Today our culinary staff takes on another common Instant Pot question:

Q. Is it normal for steam to come out around the edges of the Instant Pot lid while it’s cooking?

A. While it’s not unusual for a little steam to come out around the edges when the pot is first warming up, if there’s steam coming out after the pot has come to pressure, or if the pot just won’t come to pressure at all, you may have a problem. Read more below to find out the best answers from our culinary experts!

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Why Steam is Coming from Your Instant Pot

1. It can take up to 30 minutes for an Instant Pot to come to pressure.

During the pressurization time, you may see steam coming from under the edges of the lid or through the black pressure valve on the top of the lid. This is perfectly normal! Factors affecting the pressurization time include how full the pot is and how cold the ingredients are.

2. Is the pressure valve set to “Sealing”?

Some Instant Pot models automatically set the pressure valve to “Sealing” when they close, and some need to be set manually. If you forget to set the pressure valve to “Sealing,” you will continue to see steam coming from the pressure valve and possibly from under the edges of the lid as well.

3. Could it be the Instant Pot sealing ring?

If there’s steam coming out after the pot has come to pressure, or if the pot just won’t come to pressure at all and you’re sure the pressure valve is set to “Sealing”–then it probably means your seal is either missing or not seated correctly. 

What to Do if Steam is Coming from Your Instant Pot

If your pot has already come to pressure and there are just a few minutes remaining, then let your food finish cooking. Follow the directions below once the program is complete. If there are more than 5-10 minutes left in the cooking cycle, then release the pressure, follow the instructions below and resume the cycle where it left off. 

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Is the sealing ring there?

First, check that the silicone seal inside the edge of the pot is there. Putting on a lid without having replaced the seal is a rite of passage for most Instant Pot cooks, so if it happens to you, consider it a badge of honor!

Is the sealing ring seated properly?

Second, check that the sealing ring is evenly seated under the wire all the way around the edge of the lid. An unevenly set ring can create a partial seal that allows steam to come from the edges of the lid. This can happen even when the pot is pressurized. If you continue to have the same problem, then you may need a new ring, or you may be trying to use an off-brand ring that just isn’t working properly. 

Can I keep cooking after I fix an Instant Pot sealing issue?

Generally speaking, if you catch it early, the answer is yes. After replacing or reseating the seal, rinse the inside of the lid with cold water–this will help it come back to pressure more quickly–and reset the lid. Resume the cooking cycle where you left off. And always be sure to use a good quality food thermometer to ensure you’ve reached a food-safe temperature before serving.

Instant Pot Sealing Ring and Burn Notices

If you didn’t catch this issue early on, you may have boiled off a lot of the liquid in your pot. If you’re cooking a soup, this probably isn’t an issue, but if you’re cooking a relatively low-liquid dish, you’ll need to replace that liquid before you resume cooking in order to avoid a burn notice. Check your pot and add ½ – 1 cup of additional liquid to the pot before resealing, being sure to scrape any accumulated bits off the bottom of the pot.

And that’s it! Now you can get back to enjoying some fantastic Instant Pot cooking.

Encourage others by sharing these helpful tips!