This is the right way to use your pressure cooker

Pressure cooker is indeed a miraculous innovation which has simplified the art of cooking. There’s no denying to the fact that a pressure cooker can cook anything and everything in just a few minutes that too by retaining the essential nutrients in the food. In fact, as compared to the other methods of cooking, food prepared using steam and pressure cooking is way better for health and it saves your time, energy and resources. However, using a pressure cooker can be a bit tricky and it certainly calls for some expertise. Well if you haven't tried your hands at cooking using this unique kitchen device, then we have some easy tips and suggestions that will help you use a pressure cooker in the right way!

While purchasing or before using a pressure cooker make sure that there are no cracks or dents. Also ensure that the whistle of the pressure cooker is not damaged. Pressure cooker uses steam pressure to cook the food, but leakages or cracks can lead to mishaps as the pressure cooker generates excessive steam. Hence it calls for extra caution while using it.

Make sure the pressure cooker is cleaned well and is empty. Always make sure you add water after measuring the capacity of the pressure cooker. Moreover, always mindfully add water as the amount of water needed to cook a particular dish may be different. Ensure that the cooker is at least filled with as good as ⅔ rd of water so that there’s ample space for steam creation.

Every dish takes its own sweet time to cook and it also depends on the ingredients used. So always make sure you read the instructions or guidelines given for every dish. Rice, vegetables, meat or fish takes different time of cooking and also the amount of water varies from dish to dish. This is why it is advised to marinate or par boil the food before cooking.

Never open the lid immediately, it can lead to disastrous mishaps as there’s excessive steam. Always use a steel long spatula and slightly lift the whistle using the splatual. This helps in releasing the steam and after 10 minutes you can easily open the lid. You can also put the cooker in the sink and run it through cold water, this helps in reducing the temperature inside the cooker.

Always allow the pressure cooker to cool down a bit before opening the lid as the hot steam needs time to settle down. It is always a great idea to open the lid only after releasing the steam in either of the above mentioned ways. Also keep a check on the sound of the steam, if there’s no sound of steam escaping then you can open the lid. Just follow these simple steps and cook effortlessly anytime!