The popularity of pressure cookers has increased significantly in the recent past. This popularity is so high to extents that there is a pressure cooker in the kitchen of almost every home. The increase in popularity is mainly attributed to the benefits of cooking using this cooker over other types of cookers. As a result of the increased popularity the number of companies making these cookers has also increased. This has led to an increase on the types of pressure cookers available in the market. All the marketers of these pressure cookers claim that theirs are the best. Consequently, it might be confusing while deciding which is the most suitable one to buy. This makes it important to know what to look for in a pressure cooker.
THE MATERIALS USED
The importance of checking the material used to make the cooker is that there are some materials which are better than other. The good materials usually spread heat evenly therefore allowing uniform cooking. The right materials also do not react with foods or produce harmful chemicals. This is because reacting with foods and producing chemicals can result to negative health effects both in the short and long term. The right material that should be used to make the ideal pressure cooker is high quality durable stainless steel. This is because stainless steel is corrosion and stains resistant. It also safe since it does not produce any harmful components.
ACCURACY IN PRESSURE READING
While cooking using a pressure cooker it is always important to know the pressure levels. This makes it possible to control the cooking effectively. The popular pressure cookers use pop up indicators and colored markers to show the pressure levels. If the indicator is not accurate then it will give misleading pressure levels which will hinder efficient cooking.
SAFETY OPTIONS
The safety features of the modern pressure cookers have been improved significantly compared with the older models. This is mainly attributed to the fact that the makers of these cookers have realized that safety is one of the most important aspects. Some of the modern safety features include the cooker venting excess steam through a valve in case of overpressure. The valve even produces a hissing sound to alert the person cooking. In case the pressure continues to rise, the sealing gasket on the cooker will be pushed out through a safety aperture on the lid. This allows the excess pressure to get out and therefore make the cooking safe.
THE SIZE
Since the pressure cookers come in different sizes it is always paramount to select the most suitable size. The most common sizes are the six quart, seven quart and eight quart pressure cookers. The size should depend on the number of people who are expected to be served in every meal. While considering the size it is important to remember that a pressure cooker can only be filled two thirds full for majority of foods and only half full for the foods that froth or foam during cooking. It is also worth noting that a big cooker can be used to cook even a small amount of food but a small cooker cannot be used to cook large amount of food.
ACCESSORIES AND WARRANTIES
Most of the modern pressure cookers are made in a way that they can last even for decades. However, it is always advisable to pick a cooker that has a warranty so as to be guaranteed of its quality. It is also important to choose the one whose accessories and replacement parts such as gaskets are readily available.
It is evident that a pressure cooker can produce a delicious meal if used properly. However, because of the many available pressure cookers it might be hard to choose the most suitable one. Some people buy the ones that do not suit them just because they do not know what to look for in a pressure cooker. But by checking the outlined qualities it becomes easy to find the right pressure cooker.