Russell Hobbs 17995 Instruction Manual

instructions

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Read the instructions and keep them safe. Pass them on if you pass the pressure cooker on.
Remove all packaging, but keep it till you know the pressure cooker works.

important safeguards

1 The pressure cooker must only be used by a responsible adult. Use and store it out of reach of

children.

2 This appliance cooks under pressure. Improper use may result in a scalding injury.

3 Don’t leave the pressure cooker unattended while it’s under pressure. You don’t have to

stand over it, but keep an eye on it.

4 Check that the lid of the pressure cooker is properly closed and the lid and body handles are

aligned before use.
5 Take great care when moving the pressure cooker while it’s under pressure.
6 Don’t touch hot surfaces, use the handles, and wear oven gloves.

7 The operation of the safety devices may be accompanied by a sudden loss of steam and, in

extreme cases, hot liquid. In order to reduce the risk of this happening, you must follow the

instructions precisely.
8 Don’t use the pressure cooker without adding liquid, you’ll cause serious damage.
9 Use only liquids which give off steam when boiling, e.g. water, stock, wine, milk. Don’t use oil

or melted fat.

10 Don’t use the pressure cooker to fry under pressure.
11 Use at least 300ml (½pt) of liquid. This will give you up to 15 minutes cooking. When cooking

for more than 15 minutes, increase the amount of water by 150ml (¼pt) for each additional 15

minute period or part period.

12 Don’t try to remove the lid till all pressure has been released. If the lid is difficult to open,

don’t force it. Leave the cooker to cool a bit longer.

14 Check the vent pipe and safety valves before each use.
13 You may use boilable plastic containers capable of withstanding 130°C (266°F) with the

pressure cooker. Don’t fit them with lids, they may blow off as the contents expand.

14 Tie down greaseproof or foil coverings or they may block the safety devices.
15 Don’t fill the body of the pressure cooker more than two thirds full.
16 Don’t fill it more than half full if you’re cooking foods that expand or may foam up (like rice,

dehydrated vegetables, pulses, cereals, apple sauce, cranberries, rhubarb and spaghetti).

17 Don’t cook dumplings in the pressure cooker with the lid on. The dough will rise and may

block the safety devices. Cook the food without dumplings for the recommended time,

release the steam, remove the lid, then add the dumplings and cook them without the lid.

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18 When cooking any doughy food, shake the pressure cooker gently before opening, to avoid

food being ejected when you open it.

19 When cooking meat with a skin (e.g. ox tongue), the skin may swell under steam pressure

– don’t prick the skin while it’s swollen, you may be scalded by escaping water/steam.

20 Don’t tamper with the pressure cooker. You may damage the safety systems, and prevent

their operation. Don’t dismantle any part of the pressure cooker unless directed to do so in

these instructions.

21 Don’t put the pressure cooker in an oven.
22 Don’t use the pressure cooker for anything other than cooking food under steam pressure in

the home. Any other use may be dangerous.

23 Use only authentic spare parts supplied for this model. Use the body only with the lid

supplied, and vice versa.

24 This pressure cooker may be used with halogen or ceramic hobs, solid elements, electric ring

elements, and gas cooking rings, but not induction hobs.

household use only

before using for the first time

The weight, separator, and spare fusible discs are packed in the top of the polystyrene packing.
Turn to “care and maintenance” on page 8 and clean the pressure cooker.

capacity

The pressure cooker holds 4 litres. The usable capacity is two thirds of this, 2.7 litres, but if you’re
cooking food that may expand or foam, don’t fill it more than half full (2 litres).

safety checks – before each use

1 Check that the weight, vent pipe, and both safety valves are free of blockages.
2 Lift the spring safety valve by its wire loop, to check it

moves freely.
3 Turn the lid over, and check that the pressure indicator

moves freely.

4 Remove the gasket, and stretch it gently in all directions

(like an elastic band).
5 Rub the gasket with a little vegetable oil, to lubricate it,

then replace it under the lid flanges.
6 Turn the lid the right way up.

filling the pressure cooker

7 Put the ingredients in the pressure cooker with the recommended amount of water or liquid.

8 Don’t fill the body of the pressure cooker more than two thirds full – this includes the space

taken up by the basket.
9 Don’t fill more than half full (2 litres) if you’re cooking foods that expand or may foam up (like

rice, dehydrated vegetables, pulses, cereals, apple sauce, cranberries, rhubarb and spaghetti).

For “non-expanding” foods or liquids, you can fill it up to two thirds full (2.7 litres).

10 Use at least 300ml (½pt) of liquid. This will suffice for up to 15

minutes cooking. When cooking for more than 15 minutes,

increase the amount of water by 150ml (¼pt) for each additional

15 minute period or part period.

closing the pressure cooker

11 Align the mark on the lid with the mark on the body handle.
12 Put the lid on the body, and push down, to compress the gasket.
13 Turn the lid clockwise till the lid and body handles are aligned, to

engage the lid and body flanges.

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start cooking

14 Lower the weight on to the vent pip, and check that it rotates freely.
15 Put the pressure cooker on the hob and set the hob to maximum heat.
16 If you’re using gas, don’t let the flames lick up the sides of the pressure cooker. You’ll damage

the handles, and you’ll lose control of the cooking process.

17 If you’re using any other heat source, use a ring or hotplate with the same diameter as (or

slightly smaller than) the base of the pressure cooker.

18 As the temperature and pressure inside the cooker increase:

a) the pressure indicator will rise till it’s just below the top of the lid lock

b) the weight will rise up the vent pipe and start to rotate

c) steam will issue from the vents in the weight

caution don’t touch the pressure indicator – you’ll release pressurised steam, which may

cause scalding
19 Now reduce the heat, to maintain a steady, gentle flow of steam from the pressure selector.
20 Start timing the cooking process now.
21 At the correct pressure, the weight will turn slowly and steam will come out of the vents.
22 If the pressure rises, the weight turns faster, more steam comes out, and the hissing gets

louder. This doesn’t cook faster, it just makes more steam, more noise, and wastes energy.
23 If the pressure falls, the weight stops turning, and the pressure indicator drops.
24 The trick is to regulate the heat so that it produces just enough pressure to keep the weight

turning and hissing.
25 Initially, you’ll have to fiddle around with the cooker control to get it just right. Judging the

right settings will become easier with use.
, Steam will escape from the lid, front handle and pressure indicator during cooking – this is

normal, don’t worry about it.
26 At the end of the cooking time, turn off the heat and remove the pressure cooker from the

hob, using both handles.

releasing pressure

26 There are two methods of releasing pressure:

quick Put the pressure cooker in the sink, under the cold tap.
Run cold water over the metal surface of the lid.
Don’t run water over the handles
Don’t submerge the pressure cooker in water
Steam will come from round the handle and indicator – keep clear

slow Leave the pressure cooker to cool naturally
Steam and pressure will be released slowly

27 The recipe should tell you which method to use. If it doesn’t, use the slow release method, to

avoid the escape of cooking liquids.

28 As the pressure is released, the indicator will retract into the handle. You won’t be able to

open the lid lock till the indicator has retracted fully.

opening the lid

29 To find out if the pressure indicator is fully retracted, push the lid lock in towards the weight.
30 If it won’t move, there’s still too much pressure inside the cooker.
31 Leave it to cool for a few minutes longer, don’t try to force it.
32 When the lid lock moves freely, use a cloth or oven gloves to remove the weight.

caution a lot of steam will come from the pressure selector – keep clear

33 If you’ve been cooking any doughy food, shake the pressure cooker gently before opening,

to avoid food being ejected when you open it