Pressure Cooker Problem

You should continue to have good performance from your gasket.  In future,  if you think there may be an odd odor that's not being addressed by regular cleaning,  I suggest you place the gasket in just enough warm water to cover, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over it, let it sit for about ten minutes, then wash with hot soapy water and rinse it well.  While silicone does not typically hold odors within itself,  deposits from cooking accumulate upon the gasket and result in unpleasant smells.  This is especially true with grease (that may turn rancid) or strong-smelling foods, such as cabbage. 

Thanks for the informative thread.  I had a question along similar lines myself:  I bought two Fagor PC's that look to be in great shape,

but on both of them the yellow button doesn't come up when I believe I've reached pressure  (small amts. of steam escaping).

Any ideas why this might be so?  Thanks in advance.

Chris,

Thanks for the link.  Not that I intend to buy a pressure cooker, but I will not buy that brand.  The pics are disgusting and frankly, the very idea of the amount of funk that can get in that area where it's not easily cleaned, is appalling.  I guess there's something to be said for the old style with the "tinker toy" looking thing to regulate the pressure. 

That link reminds me of the time I decided to figure out what was wrong with the valve on the tea dispenser at the restaurant I worked at.  Suffice to say, you'd be amazed at what tea can leave behind. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by osiris7 

Thanks for the informative thread.  I had a question along similar lines myself:  I bought two Fagor PC's that look to be in great shape,

but on both of them the yellow button doesn't come up when I believe I've reached pressure  (small amts. of steam escaping).

Any ideas why this might be so?  Thanks in advance.

Wow...I don't believe I didn't see this post for an entire month.   On the handle of the pressure cooker you will see a button.  It might be purple, orange or turquoise, depending on which model you have.  This is a lid lock which needs to be pushed toward the center of the lid.  Unless the lid and pan handles are correctly lined up,  this lock will not slip into place.  Without engaging this feature,  pressure will not build.  Once pressure has started building,  this cannot be disengaged.  but wait, there's more...

Also on the handle,  you will see a dial that can be turned to several icons. This is the operating valve.  It features a steam release position, one or two pressure settings [depending on the model],  and an unlock position that allows for the pressure regulator to be removed for cleaning.  In order for pressure to build, the operating valve must be in pressure position. 

Now, for the yellow button.  This is another integrated safety feature.  With the lid lock and the operating valve in position,  as soon as pressure begins building,  this button will pop up.   This safety feature prevents the opening of the lid so long as there is any pressure at all in the cooker.  However,  contrary to Fagor's instructions,  having the button pop up does not mean that you have reached full pressure.  It means only that there is some pressure.  The yellow button will not rise if either of the previous features have not been activated,  or  if the gasket is not correctly inserted.

You will know that full pressure has been reached when you can observe a steady stream of steam coming from the operating valve.  This is your cue to reduce the heat to only what is needed to maintain pressure as indicated by a "whisper-puff" of steam at 5 or 6 second intervals.  NOW is when you start your timer.  At the end of the pressure cycle,  use the appropriate pressure release method, according to the recipe. 

While this might all sound like a lot of bother,  it's actually not.  Describing the various functions and how they are accomplished takes time,  but the actual doing amounts to very little real time. 

Cleaning the various components of the PC is also not really difficult or even annoying if you use the appliance correctly in the first place.  Don't over fill,  especially with foods that foam,  and your cleaning will be kept to a minimum. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobblygook:

 

That link reminds me of the time I decided to figure out what was wrong with the valve on the tea dispenser at the restaurant I worked at.  Suffice to say, you'd be amazed at what tea can leave behind. 

I know this is off topic,  but it's interesting that you should bring up the tea dispenser.  Last week HubbyDearest took me out to lunch.  I usually order just water,  but I felt like having iced tea.  However, as soon as I smelled it,  I knew I couldn't drink it.  Hubby never notices anything,  and thought I was just being my same finiky self.  I said "I cleaned enough nasty tea dispensers in my lifetime to know that smell.  It's bad".   So when the waitress came back,  he told her "The lady has a problem with the tea".   I said "The tea dispenser valve needs to be cleaned."  I expected some smart remark,  but in stead she wrinkled up her nose and said "does it taste funky?" 

Supposed to be disassembled and cleaned at the end of every day,  and left in pieces for the incoming shift the next day.  Instead,  what frequently happens is that they just shove the whole thing, with the tea still in it,  into the walkin cooler and it doesn't get cleaned until the valve starts serving slime with the tea.  

Your pressure relief vale either has something stuck in it that is preventing it from venting or

is not working correctly.

The blown gasket is because the pot did not want to explode in your kitchen , there by ruining your day.

In other words, your gasket is acting like a pressure relief valve. Comprende?