Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (2024)

Shutterstock.com | Last updated on - Aug 27, 2018, 17:30 IST

    close

    01/10Pressure cooker food is healthy or not?

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (1)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (2)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (3)

    One of the most common cooking methods in India, very little is discussed whether pressure cooking is healthy or not. It has become a way of life for us and we have assumed that this is the natural way to cook our potatoes, rice and meats. But there are contradictory views on the health impact of pressure cooked food. Read to know about it.

    readmore

    02/10How does pressure cooking work?

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (4)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (5)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (6)

    Pressure cooking is a method of cooking that uses steam blocked in a pressure cooker (a special airtight cooking pot) to cook the food. The cooking pot traps the vapour that rises from the liquid (water) when heated and then it raises the pressure inside that significantly speeds up the cooking process. In this process of cooking, you actually transfer heat from the heat source to the food through steam.readmore

    03/10Is pressure cooking healthy?

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (7)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (8)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (9)

    Though nothing has been documented to date, the argument that whether pressure cooking is healthy or not is still debatable. For some, it is unhealthy, because it heats the nutrients in the food at a very high temperature. While for others, it is healthy because it exposes food to heat for a lesser period and thus keeps the nutrients intact.readmore

    04/10Retention of vitamins and antioxidants

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (10)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (11)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (12)

    When compared to boiling, steaming is considered one of the healthiest cooking methods. According to experts, it helps vegetables retain the nutrients they contain, while other means of cooking destroy them due to exposure to excessive heat.readmore

    05/10How it impacts food?

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (13)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (14)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (15)

    With every food item pressure cooker behaves differently. When it comes to rice, it makes cooked rice heavier, as compared to steamed one. While in case of tomato, it makes the pressure cooked ones healthier. In case of meat, the cooked meat/mutton is easily digestible than the one cooked in an open wok.readmore

    06/10It contains acrylamide

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (16)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (17)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (18)

    The bad news is, when starchy foods are pressure cooked, they form acrylamide, a harmful chemical that, when consumed on a regular basis may lead to health issues like cancer, infertility, and neurological disorders.readmore

    07/10 It destroys lectin

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (19)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (20)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (21)

    According to a study conducted by the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, pressure cooking reduces the lectin content from food. Lectin is a harmful chemical that reduces the nutritional value of food by hindering the absorption of minerals.readmore

    08/10Reduces cooking time

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (22)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (23)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (24)

    We all know that preparing food in a pressure cooker reduces the cooking time. Also, it has been said that when you expose food to heat for a lesser period of time, it keeps the nutrient intact and thus the cooked food is way healthier.readmore

    09/10You should use a pressure cooker or not

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (25)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (26)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (27)

    The bottom line is that if you love the flavour of food cooked in a pressure cooker and you don’t have enough time to go for any other lengthy method of cooking, then it is a fair deal for you. If not, there are many more methods that you can opt for.readmore

    10/10 Verdict

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (28)

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (29)Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (30)

    Like any other means of cooking, pressure cooking too has its own pros and cons. It is always good to keep experimenting with food and means of cooking so that the body is always ready to adopt the changes. You must always strike a balance between various cooking methods.readmore

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? (2024)

    FAQs

    Is it healthy to cook food in a pressure cooker? ›

    This makes sense when you think about it. Since pressure cooking doesn't require a much higher temperature and shortens the cooking time, there is less time for nutrient loss. For this reason, pressure cooking may actually preserve nutrients better than other methods of cooking.

    Does meat lose nutrients when pressure cooked? ›

    No, in fact foods cooked in a pressure cooker retain more of their nutrients. The best way to destroy nutrients is to cook your food in an open pot of boiling water. To retain the most nutrients use as little water as possible and cook foods rapidly.

    Is it healthy to cook beans in a pressure cooker? ›

    Pressure Cooking Beans From Soaked

    Reduces indigestible sugars by over 75%. Removes a majority of the anti-nutrients, allowing the digestive process to absorb more iron, for example. The beans cook evenly. They're nice to look at and also eat, because they're evenly cooked so no more crunchy beans.

    How safe are pressure cookers? ›

    In general, pressure cookers are a safe and convenient way to cook food more quickly. But on rare occasions, the lids can explode off pressure cookers with defective components or failed safety mechanisms. When this happens, hot food and liquid can eject from the cooker and burn or injure anyone nearby.

    What are the disadvantages of pressure cooking on your health? ›

    Disadvantages of cooking food in a pressure cooker

    However, starchy foods may form acrylamide, a harmful chemical, when pressure cooked. Consumption of this chemical on a regular basis may lead to health issues like cancer, infertility, and neurological disorders.

    Does pressure cooking bone broth destroy nutrients? ›

    Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook bone broth? It is better to choose a technique that suits your life and goals. A pressure cooker will save you batch time and get you 75% of the nutrition benefits of bone broth.

    What should not be pressure cooked? ›

    Here are six things you should always avoid cooking in a pressure cooker.
    • Dairy products. Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. ...
    • Fried foods. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers. ...
    • Quick cooking vegetables. ...
    • Cakes and bakes. ...
    • Eggs in the shell.
    Jul 23, 2023

    Do pressure cookers damage nutrients? ›

    No, in fact foods cooked in a pressure cooker retain more of their nutrients. The best way to destroy nutrients is to cook your food in an open pot of boiling water.

    Which type of pressure cooker is best for health? ›

    Stainless steel pressure cookers are generally considered to be the better choice for health, as they are less likely to leach metals into food during cooking. Additionally, stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion and rusting, meaning it will last longer.

    Does pressure cooking increase AGEs? ›

    The Weston A Price Foundation, which advocates for a traditional way of eating, advises against pressure cookers, pointing to evidence that “food cooked at higher temperatures for a shorter period of time” produces more Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) than foods cooked at a lower temperature for a longer period ...

    Does pressure cooking take the gas out of beans? ›

    But most people can enjoy more beans with less gas with the help of these tips: Soak beans overnight in water, then drain, rinse and cook in fresh water. This decreases the oligosaccharide content. Cooking the beans in a pressure cooker may reduce the oligosaccharides even further.

    What happens if you don't soak beans before pressure cooking? ›

    Yes: When you soak beans, you dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to pressure cook them. For instance, unsoaked chickpeas take 35-40 minutes to cook, but soaked chickpeas take just 10 minutes to cook. No: I don't think anyone says no to this question per se, but there is a bit of a tradeoff.

    Can bacteria survive a pressure cooker? ›

    The pressure cookers used can inactivate up to 1010 CFU/mL bacteria and 107 CFU/mL fungi.

    What happens if a pressure cooker runs out of water? ›

    It cannot cook your food properly without water, and the pressure will build to such an extent that the lid, pressure valve, plugs, and hot food could be thrown all over the kitchen. This can seriously harm you, your kids, and your pets, not to mention property damage that comes from flying projectiles.

    Is it healthy to cook potatoes in a pressure cooker? ›

    Pressure cooking and cooling potatoes produces a nutritional insoluble starch which has a lower glycemic impact. It's likely that reheating pressure cooked potatoes will increase this resistant starch further for more nutritional benefits.

    Is slow cooking better than pressure cooking? ›

    If you enjoy prepping your meal in the morning and letting it cook all day so that it's ready by dinner time, go with a slow cooker. Conversely, a pressure cooker might be the better option if you want an easy way to make healthy meals without much planning.

    Which type of cooker is best for health? ›

    Stainless steel pressure cookers are generally considered to be the better choice for health, as they are less likely to leach metals into food during cooking. Additionally, stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion and rusting, meaning it will last longer.

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6051

    Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

    Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

    Birthday: 1992-10-31

    Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

    Phone: +6111989609516

    Job: Chief Farming Manager

    Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

    Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.