Pressure cooked foods retain flavor and moisture.
Pressure cookers use high temperatures combined with forced air to cook foods faster than many other techniques. The appliances come in stovetop models and stand-alone types that plug directly into electrical outlets. Using the recommended temperatures for different foods and following the pressure timing guidelines prevents overcooking.
Basic Concept
If you heat water in an open pan over high heat, it will boil at 212 degrees Fahrenheit and the steam it creates is the same temperature. When a pressure cooker lid is clamped onto the pot and traps the steam, the pressure that builds up increases the temperature of the liquids inside and hastens the cooking time. As the pressure increases and temperatures rise, the required cooking time is exponentially reduced.
Pressure Measurement
Pressure in the cooker is calculated in pounds per square inch (psi), although it is commonly referred to as pounds of pressure. Much as a tire gauge measures the pressure in your car tires, a pressure cooker has a gauge on the lid to let the cook monitor the temperature as well as observe the pressure levels. The highest level of pressure on a pressure cooker is 15 psi, about half the pounds it takes to fully inflate a car tire.
Temperatures
Pressure cooker gauges typically have three pressure settings of low, medium and high. Low settings create 5 psi and increase the temperature of the liquid from 212 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. The medium pressure level of 10 psi raises the temperature to 235 degrees Fahrenheit and 15 pounds, the highest setting, pushes the heat level to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pressure Cooking Advantages
Because the food inside a pressure cooker is cooked in a vacuum, none of the natural flavors, juices or vitamins are lost as in traditional stovetop cooking, conventional baking or microwave cooking. Pressure cooking seals in food flavors and increases their moisture. Most foods cook in about 2/3 less time than other methods and, in some cases, ten times faster. Using a pressure cooker saves time, energy and money spent on energy used for lengthier cooking methods.
Tips and Hints
Avoid purchasing older or second-hand pressure cookers as a number of brands manufactured in the 1940s and 1950s frequently exploded and splattered food over ceilings and walls. Newer models have safety valves that release the interior pressure in the pots before this happens. If you are a novice user, follow manufacturers' recommended cooking times and adjust them to preference as you become more familiar with the appliance's performance.
Tags: degrees Fahrenheit, cooking time, pressure cooker, pressure cooker
