How to Use Pressure Cookers

Vegetables and meat cook quickly in a pressure cooker.

Old pressure cookers were sometimes dangerous. If they exploded, injury was inevitable. Today, pressure cookers are safer. They stay locked while the pressure is releasing, protecting you from harm. Pressure cookers are a quick way to cook meat and a nutritious way to cook vegetables. When the liquid boils, steam builds up, creating pressure. Higher cooking temperatures occur resulting in faster cooking time with little evaporation. Few vitamins and minerals escape, so your food is healthier.

Things You'll Need

• Ingredients for desired recipe
• Water

Instructions

1. Examine the rubber ring that fits in the groove of the cooker. It is important that the rubber ring is clean and not brittle. The rubber ring is what creates the seal when you lock the pressure cooker top onto the base of the cooker.

2. Prepare your food. If you are planning to cook meat, brown it in the bottom of the cooker with a little oil. This will seal in the juices for better taste. If you are planning on cooking vegetables, slice them or leave them whole.

3. Place the ingredients in the pressure cooker, and add the water. Do not fill beyond the marked line inside the pressure cooker. Most foods will cook with 2 cups of water, but check the recipe first. Put the top of the cooker on and turn until it locks into place. You are now ready to cook the food.

4. Turn the burner to medium-high or high. Set the pot on the burner. You want to heat up the ingredients first and then lower the temperature.
   If your pressure cooker has a PSI (force per square inch) gauge, adjust the heat to the recommended PSI. If the pressure cooker has a regulator, you want a gentle, steady rocking motion.

5. Time your food. When the food is cooked, turn off the stove and move the pressure cooker off the burner. Let it cool down naturally. The cooling down is the release of pressure. You can run the top of the pressure cooker under cold water for 1 minute to cool it down faster.
   Some pressure cookers have an automatic release mechanism for releasing the pressure. Once the pressure is released, take off the top and check to see if the food is cooked. If not, lock the top and cook longer.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to cook meat separate from the vegetables because the vegetables will cook faster.

• Do not try to take the pressure cooker top off when there is still pressure.

Resources

• Pressure Cooker Primer