SC - Steam cookers

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/20/00 1:01:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
baronsig at peganet.com writes:

<< Several other workers were burned, too, I might add, but
 nowhere as severely as this fellow. Moral: steam is a dangerous thing, treat
 it with respect!
 
     Sieggy.
  >>

Having worked for a number of years with a commercial pressure fryer, I can 
sympathize with your concerns over safety. However, the pressure cookers that 
most of those on the list use at home are small affairs with pressure valves 
that release if pressure is allowed to build to an unsafe level. There is 
virtually no danger of these modern pressure cookers becoming a bomb. Lest I 
am being to 'general,' I am sure one person or the other can relate stories 
of family members in the distant past who had bad experiences with these but 
the statistics are insignificant when viewed against the number of safe 
users. If the valves are kept clean and the pressure gauge is periodically 
checked, seals (if any) replaced regularly then these are no less safe than 
any other kitchen gadget in my experience. My current pressure cooker dates 
from the 1950s and has never been a problem. Every time the pressure built up 
quicker than I anticipated the trusty cock valve blew and other than a steamy 
kitchen all was well.

Ras