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Pressure Cooker Not Whistling: How to Fix

Pressure cookers are kitchen tools that help prepare nutritious and tasty meals. They make cooking easier and faster and allow you to make a variety of food, even on busy weeknights. But like any other appliance, the cooker too may develop issues, and the pressure cooker not whistling is a common problem that many people face.

A pressure cooker whistle not working is often due to a blocked steam vent. This issue can prevent steam from escaping, inhibiting the whistle sound. To rectify this, ensure the cooker is cool and safe to handle, then clean the vent thoroughly to remove any obstructions, like food particles or mineral build-up. Regular maintenance of the vent can prevent this issue in the future.

A pressure cooker fails to whistle when it has not achieved the required pressure. Read on to learn more about why it is important for the pressure cooker to whistle, the reasons why it doesn’t whistle, and what you can do to fix it.

The Significance of a Whistling Pressure Cooker

Pressure cooker steaming

Pressure cookers use heat to convert water into steam and build up pressure inside the pot. A spring valve regulates the pressure inside the cooker through a weight that sits above the vent. When the pot reaches the maximum pressure, the weight lifts to release the extra pressure, causing it to whistle.

The whistle lets you know that it’s time to turn down the heat. This ensures the pot remains at just the right temperature and pressure to allow thorough and even cooking of the food inside.

To know more about the science behind how a pressure cooker works for cooking food faster and better, watch this video:

A pressure cooker will not whistle if the pressure inside it does not build up to the required level. Let us go over some of the common reasons why the pressure may fail to accumulate within the pot, and what you can do to address the situation.

Incorrect Lid Position

Top lid of pressure cooker

Pressure cookers require a tight seal for the pressure to build up after the heat is turned on. A lid that isn’t positioned right may cause the heat to leak out, and that would prevent the pressure from building up within the pot.

The Fix

  • Switch off the heat, and allow the pressure cooker to cool down.
  • Remove the lid and re-fix it the right way.

Faulty Locking

Pressure cooker

Pressure cooker lids come with a locking mechanism to ensure a safe buildup of pressure inside the pot. Faulty locking of the lid leaves it without the tight fit necessary for the steam to develop inside the pot.

The Fix

  • Turn off the heat and let the pressure cooker cool.
  • Remove the lid, place it back in position, and close it carefully to completely engage the locking system.

Unclean or Worn-Out Gasket

Inside of pressure cooker with food

The gasket helps to create an airtight locking of the pressure cooker lid. If it is not clean, worn out, or not positioned correctly, the pressure cooker will not whistle as all the pressure may have leaked out.

The Fix

  • Examine the state of the gasket. Look for signs of wear, or any leftovers sticking to it from the previous cooking session.
  • Clean the gasket thoroughly and reposition it into the lid.
  • Replace the worn-out gasket with a new one, such as this pair of 9-inch gaskets: the Impresa Fagor Pressure Cooker Replacement Gasket
  • Refer to the instruction manual that came with your pressure cooker to know at what intervals you must replace the gasket even if it doesn’t show signs of wear.

Incorrect Valve Position

Valve of pressure cooker

A pressure valve that doesn’t fit in place can prevent the pressure from building inside the pot. This may happen either because something is sticking to its inner surface or the valve has worn out.

The Fix

  • Thoroughly clean the valve to dislodge any old food or dust sticking inside.
  • Replace the pressure valve at the intervals specified in the cooker’s instruction manual to ensure you don’t cook your food with a worn-out valve.

Excess Liquid in the Cooker

Liquid poured into a pressure cooker

A pressure cooker needs a certain amount of liquid (water or broth) to do its job. When you heat the closed pot, this water gets converted into steam and builds up the pressure, which helps cook the food within the pot. If there is too much liquid inside the pot, it will take longer for the pressure to build up, and the cooker may not whistle at all.

The Fix

  • Check your pressure cooker instruction manual to learn how much liquid you should be adding to the pot.
  • Adjust the quantity of liquid you add to the cooker as per the instructions, taking care not to exceed the specified volume.

Too Much Food to Cook

Vegetables being stirred in pressure cooker

Every pressure cooker has a limit to how much food it could hold and cook. If you exceed this limit, the pressure may take longer than usual to build, or it may not form at all. If you add frozen ingredients directly into the pressure cooker, it will take longer for their temperature to rise, and this too can hamper the cooker’s job and the subsequent whistling. Thick liquids may also contribute to prolonged cooking periods.

The Fix

  • Fill your pressure cooker only to the capacity specified in its instruction manual, and avoid adding in even a little extra food.
  • When using frozen food, defrost it well before you plan to cook it in the pressure cooker.
  • If the recipe involves thick liquids, add them in after you’re done with the pressure-cooking part of the food preparation.

Faulty Cooker Handles

Food being prepared inside a pressure cooker

Pressure cookers with loose handles may also cause the steam to leak out of the cooker and may stop the cooker from whistling.

The Fix

  • Check the handles at the point at which it is attached to the cooker and the lid portions of the cooker.
  • Fix any loose handles and ensure the cooker is tightly closed before turning the heat on.

Insufficient Temperature

Pressure cooker close up

A pressure cooker that does not receive sufficient heat will not whistle as the pressure inside may not have accrued to the required level.

The Fix

  • Read the instruction manual to understand how much heat the pressure cooker must receive.
  • Turn on the heat high enough to reach the required limit that allows pressure buildup.

Damaged Rim

Closeup of control panel of control panel

Some people tend to run the spoon against the cooker’s rim after they are done stirring or mixing the food cooking inside. This could damage the rim and prevent the cooker lid from fitting on snugly. Leftovers sticking to the rim can also prevent the cooker lid from closing tight.

The Fix

  • Avoid running the spoon against the cooker rim.
  • Check for leftovers or food stains on the cooker rim, and remove them using steel wool.

Final Thoughts

The high temperature inside a pressure cooker raises the pressure within to allow rapid and even cooking. Once this pressure rises above a particular level, it is important to let the steam escape so that the pot doesn’t become too hot and explode. The pressure valve regulates this mechanism and whistles to alert you to reduce the heat.

A pressure cooker that doesn’t whistle can prove to be hazardous. If you are not sure when to turn down the heat, the cooker may rupture and injure you (if you happen to be near the cooker), and also create some serious mess in your kitchen. 

Understanding how your pressure cooker functions, alongside keeping up with its regular cleaning and maintenance requirements, would ensure proper whistling and proper cooking sessions each time.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on August 23, 2020.

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