All about pressure cookers

For the first time pressure cookers 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 food was prepared very quickly, much less electricity was consumed. In addition, the time spent preparing food has been significantly reduced.

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

Thereby all food is cooked several times faster... And you can cook almost anything in it: soups, borscht, porridge, and even jellied meat, which turns out to be much tastier than in a regular saucepan. 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 healthier for any person.

All such devices can be divided into several groups at once. They can be both electrical 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 the mains. In their appearance, they a little resemble a multicooker. At the same time, they have much more functionality.

Electric pressure cookers have additional functions.You can cook dishes in different modes, reheat them, or even set a specific time when the cooking process starts. And if you set the desired program, the pressure cooker will turn off by itself after the end of cooking.

If we consider in more detail the device of such a unit, then it is the simplest pan, however, quite durable. In addition, it will be able to withstand even too high pressure. When choosing such a device for yourself, you must first of all take into account that the working volume of the bowl in the saucepan should be one third less, since there must be a place for steam.

But the most important part in a pressure cooker is the lid, which prevents steam from escaping and also maintains pressure in such a saucepan. In order for it to fit as tightly as possible, the device has a gasket or an O-ring. The seal can be either rubber or silicone.

If we consider in more detail the whole 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 cooker heats up, the valve closes automatically under pressure. A little later, when the pressure rises, it pushes the valve back and opens it automatically. This allows excess steam to escape, and the pressure inside the pressure cooker is constantly maintained at a pressure of up to one bar.

With the help of such a device, you can always prepare a variety of dishes 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 the pressure cooker is running even the freshest and most delicate fruits or vegetables will not boil over at all, and also will 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 prepare very quickly. However, when using a pressure cooker, be sure to stick to safety regulations... After all, if you do not follow them, 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, a pan made of stainless steel or all-aluminum is suitable for a gas stove. These materials have excellent thermal conductivity. This function significantly speeds up the heating of not only food, but also water. It is quite rare to find models that have an enamel finish. But there are no pressure cookers made of cast iron or ceramic.

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 both jellied meat and ordinary porridge, meat or jam. And even if you cook dishes one by one, they will still not adopt each other's smells.

For induction cookers, pressure cookers are made of stainless steel. It is heated using a magnetic field, and not using a heating element, as on other stoves. So that such a device can absorb all the energy quickly, the bottom of the pan is made thicker. In addition, at the bottom between the two layers of stainless steel, almost all manufacturers add a layer of copper or aluminum. This will allow the pressure cooker to heat 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 also be borne in mind that the diameter at the bottom of the pressure cooker must completely match the diameter of the stove.

Also, such a device should not be aluminum or copper. If we talk about lids for pressure cookers, then they are most often 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 very different in size - both large and small. Some of them are in the shape of a bucket. You can cook porridge or side dishes in them. Small pots are great for small families or those with small children. They can easily make baby puree or meat. The ladle can also be used as a regular dish, for example for making a simple soup.

For those looking to choose a pressure cooker for themselves, it is worth checking out the most popular pressure cooker manufacturers.

The rating of all pressure cookers is headed by products from these manufacturers. It is made from stainless steel in Germany. There is no inner coating in such devices. You can cook in such a pressure cooker from German manufacturers on various stoves. The only thing that cannot be done is to 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 stoves. The bottom of such devices is supplemented with a three-layer one. To make it more convenient to cook, there is a measuring scale inside the bowl. The volume does not exceed seven liters. In addition, the handles of the pan do not heat up at all.

Another representative of such devices. The pressure cooker is made of stainless steel. The 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 is even dishwasher safe.

These pots are made in China. They are made of stainless steel. The bottom has an aluminum layer that heats up very quickly. Food in such pressure cookers does not burn at all, and besides, it remains hot for a long time. You can cook in a pressure cooker on any stove. Even dishwasher safe. The set includes a metal steamer.

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. Can fit any stove. However, it is not dishwasher safe.

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. Any dish of your choice can be prepared in it. Jam is especially good in it.

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

This pressure cooker is made of aluminum coating in China. It seduces buyers not only with its quality, but also with an acceptable price.The bowl in such a pressure cooker has a volume of up to 9 liters, so it will make jellied meat perfectly.

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

• It is best to give preference to the model, which 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 is an emergency, the second is the main one.
• The rubber seal will last a long time, but the silicone will be better, will not dry out and will not be afraid of too high temperatures.
• The lock should be both reliable and comfortable. In addition, the pressure cooker must have a lock, especially if there are small children in the house. It is unlocked only after the pressure has dropped to the desired level.
• It is best if the handles are made of a material that does not heat up at high temperatures.
• If the lid is made of glass, it will be much easier to cook.
• It is very good if you have a thermometer, because in this case it will be possible to control the cooking process.
• If the pressure cooker has different switching modes, this will allow you to cook your food in a more gentle way.
• If the kit comes with an extra lid, this will allow you to cook in a pressure cooker, just like in a regular saucepan.

Almost every model has instructions for use in its kit. However, there are times when it is not there. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with some rules before or after buying.

• It is strictly forbidden to leave the pressure cooker unattended to prevent children from reaching it.
• Do not put the pressure cooker in an oven or oven.
• Do not touch such a unit during cooking or immediately after turning it off.
• It will be correct to prepare food with the addition of water.
• Do not fry any product under pressure.
• Before using the pressure cooker, be sure to wash it with any detergent to remove any traces of grease, if any.
• After that, you can start cooking. It is necessary to 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 there is one in the pressure cooker. If it is cooking on a gas stove, then simply adjust the flame to the proper level.
• Steam must constantly escape from the container. If it is not there, then you need to add a little fire. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the food does not burn.

In addition, some models of such devices require cooling after cooking. It is also imperative to ensure that the valves are not clogged. If this does happen, they must be rinsed. When the owners do not use the pressure cooker too often, it is best to store the seals separately. After cooking, wash the pot thoroughly and then dry it. The pressure cooker must be stored in a dry place.

For information on how to use the pressure cooker correctly, see the next video.