How to Use a Pressure Cooker
A little pressure in the kitchen can be a good thing.
If you love cooking and convenience you need a pressure cooker in your kitchen. Using one is a lot more simple than you may think. Read on to learn how to use a pressure cooker, so you can reap the benefits of this kitchen wonder.
Tip!
Before getting started, learn more about pressure cookers with our helpful guides:
What Is an Instant Pot?
How to Pick the Best Pressure Cooker
Slow Cooker vs. Pressure Cooker: How to Choose the Right One
How to Use a Pressure Cooker
There may be some serious science going on inside your pressure cooker, but this countertop appliance is actually really simple to use. Follow these step-by-step instructions to ensure success when cooking with a pressure cooker.
1. Fill the pot with the amount of water specified by your recipe.
Most pots have a water minimum of 1 cup and should at most only be filled 2/3 full with both water and ingredients. Some pots have convenient measurement lines inside to take the guesswork out.
2. Add your ingredients, close the lid, and apply your pressure settings.
If you’re using an electric pressure cooker, your timer might be set automatically by the machine according to the presets you’re using. If not, the pressure indicator will let you know when your pressure setting has been reached and you can set your timer then.
If you’re using a stove top pressure cooker, heat food on high until the pressure gauge indicates your pressure setting has been reached. Then, lower the heat to maintain your temperature and set a timer according to your recipe.
3. Release the pressure.
Once your dish has cooked for the recommended amount of time, your recipe should call for one of two pressure cooker techniques: a rapid or a natural release of pressure.
Rapid release: Pressure should be released right as the food is done cooking, before the pot has cooled down. The valve should be opened to release steam in bursts until all has escaped. We recommend using an oven mitt to move the nozzle that releases pressure as it can be hot.
Natural release: Allow your pot to cool and depressurize naturally. Simply remove your cooker from heat (an electric pot should do this automatically) and let it cool down.
Tip!
Important note: Altitude does affect the cooking time of a pressure cooker! For every 1,000 ft. above 2,000 ft. elevation, increase cooking time by 5%. For example, if you live at 7,000 ft., you should increase cooking time by 25%.
What Can You Cook in a Pressure Cooker?
The answer is just about anything you might cook using water! You can make rice, stew, meat, soup, chili, and even hard-boiled eggs in a pressure cooker. They’re excellent for making highly concentrated stocks. Try any recipe that has a long cook time just to see how much you can shorten it with your cooker.
Check out the chart below to see how much time a pressure cooker can save you when cooking many common foods.
Tip!
Forgot to take meat out of the freezer before dinnertime? Frozen meats can actually be cooked without thawing in a pressure cooker – in a fraction of the time!
