A pressure cooker can be useful when you want to prepare dishes under pressure. Because the pan is sealed, pressure can build up during heating, allowing suitable ingredients to cook faster than with traditional cooking methods.
But a pressure cooker works differently than a regular saucepan. How do you fill it? Why shouldn't it be completely full? When can you open the lid? And what capacity do you need: 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 liters?
In this guide, we explain the basics step by step. Do you want to view the different models first? Then discover the pressure cookers at TEKZEN.
What is a pressure cooker?
A pressure cooker is a pan that is sealed during the cooking process. Instead of letting the steam that is formed escape continuously, as with a regular pan, pressure builds up inside the pressure cooker.
Due to the higher pressure, water in the sealed pan can reach a higher temperature before it boils. This allows suitable ingredients to cook more quickly.
A pressure cooker is therefore also known as a high-pressure cooker.
Within the current range of pressure cookers at TEKZEN, you will find stainless steel models from Kadirelli and Cheffinger in various capacities.
How does a pressure cooker work?
The principle is based on steam and pressure.
When the liquid in the sealed pan is heated, steam is created. Because the lid is closed during cooking, this steam cannot escape in the same way as it does with a regular saucepan.
This causes the pressure in the pan to increase.
A pressure cooker therefore has features to regulate the pressure during cooking. The exact operation differs per model, so always follow the manual for your specific pressure cooker.
What can you make in a pressure cooker?
A pressure cooker can be used for various dishes and ingredients. Think, for example, of suitable preparations involving potatoes, vegetables, meat, legumes, soup, and stews.
Especially ingredients that normally have a longer cooking time can be interesting to prepare under pressure.
However, not every dish or ingredient requires the same cooking time. Therefore, use a recipe specifically suitable for a pressure cooker and take the manufacturer's instructions into account.
Step 1: check the pressure cooker
Before you begin, it is important to check that the pan is properly assembled.
Check the lid, the seal, and the safety features according to the user manual of your model.
Do not use a pressure cooker if parts are damaged or not functioning correctly.
When cooking under pressure, proper operation is extra important. Therefore, read the entire manual for a new pressure cooker before using it.
Step 2: add ingredients and liquid
Place the ingredients in the pan and add the required amount of liquid according to the recipe and the manufacturer's instructions.
Sufficient liquid is important because the pressure cooker needs steam to build up pressure.
The amount of liquid required varies per pan and preparation. Therefore, do not just use one standard amount for every dish.
How full can a pressure cooker be?
A pressure cooker should not just be filled to the brim.
There must be enough free space left in the pan to safely build up pressure. For ingredients that expand or foam during cooking, other maximum filling limits may also apply.
The exact maximum filling quantity varies per model and preparation.
Therefore, always adhere to the filling marks and instructions from the manufacturer of your pressure cooker.
Step 3: close the lid correctly
Place the lid on the pan according to the instructions and check that it is properly locked.
The way this is done can vary per pressure cooker. Therefore, never force the lid if it does not appear to close properly.
Check once more that all parts are correctly positioned before you start heating.
Step 4: heat the pressure cooker
As soon as the pan is correctly filled and sealed, it can be heated.
During heating, steam is generated and pressure is built up. Once the desired operating pressure is reached, the heat source must be adjusted for many preparations.
However, the exact procedure differs per pressure cooker. Therefore, follow the directions for your model for reaching and maintaining the correct pressure.
When does the cooking time of a pressure cooker begin?
A common mistake is to let the cooking time start as soon as the pan is on the stove.
For many pressure cooker recipes, the indicated cooking time is counted from the moment the correct pressure is reached.
This means that the total time may also include the heating-up phase and the depressurization phase.
Therefore, always check how the cooking time is indicated in the recipe.
Step 5: let the pressure decrease safely
After cooking, the pressure in the pan must decrease sufficiently before the lid can be opened.
How you do this depends on the pressure cooker and the dish.
For some preparations, you let the pressure decrease gradually on its own. Other models may have a feature that allows pressure to be released in a controlled manner according to the manual.
Never try to force a pressure cooker open while it is still under pressure.
When can you open a pressure cooker?
Only open the pan when sufficient pressure has dissipated according to the manufacturer's instructions and the mechanism indicates that opening is safely possible.
Keep in mind that the contents may still be very hot.
Open the lid carefully and ensure that hot steam is not directed towards your face or hands.
4-liter pressure cooker
Within the current TEKZEN range, 4 liters is the smallest available capacity.
This capacity is interesting if you are consciously looking for a more compact pressure cooker and generally do not prepare very large quantities at the same time.
TEKZEN currently carries both a 4-liter Kadirelli and a Cheffinger pressure cooker.
5-liter pressure cooker
A 5-liter pressure cooker is an intermediate size between the compact 4-liter version and the larger models.
Within the current range, you will find this capacity from Kadirelli.
A 5-liter pan can be interesting if you want a little more space than 4 liters, but do not necessarily need a large high-pressure cooker.
6-liter pressure cooker
The 6-liter pressure cooker is a spacious intermediate size within the current range.
TEKZEN currently carries a 6-liter version from Kadirelli and a 22 cm Cheffinger pressure cooker with a capacity of 6 liters.
This capacity can be interesting if you regularly prepare somewhat larger quantities.
7-liter pressure cooker
If you want even more capacity, there is a 7-liter pressure cooker.
Within the current range, this capacity is offered by Kadirelli.
The 7-liter version is the largest pressure cooker in the current Kadirelli series at TEKZEN.
8-liter pressure cooker
The largest capacity in the current collection is 8 liters.
The 8-liter Cheffinger pressure cooker has a diameter of 24 cm, making it interesting if you are consciously looking for a larger pressure cooker.
View the different capacities side-by-side in the pressure cooker collection at TEKZEN.
What size pressure cooker do you need?
Which capacity is best depends primarily on how much you usually prepare.
- 4 liters: compact capacity for smaller preparations;
- 5 liters: an intermediate size when 4 liters is too small;
- 6 liters: spacious intermediate size for various preparations;
- 7 liters: larger capacity for larger quantities;
- 8 liters: the largest capacity within the current TEKZEN assortment.
Use this primarily as a practical comparison. The number of people alone is not enough to determine the right size. Someone who likes to cook multiple portions in advance might, for example, need more capacity than a household of the same size that always makes small quantities.
Can a pressure cooker be used on induction?
That depends on the base of the pressure cooker. Not every pan is automatically suitable for an induction cooktop.
The current Kadirelli and Cheffinger pressure cookers within the TEKZEN assortment are all offered as suitable for induction.
View the current stainless steel pressure cookers for induction at TEKZEN.
Stainless steel pressure cooker
All current pressure cookers in this collection are made of stainless steel.
With Kadirelli, you can choose from 4, 5, 6, and 7 liters. Cheffinger has versions of 4, 6, and 8 liters.
This allows you not only to choose by brand, but above all to select the capacity that best suits your cooking habits.
Kadirelli or Cheffinger pressure cooker?
The biggest differences within the current range mainly concern the available sizes.
Kadirelli currently offers 4, 5, 6, and 7 liters. This gives you several consecutive capacities to choose from.
Cheffinger has versions of 4, 6, and 8 liters. The 4- and 6-liter models have a diameter of 22 cm, while the 8-liter version measures 24 cm.
Which one fits best therefore depends mainly on the capacity and size you are looking for.
Pressure cooker or regular saucepan?
The most important difference is the way the dish is prepared.
With a regular saucepan, steam can escape during cooking. A pressure cooker is sealed and builds up pressure, which allows suitable ingredients to cook faster.
That does not mean that a pressure cooker completely replaces a regular saucepan. For daily preparations, it can be useful to have both types of pans.
Do you want to compare different regular saucepans? Then also take a look at the saucepans at TEKZEN.
Pressure cooker or soup pot?
A soup pot works without the sealed high-pressure preparation of a pressure cooker.
This makes a regular soup pot suitable for traditional preparations where you want to be able to stir, taste, or add ingredients easily during cooking.
A pressure cooker is sealed precisely to build up pressure.
Are you unsure which type of pan better suits your way of cooking? Then also read our guide What size soup pot do you need?. There, we compare, among other things, soup pots of different sizes and explain the difference compared to a pressure cooker.
Can you make soup in a pressure cooker?
A pressure cooker can be used for various suitable soups.
Keep in mind that you cannot just open the pan during cooking to add ingredients or taste as long as it is under pressure.
In addition, follow the maximum filling quantity for your model. Additional restrictions may apply to dishes that foam or expand during preparation.
Can you prepare meat in a pressure cooker?
Various meat and stew dishes can be suitable for preparation under pressure.
The advantage is especially interesting for dishes that have to cook relatively long with traditional preparation methods.
Cooking times vary greatly per type of meat, quantity, and recipe. Therefore, always use a recipe for a pressure cooker instead of automatically adopting the cooking time of a regular pan.
Can you prepare legumes in a pressure cooker?
Various legumes can also be prepared in a pressure cooker.
The required cooking time and any soaking time vary per type. Also, keep in mind that certain ingredients expand or foam during preparation.
Therefore, check both the recipe and the pan's user manual before you begin.
Common mistakes with a pressure cooker
A pressure cooker is not complicated when you use it correctly, but it is important to follow the usage rules.
Common mistakes are filling the pan too full, using insufficient liquid, not checking the seal, using incorrect cooking times, or trying to open the lid before the pressure has decreased sufficiently.
Therefore, do not just use general cooking tips, but always follow the instructions that specifically belong to your pressure cooker.
How do you clean a pressure cooker?
Let the pan cool down completely after use and ensure that no pressure remains before you take it apart.
Clean the pan and loose parts according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Pay extra attention to parts that are important for the safe functioning of the pan, such as the seal and pressure-regulating components.
Check these parts regularly for dirt, wear, or damage.
Buying a pressure cooker at TEKZEN
A pressure cooker is especially interesting if you regularly prepare dishes suitable for pressure cooking and you want to shorten the preparation time.
When choosing, pay attention to capacity, material, size, suitability for your cooktop, and the way you want to use the pan.
The current TEKZEN collection consists of 7 stainless steel pressure cookers from Kadirelli and Cheffinger. You can choose from 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 liters and all current models are offered as suitable for induction.
View the pressure cookers at TEKZEN or discover the complete collection of pans at TEKZEN if you want to compare different types of pans.