How Does a Pressure Cooker Really Work?

 

How Does a Pressure Cooker Really Work?

A pressure cooker is an exceptional kitchen cookware that saves you a lot of cooking time while preserving flavours and nutrients. A pressure cooker works by trapping steam in a pot with a sealed lid, thus driving up the internal pressure inside the pot to raise the boiling point of water to above the standard 100°C or 212°F. This would now increase the cooking temperature for food, leading to faster cooking times.

The working of a pressure cooker is based on simple principles of pressure and temperature. While the pressure increases inside the cooker, the temperature also increases, which in turn helps in cooking food at a better pace. This technique suits busy cooks who want to save time in cooking without sacrificing the quality of their meals.

 

Why Cooking is Faster in a Pressure Cooker than in a Cooking Pan?

Cooking in a pressure cooker is faster compared to using a conventional cooking pan due to the higher temperatures achieved under pressure. In a basic pan, water can boil only at a temperature of 100°C, while inside the pressure cooker, water boils approximately at 121°C because of an increased pressure in the sealed container.

It is this raised temperature that makes pressure cooking so effective. This cuts down the time required for the cooking of food. The tough cuts of meat that may take hours in a pan to tenderise can be perfectly cooked in less than an hour in a pressure cooker. That is the best advantage of a pressure cooker.

 

The Science Behind Pressure Cooking

Pressure cookers work on the simple 'ideal gas equation' . They can quite simply be described as chambers that are sealed shut to enable pressure being built up by steam. How is that done?

The pressure cooker is primarily made of 7 components. Each component plays an important part in the functioning and utility of the pressure cooker.

 

Different Components of a Pressure Cooker

The main parts of the pressure cooker are as follows:

1. Chamber - This is where the pressure is built and the food is placed.

2. Lid - The lid helps to seal the chamber shut and regulate the pressure

3. Gasket - The gasket helps in keeping the chamber airtight so that steam is stored between the chamber and the lid.

4. Pressure Regulator - The pressure regulator is a precisely weighted component that helps to regulate the pressure inside to a fixed variable

5. Vent Tube - The vent tube helps the steam to escape the chamber

6. Handle & Secondary Handle - The handle is designed in heat proof material to help in ease of handling

7. Safety Valve - Safety valve is a safety mechanism that prevents too much pressure from building inside the pressure cooker

 

 

Thus, all of these components play a vital role in ensuring the efficient and safe working of the pressure cooker works

 

How to Operate a Pressure Cooker?

Operating a pressure cooker is pretty simple, especially when you understand how it works. Here's a general guideline or procedure on how to do it:

1. Preparation: Place your food ingredients and the appropriate liquid amount, usually water or broth, into the pot. Fill it not beyond two-thirds so that steam has space in it.
2. Seal the Cooker: Place the gasket, ensuring it is in very good condition, and lock the lid tightly onto the pot.
3. Set the Pressure: Set it to the called for setting in your recipe-most call for low or high pressure.
4. Heat the Cooker: Place the cooker on your stove and turn on the heat, or if it is electric simply turn the heat on. As it heats up, pressure will begin to build inside.
5. Monitor Cooking Time: Once pressure is reached, you can begin timing your cooking. Adjust heat as necessary to maintain a steady pressure.
6. Release Pressure: Then release the pressure with either natural release, quick release, or cold water release.
7. Opening Cooker: By the time the pressure is completely released, it is now safe to open the lid of the cooker and your dinner is ready.

You can also check out our blog on how to maintain your pressure cookers here.

 

How to Cool Down a Pressure Cooker?

Cooling down a pressure cooker is an essential part to ensure safety and also to avoid overcooking of food. Following are three of the common cooling methods:

1. Natural Release : Let the cooker cool itself without removing it from the heat. This is best applied to the dishes that profit by continuing the action of cooking, such as soups and stews.
2. Fast Release: The pressure release valve can be used for the quick removal of steam. It is applied to those vegetables that are quickly overcooked.
3. Cold Water Release: With stove top cookers, you may want to run cold water over the lid of the cooker-just be careful to avoid running water over the valve, to expedite the cooling process.

In any case, knowing how to properly cool down a pressure cooker involves knowing your model, and most importantly, following the instructions as stipulated by the manufacturer.

For more pressure cooker tips and hacks, you can also read more in our blog here.

Myths About Pressure Cooking

A number of myths surrounding pressure cooking may be the reason some stand afar from trying it at all. Let us discard some of those unwarranted misconceptions:

Myth 1: Pressure Cooking causes food to lose its nutritional value

Truth : This is absolutely untrue. Research has shown that pressure cooking is a great way to retain nutrients in your food.

Myth 2: Pressure Cooked food loses taste and is less delicious than other methods of cooking

Truth : Pressure cooked food can be really delicious because it retains the original flavors of the ingredients

Myth 3 : There are only a few dishes you can cook in a pressure cooker

Truth : Pressure Cookers are extremely versatile and can cook a variety of dishes and cuisines. Right from a cake in a pressure cooker to tender, juicy meat, your pressure cooker is truly a champion tool in the kitchen!

Cooking in pressure cookers is not rocket science. It is an intuitive process that you can ace with practice.

 

Conclusion

A pressure cooker saves you time and helps you with great meals within less time. Understand how to operate a cooker safely, shelve common myths, and understand how it works, and you are ready to take your cooking to the next level with a pressure cooker. Whether you're in a rush on a weeknight or are preparing a feast for friends and family, your pressure cooker is the key to flavorful, nutrient-rich meals in a fraction of the time. For convenience and versatility of cooking Stahl Pressure Cookers are also a good option available online. These pressure cookers are compatible with a wide range of cooktops, including gas cooktops, induction, ceramic, electric, halogen and ovens. The body of the cookers are dishwasher safe and have spillproof edges. So do check out the pressure cooker collection at Stahl for triply cookers to serve you a variety of dishes.

For buying the perfect triply cookers, do check out our blog here.

 

FAQs

Q1. What is the working principle of a pressure cooker?

Ans. A pressure cooker seals in steam, increasing internal pressure and temperature to cook food faster.

Q2. Is pressure cooking healthy?

Ans. Yes, it retains more nutrients due to shorter cooking times

Q3. How do I know when it's safe to open my pressure cooker?

Ans. Wait until all steam has been released and the pressure indicator shows it's safe to open the lid, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Q4. Can I cook any type of food in a pressure cooker?

Ans. Most foods can be cooked, but avoid frothy items that may clog the valve.

Q5. What are the safety features of modern pressure cookers?

Ans. They have locking lids, pressure release valves, and safety valves to prevent excess pressure.