Use and Care Manual

5
5. Always fully close the pressure cooker. The cooker is fully closed when the cover handles are directly above the body handles.
Your pressure cooker has specially designed lugs on the cover and body which lock the cover in place when the cooker is fully
closed. However, if the cooker is not fully closed, the lugs cannot lock the cover onto the body. It’s possible that pressure could
build inside the cooker and cause the cover to come off and result in bodily injury or property damage. Always be sure the cover
handles are directly above the body handles (see page 3, Fig. F). Do not turn past handle alignment.
6. WARNING! Never open the cooker when it contains pressure. The air vent/cover lock provides a visual indication of pressure
inside the cooker. When it is up, there is pressure. When it is down, there is no pressure in the cooker and it can be opened. If the
pressure cooker is opened before all of the pressure is released, the contents of the cooker will erupt and could cause bodily injury
or property damage.
7. Respond to a warning from the pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve is a warning device that is designed to provide
both visual (the cap lifts and steam comes out the sides) and audio (a fast, steady release of steam, often times accompanied by a
continuous unpleasant sound) signals to indicate that the vent pipe has been blocked and is no longer regulating pressure and there
isexcessivepressureinthecooker.Ifyouseeand/orheareitherofthesesignals,immediatelyturnofftheburner.Donotmovethe
cooker. Instead, allow pressure to drop of its own accord. When there is no pressure in the cooker (see #6 above), remove the pres-
sure regulator from the cover, open the cooker, and clean the vent pipe (see #3, page 6).
NOTE: Do not operate the cooker again until you have replaced the pressure relief valve. The high pressure which triggered the
release may have contaminated the valve with food particles, which could prevent it from acting as a warning and a backup pressure
relief valve if the vent pipe is plugged again.
Remember a plugged vent pipe is a result of user error.
• Neveroverllthecooker(seepage4,#1).
• Never cook the foods listed on page 4, #2 in a pressure cooker.
• Always follow the special procedures when cooking rice, grains, and dry beans and peas (see #11 below).
8. Never tamper with the internal components of the pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve is a very sensitive part and
can be easily damaged. When replacing the pressure relief valve, the entire part must be replaced.
9. Replace the sealing ring if it becomes hard, deformed, cracked, worn, pitted, or soft and sticky. The sealing ring provides a
pressure tight seal between the cover and stainless steel body. The sealing ring needs to be in good condition to function properly.
WARNING! Failure to replace the sealing ring when it is hard, deformed, cracked, worn, pitted, or soft and sticky could result in
bodily injury or property damage. It is recommended that the sealing ring be replaced every two years.
10. Replace the overpressure plug if it is hard, deformed, cracked, worn or pitted, or when replacing the sealing ring. The
overpressureplugisdesignedtorelieveexcesspressurebyreleasingfromthecookercoverintheeventthatboththeventpipeand
pressure relief valve are blocked. The overpressure plug is made of rubber, and when new, is soft and pliable. Over time, depending
onthefrequencyandtypeofuse,rubberbecomeshardandinexible.Whenhardandinexible,theoverpressurepluglosesits
ability to act as a secondary pressure relief valve. It should be replaced immediately. It is recommended that the overpressure plug
be replaced every two years.
 Shouldtheoverpressureplugeverbeforcedoutofthecoverduetoexcesspressurewhilecooking,itisimportanttocalltheTest
Kitchen at 1-800-368-2194. Do not attempt to use the released overpressure plug.
11. Always follow special procedures found in the instruction book when pressure cooking rice, grains, and dry beans and peas.
During cooking, dry beans and peas tend to froth and foam which could cause the vent pipe to become blocked. Therefore, dry
beans and peas need to be soaked and cooked according to instructions beginning on page 22. Using this method will minimize
foam during cooking. Like dry beans and peas, rice and grains tend to froth and foam during cooking; therefore, to contain foaming
and frothing during the cooking period, rice and grains must be prepared in a bowl in the pressure cooker according to directions
on page 24.
CLEANING
1. All parts of your pressure cooker, including the sealing ring and pressure regulator, are fully immersible for easy cleaning. When
washing the unit, however, the sealing ring should always be removed to allow easy cleaning of the inside rim of the cover.
 Yourstainlesssteelpressurecookermayalsobewashedinanautomaticdishwasher.Whenwashinginadishwasher,youmustrst
remove the sealing ring from the cover as this part must be hand washed. The sealing ring should be washed in hot, sudsy water
after each use.
2. If food residue adheres to the pressure cooker body, clean with a stainless steel scouring pad, nylon mesh pad, or a powdered cleanser
without chlorine or bleach, such as Bar Keepers Friend* cleanser and polish or Cameo* copper, brass & porcelain cleaner.
* Bar Keepers Friend is a registered trademark of SerVaas Laboratories, Inc.; Cameo is a registered trademark of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
 Prestoisnotafliatedwiththesecompanies.