Each and every
time you use your pressure cooker make it a habit to do a visual inspection. Pay close attention
to the lid with it's gasket, vents and valve systems, to be sure it is clean and in good working order.
Click here to find out more about how
do care
for your pressure cooker.
Check the Gasket
- ALWAYS check the lid before locking it on your pressure cooker. I store my pressure cooker lids with the gasket
removed. When I'm ready to cook I check the gasket, feeling it and looking for signs of wear or deterioration.
The gasket is the rubber seal on the inside of the cooker lid.
The gasket must remain flush against the lid to seal
correctly and bring the pressure up. I also check that no food particles have gotten stuck on the on the gasket,
under the lid or on the rim of the cooker which would prevent a tight seal.
Check the Vents & Valve Systems - The biggest concerns in pressure cooking are the vent system. All
the vents and valve need to be working properly in order to cook food safely. The vent tube is the tube in the
center of the cooker lid that vents out the steam. This may be a newer pop-up rod type indicator (think Butterball
turkey), or a small weight that jiggles back and forth goes on top of the vent tube - "the jiggler".
Clean it every
time - On my jiggle top cooker I check the vent pipe AND the inside of the regulator weighted top as well.
Its very simple to check the vent pipe on a jiggle top pressure cooker just by holding the lid up to the light
and looking through the vent tube to be sure it's clear. Run a pipe cleaner through the little tube before cooking
to clean it, and make a habit of doing this every
time. On my newer Duromatic I make sure the valve stem is in good
working order by moving it up and down freely to make sure it isn't sticking. Check the over-pressure plug on your
jiggle top cookers. Look for cracking in the rubber seal and make sure that little metal rod is moving freely.
If you have a new generation cooker check the safety venting valves too.
Don't
Overfill - Vents can become clogged with food particles if you fill the cooker past the 2/3 full mark or if you did not clean
the lid properly. Some food such as beans, apples and pasta create a lot of foam in the pressure cooker, just as
they do in a regular pot on the stove when they boil over, and the limit is 1/2 full for any frothy/foaming foods.
Adding 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil to dry beans will help control the foam for these kinds of recipes. See more
information and links on where to purchase replacement parts.
Check the Gasket
- ALWAYS check the lid before locking it on your pressure cooker. I store my pressure cooker lids with the gasket
removed. When I'm ready to cook I check the gasket, feeling it and looking for signs of wear or deterioration.
The gasket is the rubber seal on the inside of the cooker lid.
The gasket must remain flush against the lid to seal
correctly and bring the pressure up. I also check that no food particles have gotten stuck on the on the gasket,
under the lid or on the rim of the cooker which would prevent a tight seal.
Clean it every
time - On my jiggle top cooker I check the vent pipe AND the inside of the regulator weighted top as well.
Its very simple to check the vent pipe on a jiggle top pressure cooker just by holding the lid up to the light
and looking through the vent tube to be sure it's clear. Run a pipe cleaner through the little tube before cooking
to clean it, and make a habit of doing this every
time. On my newer Duromatic I make sure the valve stem is in good
working order by moving it up and down freely to make sure it isn't sticking. Check the over-pressure plug on your
jiggle top cookers. Look for cracking in the rubber seal and make sure that little metal rod is moving freely.
If you have a new generation cooker check the safety venting valves too.