Fortunately, you don't need to spend hours in the kitchen, thanks to the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker. One-pot meals make cleanup incredibly easy and time-saving! However, the lid of a Cuisinart Pressure Cooker requires some research to clean. We've thoroughly investigated this topic and would like to share our findings with you.
First, you should familiarize yourself with the different parts of the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker lid. These parts include the pressure limit valve, the floater valve [or pin] with float cap, and the silicone sealing ring.
Also, you must ensure that the lid is cool before disassembling and cleaning it. To do this, use a towel to feel for heat and check the steam release valve.Â
Finally, follow these steps to clean your Cuisinart Pressure Cooker lid:
1. Disassemble the lid, including the inner lid portion with sealing ring and the caps of the pressure limit valve and floater valve.
2. Wash the lid, the lid's inner portion, valve caps, and sealing ring with warm, soapy water.
3. If needed, soak the ring in vinegar water.Â
4. Dry the lid and its parts, and reassemble it.
At first, it may seem like this takes more time for cleanup. But these steps will become easier and faster the more you do them! In this post, we'll elaborate on the different cleaning steps. Of course, you're probably most curious about how to disassemble the lid, especially the valve caps. Keep reading to find out more!
Parts of the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker
Firstly, you need to know the different parts of the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker lid before cleaning it. It's not like your typical pot lid-- some lid parts are removable. But the only parts you should remove for cleaning are the cap of the pressure limit valve, the float cap, and the silicone sealing ring.
But don't worry; you don't need a screwdriver to take apart the lid! All you need are your hands.Â
Pressure Limit Valve
On the surface of the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker lid is the pressure limit valve covered with a plastic cap. The pressure limit valve is a small knob that turns to release steam while cooking. It can do this automatically, or you can do it manually. But make sure that your hand, arm, or face are not in the pathway of the hot steam!
As a safety feature, the pressure release valve will not open if the pressure cooker is hot. Check out our article, "Should A Pressure Cooker Leak Steam?" to learn more.
Float Cap
On top of the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker lid, you will see a small indent that holds the red floater valve [or pin] with the float cap. Unlike other pressure cookers, the pin remains inside when removing the plastic float cap.
Silicone Sealing Ring
Perhaps one of the most recognizable parts is the silicone sealing ring [or gasket] that lines the inside of the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker lid. Since it's made of silicone, it is flexible and adheres well to the edges of the lid.
Over time, this clear ring may become yellow-tinged and develop a faint odor. This is normal, and it does not affect the taste or quality of your food. But you may wish to clean it more vigorously than the rest of the parts. We'll tell you how to do that later.
Ensure that the lid is cool
Of course, it's important to only clean the lid when it's cool. You don't want to burn your hand accidentally!
To check the temperature, you may use a hand towel to press on the top of the lid. Also, check the pressure limit valve. When the valve is down and level with the lid, you can turn the lid clockwise to remove it from the pot.
Check out this video at 2:51 for a helpful demonstration:
1. Disassemble the lid
Overall, it's relatively simple to take apart the lid. Follow these steps:
- Use your fingers to pull straight up on the plastic cap of the pressure limit valve. It should lift and remove easily.
- Turn over the lid and grab the knob to remove the inner portion of the lid that is lined with the sealing ring.
- Gently tug on one side of the sealing ring with your fingers to lift up an edge. Follow the ring around the lid's edges, pulling until it is completely removed.
- Next, remove the metal cap of the floater valve.
Check out this helpful video at 5:20 for a great demonstration:
2. Wash the lid and its parts with soapy water
Generally, you should avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning the Cuisinart Pressure cooker. Standard dish soap works great to clean it; you don't need to buy any special cleaning agents.
However, vinegar is a safe and effective cleaning agent that you can use. And you probably already have a bottle in the pantry! Keep reading to find out more.
If needed, soak the ring in vinegar water.Â
About 1 to 2 times a year [or more], you may wish to clean the silicone ring more thoroughly to remove odor and stains. Follow these steps:
- Place the ring inside the container.
- Add 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar to the container.
- Fill the container with 1/2 to 1 cup of cold water, or fill it until the ring is submerged. You may need to place a spoon on top of the ring, so it stays submerged.
Check out this video at 3:26 for a useful demonstration:
Dry the lid and its parts, and reassemble it.
With a hand towel, pat the lid and its parts until dry. Then, reassemble the lid and its parts-- the pressure limit valve cap, the float cap, and the silicone sealing valve.
Pressure Limit Valve Cap
It's easy to reassemble the pressure limit valve cap. All you must do is place it back over the knob. It sits in place, and you don't have to press it in.
Float Cap
Like the pressure limit valve, the float cap is easy to reassemble. Just place it over the knob and press it in.
Silicone Sealing Ring
First, press the sealing ring back onto the lid's inner portion. Make sure that it covers the edges completely.
Then place the sealing valve and inner portion back into the lid, but make sure that the knob is facing outwards. Push the inner portion until you hear a sharp "click."
Can a Cuisinart Pressure Cooker go in the dishwasher?
Some sources will tell you that putting the lid in the dishwasher is safe. However, per the manual, most of the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker is not dishwasher safe. Although it's okay to wash the inner cooking pot in the dishwasher, it's best to hand wash everything else.
Since you will be manually washing it, it's good to know how big it will be. To find out more about the sizes of pressure cookers in general, check out our article, "How Big Is A Pressure Cooker."
How to clean a Philips Pressure Cooker lid?
Overall, the Philips Pressure Cooker is cleaned similarly to the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker. However, the float valve cap is not removed. Follow these steps:
- Unscrew the pressure limit valve [or pressure regulator] counterclockwise to remove it.
- Remove the inner lid by the knob.
- Remove the sealing ring.
- Clean the pressure limit valve, inner lid, and sealing ring with warm, soapy water.
- Use a sponge to clean the floater valve on top of the lid.
Check out this video from 0:54 to 1:23 for a great demonstration:
Can I use my Cuisinart Pressure Cooker as a slow cooker?
Yes, you can use your Cuisinart pressure cooker as a slow cooker. But it depends on which type you're using--stovetop or electric.
For a Cuisinart Stovetop Pressure Cooker, set the heat to low. Set your timer for however long you need it to cook.
For Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker, select the Low Pressure cook setting. However, 99 minutes is the maximum amount of time you can set it to cook.
How do I use my Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker?
It's easy to cook using your Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker. Follow these steps:
- Add your ingredients to the inner cooking pot.
- Close the lid over the pot by turning it clockwise.
- Plugin the pressure cooker and select the desired cook setting [Low Pressure, High Pressure, Browning, Sauté, Simmer, and Keep Warm].
- Select the Time button and choose the appropriate cooking time [1 to 99 minutes].
- Turn the pressure limit valve towards cook.
- Now hit start.
For a helpful demonstration, watch this video from 0:27 to 3:43:
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this post has helped you figure out how to clean your Cuisinart Pressure Cooker lid. Half the battle is understanding the different, removable parts of the lid.
After doing it a few times, disassembling the lid and cleaning it is pretty easy! Enjoy the extra free time you saved by using the pressure cooker!
