About Pressure Cooking

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About Pressure Cooking

Minimum amounts of liquid required

Pressure cooking requires steam. That is the reason that only two-thirds of the pot space may be used by the food to be cooked. The remaining one-third of the space is reserved for the steam that will be created during the cooking time. To create that steam, the pressure cooker requires a minimum amount of liquid depending on its size, to create that steam.

Size of pot	Minimum liquid
3 Quarts	½ Cup
5 or 6 Quarts	1 Cup
8 Quarts	2 Cups

Note: Foods that expand while cooking — dried foods such as beans, pasta, and grains require additional liquid that will be absorbed during the cooking process and additional empty space in the pot to accommodate the expanded size of the food. Use only one-half the space in the pot for the uncooked and cooking liquid.