All About Pressure Cookers

Pressure cookers first appeared in the 70s of the twentieth century. Many housewives fell in love with them because these devices simplified everyday life. Indeed, due to the fact that the food was preparing very quickly, much less energy was consumed. In addition, the time taken to prepare food was significantly reduced.

If we talk about a pressure cooker, then it is a device that tightly closes with a lid. In the process of cooking after boiling water in a pan begins to form steam. It creates pressure inside the pressure cooker, after which the temperature begins to exceed the boiling point.

Thereby all food cooks several times faster. And you can cook almost everything in it: soups, and borscht, and porridge, and even jelly, which turns out to be much tastier than in a conventional pan. The meat also turns out to be very tender and tasty, if you follow the recipes and do everything right. Besides, since all food is not fried, it is much more beneficial for the health of any person.

All such devices can be divided into several groups at once. They can be both electric and mechanical. If we talk about the second, then such devices are pans with sealed lids. You can cook in them on both gas and electric stoves. In addition, they have a fairly thick bottom and walls. Modern electrical appliances are powered by mains. Their appearance is a bit like a slow cooker. Moreover, they have much more functionality.

Electric pressure cookers have additional features.You can cook dishes in different modes, heat them up or even set a specific time when the cooking process begins. And if you set the desired program, after cooking is complete, the pressure cooker will turn off by itself.

If we consider in more detail the device of such an aggregate, then it is the simplest pan, but quite durable. In addition, she can withstand even too high a pressure. When choosing such a device for yourself, you must first take into account that the working volume of the bowl in the pan should be one third less, since there must be room for steam.

But the most important part in the pressure cooker is the lid, which will not allow the steam to go outside, as well as maintain pressure in such a pan. In order to make it fit as tightly as possible, the apparatus has a gasket or o-ring. The sealant can be either rubber or silicone.

If we consider in more detail the entire process of action, then the pressure reaches one bar, and the temperature heats up to 121 degrees. At the very beginning of cooking, the valve on the lid remains open. When the pressure cooker heats up, the valve closes on its own under pressure. A little later, with increasing pressure, it pushes the valve back and opens it automatically. Due to this, excess steam goes away, and inside the pressure cooker pressure is constantly maintained up to one bar.

With the help of this machine, you can always cook quite a variety of dishes quite quickly and tasty. This is especially true for those products that require too long processing. As a rule, these are all kinds of cereals or red meat.

When a pressure cooker works, even the freshest and most tender fruits or vegetables do not boil at all, and also do not change their color. After all, they do not interact with oxygen at all during cooking. In addition, such products almost completely retain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. After all, they are prepared very quickly. However, using a pressure cooker, be sure to adhere to safety regulations. After all, if you do not follow them, then you can get very severe burns.

If we talk about pressure cookers, then they can be divided not only by the type of material, but also by size, bottom thickness and their compatibility with various types of stoves. So, for example, for a gas stove, a pan made of stainless steel or all-aluminum is suitable. These materials have excellent thermal conductivity. Such a function significantly accelerates the heating of not only products, but also water. Rarely enough, you can find models that have an enamel coating. But pressure cookers made of cast iron or ceramic do not exist.

Stainless steel pressure cookers are quite resistant to various acids. In addition, they can withstand high temperatures. Also, such pressure cookers do not retain odors, do not absorb fats at all. Therefore, in these units it will be possible to cook almost any of the products, since they themselves are vacuum. It can be either aspic or ordinary porridge, meat or jam. And even if you cook the dishes one by one, all the same they will not take over the smells of each other.

For induction cookers, pressure cookers are made of stainless steel. It is heated with the help of a magnetic field, and not with the help of a heating element, as on other stoves. So that such a device can absorb all the energy quickly, on the pan the bottom is made thicker. In addition, at the bottom between two layers of stainless steel, almost all manufacturers add a layer of copper or aluminum. So the pressure cooker can warm up on the stove in just a few minutes.

But for glass-ceramic stoves, you need to buy pressure cookers that have a very flat bottom. There should be no depressions or depressions on them. If they are, then the heat from the stove will not transfer well to the pressure cooker. It should be borne in mind that the diameter at the bottom of the pressure cooker must completely coincide with the diameter of the stove.

Also, such a device should not be aluminum or copper. If we talk about covers for pressure cookers, then most often they are completely metal or with small inserts made of special glass. The second covers are more convenient, since you can control everything and not open them.

Pressure cookers can be completely different in size - both large and small. Some of them are bucket-shaped. They can cook porridge or side dishes. Small pots are great for small families or those with little kids. You can easily cook baby puree or meat in them. The ladle can also be used as ordinary dishes, for example, for preparing a simple soup.

For those who want to choose a pressure cooker for themselves, it is worth familiarizing themselves with the most popular manufacturers of pressure cookers.

The rating of all pressure cookers is headed by products from these manufacturers. It is made of stainless steel in Germany. There is no internal coating in such devices. You can cook in such a pressure cooker from German manufacturers on various stoves. The only thing you can’t do is cook in the oven or microwave.

The production of such pressure cookers is located in the Czech Republic. They are quite popular among many housewives in Russia. They are made of stainless steel, so they are suitable for various plates. The bottom of such devices is supplemented with a three-layer. To make it more convenient to cook, inside the bowl there is a measuring scale. The volume does not exceed seven liters. In addition, the pan handles do not heat up at all.

Another representative of such devices. Pressure cooker made of stainless steel. Handles are safe, in addition, it is equipped with a two-position valve. This pressure cooker is suitable for almost all stoves, without exception. It can even be washed in the dishwasher.

Such pots are made in China. They are made of stainless steel. The bottom has an aluminum layer, which heats up very quickly. Food in such pressure cookers does not burn at all, besides it remains hot for a long time. You can cook in a pressure cooker on any stove. Allowed to wash even in the dishwasher. The kit includes a metal double boiler.

Just like the other pressure cookers described above, this one is made of stainless steel. Its bottom is quite thick, the handles do not heat up even at the highest temperatures. It can be suitable for any stove. However, do not wash in the dishwasher.

The production of such pressure cookers is located in Chelyabinsk. They are made of aluminum, the volume of the pan is from five liters. This pressure cooker is perfect for daily use. In it you can cook any selected dish. The jam is especially good in it.

This pressure cooker has a cast aluminum coating. In addition, you can cook on induction hobs.

This pressure cooker is made of aluminum coating in China. It attracts customers not only with its quality, but also with an affordable price.A bowl in such a pressure cooker has a volume of up to 9 liters, so it will turn out perfectly jelly.

In order to make the right choice of a pressure cooker, it is necessary to carefully study all the characteristics, as well as the documents for it. After all, this is not an ordinary pan, but a rather complicated device that works under great pressure. If a pressure cooker is selected for an electric or gas stove, then the following points must be taken into account.

• Preference is best given to a model that is made of stainless steel. She will be able to last a little longer. Also, when buying, you need to pay attention to its bottom. It should be thickened, like the walls.
• There must be two valves: one - emergency, the second - the main.
• The rubber seal will last a long time, but silicone will be better, does not dry out and is not afraid of too high temperatures.
• The lock should be both reliable and convenient. In addition, the pressure cooker should have a lock, especially if there are small children in the house. It unlocks only after the pressure drops to the desired level.
• It is best if the handles are made of a material that does not heat up at high temperature.
• If the lid is made of glass, cooking will be much easier.
• It is very good if there is a thermometer, because in this case it will be possible to control the process of cooking.
• If the pressure cooker has different switching modes, this will allow you to cook in a more gentle way.
• If the kit has an extra lid, this will allow you to cook in a pressure cooker, as in a conventional pan.

Almost every model has a set of instructions for use. However, there are times when it is not. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with some rules before or after a purchase.

• It is strictly forbidden to leave the pressure cooker unattended so that children can not reach it in any case.
• Do not put a pressure cooker in an oven or oven.
• It is forbidden to touch such a unit during cooking or immediately after turning it off.
• It will be correct to cook food with the addition of water.
• Do not fry any product under pressure.
• Before use, the pressure cooker must be washed with any detergent to remove traces of grease, if any.
• After that, you can start cooking. Pour water into the bowl so that it fills it no more than two-thirds.
• Then you need to close the lid and set the pressure level, if available in the pressure cooker. If it is cooked on a gas stove, then simply adjust the flame to the proper level.
• Steam must constantly leave the tank. If it is not, then you need to add a little fire. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the food does not burn out.

In addition, some models of such devices require cooling after preparation. Also, be sure to ensure that the valves do not clog. If this still happened, they must be washed. When owners do not use a pressure cooker too often, seals are best stored separately. After cooking, the pan must be thoroughly washed and then dried. Keep the pressure cooker in a dry place.

See how to use a pressure cooker in the next video.