A google search
bfy.tw/LnBR for "Taobao Pressure Cooker Spare Parts" can be quite educational especially from the point of view of understanding your pressure cooker and how modern pressure cookers differ greatly from the vintage ones.
The title of this thread is, "A good Pressure Fryer" and just to be clear, this is a pressure fryer (
link). It is designed specifically for pressure frying, or broasting. Due to large numbers of Darwin Award (
link) candidates (myself included
) following in CHS's footsteps (
link) with far less knowledge (
link) and a whole lot more faith(?) manufacturer's of domestic kitchen pressure cookers have had to back-peddle strongly from any claims that their pots might be suitable for pressure frying - I think Magefesa (
link) or Fagor (
link) were the last to make such a claim. Almost all that did tended to use the oxbow style cooker reminiscent of the Wearever Chicken Bucket (
link).
So be warned.
That said, considerations and some rumination on the features of a good pressure cooker.
1: Explosion-proof!
I would not consider today, any pressure cooker that does not claim to be explosion-proof. This is the manufacturer saying, "we believe we have done our very best to make this cooker so safe that it cannot explode."
2: Stainless Steel
Aluminium is good but too often we multi-duty our kitchen pots and one such task is the making of chilli, or meat sauces, braises, etc that may be acidic in nature due to the ingredients used e.g. anything that uses tomatoes. As such, it could be argued, flimsily, that acidic sauces attach the integrity of aluminium and releases metal into the food, which (unproven of course) may lead to early metal fatigue in aluminium pressure cookers.
For the record I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT RECOMMEND trying to pressure fry chicken in a microwave pressure cooker (
link). Don't do this,
not even as a joke.
3: Lid Lock
A lid lock is an added safety feature that prevents, is supposed to prevent, the lid being opened whilst the pressure cooker is still under pressure. One might be persuaded to argue that the reason that oxbow type pressure cookers are no longer being touted as suitable for pressure frying may be due to there being no lid lock device, yet smaller commercial broasters still use this design.
4: Silicone Rubber Seals
All Rubber has varying properties and tolerance to heat (
link) and silicone has a higher heat resistance than natural rubber, which was the typical seal type in vintage pots. So a modern pressure cooker with silicone gaskets throughout is an absolute imperative. If the manufacturer claims their gaskets are high temperature silicone, all the better. Bear in mind that silicone rubber seals can rapidly become brittle and may need to replaced more frequently. I believe the seal on my Silit "Baby" Sicomatic was recommended to be replaced every few years.
As an aside, next time you try pressure frying some chicken, take your non-contact temperature gun and point it at the top of your pot when the oil is at proper temperature and measure the temperature. Do a similar thing when you make a batch of chilli, and not the difference.
5: Internal Spatter Cap (& other safety features)
Many of the modern pressure cookers now have a metal spatter cap that covers the base of the vent tube that supports the jiggler/whistle. The purpose of this cap is to act as a further barrier to anything that might inadvertently lodge in the vent. Some pots also come fitted a warning whistle and over-pressure relief valves.These are spring loaded valves that are rated marginally higher than the operational pressure of the pot. Some lids also come with a cut out window in the side of the lid where the sealing gasket sits. Thus if the pot over pressurises, the silicone seal can be forced out through the cut out thus releasing stem in an emergency.
6: After Market Modification (DIY ala CHS)
There are a number of after market modifications that might be with considering - with extensive caveats. Drilling holes in things willy-nilly makes them weaker and may compromise the integrity and safety of your pot. i.e. instead of making it safer it might make the pot even more dangerous.
a) Pressure Gauge
It's not so simple to a pressure gauge to a pressure cooker. Most "steam" pressure gauges require to be fitted to a syphon tube which fills with water and it is the pressure against this water that is measured by the gauge. Such gauges if exposed directly to steam would fail due to the melting of internal components. As such, gages designed for direct mounting to the lid of medical autoclaves or to Presto Pressure Canners (
link) are harder to come by, are generally more expensive and are not available in every country.
b) Petcocks/Relief Valve
You might have seen one of the early videos or pictures of CHS working with his Mirro Pressure cooker modified to release steam as fast as possible. This was made possible by retrofitting medical steam steriliser relief valves to his pot (
link).
An alternative to this is to add extra jiggler/whistle valve stems and weights however for most pots as there are no additional flat and vertical mounting points on the pot, this might reduce the overall pressure capability of the pot causing to underperform.
Final Notes on after market modifications.
DO NOT TEST your pot by putting water into it and seeing if it will hold pressure. Take it to a reputable plumber/gas fitter or seller of bottled gas and ask them to test/rate your safety valves. This can usually be done without pressurising the pot. Once all the components have been ticked off, the sealed pot can then be put under pressure using air to test operation of the first stage of over pressure relief measures.
A modern pressure cooker is far safer than many/most vintage pressure cookers for so many different reasons. As such there is no reason not to buy one. If you do so, keep in mind your primary purpose and the features you value most. Bear in mind if you modify it in any way you are solely responsible for any subsequent injury(ies) caused either to yourself or others, you will not be covered by manufacturer's warranty and your insurance company(ies) may also take a dim view on the issue.
Happy Days!
Disclaimer
The information provided here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The author does not advocate acting on this information, nor will the author be held responsible for any misadventure, injury, or mishap caused by any reader acting on this information. The source for this information is the Internet and it should be checked, challenged, and verified by independent expert advice. The author claims no expertise or training in the care, use of, or modification of domestic pressure appliances. You the reader of this information, and you alone are responsible for your actions and the consequences of those actions.