Official Pressure cooker parts

Troubleshooting tips for your pressure cooker

• If the pressure cooker is releasing excessive steam, confirm that the lid is set properly and fits snugly atop your cooker. Next, inspect your cooker's gasket. It should seal the lid tightly. Look for food residue or cracks, and then wash it in cold water before placing it back on the pressure cooker correctly.
• If you see cracks or damage to the pressure valves or gaskets, replace them before using your cooker.
• If food is taking too long to cook in the pressure cooker, then your unit may contain too much food or liquid for its size. Frozen food can also slow down the cooking process.
• If the pressure cooker's lid, gasket or handles are loose, then pressure will not be able to build quickly or at all.
• If the pressure cooker's lid jams and won't open after cooling, try pouring cool water on the lid to release excess internal pressure. If the lid remains stuck, then remove the pressure valve and return your pressure cooker to a high heat. The heat causing internal pressure will release, thereby allowing the lid's grip to loosen.
• If your cooker can't reach the desired pressure, examine the gasket for damage.
• If your cooker isn't locking properly, inspect the locking mechanism for alignment and correct placement. Also, be sure to check the locking mechanism for damaged areas. Replace those damaged parts before using your pressure cooker.

How to avoid common pressure cooker problems

• If your pressure cooker takes more than 15 minutes to build up pressure, check the food temperature. Cooking frozen foods takes your cooker’s pressure up to 25 minutes to build. Defrosting and softening consumes much of that time. Try cooking smaller portions of frozen foods to allow uniform and faster cooking pressure.
• Spend the additional time needed to set up the valves and lid properly from the start. Steam and pressure leaks develop quickly when the valves and lid fail to seal completely.
• Problems encountered trying to brown meat or feeling it's overcooked often can be solved using smaller cuts of meat.
• If your pressure cooker shuts off prematurely, make sure your food contains enough liquid. If the problem continues, consider replacing the valve.

Ordering pressure cooker replacement parts

Replacing worn or damaged pressure cooker parts should have you cooking again in no time. We at Sears PartsDirect have what you need. Parts are available for popular models such as Presto,Kenmore, Mirro Matic and Prestige. Sears PartsDirect has many replacement parts for your pressure cooker, including sealing rings, handles, pressure relief vents and more.