All about pressure cookers

The first pressure cookers appeared in the 70s of the twentieth century. Many housewives loved them for the fact that these devices simplified everyday life. Indeed, due to the fact that the food was prepared very quickly, much less electricity was consumed. In addition, the time spent on cooking, significantly reduced.

If we talk about the pressure cooker, it is an apparatus that is sealed with a lid. In the process of cooking after boiling water in a pot begins to form steam. It creates pressure inside the pressure cooker, after which the temperature begins to exceed the boiling point.

Thereby all food is cooked several times faster. And you can cook almost anything in it: soups, borscht and porridge, and even brawn jelly, which is much tastier than in an ordinary saucepan. Meat also turns out to be very tender and tasty, if you follow the recipes and do everything correctly. Besides, since all food is not fried, it is much healthier for any person.

All such devices can be divided into several groups at once. They can be both electrical and mechanical. If we talk about the latter, then such devices are pans with sealed lids. You can cook in them on both gas and electric stoves. In addition, they have a rather thick bottom and walls. Modern electrical appliances operate on the network. Their appearance is a bit like a slow cooker. At the same time, their functionality is much greater.

Electric pressure cookers have additional features. You can cook dishes in different modes, reheat them, or even set a certain time when the cooking process begins. And if you set the desired program, after completion of cooking, the pressure cooker will turn off by itself.

If we consider in more detail the device of such a unit, then it is the simplest pan, but rather strong. In addition, it can withstand even too high pressure. Choosing for yourself such a device, you must, first of all, take into account that The working volume of the bowl in the pan should be a third less, since there must be room for steam.

But the most important part in the pressure cooker is the lid, which will not let the steam come out and also keep the pressure in such a saucepan. In order for it to fit as closely as possible, there is a gasket or an o-ring in the device. The sealant can be either rubber or silicone.

If we consider in more detail the whole process of action, then the pressure reaches one bar, and the temperature heats up to 121 degrees. At the very beginning of cooking, the valve on the lid remains open. When the pressure cooker heats up, the valve closes itself under pressure. A little later, when the pressure rises, it pushes the valve back and opens it automatically. Thanks to this, the excess steam escapes, and the pressure inside the pressure cooker is constantly maintained up to one bar.

With this machine you can always cook quite quickly and deliciously a variety of dishes. This is especially true for products that require too long processing. As a rule, it is all kinds of cereals or red meat.

When the pressure cooker works, even the freshest and tender fruits or vegetables will not be completely boiled down and will not change color. After all, they do not interact with oxygen at all during cooking. In addition, these products almost completely retain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. After all, they prepare very quickly. However, using a pressure cooker, be sure to adhere to safety regulations. After all, if you do not follow them, you can get very severe burns.

If we talk about pressure cookers, they can be divided not only by the type of material, but also by size, thickness of the bottom and their compatibility with various types of plates. So, for example, a pan made of stainless steel or completely aluminum will be suitable for a gas stove. These materials have excellent thermal conductivity. Such a function greatly accelerates the heating of not only products, but also water. It is rare to find models that have enamelled coating. But there is no pressure cooker made of cast iron or ceramic.

Pressure cookers made of stainless steel are sufficiently resistant to various acids. In addition, they can withstand high temperatures. Also, such pressure cookers do not delay smells, do not absorb fats. Therefore, in these units it will be possible to prepare almost any of the products, since they are vacuum in themselves. It can be aspic, as well as ordinary porridge, meat or jam. And even if you cook dishes one after another, they still will not take over the smells of each other.

For induction cookers, pressure cookers are made of stainless steel. It is heated with the help of a magnetic field, and not with the help of heating elements, as on other plates. So that such a device can absorb all the energy quickly, the bottom of the pan is made thicker. In addition, at the bottom between the two layers of stainless steel, almost all manufacturers add a layer of copper or aluminum. So the pressure cooker can warm up on the stove in just a few minutes.

But for glass-ceramic plates it is necessary to buy pressure cookers that have a very even bottom.. They should not have any depressions or depressions. If they are, then the heat from the stove will be bad to move to the pressure cooker. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the diameter at the bottom of the pressure cooker must fully coincide with the diameter of the plate.

Also, such a device should not be aluminum or copper. If we talk about the lids for pressure cookers, then they are often completely metal or with small inserts of special glass. The second covers are more convenient, since you can control everything and not open them.

Pressure cookers can be completely different in size - both large and small. Some of them are bucket-shaped. They can cook porridge or side dishes. For small families or those with small children, small saucepans are great. In them you can easily make baby puree or meat. The ladle can also be used as an ordinary dish, for example, to make a simple soup.

For those who want to choose a pressure cooker for themselves, you should get acquainted with the most popular manufacturers of pressure cookers.

The rating of all pressure cookers is headed by products from these manufacturers. It is made of stainless steel in Germany. Internal coating in such devices is missing. Cooking in such a pressure cooker from German manufacturers is possible on various stoves. The only thing you can not do is cook in the oven or microwave.

The production of such pressure cookers is located in the Czech Republic. They are quite popular among many housewives in Russia. They are made of stainless steel, so they are suitable for various plates. The bottom of such devices is supplemented with a three-layer. To make it more convenient to cook, there is a measuring scale inside the bowl. The volume does not exceed seven liters. In addition, the pan handles do not heat up at all.

Another representative of such devices. The pressure cooker is made of stainless steel. The handles are safe, except that it is equipped with a two-way valve. This pressure cooker approaches practically for all plates without exception. It can even be washed in the dishwasher.

Make such pans in China. They are made of stainless steel. The bottom has an aluminum layer that heats up very quickly. Food in such pressure cookers does not burn at all, besides it remains hot for a long time. Cook in a pressure cooker can be on any stove. It is allowed to wash even in the dishwasher. The set includes a metal double boiler.

Just like the other pressure cookers described above, this one is made of stainless steel. Its bottom is rather thick, the handles do not heat up even at the highest temperatures. May be suitable for any stove. However, in the dishwasher can not be washed.

The production of such pressure cookers is located in Chelyabinsk. They are made of aluminum, the volume of the pan - from five liters. This pressure cooker is perfect for everyday use. In it you can cook any selected dish. It is especially good in her jam.

This pressure cooker has a cast aluminum coating. In addition, you can cook on induction stoves.

This pressure cooker is made of aluminum coating in China. It seduces buyers not only with its quality, but also with an acceptable price. A bowl in such a pressure cooker has a volume of up to 9 liters, so it will make jelly perfectly.

In order to make the right choice of pressure cooker, it is necessary to carefully examine all the characteristics, as well as documents on it. After all, this is not an ordinary saucepan, but a rather complicated device that works under great pressure. If a pressure cooker is selected for an electric or gas stove, then the following points should be taken into account.

• Preference is best to give a model that is made of stainless steel. She can serve a little longer. Also when buying you need to pay attention to its bottom. It should be thickened, as well as walls.
• There must be two valves: one - emergency, the second - the main.
• The rubber seal will last a long time, but silicone will be better, not crack and not afraid of too high temperatures.
• The lock should be both reliable and convenient. In addition, the pressure cooker should have a lock, especially if there are small children in the house. It is unlocked only after the pressure drops to the desired level.
• It is best if the handles are made of a material that does not heat up at high temperatures.
• If the lid is made of glass, then cooking will be much easier.
• Very well, if there is a thermometer, because in this case it will be possible to control the process of cooking.
• If the pressure cooker has different switching modes, it will allow you to cook dishes more gently.
• If the set includes an additional lid, this will allow cooking in a pressure cooker, as in a conventional saucepan.

Almost every model has in its kit instructions for use. However, there are times when there is none. Therefore, it is necessary before buying or after it must be familiar with some rules.

• It is strictly forbidden to leave the pressure cooker unattended so that children do not get to it in any way.
• Do not put the pressure cooker in the oven or oven.
• It is forbidden to touch such a unit while cooking or immediately after it is turned off.
• It will be correct to cook food with the addition of water.
• Do not fry any products under pressure.
• Before use, the pressure cooker must be washed with any detergent to remove traces of grease, if any.
• After that, you can start cooking. It is necessary to pour water into the bowl so that it fills it no more than two-thirds.
• Then you need to close the lid and set the pressure level, if it is in the pressure cooker. If cooked on a gas stove, then simply adjust the flame at the proper level.
• Steam must always come out of the tank. If not, then you need to add a little fire. The main thing - do not overdo it, so that the food does not burn.

In addition, some models of such devices require cooling after cooking. Also, be sure to ensure that the valves are not clogged. If this does happen, they should be flushed. When the owners do not use the pressure cooker too often, the seals are best kept separately. After cooking, wash the pan thoroughly and then dry it. Keep the pressure cooker in a dry place.

On how to properly use the pressure cooker, see the following video.