The principle of pressure cooking is pretty straightforward. Most cooks and bakers know that they need to adjust recipes for high altitudes because water boils at a lower temperature. Pressure cookers reverse that process, creating an unnaturally high air pressure inside the sealed pot, which raises the boiling temperature of water and allows for faster cooking. Modern pressure cookers are safe and efficient -- and easy to use. You only need to follow a few basic rules to turn out nutritious foods in minimal time.
Step 1
Check the lid of your pressure cooker before starting. Ensure that the main vent and safety valves are clear of any obstructions, and that the sealing ring around the edge of the lid has no cracks, gaps or cuts in it.
Step 2
Cut your meats and vegetables to uniform sizes, so they cook evenly. This is more important in pressure cooking than regular cooking because foods can overcook so easily. You want everything to finish at the same time.
Step 3
Lock the lid onto your cooker and place it on the stove. Bring it to a boil, and watch the pressure gauge on the lid. Some use a dial, while others have an indicator that rises out of the lid to show the pressure. Most recipes cook at 10 or 15 pounds of pressure.
Step 4
Begin timing your food once there is a conical plume of steam from the vent of your pressure cooker. Adjust the burner as necessary to maintain your pressure.
Step 5
Remove your pressure cooker from the heat once the cooking time is complete, and depressurize the cooker as directed. Sometimes this is by letting it cool naturally, sometimes by running it under cool water and sometimes by pressing a pressure-release button.
Step 6
Open the lid once the pressure has dissipated, and serve your food. Clean the lid's valves immediately after cooking to prevent it from getting clogged with food debris.
Tips and Warnings
- Until you've become used to your pressure cooker, it's best to stick with recipes that were created for a pressure cooker. Those from your manufacturer are best, because they'll have instructions that refer to your model's specific size and safety features. Once you are comfortable with pressure cooking, you can begin adapting your favorite recipes to work in your cooker.
- Never attempt to open a pressurized cooker. You can be badly scalded if you deliberately circumvent the cooker's safety features.
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