If the instructions for the pressure cooker are missing, it’s no big deal. Operating the pressure cooker is easy once you know the basics. Cooking with a pressure cooker is recommended because it saves time and preserves nutrients.
How to start cooking with a pressure cooker: Instructions
If you want to cook with a pressure cooker, first choose the right size for the number of servings you need. Models with a capacity of six liters or more are suitable for families of four or more. Anything smaller is suitable for smaller households (4.5 l) and single servings (3.5 l).
- Before you start cooking, check that the lid, the inner sealing ring, and the valves of the pressure cooker are intact. You should also inspect the moving parts for the pressure gauge and the handles.
- Fill the pot with the food you want to cook. This can be vegetables, fish, or meat. You can place vegetables in a cooking basket that fits the pot and lightly brown meat with fat beforehand, if necessary. Or you can add all the ingredients for a stew or soup according to the recipe.
- Add the appropriate amount of liquid, which is important for generating sufficient steam. This also prevents the food from burning on the bottom of the pot.
- Add at least 125 milliliters to small pressure cookers with a capacity of about three liters, about 250 milliliters to medium-sized pots with a capacity of four liters, and about 750 milliliters to larger pots with a capacity of six liters or more.
- In total, you should not fill the pressure cooker more than three-quarters of its total volume. For foods that produce foam, are thick, or swell significantly, you should only use half the pot’s height. This is the case, for example, when cooking legumes and stews.
- Now put the lid on and close it so that the handle clicks into place. With most pot models, you will hear and feel this closing clearly. Push the pressure cooker’s lock closed so that pressure can build up in the pot.
- Place the pot on a stove burner that matches the pot’s diameter and turn on the heat. Set the desired steam pressure level on the lid (control on the handle).
The cooking time begins with a hissing sound
The cooking time depends on how much you increase the pressure in the pot and what food you are cooking.
The higher the pressure—level 2 is the highest for most cookers—the higher the cooking temperature inside and the shorter the cooking time required. This preserves vitamins during heating and has advantages in terms of color and taste.
- As soon as the steam builds up pressure in the pot, your pot will indicate this. For example, a pin or a kind of button on the lid will lift up. There are usually two markings on the lid.
- At cooking level 1 (1st marking is visible), the food is cooked at around 110 degrees Celsius. This setting is well suited for delicate foods such as vegetables or fish with a short cooking time.
- Use cooking level 2 (2nd mark) for cooking and braising meat, side dishes such as potatoes, soups, or stews. You can also use it to preserve or sterilize canned vegetables or fruit. The temperature at level 2 is around 120 degrees Celsius.
- Once the temperature and pressure level have been reached, you will usually hear a slight hissing sound. The valve on the lid will now begin to open to release excess steam. If there is a strong additional supply of energy, a lot of steam may escape.
- Now the actual cooking time for your dish begins. You should now reduce the energy supply or turn it off completely.
- The more experience you have with your cooking pot and the characteristics of your stove, the more accurately you will be able to determine whether you can reduce the temperature before reaching the boiling point. This varies greatly from pot to pot and from stove to stove.
Carefully reduce the pressure at the end
For optimal results, it is particularly important with vegetables and fish to cook them for exactly the right amount of time and then reduce the temperature in the pot as quickly as possible. Meat, on the other hand, is usually forgiving if the cooking time is slightly exceeded. Once the estimated cooking time has elapsed, reduce the pressure in the pot.
- Move the slider toward “Open valve.” Caution: Depending on the model of pot, especially older ones, a large amount of hot steam may escape suddenly. Always make sure that no one is standing in the direction of the steam.
- Please note: If the steam comes into direct contact with your skin, you risk severe scalding. In addition, the outside of the pot will also become very hot. Therefore, always use the pot handles when operating it. Continue doing this until no more steam is escaping and the pressure gauge has dropped completely.
- You can reduce the pressure and temperature in the pot quite quickly by first removing it from the heat and holding it under cold water. Make sure that no water runs into the handle or valves.
- However, you can also simply wait until the pressure and temperature decrease without further heat input. During this time, however, the contents will continue to cook slightly.
- A DIN standard stipulates that pressure cookers may only be opened once the internal pressure has fallen below four kilopascals. However, there have been cases in the past where cheap products have failed to comply with this safety precaution.
- Once the pressure has been released, release the lock on the lid handle. Now you can safely open the lid and check your food.
- After use, you should carefully wash the lid by hand and carefully clean the valves and sealing ring. Aggressive cleaning agents are not suitable for this, as they cause the material to become brittle too quickly. The pot itself and the inserts can of course also be washed in the dishwasher.
- Regular and proper care of the sealing rings and valves helps to maintain the functionality of the pressure cooker. In addition, timely cleaning prevents unpleasant odors and aromas from settling in the rubber parts.
- To make the pressure cooker easier to use, some brands include a replacement valve in the original packaging. This guarantees quick replacement and easy maintenance. However, for the exact placement of the elements, it is advisable to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions, which are usually also available online.
Guidelines for cooking times for different foods
You will quickly learn from experience how long different foods need to be cooked. Make a note of what has worked well and what hasn’t. To begin with, you can use the following guidelines:
- Potatoes, level 2, seven minutes
- Cauliflower, level 2, three minutes
- Broccoli, level 1, three minutes
- Beans, fresh green, level 1, seven minutes
- Rice, level 2, seven minutes
- Goulash, half & half, level 2, 20 to 30 minutes (depending on quantity)
- Lentil soup, level 2, 15 minutes
- Vegetable soup, level 1, ten minutes
- Beef soup, level 2, 30 minutes
Modern appliances – new possibilities
Development never stands still, especially when it comes to kitchen appliances. Modern pressure cookers offer additional functions and greater safety than older models. Depending on the manufacturer, the following new features are available:
- Some pressure cooker manufacturers minimize the risks associated with a blocked valve by installing two separate pressure equalization valves.
- To make it easier to assess the pressure conditions in the pot, some brands use simple display systems, such as a traffic light color system that indicates when the heat of the cooking zone should be increased, reduced, or turned off.
- Models with a timer integrated into the lid are particularly easy to use. These measure when the required pressure has been reached. The set cooking time is also taken into account.
- The internal pressure measurement and settings trigger either an acoustic signal or automatic switch-off and pressure reduction, ensuring that the food is cooked to perfection.
- However, steam cooking should not be confused with cooking in a pressure cooker. Steaming also offers several advantages in food preparation, but is based on simple steam generation without pressure.
