Jul 11, 2026 | By Fob James, IV | Read Time: 5 minutes
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Written and reviewed by Fob James IV, Alabama Personal Injury Attorney | National Trial Lawyers Top 100 | SuperLawyers Rising Star

Last updated July 2026.

At a glance: On February 24, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned consumers to immediately stop using Gourmia GPC625 six-quart pressure cookers. The lid can open while the pot is still pressurized, spraying scalding contents onto anyone nearby. At least four people have suffered severe burns, and at least two lawsuits have been filed. The CPSC took the rare step of issuing this warning on its own because Gourmia and Best Buy — which sold most of the roughly 43,500 units — refused to agree to a recall. If a Gourmia pressure cooker burned you or a family member, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Call Fob James Law Firm at 866-837-1010 for a free consultation.

What the CPSC Warning Says

Most safety alerts you read about are voluntary recalls, negotiated between the manufacturer and the CPSC, with a remedy attached — a refund, repair, or replacement. The Gourmia announcement is different. According to the CPSC, the importer (Steelstone Group, LLC, doing business as Gourmia, of Brooklyn, New York) and retailer Best Buy refused to agree to an acceptable recall to address the hazard. So the agency went public anyway.

The CPSC identified three separate problems with the Gourmia GPC625:

  1. The lid can open while the cooker is still pressurized. When that happens, superheated food and liquid erupt outward with force, causing severe burns.
  2. The float valve is hidden inside the handle. The float valve is the part that rises when the pot is under pressure and drops when it is safe to open. On the GPC625 it sits where users cannot see it — so a reasonable person can believe the pressure is gone when it is not.
  3. The inner pot has incorrect volume markings. Wrong fill lines cause overfilling, which can eject hot contents when the cooker is vented with the quick-release method or opened under pressure.

The CPSC has received five reports of hot contents being expelled under pressure. Four of those incidents caused severe burn injuries, and at least two lawsuits have already been filed.

Which Pressure Cookers Are Affected

  • Brand/Model: Gourmia Six-Quart Digital Pressure Cooker, model GPC625
  • Appearance: Six-quart digital pressure cooker with stainless steel and black plastic finishes, a pressure lid, a digital temperature and function display, and button controls
  • Units sold: Approximately 43,500
  • Where and when: Sold between 2017 and 2020 at Best Buy (the majority), other retailers, and online, for $50 to $80

The model number is printed on the product label. If you own one, the CPSC’s guidance is to stop using it immediately and dispose of it — and not to sell it or give it away.

Injured by a Gourmia Cooker? Read This Before You Throw It Away

Here is where the CPSC’s advice and your legal interests diverge. If the cooker never hurt anyone, disposal is the right call. But if you or a family member was burned, the pressure cooker is the single most important piece of evidence in your case. Do not throw it away, return it, or let anyone inspect it for the manufacturer. Instead:

  1. Get medical treatment first — burn injuries are frequently worse than they first appear.
  2. Preserve the cooker, lid, gasket, inner pot, packaging, and manual exactly as they are.
  3. Photograph your injuries, the kitchen, and the device from multiple angles.
  4. Save your receipt, order confirmation, or credit card statement showing the purchase.
  5. Do not give a recorded statement to the manufacturer’s insurance company.
  6. Contact a product liability lawyer promptly — filing deadlines apply.

Gourmia maintains the GPC625 is safe when used as directed and says it stopped selling the model six years ago. That is a defense argument, not a shield. Product liability law holds manufacturers, importers, and retailers responsible when a defective design, manufacturing flaw, or inadequate warning injures a consumer — and the CPSC has now publicly documented all three defect theories for this device.

Two more points work in victims’ favor:

  • A recall is not required to win. In 2025, a Mississippi federal court entered a $1,097,000 judgment against the maker of the Bon Appetit pressure cooker — a brand with no national recall at all. Courts also upheld the $9.1 million Crock-Pot verdict in March 2026 over the manufacturer’s objections. Juries understand exactly how terrifying an exploding pot of boiling food is.
  • Refusing a recall can hurt the defendant. When a company learns of a hazard and declines to act, that conduct becomes evidence — and in states that allow punitive damages, it is the kind of conduct juries punish.

If you were burned in Alabama: the Alabama Extended Manufacturer’s Liability Doctrine holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products, and you generally have two years from the injury to file. Our Alabama pressure cooker explosion lawyers page explains the state’s rules in detail.

If you were burned in Georgia: Georgia imposes strict liability on manufacturers under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11, with a two-year filing deadline — and a 10-year statute of repose that runs from the date the product was first sold. Because GPC625 units were sold starting in 2017, that window begins closing in 2027 for the earliest purchases. Details are on our Georgia pressure cooker explosion lawyer page.

We handle pressure cooker cases nationwide from our Birmingham and Atlanta offices, always on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.

How Gourmia Fits the Bigger Pressure Cooker Litigation Picture

Gourmia is the newest name on a long list. SharkNinja recalled more than 1.8 million Ninja Foodi pressure cookers in May 2025 after 106 burn injuries. Crock-Pot, Insignia, Ambiano, Bella, Instant Pot, and Maxi-Matic have all faced recalls or serious injury lawsuits over the same core defect: lids that open, detach, or unseal while the contents are still under pressure. Verdicts have reached $9 million, $9.1 million, and $55.5 million before reduction, and settlements have climbed as high as $27 million. Our guide to pressure cooker settlement amounts breaks down what these cases pay by injury severity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an official Gourmia pressure cooker recall?

No — and that is what makes this situation unusual. The CPSC issued a public safety warning on February 24, 2026, because Gourmia and Best Buy refused to agree to an acceptable recall. There is no refund, repair, or replacement program. The CPSC simply urges consumers to stop using the GPC625 and dispose of it.

Can I get a refund for my Gourmia pressure cooker?

Not currently. Because no recall was agreed to, no remedy has been offered. Keep your receipt and document the product (photos of the model label before disposal) in case a refund program is established later — or in case you need proof of ownership for a legal claim.

Can I sue Gourmia or Best Buy if I was burned?

Yes. At least two burn victims already have. Depending on where you live and where you bought the cooker, potential defendants include the importer (Steelstone Group / Gourmia) and the retailer. The CPSC’s published findings — a lid that opens under pressure, a hidden float valve, and incorrect volume markings — map directly onto design defect and failure-to-warn claims.

What if I already threw my Gourmia cooker away?

You may still have a case. The device is the best evidence, but claims can also be built on medical records, burn photographs, purchase records, witness statements, and the CPSC’s own incident data documenting the same failure in other units. Talk to a lawyer before assuming you have no claim.

Talk to a Pressure Cooker Burn Lawyer for Free

Fob James Law Firm has recovered more than $100 million for injured clients, and we know how manufacturers defend these cases — because we take those defenses apart. If a Gourmia or any other pressure cooker burned you or someone you love, call 866-837-1010 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review. You pay nothing unless we win.

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Fob James, IV

Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large national firm for several years, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society. Many of Fob’s cases are high profile and have been featured in, among others: Bloomberg News, PlanAdvisor, AL.com, PlanSponsor, InsuranceJournal, and BusinessInsider. For his work in obtaining numerous multi-million dollar outcomes for his clients, Fob has been recognized by: National Trial Lawyers Top 100, SuperLawyers Rising Star (2020-2025), Birmingham Business Journal Who’s Who in Law (2023-2025), and TrustAnalytica – Top Personal Injury Lawyers in Alabama.