Bought a Kuhn Rikon Pressure cooker - Is it defective? (video)

Hi,

I bought a pressure cooker last week and the main valve seems to be making more noise than what I anticipated from various online discussions. At about 220$, it is a significant purchase and I want to make sure it is working properly.

Below is a copy of an email I sent to the manufacturer on January 22nd (slightly edited for typos), which remains unanswered.

"Hello,

I purchased the 3044 Duromatic pressure cooker this week. It makes a constant hissing sound when under pressure (video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kf3SuoL2dI ). The sound starts at about the first ring. It comes from the main valve, I verified by removing the protecting cover.

From some quick research I understand that this is not normal.
I have tried removing the pressure indicator as well as the valve screw
and then putting them back making sure that they were tight.

Before
returning the item to get it exchanged, I wanted to comfirm if this is
indeed a defect or if I perhaps overlooked something."

Thank you for your assistance.

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Comments

Ben_Johnson_34605

Looking at the video, it seems its running slightly over pressure. We never run past the second bar(max pressure) Otherwise, the pressure cooker is designed to vent excess pressure to prevent it from becoming over pressured. Its natural for it make a little noise even at low pressures. If its very loud and your getting a LOT of steam, then it is probably an issue. Based on the video however, it appears to be working properly.

lebrun.virgile

Thank you for the quick answer, it is reassuring. I will try a couple more recipes and make sure the ring sits a bit lower.

Carrie_34614

I bought a Kuhn Rikon 12L (Duromatic "Hotel" 30333). last week and was going to ask the same questions as VL asked. I had been under the assumption that the PC should be silent or nearly silent while under pressure. Mine sounds exactly the same as the one in the video...just a very soft hissing all the time it's going. I guess I shouldn't be worried then and this is how the K-R's sound? I do have to tinker while it's cooking though. I have a Miele Induction cooktop and finding the "sweet spot" is very difficult on it. I've run many tests now, only using water, to try to see if I could get it to stop hissing while cooking as people have said it's "silent" and they couldn't hear theirs. Just to be sure I also tested it on 2 stand alone Induction cookers...like the ones that are seen in the Fat Duck Cookbook (pg. 445)...Same deal. A gentle hissing. Maybe I read too many reviews and took the words "silent" too literally!?

I also found out it made no real difference in the time it takes for a natural depressurizing whether I turn off the induction and leave the PC right there on the burner or remove it from the burner. In both cases it took about 35 mins with the pan filled to half with water until the pressure rod fully dropped. So that's good to know.

Thanks for the help!

lebrun.virgile

I guess a gentle hissing is normal. I may have taken the silent comments too literally as well. I made the pressure cooked bananas from the site yesterday and I made sure the second ring was not showing. There was still a constant slight hissing, but less than in the above video.

Carrie_34614

Thanks, VL.

I actually looked at that recipe today, too. Didn't have any bananas though!

DiggingDogFarm_65362

It's relative "silence"....they're much quieter than some venting pressure cookers. : )

Hajdamak_132675

I also have this slight hissing sound. When e-mailed KR I got following response:

"Thanks for your e-mail. If you cook « under pressure » you always will have a slight hissing sound. That’s normal for this type of cooker. If you have a stronger hissing sound, you have to reduce the temperature."

So I think this is normal.