head start on prepping for the savings that are to come. You might also want to check out these early Black Friday power tool deals for a few more options, too.

Read more