- What is a pressure cooker?
- Seb
- How does a pressure cooker work?
- Advantages & fields of application
- What types of pressure cookers are there?
- The Pressure Cooker
- Smart models
- The electric models
- The capacity
- The material
- The weight
- The opening and closing system
- Accessories
- Safety valve
- Alternatives to the pressure cooker
Since we have to eat on average three times a day, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and it is sometimes difficult to reconcile family life and healthy cooking. Thanks to our pressure cooker article, find the ideal model to save time in the kitchen without making concessions on the quality of meals for your whole family. You will enjoy the best experiences that will allow you to avoid wrong purchases, find the best products and save money by taking advantage of the presentation of different pressure cookers.
What is a pressure cooker?
A pressure cooker is a kitchen utensil which cooks food under high pressure. This metal container has an airtight lid and a steam vent valve.
It drastically reduces cooking times. It thus saves considerable time while retaining the nutritional values of food. For example, a dish that traditionally requires an hour and a half to simmer will be cooked in half an hour with the pressure cooker.
Easy to use, it adapts to a large number of foods: meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, etc.
Seb
The inventor of the pressure cooker in 1953, Seb has modernised this kitchen utensil by offering a range of high-performance pressure cookers, among the best on the market. In 1987 the first pressure cooker, Sensor, was born, offering two cooking speeds, a timer and a bayonet closure system to conquer the international market. But the brand didn’t stop there: in 1990 Clipso was born, a revolutionary new pressure cooker with a unique opening system that works with just one hand, making it one of the best models in terms of product.
How does a pressure cooker work?
As mentioned above, the pressure cooker allows you to cook food at high pressure. In concrete terms, as the appliance has a hermetically sealed lid, the water, once it has come to a boil, starts to build up pressure inside the appliance. The pressure helps to cook the food, and it is at the same time evacuated by the valve progressively.
Let’s see a practical case. The first step is to put the food in the pressure cooker, either in the bottom of the pressure cooker or in the steamer basket. Then add water and close the pressure cooker.
Underneath, turn on the fire to the maximum. After a few minutes, cooking begins. And you are informed by the valve which starts to rotate and make noise, or by a timer which is activated. To maintain the pressure, you will have to lower the heat to the minimum and check the cooking time.
Finally, when the time is up, you will need to carefully purge the steam before opening the casserole dish, to ensure that the dish is cooked correctly. The pressure cooker releases scalding steam with which you can burn yourself. It is essential to be careful with this type of kitchen appliance.
Advantages & fields of application
A pressure cooker has several advantages. First of all, as said before, it allows a real time-saving. Also, cooking fruits or vegetables with this method of cooking would preserve their flavours and vitamins. And nothing gets lost! The cooking water, loaded with vitamins and minerals, can be reused in soups.
Finally, the pressure cooker allows you to cook without standing in front of the stove because it will notify you as soon as all the steam has been removed.
What types of pressure cookers are there?
The reviews reveal different types of pressure cookers that are more or less popular according to customer reviews.
The Pressure Cooker
It is the most basic model on the market. Very easy to use since it consists only of a tank, a lid and a valve, the Pressure Cooker is the ancestor of the modern pressure cookers.
The casserole dish offers high or low-pressure cooking, but some models provide both cooking modes. In both cases, the user will have to choose the cooking time for his food himself. Sometimes that’s what can lower his rating in the benchmarks.
Smart Models
Unlike traditional models, the smart pressure cooker allows precision cooking since it often has a smart timer that allows you to set the cooking time, which will end automatically at the end of the time. Consumers very appreciate this criterion.
These models offer up to seven cooking programs, different depending on the food and dishes chosen.
These smart pressure cookers have ideal features for cooking in the best conditions, such as a delayed cooking start, a keep-warm function and pre-programmed recipes, other criteria highly appreciated bu users.
They also have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity that allows the user to program their pressure cooker remotely.
The Electric Models
These are the models that, according to our researches, are the most popular because they have a wide range of cooking programs and a warm function.
They are straightforward to use as they are compact and practical. Consumers are delighted, according to the studies analysed.
The Capacity
The capacity of the pressure cooker bowl is the first criterion to consider. Globally the tanks have a capacity of between 4 and 12 litres.
Choosing the right model is very easy. A 4 litre tank will be ideal for 2 to 3 people, while 12 litres will cook for more than 10 people. The best way to choose will, therefore, be to establish the number of people for whom you want to cook.
The Material
The material used is mainly aluminium and stainless steel.
The first is light, inexpensive but will only be used on gas. The test result shows limited performance and fairly basic use.
The stainless steel pressure cooker is better, more resistant, more robust. The stainless steel pressure cooker is also compatible with all types of fires, which gives it better pressure compared to the aluminium.
The Weight
It is better to choose a pressure cooker that is as light as possible, but which still has excellent features to enjoy better cooking comfort.
The opening and closing system
There are several, so we will compare them:
- The stirrup closure system is the most common. To close the pressure cooker, turn a tightening knob to the left, which will lower the bracket, and then fit the cover correctly for excellent sealing.
- The push-button, more practical and easier to use, allows the lid to be closed quickly using the jaws. Even better, according to tests and reviews, the retractable cover closure is based on a practical, easy-to-use and efficient sliding system.
- Last system and the test is the bayonet locking system. It is simple, in addition to being safe and efficient.
Accessories
Some elements of the pressure cooker appear to be essential for its correct operation and the safety of the user. The conformity of the seal is necessary since it allows a hermetic closing of the cooker and thus avoids the flow of hot liquids. The handles are also to be chosen carefully as they can be fixed, removable or foldable according to the user’s needs.
Safety Valve
The safety valve is at least as important as the previous criteria since it is an integral part of the proper functioning of the pressure cooker.
The investigation revealed three types of valves: those, basic, which release the steam by rotating on themselves, those which release the steam vertically and those which release it horizontally.
The best pressure cooker models have valves, which are very safe and prevent the risk of burns.
Alternatives to Pressure Cookers
As the price of a pressure cooker can be prohibitive, there is an easy to use and practical alternative: the electric steamer.
This kitchen appliance consists of one or more steam baskets, which allow the cooking of any type of food. Some models even allow you to program various types of cooking, depending on the basket selected.
Like the pressure cooker, it retains all of the flavours and nutrients in food.
If you wish to buy pressure cookers from Turkey, please do not hesitate to contact us by mail at [email protected] or to call us at +90 532 361 5149. We can help you to get in direct contact with producers or provide you with everything that you need.
