AIBU to scared shitless of my pressure cooker?

[piknmixer]

It's sat in a box for six months as I've been too scared to use it.

The instructions aren't great (it says turn the knob anti-clockwise to the closed position, but this position has an open lid illustrated on it).

I've cooked a stew and it started hissing so I've just run in the kitchen, quickly turned the gas off and closed the door.

I've been reading about them and I think this photo (not my kitchen!) is why it's stayed in the box so long!

I'm a wimp aren't I?

My sd got me one for Christmas. I have chilli in it atm. Have done a stew and a brisket of beef in it too. Just brown meat and then throw everything in. Veg at the bottom. 7-8 hours on low. 3-4 on high.

Mysweet think you are talking slow cooker not pressure

Pressure cookers are wonderful and amazing! You are lucky to have one.
You need to close and seal the lid, let the pot boil, then there will be a little hissing and the pressure will start to rise. You need to watch the pot at this point, but it only takes a minute or less! When it comes up to pressure, which will be indicated by a red line most likely, you turn the pot down to the lowest possible heat (I use a heat deflector) and it will simmer away. When you think it is done turn it off and let it sit till the pressure indicator goes all the way down (can take a little while). Then open the pot.

Pressure cookers cook better, faster, and are just wonderful.

They are not dangerous any more because they have a safety valve in case you forget them which will hiss and let out lots of steam, but not explode!

Audrina Leaving a pressure cooker on for that long would not be a good idea!

Do you mean slow cooker?

I love my pressure cooker. You'll be fine when you get used to it. Follow Clara's instructions.

Seven hours in a pressure cooker! That's one way to get the saucepan lid embedded in the ceiling!

lol I have one and when the steam gets released I absolutely crap myself... the last time I used it I made a run for it

I once boiled mine dry cooking Christmas puddings. No lives were lost. Fortunately they now have safety valves n stuff. Follow Clara’s instructions and you’ll be fine.

I loathe the things. They're possessed.

I have one and it scares me so have only used it a couple times.
My mum used one a lot when I was younger and always told me to stay away from it as it was dangerous and could explode. I can't get those thoughts out my head and its a shame as I do want to use it more.

my mum used to have one. we were forever getting burnt potatos cabbage and mutton with wobbly white fat! which we were forced to eat

Mine scares me too. But I overcome my fear so I can have chicken curry in 7minutes

It is meant to hiss like that. It's just releasing the pressure. Turn it down and then start the clock for whatever you are cooking. We cool ours under cold running water too so we can open it more quickly but it's quite an old fashioned one, not sure if it works with the one someone mentioned with the pressure gauge.

I've always been frightened of my mum's pressure cooker, since the time my dad failed to supervise it correctly and the weight thing shot up like a bullet and cracked the ceiling plaster. There is a reason terrorists use them as the basis for explosive devices!

YANBU A family I stayed with during my teacher training had one and it always scared me - hissing, letting steam out etc.

I know they are supposed to be safe but I can't bring myself to have one!

Tawdry local say WHAT about using pressure cookers as bombs?! Source needed!!

If you put ut under running cold water when you need to check it the steam and pressure releases very quickly! I love my pressure cooker but did the same thijg as yiu op the first time i used it

Buy an electric one if you are nervous OP - they have several safety features and you don't have to watch them getting to pressure. I have brisket cooking in ours now.

Love ours. We call it our steam train cooker. Let the steam from the little knob bit using a big knife blade for extra fun. Choo chooooo! Love the idea of leaving a pressure cooker on for hours. 😂

Monoblock67 remember the Boston bombings?

Obviously I'm not advocating it, mind!

I have an electric one and use it almost daily, don't think I would be happy using an manual one!

Electric ones are great and free up a ring on the hob.

My mum had one, we were all so scared of it I swear she used it to keep us in line. She used to threaten to get it out if we didn’t behave

Another thing that scares me is our patio heater. There’s a gas canister attached at the base and I just sit there waiting for it to explode rather than being able to enjoy the alfresco dining experience.

My cats are scared of mine, they'll be sitting waiting for scraps then it'll start hissing and they both start Scooby Doo-ing on the floor trying to get away. I laugh everytime

Stove top pressure cooker? Nobody uses them anymore do they? Bloody lethal things. I have an instant pot, which is an electric pressure cooker and much better as well as safer.

The photo in the op doesn't look like the lid on mine, it's more like