h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not every pressure cooker has a pressure indicator, I think these are cheaper models. Mine doesn't have one. I have absolutely no idea what pressure I'm cooking at, it's all guesswork.

And meat usually comes out tasting dry and tough (in the case of beef) or rubbery (in the case of chicken). Is that true for you too? If it's not supposed to be that way it may be time to invest in a better pressure cooker, one that lets me see the pressure and choose between the two levels, like you described.

You definitively should go for a better quality pressure cooker, I've been with mine for nearly 25 years now, and I'm only getting poor results when I make a mistake. I really wouldn't know how to cook with a pressure cooker that doesn't indicate the pressure, although I usually turn the heat down to level four (from the nine levels there are), and it stays there until the end, it sometimes loses pressure and I have to switch to a higher level again to compensate. Witout indication, I couldnÄt tell, though. Can you buy equipment like the rubber ring for yours? That's another thing you should ask for if you decide to buy a new one. Go for good quality, if you handle it with care, it should last you long enough that the higher price pays - mine did.

Great Article Bel - well done. We used to have a pressure cookeer years back but someone lost the weights that fitted into the top. D'oh!

Later on we realised that it was aluminium and so we decided against using it because of the increased Alzheimer's risk. If we could find a stainless steel one we might be persuaded to use one again. It's faster than a microwave for many things, as I remember.

Thanks, Vestboy.
I had no idea of a possible connection of aluminium pots and Alzheimer, I thought they were good because they don't weigh much. My pot is of the enamelled varitey, it already weighs a ton when it's empty, I always need both hands to handle it. But I don't think I'd have bought an aluminium pot anyway, because I think they're better suited for a gas cooker, and I have an electric cooker.
I'm surprised you can't buy stainless steel pots, thought they were the most common variety.

Ah, I didn't say I couldn't NOW. I think when we bought ours the other option was way too expensive. Now I'd be happy to hand over the cash .

I never paid for mine, I got one as a reward when I jobbed as a 'paperboy' as a student and managed to recruit some new subscribers to the newspaper. I couldn't have afforded to buy one then, they were very expensive - and still are.

The one I have, without the pressure indicator, is made of aluminum! Definitely time for a new one, I think.

The way I keep forgetting things it's probably too late for me to worry!

Hmmm, maybe, but what about your offspring? You don't want them to get Alzheimer's disease, do you?

I'd forgotten about them.

No, we got rid of all of our aluminium pans some years back.

You had forgotten about them - now why dos that sound so familiar? Could have been my husband who said that.

Being fair to myself when we heard of the link we got rid of them pretty smartish. The decision was for everyone in the family! Honest!

Yes, it's ok, I was only joking.
I've never heard of this link, where did you hear/read about it?

I can't remember where I first heard it but this link from the Alzheimers society may reassure you if you are still using aluminium:
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Facts_about_dementia/Risk_factors/info_aluminium.htm

yes, the alzheimers soceity have reviewed the scientific evidence and now say its is unlikely that aluminum is causal to dementia. the latest fad i heard is now drinking lots of fruit juice to delay/prevent it.
just bought an old skyline small size p.c. for £2 and am going to have fun. not sure if it has an indicator, prob. not, certainly no writen insructions, sys on lid 'important- read instructions' wish me luck!

No indicator and no manual? You'll need lots of , I guess

£2 for a PC? A bargain - even without manuals. Does anyone have an onliine manual for it?

I've heard of the fruitjuice one too. It's only about 3 glasses a week I think. It begins to sound like you've really got to want to develop Alzheimers if avoidance is so easy!

Why do you have to drink juice, wouldn't eating the fruits do just as well?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5298404.stm carries the story. It says you're safer if you drink more than 3 glasses a week.

Thanks. If I understood this right, it doesn't matter whether you eat or drink the fruits, as long as you add either of them to your diet. I guess they propagate juice because nowadays, most people are more likely to drink juice than to actually eat an apple or an orange or whatever.
It's funny, because the news aren't all that new after all, I think your proverb of: An apple a day keeps the doctor away' is quite an old one.