$1M Awarded To Woman Burned by Pressure Cooker

April 2026 – A woman from Mississippi who was severely burned when her Bon Appetit Pressure Cooker exploded has been awarded over $1 million in compensation.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi entered a $1,097,000 default judgment against I.S. Appliances, the manufacturer of the Bon Appetit pressure cooker, model number BAPCR010.

The lawsuit was filed by a 42-year-old woman who suffered 1st- and 2nd-degree burns to her chest, arms, and abdomen in February 2021 when the pressure cooker malfunctioned during use.

She spent two days in the hospital receiving infection prevention care and skin grafts. I.S. Appliances failed to respond to the lawsuit, and the court found the entry of default judgment appropriate based on its review of the case.

Though her physical injuries healed, the emotional impact was lasting. She lost her previously held joy in cooking, and the explosion affected her entire family. The $1,097,000 judgment reflects the court’s recognition of both the physical harm and broader toll the incident caused.

Pressure Cooker Burn Lawsuits Are Happening Nationwide

The Mississippi judgment is one of several significant pressure cooker burn injury cases decided in recent years, for example:

• In December 2024, a Colorado federal jury awarded $55.5 million to a Denver woman who suffered second and third degree burns to 13% of her body when her Sunbeam Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker exploded. A federal judge later reduced that award to approximately $9.1 million under Colorado’s statutory cap on non-economic damages.

• In May 2025, a jury awarded $9 million to an Indiana woman burned when a Maxi-Matic Elite Bistro pressure cooker opened while still pressurized. The jury found the manufacturer failed to address known design flaws that allowed the lid to be opened while pressure remained inside.

Hundreds of additional lawsuits are pending across the country against manufacturers including Sunbeam, Newell Brands, SharkNinja, Best Buy (Insignia), and others.

Why Do Pressure Cookers Explode?

Modern electric pressure cookers are sold with the promise that safety technology prevents users from opening the lid while the pot is still under pressure. Lawsuits allege that this promise has repeatedly failed across dozens of brands and models.

The most common defect is a lid-locking mechanism that fails to prevent the lid from opening — or that causes the lid to eject — while the contents are still pressurized. When this happens, superheated food, liquid, and steam can be expelled from the pot with tremendous force, traveling across a room and covering whoever is standing nearby.

Faulty pressure release valves are also a common source of these failures. When a valve does not properly vent pressure before the lid can be removed, the device creates a dangerous hidden buildup that victims have no way of detecting.

Pressure Cooker Recalls Affecting Texas Consumers

Several pressure cooker brands sold at major Texas retailers have been recalled due to burn hazards. Texans who own any of the following recalled products may be at risk and may also have grounds for a lawsuit if they were injured before the recall was announced.

• SharkNinja Ninja Foodi OP300 Series (May 2025) — Approximately 1.8 million units recalled after 106 burn injury reports, including 50+ second and third degree burns. Sold at Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, and Amazon from January 2019 through March 2025. View CPSC Recall →
• Best Buy Insignia Pressure Cookers (October 2023, expanded March 2025) — Recall expanded to additional units after 23 new burn injury reports. View CPSC Recall →
• Tempo USA Ambiano Pressure Cookers (October 2025) — More than 46,000 units recalled after 11 burn injury reports. Sold at Aldi stores. View CPSC Recall →

What Injuries Can a Pressure Cooker Cause?

When a pressure cooker lid opens while the unit is still pressurized, superheated food, liquid, and steam can be expelled with enough force to reach across a room. These burns are often severe and require extensive medical care.

Pressure cooker burn injury victims have reported:

• First, second, and third degree burns to the face, chest, arms, hands, and abdomen
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Skin graft surgery and lengthy recovery periods
• Eye injuries from pressurized steam
• Damage to sweat glands, impairing the body’s ability to regulate temperature
• Emotional trauma, including fear of cooking and lasting psychological harm

Do You Have a Pressure Cooker Lawsuit?

Texas consumers across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and communities throughout the state use pressure cookers daily. If your pressure cooker lid opened, detached, or exploded while still pressurized and you were burned by the contents, you may have a valid product liability claim.

You may be eligible to file a pressure cooker lawsuit if you suffered burn injuries, required medical treatment, or experienced lasting physical or emotional harm from a defective pressure cooker. A Texas product liability attorney can review the facts of your case and advise you on your legal options.

Do not discard or return the pressure cooker. Preserve it as evidence along with your medical records, photographs of your injuries, and any receipts or communications with the manufacturer or retailer.

Legal Help for Pressure Cooker Burn Victims in Texas

Texas residents who were burned by a defective pressure cooker may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent scarring, and other damages. A Texas product liability lawyer can evaluate your case and help you understand whether a lawsuit is right for you.

The Clark Firm, LLP represents Texans across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, and throughout the state. If you or someone in your family was burned by a pressure cooker explosion, our lawyers are ready to help.

Need a Texas Pressure Cooker Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.