• Remove the rubber ring (gasket) and wash by hand.

• Some pressure cooker bases are dishwasher safe.  Check before you buy.

• Never put the lid in the dishwasher as it can damage the valves.

• Never store the cooker with the lid locked as it can damage the rubber seal.  Also, if there’s any moisture in the pot, it will create a vacuum seal that’s almost impossible to open.

• Store the cooker with the lid placed upside down.

Are Pressure Cookers Dangerous?

A pressure cooker is perfectly safe to use, as long as common sense safety practices used with any cooking method are followed. Early models of these cookers were generally not equipped with safety features such as valves to let excess pressure escape. 

How do Pressure Cookers Work?

Pressure cookers use the chemical properties of water to help food cook more quickly.  At sea level, water can only heat up to 100° C (212° F) before it boils, transforming into steam. 

However, if the water is under pressure, the temperature needed to make it boil increases.  Pressure cookers work by cranking up the pressure on water so that it can become hotter, and cook food more quickly

Modern pressure cookers are usually set to 15 pounds per square inch, which allows water to reach about 125°C (257°F).  The results can be dramatic.  Rice or raw potatoes, which take about half an hour to boil in regular cookware, can be fully cooked in five minutes.  Furthermore, the shorter cooking time of pressure cookers also helps food retain its flavor, reducing the need for salt, butter, and other additives.

Buying Pressure Cookers
 

When buying this piece of cookware for your home, you’ll first need to decide what kind of material you prefer.  There are two standard materials used in modern-day pressure cookers:  aluminum and stainless steel. 

Aluminum cookers are less expensive and conduct heat well, but there is the risk of food sticking to the surface.

Stainless steel cookers are more expensive, but tend to endure better over time.  They keep a lustrous shine throughout the years, and feel heavier and more solid.  However, as stainless steel does not conduct heat well, ensure that you check that the pressure cooker you are considering purchasing has a solid layer of aluminum or copper on the bottom.