How to adjust recipes for a pressure cooker

These time-saving devices can make a big difference in the kitchen.

pressure cooker lamb shank stew

Nothing beats cooking it in a pressure cooker if you’re after a fall-apart stew for dinner tonight. Most of them are easy to use and can help you get dinner on the table in just 60 minutes. 

Unlike slow cookers, which need 4-8 hours to cook food, pressure cookers reduce the cooking time by using one to two cups of liquid to cook your meal. The lid of the pressure cooker locks into the pot to ensure a tight seal while cooking, trapping steam inside and increasing the pressure and reaching a boiling point of 120 degrees C. 

pressure cooker lamb shank stew

Pressure cooker lamb shanks

Also, unlike slow cookers, pressure cookers need at least 1 cup of liquid to work correctly. The majority of the liquid won’t evaporate. You’ll need less than conventional stovetop cooking, but never cut it down past one cup. To ensure you have the right amount of liquid in the final dish, add half a cup more liquid than you want to be left with to account for the small amount of evaporation.

Once you’ve figured out the liquid, you can determine the cooking time by reducing the original cooking time by two-thirds. Depending on the recipe, you may find it needs a little more time, but when you’re trying out a new recipe, this is the best way to ensure it’s not overcooked.

Safety

It’s important to remember that you should use a pressure cooker carefully. Since there is a build-up of pressure in the cooker, you should read the detailed instructions that come with the pot and ensure the pot is in a safe spot in your kitchen, away from children. 

Ensure there is enough room inside the pressure cooker for the pressure to build up and the food to grow in size. Don’t fill the cooker more than two-thirds of its total capacity. Release the pressure before removing the lid, and stay away from the steam once you’ve opened the pot. 

More pressure cooker recipes

Pressure cooker corned beef

Beef tomato stew

Beef and barley soup

Originally published as How to adjust recipes for a pressure cooker