Q&A for How to Use a Pressure Cooker

If you do not use the lid, the pressure cooker will function like regular pot.

Turn off the heat and leave the kitchen. Your cooker is in a dangerous state. Wait for the cooker to cool and the pressure to completely dissipate.

Make sure you have enough liquid in the bottom of the pressure cooker and try cooking on a lower heat for a longer time.

Water can be added, but don't overdo it. Too much water can result in food plugging the pressure valve.

Yes, you can. Make sure to clean the kerosene stove properly so the flame is uniformly bluish (not yellowish). A yellow flame can cause soot, which impedes the heat and prolongs cooking time.

As long as the pressure cooker still has all the major parts to function right, is free of rust marks and if there are no cracks, it should still be good to use.

Clean the peanuts at least twice. Put the peanuts,1 tbsp sugar, and 1/2 tbsp salt, and enough water to cover the peanuts in the cooker. Close the lid tightly and cook on medium heat.

Put the hock in the pressure cooker for 1 hour.

If the unit develops steam that escapes only from the proper point, then that is a good sign. Make sure that the rubber sealing ring is in good shape - not cracked or pitted, and is reasonably supple. Keep it and the vent port clean! The final test is whether the food is well cooked or not - and hopefully tastes good.

Approximately 250,000KG using the binomial method of pressure gauge reading. Arguably up to, but not over, 2,500,000 metric tons using trinomial gap linear gauge.

About 45 minutes to an hour; more if you're using an electric pressure cooker, less if you're using a stove top pressure cooker.

It sounds like you're using a Fagor pressure cooker. The number two is the 15 lb. indicator, which is used for almost every pressure cooking recipe. The number one setting is an 8 lb. indicator for cooking items like seafood.

Yes, but I would recommend thawing it first for the best flavor and texture.

Very carefully place the whole pressure cooker under cold running water to bring the pressure down.

The pressure cooker will not work without a proper seal. Check to see if your lid has an emergency pressure relief button. It looks like a metal plug, usually about halfway between the rim and the pressure valve. Make sure the valve is clean and free of debris. If the lid has a safety, you should be able to order a new seal online. Check with the cooker's manufacturer first, if you can.

This is because you "start the clock" on the cooker from the time the steam is actually sufficient. That way, you are ensuring that the cooking time necessary for the specific food item is accurate.

Yes. Cooking begins after high pressure has been reached and then turned down to simmer. Once the pot is simmering, that's when you begin to count down the cooking time. Since the cooking time countdown doesn't begin until the heat is turned down to simmer, it will take a bit of "extra" time to go from a cold start to simmer. That "extra" time does not count as cooking time.

Put the valve straight away, no need to wait. Next, put the lid on the cooker and lock it in place.