topic Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution in Kitchen

Important! Pressure cooking caution

Thats Me — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:04:09 GMT

Hi Everybody,

I don't know if this article has already been posted but it's important and worth your time to read it if you pressure cook, no matter what type or brand you use- I was shocked, and have been cooking this way for some years (both stovetop and Instant Pot):

https://www.hippressurecooking.com/consumer-alert-food-explosion-after-pressure-release/

And I've made up my own recipes. Maybe I've been lucky? But while I don't use much fat, I love thick stews which are apparently one of the main culprits.

Would love to read your thoughts on this; and if you've had any of these experiences, what you were making. And of course if you did experience an explosion I so hope you are ok!

thank you!

thats me

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

OKPrincess — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:11:47 GMT

I have a 4qt and make sure it's never filled over the 2/3rd fill mark. I don't add oil and I let it release pressure on its own. I'm super careful because I remember the PCs from the olden days.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

CLEM — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:22:51 GMT

@Thats Me Thanks for posting about this issue. I will be sure to take whatever precautions I can in the future. It sure is scary.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

Kachina624 — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:24:51 GMT

Sounds as though people are not following the manufacturer's instructions. Obviously adequate liquid is needed to make steam. If thick sauces are desired, thicken them after the food is cooked.

I hate to say it, but I've been using a PC over 50 years and my mom for years before that. Neither of us ever had a problem nor have I ever known anyone who had an accident with a PC. Its a tool that has the potential for being dangerous if not properly used. Read and carefully follow directions before using. A little common sense goes a long way.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

Carmie — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:27:57 GMT

My mother cooked in her stove top pressure cooker often. She was always kinda afraid of it and made us leave the kitchen when she opened the lid. She would slowly move the cooker to the sink and run cold water over the lid until the pressure went down to a safe level.

the old pressure cookers use to have a little weight on the top and you would choose how much pressure you wanted to cook with. The little weight would wiggle and the cooker would hiss while she was cooking. There was also a little rubber stopper on the lid that was stationary. It couldn’t removed.

one time while she was cooking sauerkraut in the pressure cooker, the little rubber stopper flew off. I think the rubber was deteriorated. I just stood there watching Strands of sauerkraut coming out one strand at a time a thousand miles per hour and hanging on the kitchen ceiling. My mother was screaming at the top of her lungs for me to get out. The lid stayed on and never blew off, but I got to see the power of pressure.

I use a pressure cooker, but I respect it. I always make 100% sure that there is no pressure in the cooker before I unlock the lid. That appliance is hot bomb if it explodes.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

bonnielu — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:32:31 GMT

I know it was a long time ago and I know the technology was not the same but I have very interesting memories of my mothers pressue cooker. She used to use it all the time and one afternoon something happened. No one was hurt. I must have been about 7-8 years old. My father had just come home and asked Whats for Dinner? My mother pointed to the ceiling. The chicken was up there... hanging on and dripping down. That one memory... has lasted an entire lifetime. I just cannot buy one.. use one... EVER

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

jannabelle1 — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:41:56 GMT

It sounds like (from the article) that many of the problems are from people who use the quick cool method, instead of letting the pressure cooker release steam and cool on its own. My dad taught me PC safety procedures many years ago - never force the cooker to cool down quickly, never fill it more than 2/3 full, and always follow the recipes in the book provided by the manufacturer. Never had a problem...

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

blackhole99 — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:46:48 GMT

My aunts neighbors used pressure cookers for years to can vegetables. One year something went wrong and the thing exploded. My aunts neighbor was badly burned and died a few weeks later.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

Foggy morning — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 04:45:52 GMT

My mother cooked with a pressure cooker for years. While I was growing up she could fix something for dinner, when she got home from work, for my father and me in no time.

I heard about the last time she used it, after the event. She had cooked a roast and when it was done she could not get the lid off. My father couldn't either. This cooker probably was purchased in the 1950's. That day it ended up in trash can. I guess it's still out there somewhere.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

BeccaLou — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:23:46 GMT

Thats Me, So don't you use your pressure cooker any longer ??? I am having some anxiety now about the danger.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

BeccaLou — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:25:21 GMT

Kachina624, How do you thicken food after it's cooked ??

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

jackthebear — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 12:00:36 GMT

per usual read and follow and understand the appliance one is using

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

nyc1 — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 12:25:19 GMT

Thank you for the link. Always important information to share. Much appreciated.

My Mom never used a pressure cooker, and I knew someone who used the stove top kind and one time it blew up and he got burns on his face.

I've been using an electric pressure cooker for probably 25 years and LOVE them. I purchased the Cook's Essential oval 8Qt (on my second), which is wonderful. With the oval shape, you can fit meats in much more easily. I love the electric kind... I can brown in it and also thicken my sauces, etc. I feel there is a lot more control and safe guards with the electric ones.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

sidsmom — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:27:16 GMT

- Avoid sticking your head inside a hot oven. Uncomfortable & not according to manufacturer’s Guidelines.

- Never place hands on a hot grill - it ruins your day & your food.

- Don’t stick arm in a garbage disposal. It delays dinner when you have to call EMS -and- the plumber has to fix.

- Do not ever sharpen your cutlery. The dull edge makes it easier to pry open that jar of pickles without cutting off your fingers.

——————

Yes, I’m writing this tongue-in-cheek.

All the ‘warnings’ are equivalent to the ‘don’t walk in front of a moving vehicle’ type of warnings....just common sense. Electric pressure cookers are extremely safe. I believe the greater warning would be within the “Don’t use more than a 1/4 cup of oil, butter or fat to a pressure cooker recipe”. Whaa? 1/4 cup fat?? Eeps.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:50:54 GMT

I answered a post about this a while back, stating I was afraid of PC's because I saw a lady that was badly burned when her exploded. I was a young teen then and it scared the ****** out of me. But almost all poo-pooed the idea stating at todays Pc's are much safer. I dont trust them and never will.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

brandiwine — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:37:36 GMT

I saw this article and have no idea who this "group" who wrote it even is. That being said I was a food safety specialist before I retired for a well known university. If you follow manufacturers instructions, check your gasket, and make sure the lid is on properly, pressure cooking is safe. Most pressure cooker recipes state clearly to let pressure come down naturally, or you can quick release. Sometimes we get rushed, and don't want to wait. One of the great things about pressure cooking is not needing a lot of fat and you can use leaner cuts of meats that come out juicy and tender. I would take this article with a grain of salt.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

SharkE — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:45:11 GMT

I've used pressure cookers since I was 15 and that's the oldy kind

never had a problem.

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

jackthebear — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 17:55:09 GMT

@brandiwine wrote:
I saw this article and have no idea who this "group" who wrote it even is. That being said I was a food safety specialist before I retired for a well known university. If you follow manufacturers instructions, check your gasket, and make sure the lid is on properly, pressure cooking is safe. Most pressure cooker recipes state clearly to let pressure come down naturally, or you can quick release. Sometimes we get rushed, and don't want to wait. One of the great things about pressure cooking is not needing a lot of fat and you can use leaner cuts of meats that come out juicy and tender. I would take this article with a grain of salt.

FWIW

I have had my pressure cooker for almost 3 years and have not added any fat or oils to anything I have cooked using it.

of course HB eggs and beans don't usually need those

laughs

seriously people

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

Thats Me — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 02:21:14 GMT

Hi Becca Lou,

Yes I still use both of mine! I use them all the time. And I would not stop using either one because I LOVE them both! And I think it is a safe method of cooking. But I came across this article just a few days ago and it really "jarred my preserves" because I had never heard a problem with the modern pressure cookers with their built-in safety features, and wanted to spread the word. I think it was through an Instant Pot group on Facebook that I saw a post with the link, and just could not believe it.

I respect the hazards of pressure cooking (always have), and will be even more mindful of using only recipes from trusted sources. It seems that the problems have come from the common practice of sharing recipes back-and-forth, recipes designed for maybe one cooker, used in another....but I have never had a problem.

Hope this helps to put you at ease! I would just be careful to use these things strictly according to the manufacturer' instructions.

thats me

Re: Important! Pressure cooking caution

skyblue — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 06:02:14 GMT

@Thats Me wrote:
Hi Becca Lou,
Yes I still use both of mine! I use them all the time. And I would not stop using either one because I LOVE them both! And I think it is a safe method of cooking. But I came across this article just a few days ago and it really "jarred my preserves" because I had never heard a problem with the modern pressure cookers with their built-in safety features, and wanted to spread the word. I think it was through an Instant Pot group on Facebook that I saw a post with the link, and just could not believe it.
I respect the hazards of pressure cooking (always have), and will be even more mindful of using only recipes from trusted sources. It seems that the problems have come from the common practice of sharing recipes back-and-forth, recipes designed for maybe one cooker, used in another....but I have never had a problem.

Hope this helps to put you at ease! I would just be careful to use these things strictly according to the manufacturer' instructions.

thats me

It says not to cook oatmeal in a pressure cooker, but I just made steel cut oats with a recipe from the Instant Pot cookbook. It turned out great.

it also says not to cover the release valve with a towel, but I've heard several people recommend it. @Thats Me

I think it's important to be informed.😊