Cooker Dal Overflowing: Dal spills out when the cooker whistles. Try these hacks.
- bySherya
- 20 Jan, 2026
Kitchen Hacks: People think it's safe to cook lentils, rice, vegetables, and other items in a pressure cooker. But one problem is that foam tends to form when cooking. Let us tell you a trick to prevent this.

How to prevent lentils from spilling out of the cooker: Cooking in a pressure cooker is a time-saving method these days. It saves time and saves us the hassle of constantly checking it. However, a common problem when cooking lentils, beans, or rice is the foam that comes out as soon as the cooker whistles. This is due to the starch in these ingredients, which creates foam during boiling, which then spills out of the lid or whistle. This not only makes the kitchen dirty but also makes cooking a hassle. Don't worry about this; let us share some tricks that can help you fix these problems.
Why does foam come out?
Actually, this happens due to the starch present in these foods. During boiling, the starch combines with water to form foam, which begins to rise with the pressure of steam. This not only makes the kitchen dirty, but sometimes also causes the lentils or water to spill onto the stove, making cooking a hassle. However, there's no need to worry about this problem. By adopting a few simple, home-made tricks, you can largely alleviate this problem.
How to stop foam from coming out of the cooker?
It's common for foam to form when cooking lentils, beans, or rice. Here are some ways to prevent it:
Add oil or ghee
One thing you should keep in mind is that after adding lentils or other ingredients to the cooker, add a spoonful of oil or ghee. This breaks the foaming process and prevents the liquid from spilling out. Also, be careful not to overfill the cooker. Especially when cooking lentils or beans, don't fill the cooker more than halfway, so that the ingredients have enough space to expand when boiling.
Steel spoon method
If you don't want to add oil or ghee, there's another easy trick. Food blogger and content creator Nitika Nigga shared this method on social media. She suggests placing a clean steel spoon inside the cooker before turning it off. This spoon breaks up the bubbles that form during boiling, keeping the foam under control and preventing it from overflowing the whistle or lid.
By following these simple steps, you can avoid up to 90% of foaming problems. This will not only keep your kitchen clean but also make cooking much easier and more relaxing.






