Pressure cookers have been an essential part of kitchens for years. They provide ease and convenience to the users with fast and efficient cooking. These kitchen appliances have been of great use to people in the kitchen, as they free the users from the worries of looking into the container every five minutes to check on the dish. They can even sound an alarm when it is time to take off the lid. All you are required to do is to present it to your friends and family.
Pressure cookers date back as far as the seventeenth century. They were designed as a steam digester that would help reduce cooking time. One thing is for sure, the modern day pressure cooker looks nothing like the first pressure cooker designed hundreds of years ago.
With the passage of time, pressure cookers have gone through various innovations and updates with the latest technologies. Thanks to innovative technologies, pressure cookers these days are equipped with some of the latest features that guarantee better cooking, durability, and safety for users.
When we talk about innovation in pressure cookers, we generally refer to updates in the most common features, such as the pressure indicators, lid locking systems, and the seals. In this article, we shall see some of the features of modern pressure cookers which are commonly used in our homes and industries.
Source: GoPresto.com- Safety Lid Locks
These are improved precautionary features of a pressure cooker. The safety locks help avoid any potential disasters. With these locks, the lids cannot be directly opened, so there is no chance of pressure escaping from the container. In some pressure cooker brands, there is an additional safety lid lock where users have to push a button to allow pressure building inside the container. They can release it when the pressure drops and then open the lid. The lid won’t open until the lock is released.
- Pressure Valves
Modern pressure cookers have the most updated pressure valves which make pressure cooker usage almost one hundred percent safe and sound. These valves suppress any unnecessary noise and vibration during cooking. There are a few types of pressure valves used in modern pressure cookers which we shall see as follows:
- Spring Loaded Pressure Valves
Spring loaded pressure valves are designed in a way that they work best above the boiling point of water. They ensure that the heat contents stay inside the cooker. Spring valves are made by leading companies, such as Fagor, Magefesa, and Kuhn-Rikon. They offer simple and effective designs that are efficient as well as safe for use.
- Jiggle Top Indicators
Jiggle top pressure indicators are prepared by reputable companies, such as Presto. They differ in design from spring top indicators and require air evacuation from inside the cooker before you can place a weight on top of the cooker. Once the pressure inside the cooker has reached its limit, the indicator starts to rock and also some steam is released through the sides of the valve.
- Pop up Indicators
The pop-up pressure valve consists of a weight on top of a stem with two red rings. The valve is set on top of the lid prior to cooking, such that the stem goes inside the lid while the weight stays on top. Once pressure is sufficiently built up, the upper red rings appear on top of the lid. This is an indication of the pressure reaching the medium level of the preset pressure value. This pressure is around 10 psi. Once the lower red ring appears, the pressure has reached the higher limit, which is about 15 psi.
- Construction of Pressure Cookers
Aluminum pots and containers are somewhat reactive to food cooked in them. Pressure cookers are normally made of heavy gauge stainless steel that can defy high-pressure cooking. Another basic advantage of pressure cookers is that they can bear an enormous amount of heat, unlike most kitchenware and they are also pretty easy to clean and some of them are even dishwasher safe.
- Three Ply Encapsulated Base
Most modern pressure cookers consist of a three-layered ply base which ensures that the pressure cooker is evenly heated. It cuts off the chances of developing a hotspot inside the cooker. Even heating also considerably reduces the amount of heat required for cooking. There no longer remains a need for adjusting the stove every once in a while. Ultimately, food is at a much lower risk of burning and drying out, especially the ingredients that are in direct contact with the base.
- Reliable Safety Mechanism
In previous times, pressure cookers were a somewhat dangerous kitchenware and required a lot of care and supervision for use. This is why amateur cooks and new users were not recommended to use pressure cookers from the word “go.” However, the modern pressure cookers are equipped with some of the most advanced safety features that make pressure cooking completely safe.
Different brands come up with different pressure releasing techniques to ensure that the excessive pressure inside the container is released instantly. There are more than five different mechanisms for pressure release that are being used by companies producing safe pressure cookers.
- Heat Restoring Pressure Release Mechanisms
There are several pressure release mechanisms introduced in pressure cookers over the past years. Previously, the cold water release method was used where the pressure dropped, as did the heat content. The cooking process was ceased during the pressure release.
The modern pressure cookers have the quick release mechanism where there is no heat loss during the pressure release. It helps to maintain the temperature inside the cooker and the food keeps cooking during the pressure release. With the quick release method, cooks and chefs can check on the dish and also add ingredients during cooking.
Conclusion
The modern pressure cookers have all the features that ensure better and faster cooking, reliability and durability, as well as safety. The quality of food has expectedly improved so that you can impress your family and friends with delicious recipes.
I’ve been thinking about getting a pressure cooker and can’t wait. Thanks for the useful information.