Pressure cookers have earned a bad reputation over the years as a kitchen tool prone to exploding. The problem has happened enough that many people fear them. One very large company, I will leave unnamed, announced the recall of 900,000 pressure cookers after they had over 100 cases of the lids exploding.

How likely is it for a pressure cooker to explode?

They can explode, in a sense, but not as violently as you might fear (or hope). The pressure inside a consumer cooker doesn't go above about two atmospheres—about the pressure inside a can of soda. Those levels can be dangerous, but they're generally not high enough to cause the metal to violently rupture.

Why did my pressure cooker explode?

Manufacturing defects and design defects are frequently the cause of pressure cooker explosions. Some common injuries from pressure cooker use are steam burns, contact burns, splashed/spilled hot liquids, and explosion. ... Inadequate Venting – Inadequate venting can cause a pressure cooker to explode.