Prestige pressure cookers

manulike

A total newby here, so please forgive me if this is in the wrong place ...
Just bought a thirty year-old pressure cooker for 3 quid :j (Prestige aluminium) - but there are no instructions other than a big warning on the handle stating that: "top handle MUST cover bottom handle before you start to cook" - my problem is that when the two handles cover eachother the cooker is very loose - it only seems to be sealed when I turn one of the handles to the left???
May I do this, and when and how may I place the top gasket weight??
Many thanks for your help ;-)

flea72

my handles dont meet either, i just push them until it stops turning, and makes a tight fit

as for the weight, i put it on when the water has heated up, and steam is coming out the spout

hth flea

carol_a_3

Mine seem to meet OK, it's nearly 30 years old too. Make sure that you start with the top handle to the right of the left one before you twist them quite firmly to meet. I too wait until the steam is coming out before pushing the weight on then reduce the heat and start the timing when it's hissing madly. Is the rubber gasket around the lid all intact, I had to replace that once as it was getting perished...you can probably still get spares hopefully.

manulike

many thanks for your fast reply
no rubber seal at all - but the thing does seem to close solidly when upper handle is twisted to the right - but the sign on the cooker says that this direction is for opening it??

djohn2002uk

I've sent you a Private Message.

carol_a_3

Just dug mine out and it won't latch on at all if I do it the way yours is closing. I think you will need to get the gasket for the lid or steam may escape and the pressure won't build up correctly and could even be dangerous. Good luck with it. Must admit I haven't used mine much lately as I'm still playing with my new slow cooker toy but it's brilliant for Christmas puddings etc and was a boon when I was working full time.

djohn2002uk

To close properly, there is an arrow on the lid to the left of the handle. There is another arrow on the base to the right of the handle. You line the 2 arrows up and then move the top handle left untill it is on top of the bottom one.

mizrudey

manulike wrote:

many thanks for your fast reply
no rubber seal at all - but the thing does seem to close solidly when upper handle is twisted to the right - but the sign on the cooker says that this direction is for opening it??

:j i have one exactly the same which was passed down to me by my mother....... you do need the rubber seal to stop the leaking and overflowing ... i recently got my seal from Debenhams.... the black one is the one you need priced around £5.00....

djohn2002uk

You must have a rubber seal around the edge of the lid and even more important, you must have a safety plug in the lid an inch or so from the centre vent.

manulike

I get the feeling that rubber seal is needed ... Would very much appreciate it, djohn, if you get time to make a copy of that manual of yours - thanks again.

squeaky

If you (or anybody) find it easier to shop for spares on line there are several companies offering spares and the link will help.


google prestige pressure cooker