You might have seen some dramatic movies where the pressure cooker explodes when the water dries up.
So, that might get you thinking if it’s true or not.
Well, to answer that question, you must ask another question.
What happens if a pressure cooker runs out of water: does it explode, or have mercy on you and stay sane?
Once the pressure cooker runs out of water, two things can occur. Your luck can be in your favor, and the safety features such as pressure regulators and safety plug can kick in. But in the worst-case scenario, your pressure cooker might explode.
Hold on—no need to get scared yet. Let’s take a look at how safe modern-day pressure cookers are. This will take your mind off of the explosion.
What happens if a pressure cooker runs out of water
A kitchen is a relatively dangerous place. You never know when the gas fireplace may light up automatically and cause a disaster. Or a pressure cooker might end up drying out all the water in it.
Nonetheless, here are two different scenarios explaining it:
Positive scenario
You never know what might go wrong in a kitchen. For example, the gas oven might startup on its own. So, it would help if you were on your feet regarding cooking.
Now, there can be some moments when you forget to turn off the pressure cooker. That’s when it dries up all the water inside it. However, before anything goes wrong, the safety features dive in to save the day.
The pressure regulator blows off
Firstly, the pressure regularly blows off. Well, it doesn’t fly off to the end of the room. It simply lifts off the lid to let the pressure out.
When the water dries up inside the pressure cooker, a tremendous amount of pressure builds up. And it has to let go of the pressure. Otherwise, things might take an ugly turn.
So, it slightly lifts off the lid so the trapped air can escape their prison. And with this, you hear a hissing sound. That’s your sign to check up on the pressure cooker. Don’t ignore the cooker’s call for help.
The safety plug melts
The following safety feature is the plug. And no, we’re not talking about the Christmas light that needs to be plugged; we’re talking about the safety plug that comes with most electric pressure cookers.
You see, those plugs are sensitive to pressure; if they detect too much pressure inside your cooker, they immediately meltdown.
That’s when the pressure cooker gets disconnected from its power supply. And end up turning it off before anything goes wrong.
The worst-case scenario: Explosion
However, your pressure cooker might explode if it gets too dehydrated in the worst-case scenario. You see, the pressure inside your cooker becomes more significant than the outside pressure.
That’s when the air particles start jumping to get out. And at one point, when they get enough energy, they burst open the pressure cooker.
Now, this can be very dangerous for you. You might get serious injuries from this. Moreover, your kitchen will be a mess if you do get spared.
That’s because the food in your cooker will be everywhere. And you’ll have to scrape the food from your pressure cooker and the kitchen with a brush.
FAQs
Can I use my pressure cooker without water?
It would help if you did not use a pressure cooker without water. That’s because the pressure will build up in the absence of water, and the pressure cooker will explode.
Can my pressure cooker explode?
Your pressure cooker may explode, but the chances of that happening are slim. That’s because the modern pressure cooker comes with safety measures that stop this from happening.
Should my pressure cooker be hissing?
Your pressure cooker makes the hissing sound to let go of the build-up pressure inside. So, it’s normal for you to hear the hissing sound now and then.
Why is my pressure cooker not whistling?
Clogged-up lids are one of the most common reasons for not hearing the whistling sound from your pressure cooker. You see, food and dust can block the exit point of the cooker. If you clean it up, the whole issue will be solved.
The end
I hope you got the answer to the question: what happens if a pressure cooker runs out of water.
Yes, some safety features come with a pressure cooker. But that doesn’t mean you should be careless about it. Always try to make sure there is enough water in the cooker.
It never hurts to stay on the safe side. Be careful. Toodles!