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A Good Housekeeping report advises plugging an electric pressure cooker directly into a suitable wall outlet, not an indoor extension cord. Some cookers draw 1,250 watts or more, while certain 10-amp extension cords are rated for only about 1,200 watts; the report says overloading can damage the cord and create a fire risk.
A Good Housekeeping report warns that electric pressure cookers should not be plugged into some indoor extension cords, because the appliance may draw more power than a cord is rated to handle. The report says that mismatch can damage the cord and create a fire risk, and recommends using a suitable kitchen outlet instead.
The report says some pressure cookers operate at 1,250 watts or higher. A standard kitchen outlet rated at 15 amps and 120 volts can handle around 1,500 watts, according to the article. By contrast, some indoor extension cords are rated for 10 amps, giving them a capacity of about 1,200 watts at 120 volts. The exact rating depends on the cord, so users should check its label and the appliance’s instructions rather than assume every cord has the same limit.
According to Good Housekeeping, a high-powered appliance connected to an under-rated cord can overheat or damage the cord’s wiring, posing a fire hazard. The report also cautions against running multiple high-powered appliances at once on the same circuit. Its author describes a toaster oven and pressure cooker being used simultaneously on separate backsplash outlets, after which the circuit breaker tripped. Separate sockets do not necessarily mean separate circuits.
The article offers additional handling advice: unplug the cooker when it is not in use, keep its cord from dangling or touching hot surfaces, and avoid routing it to low outlets where the cable could be exposed. These are precautions from the report, not a substitute for the pressure cooker’s manufacturer instructions or an electrician’s advice about a home’s wiring.
Avoiding Cord Overheating in the Kitchen
The warning concerns a routine kitchen setup that can conceal an electrical mismatch. A pressure cooker may fit more conveniently away from a countertop outlet, but an extension cord’s rating can be lower than the appliance’s demand. If the cord is not suitable, the result may be overheating, cord damage or fire, rather than simply an appliance that fails to work.
The circuit advice also matters because a breaker trip can signal that several appliances are drawing power on the same circuit. As the report’s example shows, plugging devices into separate outlets does not establish that they are on separate circuits. Readers should follow appliance and cord ratings, and should not repeatedly reset a breaker without identifying the cause.
electric pressure cooker extension cord
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The Ratings Behind the Warning
The report’s comparison uses common household electrical figures: 120 volts, a 15-amp outlet and a 10-amp extension cord. Multiplying voltage by current gives an approximate power capacity—about 1,800 watts for 15 amps and 1,200 watts for 10 amps. The article describes the kitchen outlet as handling around 1,500 watts, reflecting a practical figure rather than treating the outlet as available for unlimited appliance use.
Those numbers do not establish that every kitchen outlet, extension cord or pressure cooker is identical. Cord capacity can vary by product and construction, and the appliance’s own label and manual provide the relevant load information. The report also notes that older homes may have ungrounded outlets; it warns that overloaded wiring can build up heat behind walls. It does not identify a particular incident, injury or product recall as the basis for the advice.
“That’s a hard no.”
— Good Housekeeping report
What the Report Does Not Specify
The supplied report does not identify the pressure cooker models or extension-cord products behind its wattage examples, nor does it give a publication date. It also does not provide independent testing or data on how often extension-cord misuse causes fires. Its figures describe examples, not a universal rating for every appliance or cord.
Whether a particular setup is safe depends on the appliance’s stated power requirements, the cord’s rating and condition, and the home’s electrical circuit. The article does not assess individual homes or determine whether older wiring is safe. Anyone unsure about a circuit or outlet should seek qualified electrical advice rather than rely on the general figures alone.
Check the Appliance and Cord Labels
Before using a pressure cooker, check its manual and rating label for power requirements, and use an outlet and circuit suitable for that load. The report’s practical recommendation is to plug the cooker directly into a kitchen outlet instead of using an indoor extension cord. Avoid operating it alongside other high-powered appliances on a circuit that may be shared.
If a breaker trips, a cord becomes hot or damaged, or an outlet shows signs of trouble, stop using the setup and address the cause. The report provides general safety guidance; it does not announce a regulatory action or a product-specific follow-up.
Key Questions
Can I plug a pressure cooker into an extension cord?
The Good Housekeeping report advises against using an indoor extension cord unless its rating and the appliance maker’s instructions specifically support that setup. Some pressure cookers draw more than certain 10-amp cords are rated to handle.
Why can an extension cord be a fire risk?
If an appliance draws more power than a cord can safely carry, the cord may overheat or become damaged, according to the report. Check the cord’s rating and the cooker’s power requirements; do not assume all extension cords are equivalent.
Is a separate outlet enough to prevent a breaker trip?
No. Separate outlets can be connected to the same circuit. The report describes a pressure cooker and toaster oven plugged into different backsplash outlets but used on the same circuit, causing the breaker to trip.
What should I do if the breaker trips while the cooker is running?
Stop using the appliances on that circuit and identify the cause before resetting the breaker. If it trips again or you are uncertain about the wiring, contact a qualified electrician.
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