Caring for the Pressure Cooker Lid Back to Library menu.   What's on This Page Washing the Lid How Do I Clean the Old-Style Vent Pipe? What is the Old-Style Safety Fuse Plug? What Is The Old-Style Over-pressure Plug? Related Articles       Washing the Lid Most pressure cooker lids should not be washed in the dishwasher or left to soak in water, especially if it is one of the second generation cooker with the new valve systems in the lid. Pressure cooker lids should always be washed separately by hand in hot water and mild dish soap. Use a sponge or non-metal scrubber if needed. Do not use any sort of abrasive cleansers. Bon Ami or similar non abrasive cleansers may be used for stubborn stains, and Bar Keepers Friend is good for polishing up the outer surface. Remove the gasket from the lid, the pressure weight, and any other removal parts, and wash everything separately, paying close attentions to the locking flange and the vent pipe if your lid has one. Use a small brush (a toothbrush works well for this area) for cleaning inside the pressure regulator weight. Pay close attention to remove any bit of food from around the valves and the sealing surface of the lid. See more about the new type valve systems here. Always check to see that all the attached parts are tightly screwed on, and adjust when necessary. Always check to see that the vent pipe is clean and clear, or that the valve stem moves up and down freely, before putting your cooker away. Looking for a new gasket? See the Replacement Parts Page and search for your brand. How Do I Clean the Old Style Vent Pipe? On old style pressure cookers, use a pipe cleaner to clean out the vent pipe, even if it looks clean there will be a blackish mineral deposit that is left from the steam and that will build up if you don't clean the pipe out. Let the lid and it's parts dry thoroughly before storing. What is the Old-Style Safety Fuse Plug? This special safety valve in the lid of old-style pressure cookers. It is made of a special metal alloy that is sensitive to high heat. Should you neglect the pressure cooker long enough that it becomes dangerously overheated, this alloy pellet melts. The resulting hole in the lid then allows the excess pressure build to vent.   With the modern pressure cookers, this plug has been replaced by newer, more efficient safety systems. If you have the misfortune of melting this plug you will have to replace it before using the pressure cooker again. In some cases this nay mean returning the lid to the manufacturer for the needed repair or replacement. What Is The Old-Style Over-pressure Plug? This is another safety pressure release feature on the lid of many older cookers. It is usually a rubber plug with a small metal valve stem that comes up and seals the plug when the pot comes to pressure. For good maintenance, always check this plug to be sure the metal piece is movable and the rubber is soft and moves freely in its slightly oversized hole.   If your cooker becomes over pressurized the plug will blow out to allow excess pressure to be released. You'll have quite a mess to clean up if this ever happens to you. It is not advisable to reuse the plug because the rubber will have stretched once it blows through the opening in the lid so plan on replacing it before using the cooker again. Related Articles Try the Troubleshooting Chart to identify problems and find solutions. Find out how to clean the spring valve assembly on a modern pressure cooker. Find out how to clean and care for the pressure cooker lid. Find out how to clean and care for the pressure cooker. Find out how to clean and care for the pressure cooker valves. Find out how to clean and care for the gasket. Find out more about the care and cleaning of all kinds of cookware.     Questions or comments on this article? Click here.