2010 September | kitchen electric appliances blog

Safety First with Pressure Cookers

IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDERS

The modern day pressure cooker has a lot of safety features than in the past history of pressure cookers. It was usually inexperienced owners overfilling or adding too much water then creating an internal pressure that was beyond the capacity of the cooker to contain. While you may have heard horror stories of pressure cookers exploding, multiple safety features have made this a thing of the past.

Some important safety tips:

• A simple one but one that is usually neglected. READ YOUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL FROM COVER TO COVER and understand how to use your pressure cooker.

• Remember NEVER open the pressure cooker while it is still under pressure.

• Never leave your pressure cooker unattended

• Never fill your pressure cooker over 2/3rds full – it can clog the steam vent.

• Make sure you have enough water to start.

• I always find this one amazing but people do try and do it – Do not use your pressure cooker as a deep fryer (i.e. fill it full of cooking oil) unless it is specifically marketed as a fryer!!

You should make sure you have the following inbuilt safety features in your pressure cooker –
• Pressure indicators.
• Double-locking lids.
• Pressure valves.
• Over-pressure safety systems.
• Steam release valves.

How does a Pressure Cooker work?

Pressure-cooking is a cooking method that uses steam sealed in a pressure cooker, which is a special airtight cooking pot. When water (or any liquid) boils, it produces steam. A tightly-sealed pressure cooker traps the vapour that rises from the liquid. This in turn raises the pressure inside the pressure cooker, which then builds pressure inside the cooker. Under pressure, cooking temperatures can be raised significantly higher than possible under normal conditions. The super-heated steam created by these higher temperatures cooks foods quickly, evenly, deliciously. It’s that simple!
Did you know that pressure-cooking can cook foods in 1/3 the ordinary time on average and often over 10 times faster. Compared to a microwave, the food tastes considerably better and compared to slow cooker, only takes a fraction of the time.

Here are some examples of approximate cooking times using a pressure cooker (calculated on using 15psi)

*Asparagus – 1 to 2 minutes
* Green or Yellow Beans – 2 to 3 minutes
* Broccoli Flowerets – 1 minute
* Broccoli Stalks, small – 3 to 4 minutes
* Cabbage – 3 to 4 minutes
* Carrots, small – 1 minute
* Carrots, large – 4 minutes
* Corn- 1 minute
* Corn on the cob – 3 minutes
* Potatoes, whole, large – 5 to 7 minutes (WOW! Think of the time it takes to bake or even boil a potato.)
* Zucchini – 2 minutes
* Pinto Beans, soaked, using natural release-1 to 3 minutes
* Beef pot roast, 1-1/2 lb to 2 lbs. – 35 to 40 minutes
* Chicken breast, frozen, boneless, skinless – 7 to 10 minutes
* Chicken, whole 3 to 4 lb. – 18 to 25 minutes

So you can see that pressure cookers not only save you time, money and nutrients but they are also energy efficient.

Advantages of a Pressure Cooker

* Pressure cookers are environmentally friendly as most foods cook 70% faster with 50% less fuel.
* You can use the pressure cooker as an all purpose cooking pot if you leave the valve open.
* You keep your kitchen cool by not generating heat while you are cooking your meal.
* Cook fast, easy, delicious and healthy meals in one-third the ordinary time (can be shorter than one-tenth the time depending on the food type.
* Many pressure cookers are stainless steel rather than the old fashioned aluminium.
* If you are still worried about explosions and other accidents in the kitchen with a pressure cooker ~ read on. You will be pleased to know that all high-quality models have multiple safety systems, including at least two pressure-release devices to guard against explosion and a safety lock in the lid that makes it impossible to open the pot while pressure exists inside.
* Meals cooked in a pressure cooker retain most of its nutrients hardly any escaping as steam. The nutrients are not boiled out of the food as in steaming or boiling and you do not need expensive cuts of meat.
* Approximately you need one quart per person is the average serving size so a 4 quart pressure cooker would ideally cook meals for 4 people.

Pressure Cooker

Discover the many benefits of owning and cooking with a pressure cooker.

Learn how the Modern day pressure cookers reduce cooking time for beans, grains, vegetables, soup, stews, and it turns dishes that once called for advance planning and long simmering into spur-of-the-moment meals. During your busy day, gives you the time to prepare nutritious homemade meals fast and is perfect for the busy household, larger family groups, couples and the single person.
You can make ultra tender roasts, mouth watering corned beef, pinto beans, basically anything that you would normally cook in a few hours, you can make in less than an hour. Cooking times are reduced by nearly 70%, so you can spend more time with your family. Pressure cooking retains important water-soluble vitamins and minerals while cooking so meals are healthy and delicious. All you need to do is place ingredients inside, lock the lid in place, select the pressure and start cooking.

The modern pressure cooker has many new features that were not available on the older models, and now there are some pressure Cookers available where the cooking cycle can be safely interrupted to add additional ingredients, or stopped at anytime. Depending on usage and care, the gasket will need replacing every now and then, and occasionally some new manufacturers will come and go, leaving the consumer with no options. The old style hissing models of the past are gone and today’s new, modern pressure cookers are very quiet.

Yes it is great for people who don’t have lots of time for fussing around cooking.

Modern day pressure cookers reduce cooking time for beans, grains, vegetables, soup, stews, and it turns dishes that once called for advance planning and long simmering into spur-of-the-moment meals. During your busy day, gives you the time to prepare nutritious homemade meals fast and is perfect for the busy household, larger family groups, couples and the single person.

Slow Cooker Recipes

Opening the front door on a cold evening and being greeted by the inviting smells of your meal wafting from a slow cooker can be a diner’s dream come true.

Chicken Cacciatore

Serves: 4 to 6
Cooking Time: 4 to 4 ½ hours
Cooking Level: Easy

Ingredients

• 8 chicken thighs, 2½ to 3 pounds total
• 1¾ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1½ teaspoons Emeril’s Original Essence
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups sliced yellow onions
• 8 ounces sliced button mushrooms
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1½ teaspoons chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1½ teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed, with juices
• ½ cup dry white wine
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• Cooked pasta, for serving, optional
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, for serving, optional

Directions:

• Season the chicken on both sides with 1 teaspoon of the salt, the black pepper, and Essence.
• Dredge lightly in ¼ cup of the flour.
• Heat the olive oil in a large non stick skillet and, when hot, cook the chicken thighs until golden on both sides, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer thighs to the slow cooker.
• To the same skillet add the onions, mushrooms and red pepper flakes, and cook until softened and lightly caramelized, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the garlic, oregano, rosemary, bay leaf and remaining 2 tablespoons flour and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, wine, tomato paste, and remaining salt, and stir to combine.
• Transfer to the slow cooker, cover and cook until chicken is fork-tender, 4 to 4 ½ hours on high.
• Stir in the basil and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Let sit on warm for 10 minutes and then serve over cooked pasta, garnished with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Slow Cooker Tomato Marinated Ribs

Serves: 4
Cooking Time: 8- 10 hours
Cooking Level: Easy

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs ribs
• 2 small cans tomato sauce
• 1 c. beef consomme
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 3 tomatoes, chopped

Directions

1. Place ribs in the slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients and pour over the ribs.
3. Cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 8-10.
4. You may want to turn the ribs in the middle to ensure they are thoroughly coated with tomato sauce.
5. The sauce is extra delicious on rice!

Food handling and safety tips when using a Slow Cooker

Food handling and safety tips when using a Slow Cooker

• Start with a clean slow cooker, clean utensils and a clean work area. Importantly wash hands before and during food preparation. This is very important if you are handling raw meat or poultry.

• Keep perishable foods refrigerated until preparation time. If you cut up meat and vegetables in advance, store them separately in the refrigerator. The slow cooker may take several hours to reach a safe, bacteria-killing temperature. Constant refrigeration assures that bacteria, which multiply rapidly at room temperature, won’t get a “head start” during the first few hours of cooking.

• Always thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Choose to make foods with a high moisture content such as chili, soup, stew or spaghetti sauce.

• If using a commercially frozen slow cooker meal, prepare according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• It is important to avoid extended heat-up and cool-down periods. According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), bacteria thrive at temperatures in a zone between 40 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

• If you are not at home during the entire slow-cooking process and the power goes out, throw away the food even if it looks done.

• If you are at home, finish cooking the ingredients immediately by some other means: on a gas stove, on the outdoor grill or at a house where the power is on.

• When you are at home, and if the food was completely cooked before the power went out, the food should remain safe up to two hours in the slow cooker with the power off.

• For all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting. If possible, turn the slow cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe.

• It’s safe to cook foods on low the entire time — if you’re leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited.

• While food is cooking and once it’s done, food will stay safe as long as the slow cooker is operating.

• Store leftovers in shallow covered containers and refrigerate within two hours after cooking is finished.

• Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended.

Cleaning and Maintaining your Slow Cooker

To clean and keep your Slow Cooker looking like new follow these recommendations:

• The slow cooker is an electrical appliance so CAUTION: Never immerse the heating base in water or other liquid.
• ALWAYS turn your slow cooker off, unplug it from the electrical outlet, and allow it to cool before cleaning.
• The lid can be washed in the dishwasher (if it is dish-washer safe) or with hot, soapy water.
• For models with removable stoneware, you can remove the stoneware and wash in the dishwasher (if it is dish-washer safe) or with hot, soapy water.
• As with any fine ceramic, the stoneware and lid will not withstand sudden temperature changes and remember DO NOT WASH THE STONEWARE WITH COLD WATER WHILE THE STONEWARE IS STILL HOT
• Do not use abrasive cleaning compounds or scouring pads.
• A cloth, sponge, or rubber spatula will usually remove any residue.
• The outside of the heating base may be cleaned with a soft cloth rinsed in warm, soapy water and then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Features of a slow cooker

There are so many different models of slow cookers to serve individual and family needs including an array of sizes, programming and features.
They range from the basic manual slow cookers that have 2 or 3 heat settings, removable, dishwasher safe stoneware and glass lid;
The programmable slow cookers give you one touch control with multiple time and temperature setting, removable, dishwasher safe stoneware and glass lid.
The cook and carry slow cookers and accessories are great for meals on the go they have locking lids, carrying handles and travel bags.

When looking for a slow cooker here are some features to make you life just that little bit easier.

• Cool outer wall unit
• An Inner crock that is removable because it makes for any easy cleanup and allows for refrigeration of foods before and after cooking.
• A glass lid so that you can monitor your cooking without lifting the lid. If you lift the lid during cooking you will introduce a lot more moisture into your food. A higher domed lid would be best if you think you will cooking joints of meat or whole poultry.
• You need at least three settings or more.
• The Keep warm function which is useful if you’re using your slow cooker at a party and want the contents to stay warm for a few hours, or if you want to keep meals warm for late coming family members.
• A timer so if you are not there when it finishes cooking it goes to the keep warm function.
• An indicator light so you know if it is on.
• Cord length – Make sure you cord will easily reach the socket you want to use.

Sizes and Shapes of Slow Cookers

Sizes in Slow Cookers

You need to select a slow cooker that suits your family needs. A slow cooker is often described by its size (measured in quarts) and they range from 1 to 11 quarts. Sometimes the smallest sizes are not necessarily even big enough for 1 portion, so be sure to go with at least the 4 quart size (family size). Buying a 6 quart or 8 quart size slow cooker is a great idea if you like cooking extra food to have leftovers you can freeze and eat at a later time.

A general guideline to size is:

• Single- 1 1/2 quart
• Couple-2 to 3 1/2 quart
• Small family of three or four -3 1/2 to 4 1/2 quart
• Family of four to five -5 quart
• Families of six or more -6 quart or more

Shapes in Slow Cookers

Slow cookers come in 2 basic shapes round or oval. The round shape is more compact and space-saving for cooking recipes such as stews, soups or curries. The Oval shape can accommodate large roasts such as chicken and other irregularly-shaped chunks of meat.

Some great examples of Slow Cookers on the market at the moment include –
Click here for A Rival 2.5qt Slow Cooker with white exterior
Hamilton beach 4 Qt. Slow Cooker
Large family size Hamilton Beach 7 Qt. Slow Cooker

Do I need a Slow Cooker?

Here are some great reasons why you need a slow cooker!

• The slow cooker requires very little power (about as much electricity as a light bulb)to operate so they save money on energy
• Due to their low energy they use they keep your kitchen cooler as they cook delicious meals.
• The long slow cooking retains the moisture so you can use a cheaper cut of meat and that will also save you money.
• You do not have to constantly watch it cooking
• You prepare your ingredients and cook your food when it is convenient to you.
• You can use items from your pantry
• They are quick, easy and convenient one pot cooking and if you have a removable crock this can double as a serving dish at the table.
• Free up your time so you can spend more time with family and loved ones