An Instant Pot is a durable cooking device and it usually functions well for years. But many users have had one particular complaint occur much sooner: the timer not counting down.
I’ve had the same thing happen to me and I had to scour the Internet for answers until I finally figured it out. Here is what I learned and how you too can troubleshoot and fix your Instant Pot timer right now:
1. Give it some time to start counting
This is the most common “problem”. If there is a lot of water or other liquid in the Instant Pot, the timer will begin counting down only when it starts to cook. So it can take a couple of minutes until the liquid heats up for the timer to finally kick in. In other words, the timer is not broken, just give it a minute or two!
2. Check the power supply
The Instant Pot is an electronic device and so it needs a constant power supply. The same is true for its timer. So definitely check that it’s plugged in properly. Also check that the cord is not broken down, chewed up (in case you have a pet or a weird roommate) or pressed down by a heavy object.
3. Check for a blown fuse
The electronic fuse that has to work properly. Otherwise the power supply won’t reach the Instant Pot, including the timer. You can test if the electronic fuse is working properly by using a multimeter. A multimeter is a small and easy to use device designed for this purpose. Here’s a video tutorial on how to use it:
If the electronic fuse is not working, the best option is to replace it with a new one.
4. Reset the Instant Pot
If all the parts look fine and you’re at your wits end, you can always reset the Instant Pot. Why could this help? Because you or someone else might have played with the settings a bit too much.
Restarting will revert the pot to its default settings. On most models you just need to press the “restart” button for 3-4 seconds in order to do this. If that doesn’t work for your Instant Pot, I suggest checking the User Manual for further instructions.
5. Make sure you’re using the timer functions properly
My problem was that I didn’t get a user manual with my Instant Pot. I didn’t know how to use the timer. So if you just received your Instant Pot definitely check out the user manual or this very useful video tutorial:
Final Word
Your Instant Pot timer should be working properly at all times. The most common problem has to do with faulty power supply.
But sometimes a lack of knowledge on the user’s part can also be the issue. So give yourself some time to figure out the programs available on your Instant Pot and how to combine them with the timer first. And if you’ve poured some liquid in, give the Instant Pot the needed time to heat it up before the timer can start doing its job.
If none of these tips work out for you, the final solution at your disposal is to call a professional repairman to give it a check! But hopefully these tips will be enough to get your Instant Pot timer counting down like a champ in no time!
