Pressure cookers can be an amazing tool used to cook a sumptuous meal right in your very own kitchen. They utilize steam in a locked cooker or pot that heats the air to more than 40 degrees hotter than boiling water. This results in fast cook times and meats that are juicy and tender as the pressure of the surrounding air holds in all the goodness.
As awesome as these cookers can be, they can also be extremely dangerous as well and if you are using one, you should be aware of the dangers and how you can minimize your risk so that you and your family enjoy your meal with no negative results whatsoever.
As for negative results, pressure cooker seals can fail and the cookers themselves can even explode causing serious injury including:
- Severe burns
- Cuts or lacerations
- Blindness
- Amputation of limbs
- And even in worst cases, death.
There are quite a few models on the market today and it is estimated that over half of the pressure cookers sold today have been involved in some type of accident that has injured the user, either from a manufacturing defect or user error. Here are a few tips that can you keep in mind so that you can minimize your risk when using any type of pressure cooker.
- Perform a search online for pressure cookers to uncover and model warnings- Before you purchase a pressure cooker, perform a thorough search online for the model(s) you are thinking about purchasing. This will allow you to uncover those models that have had defects in the past and help steer you away form cookers that have caused multiple accidents and instead, purchase one with a lower likelihood of malfunctioning.
- Always follow the manufacturers’ instructions- Because some pressure cooker accidents occur due to user error, it is vital that you follow the instructions included by the manufacturer. This will help to ensure that you are using the cooker exactly as intended and following all safety protocols exactly. Something as simple as not checking that the lid latches are secured can easily result in scalding injuries even if the cooker is working as intended.
- Inspect your cooker regularly- Another recommendation that can lessen the chances that you are injured in a pressure-cooking accident is simply for you to closely inspect it after each session. Even if you use our pressure cooker as intended, wear and tear over time can result in cracks, cords wearing out, or lid seals that no longer work efficiently. Make sure to look over each aspect of your cooker after use so that if there is any damage to it that could cause malfunction, you are aware of it and can look to repair or replace immediately.
- Take extra precautions- Due to the nature of the intense heat that these machines produce, it is also wise to take extra precautions as well. These can include wearing goggles, wearing heat protective gloves when removing the lid after cooking, and having someone else with you while using the cooker just in case an accident should occur.
Pressure cookers, when used properly and are free from any defect, are generally extremely safe to use. But if your machine is defective or you use it improperly, the accidents that may result can be life altering. Use the tips above, be safe, and enjoy the sumptuous meals prepared in your pressure cooker for years to come!
