Instant Pot C5 Error — Insufficient Liquid / Burn Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

C5 means the inner pot bottom got too hot without enough water present — the protection has triggered to prevent burning food and damaging the pot.
Cancel the program, let the unit cool, open and check what's inside.
Add at least 1 cup of liquid (often 1.5 cups for pressure cooking) and try again.
This is the same family as the 'Burn' code — protection working as designed.

Affected Models

Instant Pot Duo
Instant Pot Duo Plus
Instant Pot Ultra
Instant Pot Pro
Instant Pot Smart

Common Causes

Too little liquid in the pot for the recipe
Thick sauces or pastes stuck to the bottom
Food not deglazed after sautéing — fond burning into the pot
Inner pot has hot spots from food residue
Recipe scaled up without scaling water

How to Fix It

Cancel the program and unplug.

Press Cancel on the touchscreen.
Unplug the unit to fully stop heating.
Wait 10 minutes for the pressure inside to release naturally before opening.
Don't try to open immediately — there may still be steam pressure.
Release pressure if needed.

If the float valve is up (pressure is still inside), release using the steam release valve.
Move it from Sealing to Venting carefully.
Steam will escape — keep your hands and face clear.
Wait until the float drops before opening the lid.
Open and inspect the pot.

Lift the inner pot out and look at the bottom.
Are there burnt spots stuck to the metal?
If yes, that's why C5 triggered — the burnt food creates an insulating layer that traps heat.
Soak the pot in soapy water and scrape gently with a non-metal scraper.
Check your recipe's liquid amount.

Pressure cooking needs at least 1 cup (240 ml) of thin liquid (water, broth) to generate steam.
If your recipe used less, that's the cause.
Add liquid to the next attempt.
Thick sauces don't count toward this — you need actual thin liquid.
Deglaze before pressure cooking.

If you sautéed first, scrape the fond (browned bits) off the bottom with a wooden spoon and a splash of liquid.
Burnt fond stuck to the bottom is the #1 cause of repeat C5 / Burn errors.
The bits float in the liquid instead of frying onto the metal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between C5 and Burn?

C5 and Burn are very similar — both detect the bottom getting too hot without enough thin liquid.
Different model generations use different code names.
Newer Instant Pots show 'Burn'; some older ones show C5.
The fix is the same: add liquid, deglaze, scrape any stuck food.

Is the food safe after C5?

Usually yes — C5 triggers before burning becomes severe.
If only the bottom layer is darkened, scoop the unburnt food off the top and discard the burnt bottom.
If the whole pot is heavily scorched, throw it out — burnt food has carcinogens you don't want.