The pressure cooker won't open anymore

You've concocted a delicious meal using your pressure cooker, but disaster! The lid won't open, the food is stuck! No pressure... below we list the various possible reasons why your pressure cooker won't open.

POTENTIAL CAUSES OF THIS FAULT:

• The pressure cooker is over-pressurized

• The pressure reading is incorrect

• The lid tightening knob is defective

• The pressure cooker has suffered an impact

• The seal is sticking to the rim of the container

The pressure cooker is over-pressurized

You have released the steam but your lid still won't open. Some pots are equipped with a safety system that makes opening impossible. This phenomenon is often due to excessive internal pressure which has to be lowered.

Purchase a valve for my pressure cooker

The pressure reading is incorrect

It's a physics problem! Your cooker has not completely drained all the steam that condensed as it cooled. The lid of your cooker is therefore locked because because the pressure has decreased and created a vacuum inside the cooker. It is this vacuum that keeps the lid securely closed on your pressure cooker. To open it, try this method: wait for the pressure cooker to cool in the open air, then place it in a bath of cold water. After a few minutes, the pressure in your appliance should drop and it should be possible to open it.

The lid tightening knob is defective

If you have used your pressure cooker while adjustment knob wheel was damaged, chances are that this is the reason for the problem. Indeed, the knob can no longer used as a tool with which to unscrew the lid, which remains welded to the tank.

Purchase an adjustment knob for my pressure cooker

The pressure cooker has suffered an impact

When purchasing your pressure cooker, always make sure that it is intact. An appliance that has been subjected to impact may malfunction, especially when opening and closing the lid. If you have dropped your pressure cooker, make sure that there are no dents and that the parts of the lid (handles and knobs) are intact.

An ageing seal

The seal of the cooker may stick and prevent your cooker from opening. Try immersing the pressure cooker in warm water in such a way that the water comes into contact with the seal, to loosen it. It is strongly advised that you replace the seal before next using your pressure cooker, to avoid this problem occurring again!

Purchase a lid seal for my pressure cooker