6
6. To bring out its luster, the outside surface of your cooker can be cleaned occasionally with a
silver polish or any other fine, non-abrasive polish. If food residue adheres to the pressure cooker
body, clean with a vegetable brush, a nylon pad, or a non-abrasive powder cleanser, such as Bon
Ami
polishing cleanser or Cameo
copper, brass & porcelain cleaner. Do not use steel wool or
cleaners with chlorine bleach
Take care not to overheat your stainless steel pressure cooker. Very high heat can sometimes
cause varicolored stains, called heat tints, in stainless steel. Heat tints can usually be removed
by using a non-abrasive powder cleanser.
7. When not in use, store your pressure cooker in a dry place with the cover inverted on the body. If the cover is locked on, unpleasant
odors may form inside the unit and the sealing ring could be damaged.
8. As is the case of all cookware, avoid chopping or cutting food inside the cooker with a knife or other sharp utensil.
9. If the body or cover handles become loose, tighten them with a screwdriver.
10. The sealing ring, overpressure plug, and rubber gasket of the air vent/cover lock may become nicked, cracked, or torn with normal
use. Exposure to high heat, such as a hot burner or oven top, will also cause these parts to dry out and deteriorate. Replace these parts
immediately should any of these things happen. Generally, it is a good idea to replace them every two years.
Leakage between the cover and body that occurs during cooking pressure is usually caused by shrinkage or deterioration of the seal-
ing ring after prolonged use. Replace the sealing ring. Whenever you replace the sealing ring, replace the overpressure plug also.
11. As cooking begins, some steam, moisture, or condensation may be visible at the top of the cooker around the overpressure plug and
air vent/cover lock or between the cover and the body. It should stop, however, as pressure builds and the air vent/cover lock seals.
Continuing leakage around the air vent/cover lock is an indication that the air vent/cover lock gasket needs to be cleaned or replaced.
Continued leakage between the body and the cover, is an indication that the sealing ring should be cleaned or replaced. Try cleaning
the rubber parts first. If that does not work, replace them.
Do not operate your pressure cooker with continued leakage .
If replac-
ing the parts does not correct the problem, return the entire unit to the Presto Factory Service Department (see page 28).
12. If for any reason, the pressure cooker cannot be opened, contact the Consumer Service Department at 1-800-877-0441. Any mainte-
nance required for this product, other than normal household care and cleaning, should be performed by the Presto Factory Service
Department (see page 28).
HELPFUL HINTS
♦ Your favorite recipes may be adjusted for cooking in the pressure cooker by following the general directions in this book for the
particular type of food being cooked. Decrease the cooking time for your recipe by ⅔ since pressure cooking is much faster than
ordinary cooking methods. For example, if your ordinary cooking method requires 45 minutes, in the pressure cooker the cooking
time will be 15 minutes. Because there is very little evaporation, the amount of liquid used should be decreased. Use about ½ cup
more liquid than you’ll desire in your finished dish. But, remember, there must always be water or some other liquid in the pressure
cooker to produce the necessary steam.
♦ Use the trivet and steamer basket when it is desirable to cook foods out of the cooking liquid. When foods are pressure cooked out
of the liquid, flavors will not intermingle. Therefore, it is possible to cook several foods at once, as long as they have similar cooking
times. If it is desirable to blend flavors, do not use the steamer basket.
♦
Most foods are cooked at high pressure. Low pressure is used for cooking delicate foods such as vegetables and seafood.
♦ Many different cooking liquids can be used in a pressure cooker. Wine, beer, bouillon, fruit juices, and of course water all make
excellent cooking liquids in the pressure cooker.
♦ The pressure cooker is usually cooled at once for delicate foods such as custards and fresh vegetables. For other foods, like roasts
and stews, let the pressure drop of its own accord.
♦
If a recipe says to cook 0 minutes, cook food only until the desired pressure is reached. Then cool pressure cooker according to recipe.
♦
Beautiful desserts and side dishes can be prepared in the pressure cooker, using individual or small metal molds or glass custard cups,
which are ovenproof. Fill molds ⅔ full to allow for expansion of food, and fit them loosely into the pressure cooker on the cooking
rack. Do not fill the pressure cooker over ⅔ full.
Bon Ami
polishing cleanser is a registered trademark of Faultless Starch/Bon Ami Co. Cameo
copper, brass & porcelain cleaner is a registered trademark of Church
& Dwight Co., Inc. Presto is not affiliated with these companies.
Indented Portion
Overpressure Plug
Fig . P
