How to use a pressure cooker

Something indispensable to Indian cooking is being able to use a pressure cooker. When cooking something like lentils or rice, using a pressure cooker halves the cooking time. It is something I had to get used to using and I only really learnt how to use one around a year ago. Since then I'm totally converted! 

 

What makes a pressure cooker so useful? 

What normally takes around an hour on the hob, takes roughly 15-20 minutes in a pressure cooker. This means it is incredibly economical whilst at the same retaining the majority of the nutrients in the food that you cook in it. However, it is important that you know how to use one safely and carefully. See my steps below for being able to cook delicious food safely in a pressure cooker. 

What is a pressure cooking? 

As the name suggests, pressure cooker is the process of cooking food at a high temperature and pressure by using water. This occurs in a sealed vessel known as a pressure cooker. The act of the high pressure means that the liquid does not boil. As a result, temperatures of above 100 degrees and pressure upto 1bar (15psi) are reached, cooking the food in usually half the time. Important: never cook anything in a pressure cooker without water. The principle behind pressure cooking is steam. No water = no steam. 

Knowing what your pressure cooker does:

The lid creates a seal so no air can get into the pressure cooker, and thus also meaning no steam can escape. The resultant pressure & high temperature that builds up ensures that the food cooks quickly. '

Parts of a pressure cooker 
Valve: tells you whether the pressure is high inside the cooker. 

Whistle: allows steam to escape 

Rubber ring: is placed inside the lid and forms a seal with the lid + pot to ensure no air escapes 

General steps: 

1. Place ingredients + water in the pressure cooker. See below for the rice recipe. 

2. Close and seal the pressure cooker. My pressure cooker has a click mechanism where you align two arrows and then subsequently turn the lid handle to the left. 

3. Turn on the heat to a medium-high flame. Never pressure cooker on a low flame, you may risk that you burn your food as not enough steam will build up quickly. 

4. Wait for the pressure to build. 

5. Allow to pressure cook for the desired amount of whistles. See below for an overview of pressure cooking times and whistles. 

6. Turn off the heat 

7. Let the pressure release naturally. You will see when the pressure is gone by the valve. A raised valve means the high pressure has built up and you should not open the pressure cooker. When the valve has dropped, you can open the pressure cooker. You will also know if the pressure has released if you lift the whistle easily. Left: valve raised when placed on the heat + pressure built up in the cooker. Right: valve dropped. 

Recipe for pressure cooked rice: 

Ingredients: 

1 cup of rice 

1 cup water 

pinch salt 

Method: 

1. Pour the rice and water in the pressure cooker with a pinch salt. 
2. Put the lid and click the lid on the pressure cooker. 
3. Place the pressure cooker on a medium-high heat, and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
4. Turn off the heat after the whistles and let the pressure release naturally. 
5. Do not open the pressure cooker before the valve has dropped and you can easily lift up the whistle. 
6. Open the pressure cooker to perfectly cooked rice! 
   
   

Cooking times of a pressure cooker: 

The time it takes to cook food is measured by how many whistles the pressure cooker makes. Some food might need more whistles than others. Some modern electric cookers don't have a whistle. In this case look up on your electric cooker instructions the timings for certain ingredients.