How to Use Pressure Cooker? Sounds silly, doesn’t it? After all, we have all grown with the Pressure cooler practically being a part of our lives and lifestyle forever. The memories of the Cooker’s Whistle going off as the moms and the grand-moms of the house went about preparing our favourite delicacies is forever etched. Likewise, the aroma of the cooking always gave off the mystery of the recipe that was being cooked inside the Pressure Cooker. However, it is safe to say that the Pressure cooker is one of the most ‘unique’ among the kitchen cutlery and appliance family.
To start with, it comprises an ‘endearing’ little whistle that signals the food preparation in progress. It is not an electronic appliance, traditionally speaking, yet it is used to cook food in record time. But, How to use a pressure cooker the first time? While most might laugh at the question, the safety and feature knowledge is important as it can be dangerous otherwise.
The traditional Pressure cooker has been around for almost three centuries. Surprised? Well, don’t be because this home appliance or cooking utensil has been gracing our kitchens for a long time. However, the 40s and the 50 saw a massive surge in the popularity of the Pressure Cooker as it managed to make the housewives quite happy. This was because it bough down the cooking time massively. Hence, it was sought after for most meal preparations and used extensively for all occasions. But, these early models were not free from dangers. There have been cases (quite a few) of explosions that have resulted in viewing this particular cookware as a ‘threat’.
Nevertheless, the manufacturers were quick to jump to the rescue, and hence, more sophisticated versions of the Pressure cooker came into existence. These were designed to ensure the user’s safety and speed up the cooking process. So, how does the Pressure cooker works? Let us find out:
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How to Use the Pressure Cooker?
The Pressure Cooker comprises a base pot with a lid that locks into closure. Also, a valve controls the pressure that builds within the cookware. Also, a small amount of liquid is required to initiate the process of cooking.; a compulsion that is a must when it comes to cooking in the Pressure cooker. This is vital as the steam developed is responsible for increasing the pressure from within. Hence, the process of cooking the food ingredient takes place. A comfortable pressure of 10-15 psi is developed within a basic pressure cooker, which is sufficient to cook food in record time. To illustrate the speed of cooking, one can take the example of cooking time and temperature at sea level. Normally, the water boils at 100 C at sea level, but when the pressure increases, the boiling point of water at sea level increases to 120C. Hence, the thermal energy generated transmits the heat into the food ingredient much more quickly, thus, cooking in record time.
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How to Use a Pressure Cooker on an Induction?
The Induction Cooktop is one of the most widely used cooking options, as it allows quick heating of the cookware placed over it. This is done with the fluctuating magnetic field in the induction cooktop that converts into heat energy once the top comes in contact with the specially made cookware placed on top of it. Likewise, when it comes to using the Pressure cooker, the market consists of special ‘induction.’
Pressure cookers for this very purpose. The working is much similar to the rest of the Induction-special cookware, which cooks up the food due to the thermal energy that is generated due to the fluctuating magnetic fields within the induction cooktop surface. However, there are a few tips you need to bear in mind before you use the induction Pressure cooker or a Pressure cooker on an induction cooktop:
- You need not preheat the pressure cooker before mounting it on top of the Induction cooktop, as the cooking process takes place rather quickly in this case.
- One can start the process of cooking in a medium heat setting on an induction cooktop.
- Be sure to make the right adjustments when the cooker is in its full capacity to maintain the optimum pressure.
- It is advisable to utilize the Timer featured on the cooktop to avoid the chances of overcooking taking place.
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How to Use a Pressure Cooker as a Steamer?
- One of the best ways to use the Pressure Cooker is to steam the vegetables and Seafood produce. This is effective, as once again, it brings down your cooking time considerably. To be able to do so, you will need to:
- Get yourself a nice collapsible Steaming basket that fits well within the Pressure Cooker.
- First, fill the pot with some water and heat it to the brink of boiling to generate enough steam.
- Now, place the basket within the pot and set in the food ingredients as required without too much overcrowding.
- Carefully close the lid to lock it.
- Be sure to set the heat setting to low or the lowest setting to get the cooking under process.
- In the case of cooking the Seafood, use a good amount of grease or oil before you get the cooking going.
- Also, when in case of certain food preparation, you need to always cook according to the specified instructions.
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A minimum of 1 cup of water is required for pressure cooker cooking. Also, be sure not to fill in too much water up to the brim, as it can overpour whenever the pressure increases.
The pressure cooker cuts down the cooking time considerably. A recipe that requires 8 to 10 hours of cooking can be accomplished in just over an hour at most.
As mentioned earlier, too much water can cause overflowing of the water once the pressure increases up to a point, and this leads to the water spurting out from the valve as and when the pressure is developed.
The time taken for the optimum pressure to be achieved can range from 5 minutes to 30 minutes at most.
How to Use Pressure Cooker?: The Conclusion
So, dear folks, these were a few facts and features of a Pressure Cooker. This is one of the most widely used kitchen appliances across the globe. Interestingly, recipes from all cultures and regions can be prepared in a Pressure cooker. The appliance is one of the most sought-after ones when it comes to decreasing the cooking time considerably.