This kitchen appliance recall can burn you even if it “still works fine”

Your kitchen can feel like the safest room in your home, especially when a favorite appliance has “always worked.” Yet some of the most serious burn and fire incidents start with products that still turn on, still heat up, and still look perfectly normal. When a recall hits a countertop oven, pressure cooker, or range, the risk is often hidden in a latch, seal, or wiring flaw that only shows itself in a split second of superheated steam or a door that pops open.

If you keep using a recalled appliance because it seems fine, you are effectively volunteering to be the next test case. Recent safety actions involving pressure cookers, toaster ovens, electric ranges, and even gas heaters show how quickly a routine dinner can turn into a trip to urgent care, and why you should treat recall notices as seriously as a smoke alarm.

Why “still works” is the most dangerous recall myth

When you flip on a familiar appliance and it behaves the way it always has, it is tempting to assume any recall is overblown. In reality, many defects only appear under specific conditions, such as a full pot of soup in a pressure cooker or a roasting pan that nudges an oven door just enough to compromise the seal. Safety regulators describe patterns where a door or lid can suddenly open or a surface can overheat, even though the product passes casual at home checks every other day.

That is why recall notices often stress that Consumers should immediately stop using the product, even before a repair kit or refund arrives. In one case involving Ambiano electric pressure cookers sold at ALDI, the instructions tell you to cut the cord and send a photo, a reminder that “still works” is not the same as “safe to keep in service.” Older actions involving Recall Details Remedy for Black & Decker toasters told Consumers to unplug them immediately because of fire incidents that damaged kitchens, even though many units still browned bread just fine.

Recent burn and fire hazards hiding in plain sight

Recent recall data shows that kitchen products are a growing share of what safety lawyers describe as 2025’s High Profile Recalls, with over 350 consumer products pulled back in a single year and a notable share tied to electrical malfunctions in appliances and cookware. That pattern includes pressure cookers, countertop ovens, and electric ranges that can overheat, spark, or release scalding contents. Injury attorneys point out that Other recalled kitchen products have included dutch ovens, coffee makers, electric teapots, and countertop ovens and broilers, all capable of causing severe burns.

One high profile example involves nearly Million Pressure Cookers Recalled After Spate of Burn Injuries, where reports of people being burned led to a sweeping action affecting SharkNinja Foodi models. A related notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission states that 1.8 M SharkNinja Million Foodi Multi Function Pressure Cookers Due to a Burn Hazard and Serious Burn Injuries Reporte, with coverage noting at least 33 injuries tied to escaping hot contents. Broadcast segments have warned that Shark Shark Ninja and Shark Ninja pressure cookers can spray scalding food if the lid is not properly locked, even when users follow the manual.

Countertop ovens and ranges that can burn or ignite

Pressure cookers are not the only culprits. Countertop ovens that look like compact, harmless workhorses have been tied to serious injuries when doors fail or hot surfaces are exposed. One recall involved 1.2 million countertop ovens sold at major retailers, with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, citing 95 injuries, including second degree burns. Separate coverage notes that Sunbeam has recalled more than 1 million Oster tabletop ovens after reports of painful burns, and that Oster French Door Countertop Ovens from Sunbeam Products have been linked to almost 100 people being burned.

One analysis describes how Over 1.3 M Million Countertop Ovens Recalled Over Serious Burn Risk involved Oster French Door Countertop Ovens, with owners eligible for a free repair kit. A companion advisory explains that You can find the model number on the back of the oven or on the original packaging, and that the ovens were sold over several years, which means a unit that looks “new enough” can still be part of the problem batch.

Ranges, dishwashers, and heaters that turn into household hazards

Full size ranges and built in appliances carry their own risks when defects slip through. A federal notice titled Recalls Electric Ranges Due to Fire Hazard details how certain Recalled LG Range Model units can turn on by themselves or fail to turn off, creating a risk of ignition. Separate reporting notes that LG recalls 500K ovens after dozens of fires lead to injuries and dead pets, with coverage by Ariel Zilber noting that affected models originally sold for up to $2,650. A local consumer segment explains that about 500,000 customers are impacted and walks through what to do if your LG range is under recall in Feb, including unplugging the unit and scheduling a repair.

Dishwashers and gas heaters, which you might not associate with burns, have also drawn scrutiny. One consumer report notes that Thousands of Kenmore, Maytag, Kitchen Aid, Bosch, Whirlpool dishwashers have been recalled for fire risks tied to older wiring and control boards, even though many units still clean dishes. In Australia, a social media alert urged Consumers to Stop using a Coolabah Area gas heater and to Return the product to any ALDI store for a full refund, underscoring that heating devices can pose burn and fire hazards even when they appear to function normally.

How to check your appliances and respond to a recall

To protect yourself, you need a simple routine for checking whether your kitchen gear is part of a recall and for acting quickly if it is. Start by registering new purchases with the manufacturer, whether it is a pressure cooker from a brand like Ninja or a toaster oven you found through an online product listing. Registration ensures you receive direct alerts if a defect is discovered. You can also periodically search your model number on the CPSC site and cross check with shopping pages, such as other product pages, to confirm exactly which versions are affected.

If you discover that something you own is under recall, follow the instructions precisely, even if that means cutting a cord or waiting for a technician. Some programs, such as the Samsung range campaign described by Samsung and Samsung Electronics, provide temporary knob locks while you are waiting for a more permanent fix. Others, like the Ambiano pressure cooker recall involving Tempo and ALDI, require you to stop using the cooker immediately and document that it has been disabled. For pressure cookers and multi cookers, you can also compare your model to similar product listings to confirm capacity and series, since some recalls apply only to specific sizes.

Practical steps to stay ahead of the next recall

Beyond reacting to headlines, you can build small habits that reduce your exposure to hidden defects. Keep a simple list of your major appliances with model numbers, including countertop ovens like those shown in product galleries or pressure cookers similar to those in other product listings. Check that list a few times a year against recall databases, especially before heavy cooking seasons. When you shop, scan reviews and safety notes, not just star ratings, and pay attention to patterns of overheating, tripped breakers, or warped doors that might foreshadow a future recall.

Finally, treat any unusual behavior as a red flag, even if your exact model is not yet named in a recall. A range that turns on by itself, like some of the units described in Recalled LG notices, or a dishwasher that smells like burning plastic, as in the But segment on aging dishwashers, deserves immediate attention. If you are considering a new pressure cooker or multi cooker, compare models like those in another product gallery and cross check them against recall histories so you are not bringing home a design that has already raised red flags. The goal is not to fear every gadget, but to respect the power they pack and to act quickly when regulators, manufacturers, or injury data tell you that “still works” is no longer good enough.

Supporting sources: SharkNinja recalls nearly 2 million pressure cookers due to …, than 1.8 million SharkNinja pressure cookers recalled – USA Today.

Like Fix It Homestead’s content? Be sure to follow us.

Here’s more from us:

• I made Joanna Gaines’s Friendsgiving casserole and here is what I would keep
• Pump Shotguns That Jam the Moment You Actually Need Them
• The First 5 Things Guests Notice About Your Living Room at Christmas
• What Caliber Works Best for Groundhogs, Armadillos, and Other Digging Pests?
• Rifles worth keeping by the back door on any rural property

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.