The New Generation Pressure Cooker Experts

How Pressure Cookers Work

New Generation
Pressure Cookers are Simple to Use

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Pressure cookers are the fastest way to cook delicious meals. Due to technical improvements developed mainly in Europe, modern pressure cookers don't take very long to learn how to use. Below is a brief description of how a pressure cooker works. The basic pressure-cooking principle is quite simple. Also see our section on what to look for when selecting a pressure cooker.

An Old Cooking Method Becomes New Again

Pressure cookers are widely used in Europe (especially food-loving France and in Spain where they are called an olla express), Asia, South America and India and have been making a resurgence in the U.S. and Canada with over one million in use in the U.S.

Pressure-cooking is a cooking method that uses steam sealed in a pressure cooker, which is, in its simplist form, a sealed airtight pot. Sealing a liquid such as water, stock or broth in a pressure cooker traps the water vapour that rises from the liquid. This in turn raises the maximum temperature that the liquid can reach. The steam pressure inside the pressure cooker cooks food much, much more rapidly than just boiling or baking food. Unlike microwave cooking, pressure-cooked foods become moist and succulent with an intense intermingling of flavours. Pressure-cooked foods retain much more of their vitamins and nutrients than boiled or commercially processed foods do.

The higher the pressure of the pressure cooker, the shorter the cooking time. For example, when the pressure selector dial on a Fagor Duo new generation pressure cooker is turned to its High setting, it is safely under a pressure of 15 pounds per square inch (psi). Many people simply refer to “psi” as pounds of pressure. To put 15 pounds of pressure in perspective, it is less than half the pressure of the air found in car tires, so is not very much; but still, the pressure inside the pressure cooker significantly shortens the cooking time of food. The temperature inside the pressure cooker is raised beyond what is possible with an ordinary pot where water normally boils at 100ºC (212ºF).

pressure gauge pressure cooker

What’s the pressure?
Look for 15 pounds (psi).

Pressure Inside The Pressure Cooker	Cooking Temperature
0 pounds (psi)	100ºC (212ºF)
5 pounds (psi)	104ºC (220ºF)
10 pounds (psi)	113ºC (235ºF)
15 pounds (psi)	121ºC (250ºF)

Cooking temperatures at different pressures.
The higher the pressure, the shorter the cooking time.

pressure cookers compared to slow cookers

history of the pressure cooker

New Generation Pressure Cookers Don't Use Noisy “Jiggler Valves”

Fagor Duo DUAL Pressure Selector

DUAL Pressure: Just Turn the Dial
on the Fagor Duo

Going Clockwise: Pressure Release Setting,
Level 1 Pressure Setting, Level 2 Pressure Setting

Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker

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Unlike first generation 1950s-style pressure cookers that your parents or grandparents may have used (and are still sold in many stores), a Fagor Duo new generation pressure cooker has a spring-type pressure selector. The pressure selector controls the amount of pressure inside the pressure cooker. The pressure inside the pressure cooker affects the cooking time.

Simply by turning a dial, one of two pressure settings (high or low) can be selected. This makes a stainless steel Fagor Duo very easy to use. The dial eliminates the noisy and easily clogged "jiggler valve", a weight that rocks back and forth and is found on the "vent tube" (a hole in the lid) of old-style pressure cookers like the Presto.

Because it does not have a "jiggler valve", releasing the pressure is very easy with a Fagor Duo, just turn the dial to the pressure release position and the pressure is released—it's that simple. The low pressure setting available on a Fagor Duo new generation pressure cooker allows you to easily cook delicate foods such as fish or spinach.

Climate Change is Affecting Our Ability to Grow Food.

How can a pressure cooker reduce your energy bill?

Select the Pressure and Go with New Generation Fagor Pressure Cookers

	The DUAL pressure valve on a Fagor Duo pressure cooker accommodates all types of recipes. Simply turn the dial to either Level 1 (Low 8 psi) or Level 2 (High 15 psi) pressure.
	The pressure is controlled by a spring valve rather than a noisy old-style weight system.
	A yellow visual indicator lets you know when all the pressure has been released.
	Ergonomically designed handles (including a helper handle) for easy handling.