{"id":38838,"date":"2020-12-16T23:49:37","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T06:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pressurecookingtoday.com\/?p=38838"},"modified":"2021-11-22T23:43:27","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T06:43:27","slug":"the-instant-pot-burn-message-what-to-do-and-how-to-avoid-it-in-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pressurecookingtoday.com\/the-instant-pot-burn-message-what-to-do-and-how-to-avoid-it-in-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The Instant Pot Burn Message: What to Do and How to Avoid It in the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Instant Pot burn notice can be flustering, but you can often save your meal! Here\u2019s what to do when you see the Instant Pot burn message, and how to save dinner in any electric pressure cooker!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There you are, in the middle of making a tasty meal, when suddenly you get the \u201cBurn\u201d notice. Uggggggh….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re here to let you know what to do<\/span> when you see the Instant Pot Burn notice and how you can save your dinner<\/span>. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to skip down to where we talk about how to avoid it in the future<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Interested in having us teach you how to start cooking in your Instant Pot?<\/strong><\/em>

Our live Instant Pot 30-Day Jumpstart beginners course is OPEN for enrollment! Classes start January 10, 2022.<\/strong>

Click here for details and learn how to register<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is the Instant Pot Burn Notice?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the model you have, your Instant Pot may have one of the following warnings: OvHt \/ BURN \/ FOOD BURN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this warning can be alarming, the good news is that your meal is usually fully salvageable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Why Does the Burn Notice Appear?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Usually, when you see a burn warning on your pressure cooker, it means that the sensor inside the pot detects a temperature that\u2019s too high. It doesn\u2019t necessarily <\/em>mean anything is burning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, your Instant Pot doesn\u2019t know what\u2019s actually happening inside.<\/strong> The burn warning is more of a nudge to tell you to peek inside the pot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll see the burn warning for one of four primary reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. The cooking pot is not properly positioned inside the pressure cooker housing<\/li>
  2. The interior temperature is too high<\/li>
  3. There is not enough liquid in the pressure cooking pot<\/li>
  4. Food on the bottom of the pot or between the pot and the appliance is blocking heat dissipation <\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    What to Do When the Instant Pot Says Burn <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    DON\u2019T PANIC!<\/strong> In many cases, you can still save your meal, even after the burn notice appears. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As soon as you see the burn notice, press Cancel<\/strong>, and immediately use a quick pressure release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If a lot of liquid or foam starts to rise up<\/strong>, close the steam release valve again, wait a minute, then try another quick pressure release. Repeat as needed until the float valve drops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    IMPORTANT:<\/span><\/strong> Before removing the lid when cooking high fat or ingredients with thickeners, pick your pressure cooker up about an inch off the counter and put it down firmly. (This will bring any air bubbles to the surface, so they won’t pop or spray when you open your pressure cooker.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then carefully remove the lid<\/strong> and remove the cooking pot from the housing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At this point, check the bottom of the pot to get an idea of what\u2019s going on. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    If There\u2019s Burned Food in the Pot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you think there’s just a little burning on the bottom of the pot<\/strong>, transfer the food to another dish. Take care to scrape only the unburnt food into the pot. (Usually, the sensors catch burning before there\u2019s very much.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once you\u2019ve removed the food, you\u2019ll need to clean the bottom of the pot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re using an Instant Pot or another brand with a stainless steel cooking pot, use a strong spoon to scrape dried or burnt food off the bottom of the pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, if there\u2019s a lot of burning, the flavors may have gotten into the remaining food. You may also need to soak and scrub the pot. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    If the Pot Is Clean<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If the cooking pot is clean<\/strong>, check for debris (rice grains, for example) between the pot and the Instant Pot housing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Also, check the outside of the pressure cooking pot. Note that it will be hot inside the housing. You may need to let it cool before cleaning.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \"Pressure<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    How to Finish Cooking After the Burn Notice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Finishing your meal after a burn notice will depend on where you were in the cooking process and the ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TIP: <\/strong>If you get the burn notice while cooking any ingredients that contain thickeners (like canned soups or pre-packaged spaghetti sauces), you will likely get the burn notice again if you try to pressure cook it.

    In these instances, I recommend using Saut\u00e9 mode to finish your meal. Stir constantly like you would when cooking on the stove.

    It will take longer to finish but will be much quicker than getting the burn notice multiple times. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    If There\u2019s No Burning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If the bottom layer was a little dry, but not burnt, then you might just need to add more liquid, give the pot a good stir, and try again. There\u2019s no exact formula for how much more time to add\u2014just use your best guess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Large Cuts of Meat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re making a large cut of meat like a roast, cut away any burnt parts. Then place the meat on a low trivet and continue cooking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quick-Cooking Dishes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you were right at the beginning of a quick-cooking dish like pasta, it may be better to just transfer the contents to the stovetop and finish on the stove. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My favorite way to save a quick-cooking, starchy dish like pasta or oats is to transfer the food to another pot and place it on a trivet inside the Instant Pot. A 3-quart Instant Pot cooking pot fits perfectly on a trivet inside of the 6-quart pot, for example.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    If There\u2019s Significant Burning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If the bottom of the pot turned black or there was significant burning, your food may have absorbed that burnt flavor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Unfortunately, there\u2019s not much to be done to save a burnt-tasting meal.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Just be sure to check that your pot is well cleaned, properly positioned, and contains enough liquid next time. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    Burn Notice on the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This newer Instant Pot model has a higher wattage (1200 vs 1000 in other models). It also cooks hotter, which means that recipes not written specifically for the Evo might need more liquid than in other versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is especially true when you’re making meals with thickeners or canned ingredients<\/strong>, like Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats<\/a> or Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When I make these sorts of recipes in my Evo, I will either add more water and then saute at the end to cook off any extra sauce. Or, I’ll place all the ingredients in a 3-quart Instant Pot cooking pot<\/a> and cook them pot-in-pot.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    \ud83c\udf89 If you\u2019re a new Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker owner, congrats!<\/strong> And get ready to enjoy nutrition-packed, quick, easy, and delicious meals in minutes.

    Before you dive in<\/strong>, I\u2019ve put together a helpful     getting started guide<\/a> that will set you up for success in the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \"Deglazing<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    How to Avoid the Burn Notice in the Future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    No one likes to receive a burn notice during pressure cooking! But it happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve been using electric pressure cookers for a decade now, and I still get the burn notice every once in a while.<\/strong> (At this point, it\u2019s usually because I\u2019m using a new model of pressure cooker or I got distracted while cooking and measured liquid incorrectly.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, it\u2019s easiest and least stressful to just avoid the warning altogether! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some important steps you can take to avoid the burn notice when pressure cooking at home<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Close<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Follow a Tested Recipe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The first key to avoiding the burn warning is to follow a well-tested recipe! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All of the recipes on Pressure Cooking Today<\/a> are carefully developed for 6-quart pressure cookers to ensure they contain enough liquid for flavorful pressure cooking every time, no burn notice in sight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re using an 8-quart or larger pressure cooker, you may need to add more liquid<\/strong> than recipes call for to allow the pot to come to pressure and cook properly. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    TIP: <\/strong>Since pressure cookers have exploded in popularity, there is no shortage of recipes online.

    You can tell when a recipe is good when <\/strong>it avoids or layer thickeners, dilutes or delays dairy, and calls for deglazing the pan with a liquid after browning meats or saut\u00e9ing vegetables.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Trusted Sites: <\/strong>Over the years, I\u2019ve come to trust a certain number of sites for their pressure cooking recipes. Here are some of my favorites to recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n