Dinesh Garg, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, TTK Prestige explains how we can keep this everyday kitchen mate in pink of health.
The pressure cooker plays a significant role in every Indian kitchen. Over generations, the Indian home cook has always relied on the pressure cooker as a trusted partner in the preparation of food and is said to be the one kitchen appliance that no Indian kitchen can live without.
Despite our devotion to this kitchen appliance, how many of us actually look after our pressure cookers? It is paramount to go through the manual and instructions of the pressure cooker before using it. How many of us pay due diligence when it comes to maintenance and servicing of the pressure cooker? Regular servicing is mandatory to prolong the life of the pressure cooker. To ensure safety always use only genuine spare parts when it comes to servicing your pressure cooker. Yet, recent data reveals that out of 100 pressure cookers that are being serviced in India, only 7 cookers use genuine spare parts.
If you are experiencing issues with the handle, then worry not. Handles of the pressure cooker can always be tightened if necessary, whilst broken handles will get changed. The gasket of the pressure cooker has an average life of 10 to 12 months and then needs to be replaced. The gasket release system may also not operate when duplicate gaskets are used, thus hampering with the safety function of the pressure cooker.
Therefore it is paramount to replace your gasket every year with only genuine spare parts. Purchasing of spare parts should only be done from authorized dealers of the actual brand of the pressure cooker. The original gasket is made out of good quality nitrile rubber as a raw material. They are manufactured in a well-controlled environment. The dimension and shape is specific to the pressure cooker and they are designed to release the excess pressure in a safe manner in case of any blockage in the weight valve stem. The raw material that is used in manufacturing of the gasket will not have any negative impact to the food being cooked. It is also important to note that using spurious spare parts could drastically reduce the life of that part from a year to a very short time span comprising two to three months only.
The metallic safety plug is also an important feature of the pressure cooker. When the temperature or pressure inside the cooker rises above the safe level, then the metal in the safety plug will melt, thus allowing the pressure to be released. However, if a duplicate or fake metal safety plug has been inserted in the cooker, then the metal will not melt in the case of a blockage. This could cause compromise the safety of the pressure cooker resulting in an explosion or burst, which could cause potential injury to the user.
It is made with precision using a special alloy which melts when the internal pressure of the cooker reaches an unsafe level. The weight valve is made from a superior grade material designed to operate exactly at the declared pressure.
When it comes to cleaning instructions, it is essential to clean aluminum pressure cookers immediately after use and to avoid using immensely harsh cleaning chemicals. It is also important to note that both aluminum and hard anodized cookers are not to be used in the dish washer.
There you have it. Here is your guide to taking care of your pressure cooker and ensuring that it remains an integral part of your kitchen for many years.
