Pressure cookers are designed to make meal preparation faster and more convenient, but defects can turn these appliances into serious safety hazards. In late February 2026, reports of burns and unexpected pressure cooker explosions led to an important warning about certain Gourmia units. If you were injured by one of these items, you may have the right to pursue compensation through a product liability claim in Chicago.
Continue reading to learn more about how these cases work and what kinds of damages you may be entitled to if you were injured.
Which Gourmia Pressure Cookers Are Subject to the Warning and Why?
These incidents involve the Gourmia Six-Quart Pressure Cooker, Model GPC625. Approximately 43,500 units were sold between 2017 and 2020 at Best Buy, other retailers, and various e-commerce platforms for between $50 and $80.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued its safety warning on February 24, 2026, after determining that the pressure cooker’s lid can open while the unit is still pressurized, causing hot contents to spray out and resulting in severe second-degree burn injuries.
The CPSC identified three specific defects with the product:
- Lid safety failure: The lid can open while the cooker is still under pressure, causing hot food and liquids to be ejected.
- Hidden float valve: The float valve, which signals when it is safe to open the lid, is located inside the handle and is difficult to see. This means users may believe it is safe to open the cooker when it is actually still pressurized.
- Incorrect volume markings: The inner pot has incorrect volume markings, which can cause consumers to overfill the pot and increase the risk of hot contents being expelled during use.
The CPSC has received five reports of incidents in which hot contents were expelled under pressure, with four of those resulting in severe burn injuries.
Product Liability Law in Illinois
Under Illinois law, it allows injured consumers to file product liability claims when a defective product causes them harm. These cases are generally based on the idea that companies should be responsible for placing safe products on the market. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for the resulting injuries and damages.
Product liability cases often allow victims to take legal action against multiple liable parties. In the context of the Gourmia pressure cooker recall, this may mean filing a claim against both the importer, Steelstone Group, LLC (doing business as Gourmia), as well as the retailer that sold you the product, like Best Buy.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Receive in an Illinois Product Liability Case?
If you were hurt by a defective Gourmia pressure cooker, Illinois law may allow you to recover damages for both your financial losses and personal harm. In rare cases, it is possible that punitive damages may be awarded as well.
Potential economic and non-economic damages in a product liability case can include:
- Medical expenses
- Future treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Loss of quality of life
- Disability
- Mental anguish
- Out-of-pocket expenses
An experienced personal injury attorney in Chicago can evaluate how these factors apply to your specific situation and help calculate the full extent of your damages from there.
Contact Meyers & Flowers for Help With Your Gourmia Pressure Cooker Injury Claim
You may be entitled to compensation if your Gourmia pressure cooker caused you to suffer harm. Contact Meyers & Flowers today to learn more about your legal options and schedule a free consultation at (630) 895-9554. We’ve recovered over $6 billion on behalf of our clients to date and will work just as hard to maximize the value of your claim if you decide to hire us.