A pressure cooker is probably the most efficient, versatile and easy-to-use kitchen appliance. Cooking in a pressure cooker provides healthier and better-tasting food prepared in less time and also uses less energy especially if you use a pressure cooker like the power pressure cooker XL.
Buying a power pressure cooker XL means you'll have a multi-purpose cooker. From a Dutch oven to a steamer, from a saucepan to a baking pan, you can use it any form you want. You can easily find this pressure cooker in every kitchen. But the question remains, are you getting the most out of your pressure cooker or just using it for basic cooking?
If you don’t know how to get best out of your cooker, here are some tips you can surely consider for the next time you cook.
1. Store It Right
The easiest and best way to store the pressure cooker after you use it is, keep the lid upside down, on the top of the pot.
Before you store it, make sure you wash the pot, lid, and rubber gasket by hand using warm soapy water. Dry well before you store it.
Make sure that the safety valves are properly clean and unobstructed, also check the rubber gasket is pliable and flexible before you insert it under the lid.
2. Always Cook With Liquid
Using liquid while cooking in a pressure cooker is mandatory, you can always use more liquid than recommended but never useless. Since pressure cooker cooks quickly as they use the pressure created from the built-up, hot, trapped steam in the pot. So always remember these points.
Always use at least 1 cup of liquid while cooking.
Remember not to fill the pressure cooker with more than ½ way with liquid.
If just in case, you end up with more cooking liquid, reduce it by bringing it to a boil uncovered and bring it down until you get the desired consistency.
3. Adjust The Heat
To get the best results of cooking with a pressure cooker, you need to keep some points in mind.
Start cooking under pressure over high heat.
When the pressure cooker comes up to pressure, lower the heat so that it can retain pressure without exceeding it.
This is easy to use when you are using a gas range. If you are cooking with electric, you need two burners, one on high heat to let the things going on and other on low heat to maintain pressure.
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4. Size Matters
For uniformity, cut food pieces into equal sizes for even cooking.
Larger pieces of meat and pieces with bones take a longer time to cook as compared to smaller cubed pieces.
When you want to mix foods like meat, potato, and vegetables, start cooking the meat, say halfway, release the pressure and then add potatoes, now cook for 2/3 the recommended cooking time. Now add vegetables that can be quickly cooked.
To maintain the best texture and flavor of the food, you may need to follow this “stop and go” routine several times.
5. It's All About The Timing
A most important thing to cook in a pressure cooker is timing. It is as important as developing pressure. Always remember:
All cooking times are approximate and might understand.
Cook carefully so that you don’t overcook it, it’s better to undercook something.
If there is something that needs more time to cook, do it in 1-5 minute interval under pressure.
The harder the food, the longer the additional time.
Note: Cookers such as rice cookers often come with timers making the cook convenient and hassle-free unlike traditional pressure cookers and while they aren't traditional pressure cookers they get a lot of the pressure cooking job done in quick time.
6. Browning For Intense Flavors
To get extra flavors, first, brown or sauté foods like you do with conventional cookware. Like, first brown the meat and vegetables for stew and then add other liquids and cook under pressure.
Always remember to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits remaining at the bottom, with the help of small amount of wine, broth or water, so they are loosened, add flavors to your food and discouraging scorching.
