PRESSURE COOKER FEARS
One of the leading questions I’m asked around kitchen equipment in my spice classes is: are pressure cookers safe and will they explode?The short answer is: yes they’re safe, and explosions happen extremely rarely. If you’re worried about even the slightest chance of that occurring, then watch the video and read the below to understand how pressure cooker’s work, why they make the noises they make, and how to understand the signs that a pressure cooker is nearing the end of its lifespan and needs retiring.
PRESSURE COOKER KNOW-HOW:
The whistle of the pressure cooker is the signal that it is releasing steam and is functioning successfully.
Pressure cookers compress time by compressing steam making meal cooking shorter when it comes to meal and lentils, but also intensifying spice aroma and tenderness of meat proteins in particular.
The first sign your pressure cooker is failing will be the absence of the steam whistle just as it reaches temperature.
If your pressure cooker ceases to release steam at temperature, first check the screws on the underside of the lid before reconciling the pot to the recycling: if the screws are loose, the pressure valve is affected and may not be able to build steam.
Deteriorated or loose rubber seals on the inside rim of the pressure cooker lid can also affect how a pressure cooker operates. Check these if you have concerns to make sure they are in good enough condition to seal.
If the food begins to stick to the pot and burn, in conjunction with a lack of steam release, the time has come to relegate that pressure cooker and start anew.
The most danger from a pressure cooker is likely a steam burn if the pressure cooker is “force” released. To avoid this, allow time for the pressure cooker to depressurise on its own (by taking it off the heat and leaving it to cool - you’ll hear a “click” when the steam lock releases). If you’re in a hurry, run the whole pot under a tap of cold water and it will release at speed.