What Is a Pressure Cooker? Your Guide to This Kitchen Essential
A kitchen classic.
What if there were a kitchen gadget that allowed you to cut cooking time in half? Fortunately, there is – a pressure cooker can speed up cooking time and make weekly meal prep a breeze. Unfamiliar with this kitchen hero? Read on to learn what a pressure cooker is and what you can use it for.
In this guide:
What Is a Pressure Cooker?
How Does a Pressure Cooker Work?
What is a Pressure Cooker Used for?
Types of Pressure Cookers
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Pressure Cooker?
A pressure cooker is a sealed pot with a locking lid that uses pressure from trapped steam to cook food hotter and faster than other methods. They are mainly used for liquid-based dishes, such as soups, braises, and boils, but can also be used to make rice or sauté vegetables (if your model has the appropriate setting). To use a pressure cooker, a specific amount of water is added to the pot along with ingredients specified by a recipe. Check out our guide to learn exactly How to Use a Pressure Cooker.
Tip!
Before determining how to cook with a pressure cooker, it's important to think about what size pressure cooker works best for your needs. Pressure cookers can range in volume from 2 qt. to over 8 qt., but a standard size holds either 6 qt. or 8 qt. The standard sizes are great for family meal preparation, and most recipes call for a standard-size pressure cooker.
How Does a Pressure Cooker Work?
A pressure cooker works by using boiling water and steam inside the sealed pot to create internal pressure. Pressure cookers are equipped with tightly fitting lids with rubber gaskets that lock shut to create an air-tight seal. The pressure reaches up to 15 pounds per square inch (psi), which in turn raises the boiling point of the water to approximately 250°F. The elevated temperature can reduce cook time by about 70%, while the high water content and steam in the pot keep food moist.
Pressure cookers also have one or more valves that allow for the release of pressurized steam. A pressure indicator, usually a gauge or pop-up of some kind, lets you know when the pot has pressurized to your setting.
What Is a Pressure Cooker Used For?
Pressure cookers are used to cook food faster than traditional methods while retaining moisture and nutrients. Here are some common foods you can make with a pressure cooker.
- Meats: Pressure cookers are great for cooking tender meats that fall right off the bone. Use it to make pulled pork, roasts, briskets, ribs, and whole chickens. Pressure cooking meats in broth and marinades makes for delicious results.
- Soups: One of the most common uses of pressure cookers is to make soups and stews. Make a classic minestrone or chicken noodle soup for a quick and cozy meal, or go for a hearty stew or chilli in half the time.
- Grains & Beans: Most pressure cookers can be used to cook rice perfectly, making them the ultimate multifunctional kitchen gadget. Cook dried beans instantly in a pressure cooker by adding water instead of having to soak them prior to cooking.
- Vegetables: Harder vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and varieties of squash, cook up perfectly in a pressure cooker for a quick side dish. Use a pressure canner to cook vegetables from your garden to preserve them for use over the winter.
Types of Pressure Cookers
Different pressure cooker models are available to align with your kitchen needs. Discover the three main types of pressure cookers to decide which one is right for you.
Electric Pressure Cookers
Electric pressure cookers are incredibly user-friendly, making them a great option for pressure-cooking beginners. The built-in heating system is powered by electricity, and the stainless steel construction makes electric pressure cookers fairly heavy. The matching lid is equipped with a handle and one or more pressure-release valves. These pressure cookers usually have two heat-safe handles on either side of the lid. Typically, the pot inside an electric pressure cooker can be removed from the body for easy cleaning.
Most electric pots have control pads that allow you to set specific pressures, temperatures, and cook times. Some have a setting that keeps food warm, and many have buttons that automate the cooking of a variety of meals, from rice to fish.
Stove Top Pressure Cookers
If you’re looking for a pressure cooker that produces rich, flavorful food with a little more skill and attention required, the stove top pressure cooker might be the one for you. Unlike electric pressure cookers, stove top pots require an external heat source. They’re often made from thick, durable stainless steel and have only one handle that secures to the lid while cooking.
Stove top pressure cookers heat up and pressurize faster than electric pressure cookers, making them excellent at browning your ingredients and developing richer flavors. They lack the automation of electric models, requiring you to monitor temperature and cooking time yourself.
Pressure Canners
Pressure canners are large pressure cookers used to heat foods meant to be preserved in cans or jars. They’re often far larger than your everyday pressure cooker, capable of holding over 10 qt. Their lids are secured by screw clamps and their pressure indicators tend to be dial gauges located on the top of the lid.
These pressure cookers, though slightly impractical for everyday use and storage, are the only devices that can safely preserve low-acid foods, such as most vegetables, red meat, poultry, and fish. Before a low-acid food is canned or jarred, it must be pressure-canned so the botulism bacteria can't grow and produce potentially deadly toxins. Because botulism spores can survive being heated in boiling water, pressure cookers can reach temperatures higher than water’s natural boiling point and can effectively kill them off.
Tip!
Learn more about the canning process with Our Complete Canning Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you cook in a pressure cooker?
You can cook a wide variety of foods in a pressure cooker, including soups, stews, beans, rice, meats, vegetables, and even desserts. It’s especially useful for foods that normally take a long time to cook, such as dried beans, tough cuts of meat, and whole grains.
Is a pressure cooker safe to use?
Yes, modern pressure cookers are designed with multiple safety features, such as locking lids, pressure release valves, and automatic shut-off systems. When used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, pressure cookers are very safe.
Why use a pressure cooker instead of other cooking methods?
Pressure cookers save time and energy by cooking food up to 70% faster than conventional methods like stove top boiling or oven roasting. They also help preserve nutrients and flavors since food cooks quickly with less liquid, making them a convenient and efficient option.
