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A Good Housekeeping report advises plugging an electric pressure cooker directly into a suitable wall outlet rather than using an indoor extension cord. It says some cookers draw 1,250 watts or more, while certain 10-amp cords are rated for only about 1,200 watts; the report also cautions against overloading circuits and leaving cords exposed to heat or pulling.
Good Housekeeping has warned that electric pressure cookers should not be plugged into indoor extension cords when the appliance’s power draw exceeds the cord’s rating. The report says some cookers use 1,250 watts or more, while some indoor cords rated at 10 amps may support only about 1,200 watts, creating a potential overheating and fire risk.
The report compares the power needs of a pressure cooker with the ratings of common household electrical equipment. A typical kitchen outlet is described as 15 amps at 120 volts, with capacity of about 1,500 watts. By contrast, the report says some indoor extension cords are rated at 10 amps, or roughly 1,200 watts at 120 volts. A cooker drawing more than that could exceed the cord’s rating.
Good Housekeeping warns that excessive current can damage an extension cord’s wiring and may create a fire hazard. It also says the appliance itself could be damaged. The figures are examples in the report, not a specification for every cooker, outlet or cord; users need to check the rating labels and instructions for their particular equipment.
The report also advises against running multiple high-powered appliances on the same circuit. Its author describes a toaster oven and pressure cooker tripping a breaker despite being plugged into separate backsplash outlets. The outlets were on one circuit, illustrating that separate receptacles do not necessarily mean separate circuits.
The Risk of Overloading a Cord
The advice concerns more than convenience: a cord or circuit used beyond its rating can overheat, damage equipment and, in some circumstances, contribute to a fire. Pressure cookers and multi-cookers with high-powered sear functions can draw substantial power, so placement and outlet choice matter when kitchens are already powering other appliances.
Readers should not assume that an extension cord is safe simply because its plug fits. The appliance’s manual and the cord’s label provide the relevant ratings; if the appliance maker prohibits extension cords, that instruction takes precedence. Keeping the cooker near an appropriate outlet also reduces the temptation to route a cord across a walkway, near a burner or where a child or pet might pull it.
electric pressure cooker wall outlet
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Ratings Behind the Warning
The report frames its warning around a basic electrical comparison: watts indicate power use, while amperage and voltage help establish what a circuit or cord can carry. At 120 volts, a 10-amp rating corresponds to approximately 1,200 watts, while 15 amps corresponds to approximately 1,800 watts by simple multiplication; the article gives an approximate usable capacity of 1,500 watts for a common kitchen outlet. Actual safe use depends on the product ratings, circuit conditions and applicable instructions, so these figures should not be treated as a substitute for checking the equipment.
The author also recounts a breaker trip after using two appliances at once. That account is an example, not evidence that every pair of appliances will overload every kitchen circuit. The report separately notes that older homes may have ungrounded outlets and says overloaded wiring can heat up. It does not provide an inspection of a particular home or establish the condition of readers’ wiring.
“That’s a hard no.”
— Good Housekeeping report
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What Depends on Your Equipment
The source does not identify specific pressure-cooker models, extension-cord products or testing behind the wattage examples. It also does not say that every indoor extension cord is rated at 10 amps or that every pressure cooker draws at least 1,250 watts. Those values vary by product and should be checked against labels and manufacturer guidance.
The report gives no details about the author’s home wiring or the exact circuit load when the breaker tripped. It cannot establish whether a reader’s outlets share a circuit, whether wiring is grounded or whether an installation is safe. Anyone who sees damaged cords, repeated breaker trips, unusual heat or signs of electrical trouble should stop using the affected equipment and consult a qualified electrician.
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Check Labels Before Cooking
Before using a pressure cooker, check its manual and rating label, then compare its requirements with the outlet and any cord under consideration. Follow the manufacturer’s directions on direct wall connection and avoid using an extension cord if the instructions prohibit it or the cord’s rating is inadequate. Do not connect multiple high-powered appliances to a circuit without knowing its capacity.
The report also recommends unplugging the cooker when it is not in use, keeping its cord away from gas flames and hot cooktops, and positioning it so the cord cannot dangle or be pulled. It cautions against using low, floor-level outlets on kitchen islands because the cord may be exposed. The source does not announce a recall or regulatory action; the development is a consumer-safety report, and further guidance should come from appliance manufacturers and qualified electrical professionals.
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Key Questions
Can I use a pressure cooker with an extension cord?
Check the pressure cooker’s manual and the cord’s rating. The Good Housekeeping report warns that some cookers draw more power than some indoor extension cords are rated to carry, and advises against using an undersized cord. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Why can an extension cord be a fire risk?
If an appliance draws more current than a cord is rated for, the wiring may overheat or become damaged, according to the report. The risk depends on the equipment and its ratings; the report does not claim every extension-cord use will cause a fire.
Can two appliances plugged into separate outlets overload a circuit?
Yes, if the outlets are on the same circuit and the combined load exceeds its capacity. The report describes a toaster oven and pressure cooker tripping a breaker while plugged into separate outlets.
What other pressure-cooker cord precautions does the report give?
Unplug the cooker when it is not in use, keep its cord away from flames and hot cooktops, and prevent it from dangling where a child or pet could pull it. The report also cautions against using floor-level outlets on kitchen islands when that leaves the cord exposed.
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