For many years, pressure cookers had a bad reputation due to overpressure blow-outs caused by poor design and inferior materials. Thankfully, today’s pressure cooker gasket designs and materials make these problems a thing of the past. With a little care and maintenance, your cooker will perform flawlessly for years and your gasket will last as long as possible.

Years ago, manufacturers used natural rubber for gasket material. These rubber gaskets tended to become brittle over time which would lead to eventual failure of the gasket. They also didn’t hold up very well to the heating that the pots have to go through.

Today most manufacturers use either nitrile (NBR) rubber or higher-quality silicone rubber for gasket material. Some manufacturers additionally use proprietary gasket materials which have a different set of properties. These pressure cooker gaskets hold up to heat and pressure much better than natural rubber while retaining their necessary flexibility for a long time. It’s rare for a gasket to fail on a newer pressure cooker unless it has been seriously mistreated or ignored for a long time.

In most pressure cookers, the gasket is the only item that requires regular maintenance. In most cases, all that’s required is regular cleaning. Simply remove the gasket as you’re washing the lid and clean the gasket in soapy water as well. The newer materials can even hold up to the upper rack in dishwashers – just make sure the gasket is secured so that it can’t fall down into the washing mechanism. This cleaning will help ensure that small bits of food don’t remain under the gasket which could allow for steam to escape once the cooker is under high pressure. Of course, these food particles are unsanitary as well, although the high heat of the pressure cooker takes care of sanitizing whatever might be living there.

Once the gasket is cleaned, if it’s nitrile rubber it needs to be wiped down with a small amount of vegetable oil. this will help keep the gasket lubricated so that it will remain pliable and flexible. While nitrile rubber lasts much longer than natural rubber, a little extra care will help it last even longer. If your pressure cooker uses silicone rubber or another exotic material, check your owner’s manual for your manufacturers recommendations. Follow their recommended procedures and your gasket will last as long as possible.

Today the main cause of failure of cooker gaskets is cuts and nicks. When removing the gasket for cleaning, take care to keep from damaging it. In some lids, the gasket is very tight. If you have to pry it out, take as much care as possible and don’t use a knife.

If the gasket becomes cut or nicked or shows signs of wear, it is time to replace it as soon as possible. Thankfully, there are many suppliers of pressure cooker gaskets on the Internet. Not only can you find manufacturer replacement gaskets at very fair prices, but in many cases after market gaskets are available at significantly reduced prices. If you order one of these after market gaskets, make sure it’s made of a comparable material as the original manufacturer part. You wouldn’t want to replace an original silicone rubber gasket with a cheap natural rubber gasket or your savings will be short-lived.

Take care of your pressure cooker gasket and your cooker will help you prepare quick and tasty meals for a lifetime.