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| Even if you have used a pressure cooker previously, take a trial run before cooking in your Hawkins. This section will take you step-by-step through your trial run in about 30 minutes. | |
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1. Preliminary Steps Remove label and wash cooker, removing any adhesive with baby or vegetable oil. Read The benefits of Pressure cooking, Important Safeguards, Parts of a Hawkins Pressure Cooker and Basic Product Information. Identify parts. Remove and place the pressure regulator on the steam vent, the sealing ring on the lid curl. Close and open the pressure cooker a few times. 2. Placing Cooker on Stove Pour 2 cups water in cooker body. Add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) lemon juice or vinegar (not for anodised cookers) to prevent discolouring the cooker. Remove pressure regulator from steam vent. Look through steam vent and ensure it is clear. Check and adjust the seating of the sealing ring on the lid curl by patting down snugly. Close cooker. Place cooker on high heat. |
| 3. Ensuring a Steam-tight Seal When water boils, hot air and/or steam should issue only from the steam vent. If steam comes out around the edge of the lid, check the centralization of the lid thus: unlatch and reposition the lid by moving the lid slightly towards the spot where steam is escaping and relatch. DO NOT TOUCH LID with bare hands since it will be hot. |
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FROM EDGE OF LID  |
LEAKAGE  |
| 4. Placing the Pressure Regulator | |
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| Once steam is coming out of the steam vent steadily, place the pressure regulator on the steam vent and press down firmly. Keep fingers on top of the pressure regulator and away from the steam when placing the pressure regulator on the steam vent. A click indicates that the pressure regulator is in position. In about 2 minutes, the cooker should come to full operating pressure. | |
| 5. How to Recognize Full Operating Pressure | |
HAWKINS: After the pressure regulator is placed
on the steam vent, there is at first a very low hissing sound of steam
from the pressure regulator. Then steam emission increases to full
force and the pressure regulator lifts with a whistling sound.
The cooker is now at full operating pressure. This is the point
at which to reduce heat and start timing the recipe.  FUTURA: After the pressure regulator is placed on the steam vent, after about two minutes, steam starts coming out of the pressure regulator slightly and keeps increasing until the escape of steam reaches a constant level of intensity.The cooker is now at full operating pressure. This is the point at which to reduce heat and start timing the recipe. |
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| 6. Maintaining Pressure on Reduced Heat | |
| Once full pressure is reached, reduce
heat from HIGH to MEDIUM or lower. The pressure inside the cooker
will be maintained at about 15 pounds per square inch (1 kg per square
cm). If the cooker whistles too frequently (more than 4 whistles per
minute), reduce the heat still further. If there is no steam coming out of the pressure regulator for a few minutes, increase the heat gradually until the steam comes out. Please remember that, particularly on electric heat, it may take some time for heat level adjustments to have an effect on the frequency of whistles. A little practice will make clear the correct heat setting and adjustments, if any, that may be required. |
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| 7. Releasing Pressure | |
| Turn off heat. Remove pressure cooker
from heat: | |
HAWKINS: With a fork, slightly lift pressure regulator to release
steam. Do not remove pressure regulator. 
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FUTURA: With the Lid Handle pointing towards you, place fingertip on the depression on the pressure regulator and press slightly. Steam will escape in the opposite direction.
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| When cooking, release pressure as indicated in the recipe or on
Easy Tips for Better Cooking |
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| 8. Final Steps | |
| Open cooker. Empty out water. Wash and wipe dry body, lid and pressure regulator. Store without closing the pressure cooker. Before cooking in your Hawkins, READ THE HAWKINS COOKBOOK/INSTRUCTION MANUAL WHICH CAME WITH YOUR COOKER. | |
