Top 6 Tips on How to Use A Pressure Cooker

The use of pressure cookers has become one of the best ways to prepare food fast thus conserving energy while at the same time saving you time. There are different generations of pressure cookers but the mechanism is the same and all you should do is to choose the one that best suits your needs.

For proper usage, it is always important to understand a few things and few questions need to be answered. For example, how does a pressure cooker work? What can I cook or not cook using my cooker?

Below are top 6 tips of how to use your Pressure Cooker :

1. Use liquid during all your cooking

Unlike other conventional cooking methods, cooking with a pressure cooker does not require much liquid. The cooker is normally covered all the time and therefore the chances of evaporation are minimal and thus little liquid is required during the cooking process. However, you should always make sure that there is enough water for cooking but keep this within the recommended levels.

Point to remember: Pressure cooking is fast and therefore does not require much water. Your water levels should not go beyond half and at times, a cup of water will be enough.

2. Never put more food into the pressure cooker that recommended

During the cooking process, the pressure generated by the heat will always require some space as it builds up. It is therefore important to give it the necessary space by not over-filling the cooker with liquid and food staff. The amount of food and liquid should be less than 2/3 full and if you want to cook a large amount of food, choose a bigger pressure cooker for the work.

3. Adjust the heat as you continue cooking

The secret behind pressure cooking is in the generation of steam which is hotter than the boiling liquid. Since this steam is trapped in the pressure cooker, it normally accumulates to put around 12 psi on the food thus accelerating the cooking process.

You can begin your cooking with high heat and adjust the heat gradually by lowering the burner or transferring the food from a high heat burner to a low heat burner in case you are using electric equipment. Increase the heat whenever the pressure reduces a bit.

4. Maintain the right size when cutting your foods

If possible, try to avoid huge pieces of food and especially meat as these will take longer to cook than smaller pieces. Your pieces should also be cut uniformly to help them cook evenly. In case you are cooking a mixture of tough and softer foods, always begin by cooking the tougher ones. Cook the tougher foods for a few minutes; release the pressure before adding the softer ones. This gives you the desired flavor and texture.

5. Time your cooking

For the best results, always make sure that your cooking is properly timed. Depending with the type of food you will be cooking, make sure that the digital kitchen timer is set based on the cooking time recommended.

6. Use the pressure

In case you are left with more liquid in your food that desired, uncover the pot and cook for a few more minutes until the liquid is reduced to satisfying amounts. 

Originally posted 2019-09-24 19:33:00.