Stop Using Power Quick Pot Pressure Cookers, CPSC Warns
Picture a Sunday afternoon in a small kitchen. Chili has been bubbling for an hour in the stainless pressure cooker you ordered online a few years ago, the one with “Power Quick Pot” printed on the front.
The timer beeps. You reach for the lid the way you have a hundred times before.
Federal safety regulators now say that for this model, that routine moment is the problem. The lid can open while the pot is still under pressure, and the company that imported it has refused to recall it.
Quick answer
On Oct. 15, 2026, the CPSC told consumers to stop using Power Quick Pot 6-quart electric pressure cookers, model Y6D-36, because the lid can open while pressurized and spray hot food. About 393,000 were sold from 2018 to 2023. Importer Tristar Products refused a recall, so there is no refund. Dispose of the cooker.
Key takeaways
- The CPSC warned on Oct. 15, 2026, about Power Quick Pot cookers, model Y6D-36.
- About 393,000 were sold from July 2018 to November 2023 for $44 to $160.
- The CPSC has 24 reports of hot contents expelled, with serious burns.
- Tristar Products refused to recall the cookers, so no refund or repair is offered.
- Stop using it, do not sell or donate it, and report injuries at SaferProducts.gov.
What did the CPSC announce on Oct. 15, 2026?
On Oct. 15, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers to immediately stop using Power Quick Pot 6-quart electric pressure cookers, model Y6D-36. The agency says the lid can open while the cooker is pressurized, which can throw hot contents out of the pot and cause burns.
About 393,000 of the cookers were sold. The CPSC says it has received 24 reports of hot contents being expelled, resulting in serious burn injuries.
The importer is Tristar Products, Inc., of Altamonte Springs, Florida. According to the CPSC, Tristar has refused to recall the cookers or offer consumers a remedy. That is why this notice is a warning, not a recall, and why there is no refund form to fill out.
How do I know if my pressure cooker is affected?
Check three things: the name on the front, the model number on the back and roughly when you bought it. The CPSC lists these details for the warned product.
| Detail | What the CPSC lists |
|---|---|
| Product | Power Quick Pot 6-quart electric pressure cooker |
| Model number | Y6D-36, on a label on the back of the cooker |
| Look | Stainless-steel body, black pressure lid, button controls and a digital display; “Power Quick Pot” printed on the front |
| Where sold | Walmart.com, Amazon.com, eBay.com and other U.S. retailers |
| When sold | About July 2018 to November 2023 |
| Price | $44 to $160 |
| Made in | China |
If your cooker has a different model number on the back label, it is not covered by this warning. If the label is missing or unreadable and the cooker otherwise matches the description, the cautious move is to treat it as affected.
It also helps to search your email for an old order confirmation. Online orders from 2018 to 2023 usually list the product name, and some list the model number.
Why is there no recall or refund?
Most recalls in the United States are voluntary. A company agrees with the CPSC on a fix, such as a refund, repair or replacement, and the two announce it together.
When a company will not agree, the CPSC can issue a unilateral warning under Section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act. A February 2025 analysis by the law firm Morrison Foerster notes that the agency issued only two such unilateral releases between 2011 and 2019, and nine in 2024 alone.
For shoppers, the practical result is simple. The government is telling you the product is dangerous, but nobody is set up to pay you back for it.
Before you buy
Shopping for a replacement pressure cooker? Check these first:
- Search the brand and model on CPSC.gov for recalls or warnings.
- Find the model number on the listing and the box, and make sure they match.
- Look for a safety certification mark from a recognized testing lab on the product or listing.
- Read the lid-lock and pressure-release instructions before the first use.
- Register the appliance with the maker so recall notices reach you.
What should I do with the cooker now?
The CPSC’s instructions are direct: stop using the pressure cooker immediately and dispose of it. The agency also asks owners not to sell or give the cookers away.
- Unplug it and set it aside so nobody in the house uses it out of habit.
- Do not pass it on. That includes yard sales, thrift-store donations and online resale listings.
- Dispose of it as electronic waste where you can. The EPA’s electronics recycling guidance tells consumers to check for recycling facilities in their state or community, since local rules differ.
- Keep a photo and any order record. If you bought it recently through a marketplace, a return request costs nothing to try, though no seller is required to accept one under this warning.
If you are shopping for a replacement, compare published safety features and certifications before you buy. Our step-by-step guide to judging a product’s value and quality walks through what to check on a listing.
How do I report a burn or a problem?
If you or someone in your home was burned, or the lid opened under pressure, report it to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
Reports become part of the record the agency uses when it decides whether to act on a product. For any burn injury, talk to a doctor or other licensed medical professional.
What other recalls should shoppers check right now?
The Power Quick Pot warning is not the only recent safety notice. Two others are worth checking if you shop online or buy smoked fish.
- Scotch Thermal Laminators. On Oct. 15, 3M recalled about 53,634 Scotch Thermal Laminators, model TL1302Z, because they can overheat and pose a fire hazard. They sold on Amazon.com from June 2024 through September 2026 for $44 to $56. Unlike the cooker, this one has a refund: register with 3M, then upload a photo of the unit with its unplugged power cord cut.
- Starfish Seafood smoked salmon. On Oct. 9, Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc., a Brooklyn, New York, distributor, recalled Starfish Seafood premium cold smoked Norwegian salmon, sliced, 227 g (8 oz), because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the FDA notice.
How can I keep up with recalls without checking every site?
The CPSC covers most household products, the FDA covers most packaged foods and medicines, and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service covers meat, poultry and egg products. Each agency posts its own notices.
A good habit is to register new appliances with the maker when you buy them, keep order confirmations in one email folder and recycle what you replace instead of handing it down. Our guide to shopping more sustainably covers the same keep-it-or-let-it-go thinking.
Back in that Sunday kitchen, the fix is not a new valve or a refund check. It is unplugging the cooker, taking it out of the rotation for good and letting dinner wait for a pot that keeps its lid shut until the pressure is gone.
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Still cooking with a pot like the one in that Sunday kitchen, or spotted a recall we missed? Send us your product question, the notice you found or a story idea, and our editors will look into it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Power Quick Pot recalled?
Not formally. On Oct. 15, 2026, the CPSC issued a warning telling consumers to stop using the 6-quart model Y6D-36 because the importer, Tristar Products, refused to recall it or offer a remedy. The safety advice is the same as a recall: stop using it.
Can I get a refund for my Power Quick Pot?
The CPSC says Tristar has refused to offer consumers a remedy, so there is no official refund program. If you bought it recently, you can ask the seller about a return, but no seller is required to accept one under this warning.
Where is the model number on a Power Quick Pot?
The CPSC says the model number is printed on a label on the back of the cooker. The warned model is Y6D-36, a 6-quart electric pressure cooker with a stainless-steel body and black lid.
Is it safe to keep using the cooker if I am careful with the lid?
The CPSC's advice is to stop using the cookers immediately and dispose of them. The agency has 24 reports of hot contents being expelled, resulting in serious burn injuries, so careful handling is not a substitute for taking it out of use.
How do I report a pressure cooker burn to the government?
File a report at SaferProducts.gov or call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772. Seek medical care for any burn and talk to a licensed medical professional about treatment.
Sources
- CPSC: CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Tristar Products 6 Quart Power Quick Pot Pressure Cookers
- Morrison Foerster: CPSC Warns Consumers to Stop Using Sport Nets (on Section 6(b) unilateral warnings)
- SaferProducts.gov: Report an unsafe product
- EPA: Electronics Donation and Recycling
- CPSC: 3M Company Recalls Scotch Thermal Laminators
- FDA: Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. Recalls Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon
By the Trending Consumerism editorial desk (Jane Satchel), edited by Rob P., Editor and Publisher. Every fact in this story links to its source. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.
