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How to use your Pressure Cooker
VENT TUBE CHECK Pick up the lid of your Pressure Cooker
remove the Pressure Control and hold the lid against the
light to verify if the Vent Tube is clear. In the event it is
blocked, clean it with a wire along with all other holes
located inside the cover. Look again against the light to
make sure that it is clean. After cleaning, place Pressure
Control on top of Vent Tube.
FILLING Fill the cooker with food and add the required
amount of water. Make sure the quantity of food and water is
correct. Never fill the cooker more than 1/2 full of foods that
puff up like rice and dried vegetables. For all other foods,
never fill more than 2/3 full.
COOKING Place the cooker on high heat until the Pressure Control begins to release
steam. The Pressure Control will rock or jiggle when the cooker reaches its pressure.
Lower the heat so that the pressure control rocks gently. Generally a setting of
'medium' or 'low' will be right. Count cooking time from the first jiggle of the Pressure
Control. See Cooking Time Table, page 14 for approximate cooking times.
Caution: Never beat a spoon or other utensil on the rim of the pan. Any denting of
the rim can prevent a good gasket seal causing steam leakage.
FOOD REMOVAL When cooking is done, turn heat off and reduce the pressure. Do not remove the
Pressure Control until pressure is completely reduced.
YOU CAN REDUCE PRESSURE THREE WAYS:
1. fast - for fresh vegetables and fish
Run cold water over the cooker (Fig. A), or place
it in a pan of cold water. Depending on the
amount of food in the cooker, it will take 15-60
seconds for the pressure to go down fully.
2. normally - for canning
Let the cooker cool slowly to room temperature.
This will take 30-40 minutes for a small cooker,
45-60 minutes for the largest canner.
3. combination - for meats and dried vegetables
Let the cooker cool normally at room temperature for 5 min, then place the cooker under
cold water to reduce the remaining pressure.
As the pressure is reduced, air will re-enter the cooker and you will hear a
hissing or squealing sound. After you have cooled the cooker, raise the
Pressure Control with a fork (Fig. B) to make sure the pressure is down and
if it is, remove the pressure control. If steam escapes , the pressure is not
down. Continue to cool the cooker with cold water until the pressure is
down. Open the cover by turning the cover counter clockwise until the
OPEN-CLOSE arrow points to the center of the pan handle. When pressure is
down cover should turn easily. Warning: Never tug or force the cover
open. Pressure may not be down. Continue to cool cooker.
