7 Instant Pot Problems That Could Ruin Your Dog’s Dinner

Making big batches of homemade dog food in your Instant Pot feels like a genius move — until something goes wrong. One minute you’re patting yourself on the back for being the kind of person who meal preps for their pup, and the next you’re scraping a sticky mess off the bottom of your pot.

If you’ve been there, you know the frustration. The good news? Most Instant Pot problems are easy to fix once you know what’s causing them. Let’s run through the seven most common issues that can sabotage your bulk cooking — and how to dodge them.

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1. Overfilling the Pot

It’s tempting to cram in “just one more scoop” of rice or veggies when you’re cooking in bulk, but Instant Pots don’t forgive overstuffing. If you go past the max fill line, steam can’t build properly, ingredients cook unevenly, and you risk a soggy, half‑cooked mess.

Fix it: Stick to the fill line. If you need more food, make two smaller batches instead of one monster batch. Your dog won’t mind waiting a little longer, and you’ll save yourself the headache of uneven results.

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2. Forgetting to Deglaze After Sautéing

Sautéing meat or veggies first adds flavor, but those tasty browned bits stuck to the bottom? They’re trouble. If you don’t scrape them up, your Instant Pot thinks the bottom is overheating and throws an error.

Fix it: After sautéing, pour in a splash of broth or water and scrape the bottom with a wooden spoon until it’s smooth. This quick step saves you from sticky disasters later.

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3. A Sneaky Sealing Ring Problem

That little silicone ring inside the lid? It’s the unsung hero of pressure cooking. If it’s loose, cracked, or not seated properly, your pot won’t seal. No seal = no pressure = undercooked food and wasted time.

Fix it: Check the ring before every cook. Replace it every 12–18 months, or sooner if it looks worn. Bonus tip: keep a spare ring on hand so you’re never stuck mid‑recipe.

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4. Too Little (or Too Thick) Liquid

Your Instant Pot needs liquid to create steam. Without enough, pressure won’t build — or worse, your food sticks and scorches. Thick dog food recipes with rice, beans, or sweet potatoes are especially guilty of soaking up liquid fast.

Fix it: Always add a little more broth or water than you think you need. If your recipe looks more like paste than soup before you close the lid, it’s too thick. Thin it out now or deal with problems later.

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5. Frozen Food Chaos

Cooking from frozen is one of the Instant Pot’s superpowers, but tossing in a giant frozen brick is asking for trouble. The pot struggles to heat evenly, the bottom works overtime, and you end up with unevenly cooked food.

Fix it: Break frozen food into smaller chunks before cooking. Always place frozen items on top of liquid, never directly on the bottom. And add extra liquid to help the pot do its job.

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6. Hard Water and Dirty Pots

Even if you wash your pot regularly, hard water buildup and invisible food residue can create hot spots. Those hot spots confuse the sensors and mess with your cooking.

Fix it: Give your pot a deep clean every so often. Use baking soda, a Magic Eraser, or Bar Keeper’s Friend to keep the stainless steel shiny and smooth. Your recipes (and your pot) will thank you.

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7. The Dreaded Burn Warning

So, you’re cruising along, tossing together a batch of homemade dog food in your Instant Pot, feeling like a domestic superhero… and then bam — the dreaded BURN warning flashes at you like a judgmental traffic cop. Instant mood killer, right?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. That little message has ruined many a perfectly good cooking session (and a few dinners). But here’s the good news: once you know why it happens, it’s actually pretty easy to prevent. Let’s break it down.

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What the Burn Warning Actually Means

Your Instant Pot isn’t trying to ruin your life — it’s just overly dramatic. The burn warning pops up when the pot senses that the bottom is getting too hot. Basically, food is sticking, the liquid is gone, or the heat isn’t spreading evenly. Instead of letting your dog’s dinner turn into a charred science experiment, the Instant Pot shuts itself down.

Think of it like the smoke alarm in your kitchen — annoying, yes, but it’s there to save you (and your dog’s dinner) from disaster. The Instant Pot is basically saying, “Hey friend, something’s not right down here. Fix it before we both regret it.”

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The Top Culprits Behind Burn Warnings

1. Overloading the Pot

If you’ve ever tried to cram too much food into your Instant Pot, congrats — you’ve met the #1 cause of burn warnings. Heavy stuff like meat chunks, beans, rice, or potatoes sink to the bottom and scorch. The Instant Pot is great at pressure cooking, but it’s not a miracle worker. If the bottom layer is too dense, the liquid can’t circulate properly, and you end up with scorched food and a cranky appliance.

Quick check for you: when you opened the pot after the warning, what was stuck to the bottom? That’s usually your guilty party. If it was rice, you probably didn’t add enough liquid. If it was meat, maybe it was sitting directly on the bottom instead of floating in broth. Once you know what burned, you can adjust next time.

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2. Frozen Ingredients Gone Rogue

Yes, you can cook from frozen in an Instant Pot — in fact, it’s one of the coolest features. But if you drop in a giant frozen brick of chicken or veggies, the pot doesn’t heat evenly. The bottom works overtime, the liquid can’t circulate, and before you know it — burn warning.

It’s like trying to melt an iceberg with a candle. Sure, it’ll work eventually, but in the meantime, everything around it is going to suffer.

How to avoid it:

• Break frozen food into smaller chunks before tossing it in.
• Always put frozen stuff on top of liquid, not directly on the bottom where it can scorch.
• Add a little extra broth or water to help things along — the Instant Pot needs steam to build pressure, and frozen food soaks up heat like a sponge.

Your dog won’t care if you add an extra half‑cup of broth, but your Instant Pot definitely will.

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3. A Dirty Inner Pot

Here’s the thing: Instant Pots are divas. If your stainless steel insert has residue, stuck‑on bits, or hard water buildup, it can cause hot spots. And hot spots = burn warning.

Even if the pot looks clean, a thin layer of oil or mineral buildup can mess with the sensors. The Instant Pot is like that friend who notices every little thing — it doesn’t take much to set it off.

So if you’re getting burn warnings more often than usual, it might not be your recipe at all. It might just be time to give the pot a good scrub.

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How to Outsmart the Burn Warning

Layer Like a Pro

Think of your Instant Pot like a lasagna — the order matters. If you just dump everything in haphazardly, you’re asking for trouble.

• Liquids always go first. Broth, water, whatever you’re using — that’s your foundation.
• Lighter stuff in the middle. Think veggies or grains that need moisture but won’t sink.
• Heavy or frozen items on top. Meat, potatoes, or big frozen chunks should never be on the bottom.
• Stir thick recipes before sealing. This helps distribute starches and prevents clumps.
• Don’t fill past the max line. I know, it’s tempting to make a giant batch of dog food at once, but overstuffing is a guaranteed way to trigger the burn warning.

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Clean Like You Mean It

Your Instant Pot deserves a spa day every now and then. Here are three ways to keep it happy:

1. Quick Clean Recipe
   Add 1–2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the pot. Secure the lid, cook on high pressure for 3–5 minutes, then do a quick release. Afterward, give it a scrub with a non‑scratch sponge. It’s like a bubble bath for your pot.
2. Magic Eraser Method
   These little white sponges are weirdly effective on stubborn stains. Just be gentle, and rinse thoroughly afterward. (Seriously, who knows what’s in those things? Better safe than sorry.)
3. Bar Keeper’s Friend
   My dad swears by this stuff. It’s a powder cleaner that polishes stainless steel and removes mineral buildup. If your water is hard, this is your best friend. Just make sure to rinse really well before cooking again.

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Extra Tips for Dog Food Success

• Always deglaze after sautéing. If you brown meat or veggies first, scrape up those tasty bits with a splash of broth or water before sealing. It prevents sticking and adds flavor.
• Check the sealing ring and vent before each use. A loose ring or blocked vent can mess with pressure and lead to uneven cooking.
• Add a little extra liquid. Dog food recipes often get thick, especially with rice or beans. A bit more broth or water keeps things moving and prevents scorching.
• Chop ingredients into smaller pieces. Not only does this help them cook evenly, but it also makes the food easier for your pup to eat. No one wants to serve a bowl of mushy carrots and half‑raw potatoes.

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Final Thoughts

The Instant Pot burn warning isn’t the end of the world — it’s just your pot’s way of saying, “Hey, help me out here.” With smart layering, a little extra liquid, and some regular cleaning, you’ll keep that warning at bay.

And honestly? Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be cranking out homemade dog food like a pro — no drama, no scorch marks, just happy tails and clean bowls.

Your dog will think you’re a five‑star chef, and your Instant Pot will finally stop yelling at you. Win‑win.