Cooking with a pressure cooker is a convenient and efficient way to prepare meals, but it's crucial to follow safety guidelines to ensure a safe cooking experience. Here are some important safety instructions for using your Hawkins pressure cooker:
- Handle with Care: Always use the handles provided when handling the pressure cooker, especially when it's hot. Avoid touching hot surfaces to prevent burns.
- Supervision Around Children: Keep a close eye on the pressure cooker when it's in use, especially if there are children around. Ensure they stay away from the cooker to prevent accidents.
- No Oven Placement: Never place the pressure cooker in a heated oven as it may damage the cooker and pose a safety risk.
- Handwashing Only: Avoid washing the pressure cooker in a dishwasher to maintain its integrity and prevent damage.
- Caution with Hot Liquids: Exercise extreme caution when moving a pressure cooker containing hot liquids to prevent spills and burns.
- Intended Use Only: Use the pressure cooker only for its intended purpose to avoid accidents or damage to the appliance.
- Ensure Proper Closure: Before operating the pressure cooker, ensure that it is properly closed to prevent steam leakage and potential scalding injuries.
- Sealing Ring: You can easily remove the rubber sealing ring from the groove in the lid and refitted by guiding the lid handle through the ring, and pushing it down until properly seated in the lid groove; for optimal performance, ensure the side with the words "OTHER SIDE UP" faces down.
- Check Pressure Release Devices: Always check that the pressure release devices are clear before closing the lid for pressure cooking to prevent blockages and excess pressure build-up.
- Avoid Foaming Foods: Certain foods can foam, froth, and sputter, potentially clogging the pressure release device. Avoid cooking these foods in the pressure cooker.
- Reduce Heat Once Pressure is Reached: Once the pressure is reached, reduce the heat to maintain the pressure without excessive evaporation of liquid.
- Allow Pressure Release: Never attempt to force open the pressure cooker. Allow the unit to cool and release pressure naturally before opening.
- Do Not Lift Vent Weight During Cooking: Avoid lifting the vent weight during cooking, especially when cooking liquid or frothing foods.
- No Pressure Frying: Do not use the pressure cooker for pressure frying with oil to prevent accidents.
- Avoid Prolonged Frying: Limit frying time to 20 minutes at a time and avoid deep frying or dry heating to prevent damage to the pressure cooker.
- Check Handle Tightness: Ensure handles are tight and secure before each use to prevent accidents.
- Replace Safety Valve Regularly: Replace the safety valve annually for optimal safety. Use genuine Hawkins safety valves for replacements.
- Authorized Repairs Only: For repairs other than basic maintenance, seek assistance from an authorized service centre to maintain safety and integrity.
- Avoid Overfilling: Do not fill the pressure cooker over 2/3 full to prevent blockages and excess pressure build-up. When cooking foods that expand during cooking, such as rice or dried vegetables, do not fill the unit over 1/2 full. When cooking dal/pulses that sprout, never fill the cooker more than 1/3 full. Overfilling may cause a risk of clogging the vent tube and developing excess pressure.
- Water Level Guidelines: Follow the recommended water levels for your pressure cooker capacity to ensure proper cooking and avoid clogging the vent tube. As a general rule:
- For pressure cookers of 1.5 Litre to 3 Litre capacity, use a minimum of one cup (240 ml) water for the first 10 minutes of pressure cooking time, plus a half cup (120 ml) for every subsequent 10 minutes or part thereof.
- For pressure cookers of 3.5 Litre to 6 Litre capacity, use a minimum of one and a half cups (360 ml) water for the first 10 minutes of pressure cooking time, plus a half cup (120 ml) for every subsequent 10 minutes or part thereof.
- For pressure cookers of 6.5 Litre to 12 Litre capacity, use a minimum of two cups (480 ml) water for the first 10 minutes of pressure cooking time, plus a half cup (120 ml) for every subsequent 10 minutes or part thereof.
Following these safety instructions will help you use your Hawkins pressure cooker safely and effectively for delicious meals every time.