Electric Pressure Cookers – Advantages and Disadvantages

Pressure cookers have been around for a few decades now. They have made cooking much easier as these devices cut cooking times drastically. Roasted meats, beans, and stews are just some of the dishes that would take hours to prepare without the use of a pressure cooker. Thankfully, due to the advent of this wonderful kitchen contraption, preparing them can be done in an hour or sometimes even less.

It is the stove-top pressure cookers that have been more commonly found in most kitchens of homes and restaurants alike. However, the emergence of a relatively new and more convenient type of pressure cooker has somewhat revolutionized this cooking technique. Because of electric pressure cookers, folks can now prepare challenging dishes in an even shorter amount of time.

The Many Advantages of Electric-Powered Pressure Cookers

The electric-powered pressure cooker has pretty much the same design and construction as with the counter-top type, except for the built-in heating mechanism. The heat inside the cooker is sealed tighter by a clamp-type lock that ensures that as little heat as possible is released. This is more effective than the interlocking lid used by a majority of counter-top pressure cookers. When it comes to the actual cooking process, it is also much easier in the newer type of pressure cookers. Most electric-powered pressure cookers come with digital controls which lets the chef easily monitor the steam pressure inside the device. This also makes it easier to time the entire cooking process as there is even an added option to preset the cooking time depending on the dish being prepared.

These electric-powered pressure cookers also have a mechanism installed that automatically releases the pressure inside should it reach levels that are unsafe. An additional quick-release function also allows the cook to manually release pressure and steam should he feel the need to. This means that one can attend to other things in the kitchen without needing to worry about overcooking whatever is being prepared in the pressure cooker.

When it comes to safety, most electric pressure cookers come with specialized features to ensure the protection of not only the food that’s being prepared, but more importantly, the chef as well. For instance, most of these devices come with a specially designed locking system that does not allow the lid to be opened until it is deactivated manually. This lock is automatically triggered by closing the lid. This ensures that the lid doesn’t accidentally blow off and cause any potential damage.

This is actually one of the biggest problems of stove-top pressure cookers as they are notoriously known for loose lids that may lead to the chef being burned by the scorching hot water or the steam. Thankfully, this can be avoided due to the added safety features of electric-powered pressure cookers.

Lastly, this newer type of pressure cookers is also more advantageous to the users when it comes to the cleaning process. Most of these cookers are equipped with cooking pots that are removable. Moreover, these pots are usually coated with surfaces that are non-stick or are constructed with stainless steel. This obviously means that it is much easier to wash these cooking pots.

One of the main criticisms of electric-powered pressure cookers is the problems caused by their measuring systems. As mentioned earlier, these cookers come with digital controls that allow easier monitoring of the steam inside the actual cooking device. The problem is that for some reason, this technology is yet to be perfected. The gauges are not 100% accurate which means that a little guesswork is still required from the cooker. This may be misleading for some new users as they might not be able to cook the food properly due to the errors with the measuring systems.

This is probably why these pressure cookers still come with a manual pressure release mechanism (aside from the auto release feature). However, all it takes is just a little getting used to. After all, this is still cooking and it will still require some work from the chef.

Some Pressure Cooking Tips

When using these electric-powered pressure cookers. Some things need to be kept in mind. Aside from the potential problems mentioned above, there are still some guidelines that folks should take into consideration to ensure a more perfectly prepared dish.

1. Not everything is for the pressure cooker. For obvious reasons, foods that are quick to cook such as shrimp or green vegetables shouldn’t be prepared in the pressure cooker. Pressure cookers are more ideal for dishes that include beans, whole grains, and braised meats.

2. Never overcook. The general rule of thumb here is that if in doubt, it is always better to undercook than to overcook. It is always easier to fix and adjust food that is undercooked than those that are burned.

3. Say no to used pressure cookers. One may be able to save a few bucks by buying second-hand electric pressure cookers from a garage sale, but it will definitely cost more in the long run. Invest a few more dollars in a newer model that comes with more cooking and safety features.