My Used Pressure Cooker

[Davethreshold]

Hi All.

I got a Presto pressure cooker at a garage sale for $5. Now I can cook beans and ham like my Grandma used to! :)

My question is this: Obviously it has the weight/valve thing on the top, but it also has a secondary valve, which lifts right up. I guess it's a safety valve, but before I try it, I was wondering if that is like a soldered last resort valve, that might have popped a long time ago. It's very easy to pull the second valve up, so I'm thinking it is a one time, popped emergency valve.

Any thoughts, and any other advice, such as the amount of water to use, before I try it are much appreciated.

Thanks a lot. :)

Dave

[cheedo1@hotmail.com]

Hi Dave ,
your second value that you can pull up so easy is the indicator that when there is enough steam accumulating in the pot that it will rise up,it will stay up as long as the pressure inside stays on the heat, when you take it offt the heat and the pot cools the indicator will slowly go down letting you know that it is now safe to open up the pressure cooker,while the value is up DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN UP THE POT,you can give your self serve burns and may explode the top right through the cieling,( yes it can do that),as for how much water,it depends on your recipe and how much it calls for,,go to your local book store and find a pressure cooker cook book, after a few reads it will become second hand for you, remember safety first.
hope thishelps out abbit Dave,you might say hope this take some of the Pressure off!!

remember,STRESSED spelt backwards is "DESSERTS"
happy cooking
Ron

[Davethreshold]

On 7/1/2007 3:32:00 PM, cheedo1@hotmail.com wrote:
> Hi Dave ,
>your second value that you can
>pull up so easy is the
>indicator that when there is
>enough steam accumulating in
>the pot that it will rise
>up,it will stay up as long as
>the pressure inside stays on
>the heat, when you take it
>offt the heat and the pot
>cools the indicator will
>slowly go down letting you
>know that it is now safe to
>open up the pressure
>cooker,while the value is up
>DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN UP THE
>POT,you can give your self
>serve burns and may explode
>the top right through the
>cieling,( yes it can do
>that),as for how much water,it
>depends on your recipe and how
>much it calls for,,go to your
>local book store and find a
>pressure cooker cook book,
>after a few reads it will
>become second hand for you,
>remember safety first.
>hope thishelps out abbit
>Dave,you might say hope this
>take some of the Pressure
>off!!
>
>remember,STRESSED spelt
>backwards is "DESSERTS"
>happy cooking
>Ron

Hey thanks a lot Ron. That was a big help. I tried it with just water, and it's fine. Now: On to my Grandma's beens & ham!

Dave