Cooking For Engineers

MisterC · Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 2

I just purchased a Nesco Digital 3-in-1 Cooker (model #PC-6-25-30TPR) in time to cook Corned Beef for St. Patty's day - yummy!

This is my first Pressure Cooker and I'm excited to try some new recipes. I really like the settings (pressure, browning, steamer, keep warm and slow cook modes) digital controls, timing features, and safety of this unit (especially with 2 toddlers roaming my little kitchen) In looking at recipes, reviews and tips on the web the biggest concern/complaint about electric cookers is that some don't reach 15PSI.

How do I know what PSI mine reaches?

My Nesco PC has a high and a low setting for pressure cooking but I cannot find any reference in the manual to what PSI those are... and I haven't gotten any response from the manufacturer.

How can I find out?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Blue Pilgrim · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Ilinois

My guess would be 10 and 15 PSI -- those have been the common pressures in the pots I've seen.

MisterC · Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 2

Posted this on another board and got the following reply

Regarding your PC-6-25-30TPR
5 lb. PSI - Low
15 lb. PSI - High
Gerry
Customer Service

Dilbert · Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: central PA

mc -

thanks for the follow-up info. all too frequently the 'numbers' get lost in the marketing wonderful-wonderful mumbo-jumbo so it's good to see factual reply.

Guest · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:46 am Post subject: mileage may vary

the pressure you attain depends upon what condition the gasket is in.

if you want to actually know what pressure is attained..... pressure guages are incredibly cheap.

Buy a bicycletire airvalve at a bicycle shop.

bring it, and your cooker's cover to any competent machine shop - find one in the yellow pages, or ask around at those specialty speed shops that cater to hot-rodders.

Commission them to install the valve onto the cover. You can now ===measure=== the PSI attained, with a tire-pressure guage.

We are engineers here, not poets. Let's act like it!

Blue Pilgrim · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Ilinois

I'm not sure that a bicycle tire valve could handle the temperature of a pressure cooker (its rubber seal), but whatever the relief valve is set for should be fairly accurate -- if you know the specs for it.