Shopping For A Pressure Cooker

A pressure cooker is an ideal choice for preparing fast, healthy, delicious meals every day - up to ten times faster than ordinary cooking methods. The pressure cooker can intimidate some cooks, but if the directions are followed carefully, this appliance saves time and money, and helps preserve nutrients, because cooking is finished so quickly! A safety valve releases steam when the pressure exceeds the safety limit for the cooker. Because water's boiling point is affected by the atmospheric pressure, the pressure built up inside the cooker allows the liquid in the pot to rise to a temperature higher than 100 °C before boiling. The higher temperature causes the food to cook faster. Cooking times can be reduced by a factor of three or four.  Timing is critical when you're pressure-cooking. Foods like large pieces of meat have a bit of 'wiggle room' in timing, but fresh vegetables and fruits can be quickly overcooked. If your pressure cooker doesn't have a built-in timer, make sure you have a reliable, accurate timer that you use every time you pressure cook.  Make sure that you use the amount of ingredients called for in the recipe; liquid amounts are particularly important. You need a certain amount of liquid to build up steam so the food cooks at the correct temperature in the proper time frame.  Don't store your pressure cooker closed with the lid on; that will just allow aromas to stay in the cooker; molds and off flavors can develop. Store the lid separately from the base. Also do not store the rubber gasket in the base. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda inside the cooker when you store it to prevent these problems.  Think twice about leaving a pressure cooker alone while it's cooking. Never let children or pets play around the appliance when it's cooking. Be very careful when you release pressure; you can burn yourself even with the new cookers that have safety releases. NEVER try to force the lid open. And finally, again, read that instruction booklet from cover to cover!  Pressure cookers can be purchased from shops in Bahrain that sell kitchenware.