Pressure cookers

I remember as a child watching in something akin to horror as a pressure cooker rocked away on the stovetop. Pressure cookers were often used for beans and pot roasts back then as a way to cut cooking time. Enegy use was a non-issue in the early 60s. The whole thing seemed very frightening and the stuff of Three Stooges cooking comedy...as I recall a cooker exploded in at least one episode, but unlike in real life the stooge or stooges involved were unscathed and unscalded. I grew up in fear of these beasts and have never used one. I didn't even own one until today.

It was a gift of sorts. There is an estate liquidator I visit regularly and from whom I purchased a lovely marble-topped coffee table today. There was a pressure cooker sitting among some pots and pans and general kitchen goods. I asked about it and he said "I'll make it easy, just take it" So I did.

As I said, I've never used one, I find them a bit scary, and had no idea where to start. So I started on the internet and found a Mirro-matic manual online: http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/pdf/mirromanual.pdf I was delighted to see that the directions still existed and that my free cooker had all the needed pieces. I was also shocked to see that people used these silly things for quick cooking vegetables such as asparagus and broccoli! I suppose they liked that cool olive drab tone "back in the day", but I will stick with stir-frying. The Pressure cooker shall be reserved for unsprouted beans, pot-roasts, and quick cooking chiken fricasee!

Will report back after I have tried it. I suppose I will read the manual a dozen times before I work up the courage!