The pressure cooker is a useful tool in the kitchen to cook food in a shorter time compared to a classic pot and allows those who do not have much time to devote to cooking to make quick, healthy, and efficient dishes instead of the usual pre-cooked dishes.
In reality, these fears are groundless because the pressure cooker respects the safety regulations, logically if a pot is very old and has not been used for many years, it is preferable not to risk and buy another one.
Today the pressure cooker is slowly regaining its success, and thanks to the evolution of technology, ultra-technological versions have also been created to guarantee maximum safety and perfect and healthy cooking. Before making a purchase, consider the volume of the pot, the material with which it was made, the models on the market, the brands, and the price.
Pressure cooker: Volume
A pressure cooker must be purchased based on the volume expressed in liters. On the market, there are lots of various sizes, from a minimum of 3 qt to a maximum of 15 qt, the choice depends on the type of use to be made and the number of family members. Evaluate these factors well before choosing the one that best suits your needs or buy two, a small and a large one.
Handle
The handles of the pressure cooker are a factor to consider. There are three types of handles: metal, bakelite, and plastic. The best ones are the metal ones because they resist heat and last over time. If you have a dishwasher, prefer the model with the removable handles as they allow washing without the risk of damage.
In the second place, there are those in bakelite, a heat-resistant material that can melt if the pan is not positioned exactly in the middle of the flame; we find the plastic ones that are the cheapest and the least durable.
Material
Pressure cookers have always been made of stainless steel because this material is synonymous with reliability and strength, it is also non-toxic and supports high temperatures. On the market, you can find two types of cookware, one produced entirely in steel or one produced with an aluminum base that is a good conductor of heat.
Technology
Compared to the past, the pressure cooker has evolved to make it even more efficient and safe. Let’s start with the safety valve, located on the airtight lid, which serves to control the escape of steam during cooking and allows creating a strong pressure inside the pot.
There are traditional pans with a simple valve and more modern pans with a two-position valve, the first is suitable for more delicate foods, it has the task of expelling the water vapor to cook with less pressure, the second position is indicated for less delicate foods, it will allow cooking with higher pressure and a reduction in time.
Another component that has improved technologically is the lid. Anyone who has had the opportunity to use a traditional pressure cooker will know how difficult it is to open and close the airtight lid. Today there are models with an easy opening that allow you to work with just one hand.
On the market, there are super-technological pressure cookers, equipped with digital displays through which temperature, pressure, various cooking programs, and switching off can be controlled. Naturally, the more the avant-garde pot the greater its price.
Various types
There are various types of pressure cookers that differ in the type of closure, the different cooking methods, and accessories. Let’s see them in detail.
1.) The traditional pressure cooker
Semplice a simple model suitable for the elderly and all those who are not familiar with technological equipment; saves time, effort and energy, does not require any attention during cooking, except in the first few minutes and preserves the liquids and nutrients of the food. It has a 1-pressure operating valve with manual control, it is sufficient to turn the lever to adjust the vertical outlet of the steam.
2.) The induction pressure cooker
In recent years, the use of new heat sources for cooking is spreading in the kitchen, so no more flames and hot plates. It is an induction hob that works with electricity. The operation takes place by means of a coil, which generates a magnetic field that sets the metal molecules of the pot in motion.
The energy produced is transmitted to the pressure cooker which allows food to be cooked. It is important that you read the information on the packaging to make sure that it is a pressure cooker suitable for the induction plate because not all of them.
3.) The electric pressure cooker
An electric pressure cooker is the result of the union between tradition and innovation. ” Tradition ” because it maintains the same type of pressure cooking and ” innovation ” because it is electric and digital. It is a model that can be transported and used wherever there is an electrical outlet and does not require gas stoves or induction plates.
This pot has digital functions that allow you to program and maintain the cooking parameters by means of control keys that regulate the time, temperature and switching off. The electric pans have a self-regulating safety system that keeps the temperature and pressure under control so as to avoid unpleasant problems.
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