The AMC Speedcooker® II is a high-quality pressure cooker designed to facilitate quick and healthy meal preparation, ensuring that food retains as much of its nutritional value as possible. This appliance is an essential item for any kitchen, offering significant advantages in terms of time, labor, and economy.
Function Description
The primary function of the AMC Speedcooker® II is to cook food under pressure, which drastically reduces cooking times compared to conventional stovetop methods. With this unit, cooking time can be cut by up to two-thirds, making it ideal for busy individuals and families. The pressure cooking process also helps to preserve the nutritional content of ingredients, contributing to healthier meals.
Beyond speed, the Speedcooker® II is designed to be economical. It allows users to cook less expensive cuts of meat, which are often tough, until they are tender and palatable. Similarly, dried pulses can be cooked efficiently without prior soaking. The reduced cooking times also translate into savings on electricity costs, further enhancing its economic benefits.
Usage Features
The Speedcooker® II incorporates several features that ensure safe and efficient operation. Before initial use, it is crucial to read the instruction booklet thoroughly to understand its proper use and care.
- Pressure Setting Valve (Grey Knob): This valve allows users to select the desired level of pressure (high or low) for preparing various foods. This flexibility ensures optimal cooking conditions for a wide range of recipes.
- Red Pressure Valve: This valve rises when sufficient pressure has built up inside the unit, indicating that the Speedcooker® II is operating at the desired pressure.
- Locking Pin: This safety feature locks the lid into place once pressure begins to build. To check that the Red Pressure Valve is functioning, users can push this locking pin back and press the underside of the Red Pressure Valve. It should move with ease, confirming its proper operation.
- Bakelite Handles: The handles are made from Bakelite, which remains cool to the touch during cooking, ensuring safe handling of the hot unit.
- Safety Cut Out: If excessive pressure builds, the Sealing Ring will push through a designated hole to rapidly release pressure, acting as a crucial safety mechanism.
- Sealing Ring: This ring fits into the rim of the Speedcooker® II lid and forms a pressure-tight seal during the cooking process. It is essential for maintaining the internal pressure required for speed cooking.
- Max Indicator: A max indicator line is located on the inside of the unit for easy reference. It is important that the Speedcooker® II never be filled more than the level of the max indicator. When cooking foods that foam (e.g., legumes), it should not be filled more than ¾ of its capacity to prevent blockages and ensure safe operation.
- Pressure Release Button: This red button is used to open the Speedcooker® II and will release pressure rapidly when pressed.
- Akutherm Molecular Base: The base of the Speedcooker® II conducts and maintains heat efficiently, ensuring even heat distribution throughout the entire base of the unit.
Safety Features of the AMC Speedcooker® II
The AMC Speedcooker® II is equipped with three primary safety features to ensure user protection:
- Pressure Setting Valve: This valve releases pressure rapidly through the steam outlet if excessive pressure builds up, preventing over-pressurization.
- Red Pressure Valve on the short handle: This valve is visible when the lid is closed properly. While it is building pressure, a small amount of steam may escape from this valve. This steam will stop releasing once the unit is under pressure. If the pressure becomes too high, steam will begin releasing again, serving as an additional safety indicator.
- Sealing Ring and Safety Cut Out: If an excessive amount of pressure should build up in the unit and excess steam is already being released at the Pressure Setting Valve and Red Pressure Valve, the Sealing Ring will pop through its safety hole to release the excess pressure.
Operating the Speedcooker® II
- Sealing the Lid: To seal the lid, ensure the Red Pressure Valve on the short handle and the Pressure Release Button are not obstructed. Place the lid on the Speedcooker® II by aligning the circle on the lid with the circle on the short handle. Lightly press the lid onto the Speedcooker® II. Turn the handle of the lid to the left until it locks. The Red Pressure Valve on the short handle will now be slightly exposed.
- Opening the Lid: When opening the lid, ensure that all the pressure has been released. The Red Pressure Valve will drop, and there should be no steam escaping from any of the safety valves when pressing the Pressure Release Button. Push the Pressure Release Button down and turn the lid towards the right until the circle on the lid and handle are aligned. In this position, the lid may be lifted off, and the Speedcooker® II can be opened.
- Important Note: Never open the lid if the Red Pressure Valve is elevated. This valve must drop, and no steam should be escaping from any of the safety valves before attempting to open the unit.
Cooking Instructions
- Liquid Requirement: Never fill the Speedcooker® II more than ⅔ of its capacity. The minimum amount of liquid necessary to build and maintain adequate pressure is 250 ml (1 cup).
- Food Volume: Do not fill the Speedcooker® II more than ¾ of its capacity when cooking dried fruit, pasta, beans, and other foods that tend to foam. This will avoid blockages of the safety valves.
- Cooking with Correct Temperature and Pressure: It is recommended to always start cooking at a medium temperature. Set the Pressure Setting Valve to either High or Low, depending on the food being cooked. Use the Low setting to prepare vegetables, rice, or poultry. Use the High setting to prepare red meat, legumes, beans, or pulses. As the Speedcooker® II starts heating up, a slight amount of steam might be released from the Red Pressure Valve. As soon as the unit starts building pressure, this valve will seal and rise slightly more. Steam will now not escape from here. Once the correct pressure has been reached, steam will be released from the Pressure Setting Valve. Reduce the heat slightly to maintain this pressure and to stop the release of steam – ideally, you do not want to be releasing pressure while cooking. Your cooking time begins once the correct pressure has been reached.
- Opening After Cooking: Once the required cooking time is up, remove the Speedcooker® II from your stove and allow the Red Pressure Valve to drop completely. If you are concerned about overcooking your food, you can release the pressure quickly by pressing the Pressure Release Button gently and slowly, allowing steam to escape through the Pressure Setting Valve. Only when there is no more pressure inside the Speedcooker® II (when the Red Pressure Valve has completely dropped and no more steam is escaping through the Pressure Setting Valve), should one attempt to open the Speedcooker® II according to the instructions given previously. The lid should be opened immediately after the pressure has been released. Do not allow the Speedcooker® II to stand before opening the lid, as pressure will build up again while the unit is still hot.
Maintenance Features
- Cleaning the Speedcooker® II: After each use, clean the Speedcooker® II with dishwashing liquid or Classic Cleaner. Never put the Speedcooker® II lid in the dishwasher. When washing the lid, ensure that the Red Pressure Valve and Pressure Setting Valve are clean – run hot water through the valves. Remove and wash the Sealing Ring and clean the lid thoroughly. Dry the Speedcooker® II with a clean dish towel.
- Storing the Speedcooker® II: It is best to store the Speedcooker® II without the lid on. Limited ventilation will cause musty smells, and the Sealing Ring may become over-compressed and unable to perform its function.
- Sealing Ring Replacement: For best results, it is recommended to change the Sealing Ring once a year. A new Sealing Ring can be purchased at an AMC Sales Centre or on the AMC website. Do not store food in the Speedcooker® II.
Troubleshooting
The manual provides a comprehensive troubleshooting guide for common issues:
- Steam continues to escape from the Red Pressure Valve or Red Pressure Valve does not rise: This could be due to insufficient temperature, not enough liquid, a clogged Red Pressure Valve, or an incorrectly fitted lid. Solutions include increasing heat, adding more liquid (minimum 250 ml), rinsing the valve and lid, and refitting the lid correctly.
- Steam is escaping from underneath the lid: This indicates a dirty or worn Sealing Ring, which should be cleaned or replaced.
- The Red Pressure Valve does not drop when the pressure inside the Speedcooker® II is low: This means the pressure inside is still too high to open, or the Red Pressure Valve or locking pin may be clogged. The solution is to let the pressure drop further or clean the valve and locking pin.
- Steam still escapes after the Red Pressure Valve has risen: This suggests a clogged Red Pressure Valve or a worn Sealing Ring. Rinsing the valve, shifting the locking pin, or replacing the Sealing Ring are recommended.
- The Sealing Ring has popped through the safety hole: This indicates that a safety feature is working, but other safety features might be faulty, or the Sealing Ring is worn and not functioning. In this case, remove the Speedcooker® II from heat, cool it, check all other safety features, and if any are faulty, return the unit to an AMC Sales Centre for repair. Replacing the Sealing Ring is also a solution.
Important Safety Precautions and Tips
- Always ensure the lid fits properly, with the lid handle directly above the bottom handle. An improperly fitted lid will prevent pressure build-up.
- Never try to open the Speedcooker® II by force, especially when hot. Wait until it has cooled sufficiently, and the Red Pressure Valve has dropped completely.
- Never pour water over the hot, sealed Speedcooker® II, as this is dangerous.
- If steam escapes or water drips from underneath the lid, the Sealing Ring may be poorly positioned, dirty, or damaged. Clean and reposition the Sealing Ring once the unit has cooled down, or replace it if necessary.
- Do not store the Speedcooker® II with the lid on, as limited ventilation can cause musty smells and compress the Sealing Ring, affecting its function.
- For best results, replace the Sealing Ring once a year.
The AMC Speedcooker® II is a reliable and efficient cooking appliance designed for a lifetime of healthy cooking, backed by a lifetime guarantee.
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