You have heard stories about pressure cookers blasting a hole in the ceiling or wall or spewing hot food into the cook scaring them for life. Yes, pressure cookers in the past were somewhat dangerous to use but today models are made with the utmost safety ever. If you know how to use a pressure cooker there is little chance you or anyone else will be hurt. All you do is put vegetables or meat or other foods into the pot and add a tiny bit of liquid. The lid is placed on the cooker and it compresses and locks. It can then be placed on the stove and the heat turned on. Steam starts to form inside the cooker and since it cannot get out it creates pressure. Should the pressure start to get high enough for the pot to explode a small valve or weight will open and let some of the steam out. This system is what allows food to cook 70% quicker than in a regular pot or pan and it is cooked at a high temperature and it will not get burned.

When the correct heat and pressure has been reached you can take the cooker away from the heat. It should sit a little while for the steam to stop being produced. There is a regulator on the outside of the cooker that needs to be opened. When it is you will see pressurized steam come pouring out in a big whistle or hiss. Once the steam stops, it is time to take off the lid.

You may see some people put the pressure cooker under cold water and let it run for awhile. When you remove the cooker from the heat it still keeps cooking because the steam is still in the pressure cooker. Running it under cold water does the same thing that releasing the steam does. It stops the food from cooking which is something you want to do so it will not be over cooked. Even if you run the cooker under cold water you still have to release the steam before you open the lid.

There are some other benefits from using a pressure cooker. Since high temperatures are used any bacteria or germs that might be on the food do not survive the cooking. Also, vegetables retain their bright and healthy looking color when cooked in a pressure cooker. Tough meats will always be nice and tender after being cooked in a pressure cooker. Once you have released all the steam the lid should release easily. If it does not release then there must be a bit more pressure in the pot. Just wait a minute or two, release steam again and try to open. Always open the lid away from you just in case there is still pressure in the pot. This will ensure that food will not come flying out and burn you.

Several manufacturers make some wonderful new pressure cookers. One such company is T-Fal Wearever Mirro that produces four, six, eight, and twelve quart cookers that range in price from USD $35 to $65. All are polished aluminum on the outside and natural aluminum on the inside and the four, six and eight quart have one long handle that locks the lid shot while the twelve quart has two on either side. The sealing gasket makes for a tight seal and can be replaced if it gets old and the pressure valve provides safety from burns. The larger twelve quart model can also be used to can vegetables and other foods. Just put these cookers in the dishwasher to get them clean because they are rust proof. The lids cannot be opened until it is safe to do so. The gauges can be read easily and included is a 10 year warranty.

Another company, Megafesa USA, makes an eight quart Super Fast Cooker that will cost upwards to USD $90. It cooks three times faster than a regular pressure cooker mostly because of the materials that are included in the base of the pot. You can choose from three different cooking speeds from 6 psi all the way up to 15 psi. The lid cannot be opened until all steam is released from the cooker. This cooker has a safety valve, a valve that will release over pressure and the lid contains a window that has a safety edge. The cooker is made from aluminum but also with steel. Because of this it is advised that the cooker only be hand washed.

Pressure cookers are a good alternative to fast and nutritious cooking. They are also environmentally friendly because you are using less energy in order to cook and less time. Models made today are relatively safe for anyone to use because they cannot be opened unless all the pressure has been released. They are a great way to prepare a delicious and nourishing meal.