Pressure Cooking

The pressure cooker is coming home. They have been updated and are simpler to use. Remember that pressure cooking is a wet cooking with at least 2cm of water in bottom the pan. There are lots of easy recipes. Is it time to cook with a pressure cooker?

Money saving 

As the food cooks in about a third of the usual time, less energy is used. It works by going beyond 100c, as at higher-pressure water boils up to 121c. This allows cheaper cuts of meat for stewing or braising in about the same time it takes to pan-fry. It’s great for cooking ingredients like dried beans and pulses from scratch. The boffins have worked out that a pressure saves £50 per year (when compared to using a saucepan). This means that the pressure cooker pays for itself in less than 2 years of use.

The pros of pressure cooking

Here are more advantages on top of the time saving.

1. Nutrients and vitamins are saved as pressure cooking locks in the goodness.
2. One pot means less mess and less washing up. The lock-down lid stops spillages.
3. Save energy, resulting in lower energy bills, saving money and environmentally friendly.
4. Single pot meals, such as stews (tough meat), soups, curries, or lentils.
5. A kitchen investment, as it will last for many years (apart from the rubber sealing ring).

The cons of pressure cooking

1. Cooking ingredients with different cooking times mean using separate pots in addition to the pressure cooker.
2. Can't open to check or season, which can be frustrating. 
3. Takes time learn as pressure cooking is different from cooking with a regular pot.
4. Certain dishes are a no-go, such as high-temperature roasting, or frying.

Aim to buy one that's over 5 litres. For a pressure cooker to work, there needs to be space for steam to build into pressure, so never fill more than halfway. It’s essential to use the timer, as the food cooks so quickly that just one or two minutes extra can ruin the ingredients.

ChildMax continues to ensure your salary and pays your take home salary while you’re on 12 months’ unpaid leave, caring for a sick child. It starts from £49.50 or for easy budgeting an initial payment of £8.25 followed by 11 monthly payments of £3.75.

Visit at www.insurewithmax.com or call the UK call centre 0333 323 0098 for more information.

Sources:

 https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/pressure-cookers-and-how-use-them-0

 https://delishably.com/cooking-equipment/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Pressure-Cooking

 https://www.ecoandbeyond.co/articles/under-pressure-how-a-pressure-cooker-can-save-you-time-and-energy/

 https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/air-fryers-pressure-cookers-how-25332154

Date: 06 March 2023 by Max Robinson