How To Use Your Pressure Cooker

The Pressure Cooker – A User’s Guide to the Four Types of Pressure Cooker

Pressure Cookers have evolved from the original Weighted Valve Stove top to the more modern Spring Valve which has an Induction Pressure Cooker option, and onward to the Electric pressure cooker.

Using a pressure cooker can be confusing for the first timer. This chart helps clarify how to operate your pressure cooker, whether it is old style, new style, induction or electric.

	First Generation	Second Generation	Induction	Electric
System	Jiggle or weighted pressure regulator that sits on top of the pipe or vent.	Spring valves and closed system
Minimum water	Always at least one cup of water	Minimum ½ cup of water	Minimum ½ cup of water	Follow programme. Choose cooking programme and press buttons as appropriate. Add food as per programme and leave to cook.
Maximum water	Maximum 2/3 full
Step One	Turn on pressure cooker to heat		Don’t heat first
Step Two	Fill pressure cooker with food and liquid
Step Three	Close lid and position valve to pressure cook. Lock
Step Four		Select pressure and setting
Step Five		Turn heat to high	Turn heat to medium
Raising pressure	Top will jiggle once pressure reached from pressure of steam. Place safety valve on the nozzle once you see steam coming out.	Indicator shows when correct pressure reached . Lower heat to maintain pressure	Indicator shows when correct pressure reached . Lower heat to maintain pressure	Display counts down cooking time
Cooking	Start timer to count cooking time
Release pressure	Release pressure by method appropriate to recipe.
Serve	Open safety lock and serve			Open lid and serve

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