The Healthy Choice PC700 is a versatile electric pressure and slow cooker designed to offer a faster and healthier cooking experience. This appliance seals in steam to cook food more quickly and efficiently, preserving nutrients and enhancing textures and tastes. It features easy-to-use touch-button settings, a countdown timer, and a spacious 6-liter cooking pot, making it suitable for a variety of meals, including pot roasts.
Function Description
The PC700 operates as both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker, offering a wide range of cooking options. Its primary function is to cook food under high pressure, which significantly reduces cooking times and energy consumption compared to traditional methods. For instance, it can save about 20% of time and over 25% of power for general meals, and up to 40% of time and over 50% of power when cooking soups. The appliance also features a slow cook function, allowing for extended cooking periods at lower temperatures.
The control panel includes several preset buttons for common dishes, such as Chicken, Beef, Fish, Rice, Soup, Steam, and Cake. These presets simplify the cooking process, enabling users to start an automatic cooking program with a single press. Once a program is complete, the appliance emits an alert signal and automatically switches to a "Keep Warm" mode to maintain food temperature.
A notable feature is the 24-hour countdown timer, which allows users to set a delayed start for their cooking program. After setting the desired delay time, the countdown begins, and once it reaches zero, the selected cooking program automatically commences.
Usage Features
The PC700 is designed for user convenience and safety. To begin cooking, users first remove the cover by grasping the handle, turning it clockwise, and lifting it. The inner cooking pot is then removed to add food and liquids according to the recipe. It's crucial to observe the fill lines: the total volume of food and liquid should not exceed 80% of the pot's capacity. For foods that expand, like dried vegetables, beans, rice, and grains, the total volume should not exceed 60%. When pressure cooking, at least 1/2 cup of liquid is required, and the total volume should not be less than 20% of the pot's capacity.
After adding ingredients, any food residue from the rim of the cooking pot should be removed to ensure a proper seal. The sealing ring must be securely in place on its supporting cover. The cooking pot is then placed back into the external pot, ensuring it sits firmly on the heating plate. The cover is closed by rotating it anti-clockwise until it clicks into position.
A critical step for pressure cooking is positioning the exhaust valve (steam release valve) to the "AIRTIGHT" (sealed) position. The exhaust valve does not click or lock but is safely secured even with a loose fit. The cover, however, will lock onto the main body once pressure builds.
To turn on the unit, the power cord is plugged into the pressure cooker and then into a wall outlet. A "BEEP" sound will confirm it's in "stand by" mode, with "00:00" displayed on the control panel. Users can then select a preset cooking button or use the "COOK" button to choose a desired function.
For preset options, the display shows the "pressure cooking time" (e.g., "P25" for 25 minutes). This time blinks for 5 seconds before the screen shows "00," with the zeros scrolling, indicating that the pressure cooker is building pressure. Once sufficient pressure is built (approximately 5-10 minutes depending on food quantity), the pressure hold indicator turns on, and the cooking timer begins counting down.
Many preset functions, such as Chicken, Beef, Fish, Rice, Soup, and Steam, offer "Light," "Standard," and "Strong" pressure time options, which can be cycled through by pressing the "SELECT" button. For example, pressing "SOUP" then "SELECT" will cycle through 25 minutes (Standard), 45 minutes (Strong), and 15 minutes (Light). Users can also manually adjust cooking times within a specified range using the "+" or "-" buttons. The "PRESET PRESSURE" button allows for manual adjustment of pressure cooking time after selecting a preset.
The slow cook function allows for cooking times between 2 and 9 hours, in 30-minute increments. The default slow cook time is 4 hours, which can be adjusted using the "+" or "-" buttons. Unlike pressure cooking, "Light," "Standard," or "Strong" options are not available in slow cook mode.
After cooking, the unit automatically switches to "Keep Warm" mode, indicated by "bb" on the screen. This mode maintains food temperature between 60-80°C. The pressure built during cooking will slowly release as the unit cools. For quicker release, the exhaust valve can be turned to the "EXHAUST" (release) position. It's important not to force the cover open until the float valve has completely subsided. For liquids like porridge or soups, the unit should be cooled down before releasing pressure. The "KEEP WARM/OFF" button can be used to turn off the "Keep Warm" mode or to cancel a cooking program, returning the unit to standby ("00 00").
Maintenance Features
Proper cleaning and maintenance are essential for the longevity and safe operation of the PC700. Before cleaning, the power cord must be unplugged. The outer body of the appliance should be cleaned with a soft cloth, such as a paper towel or microfiber towel, and should never be immersed in water or have water poured into it.
The underside of the cover (lid), sealing ring, pressure limit valve, anti-block cover, air escape, and float valve should be rinsed with warm water and dried completely. The area under the upper ring can be cleaned with a dampened cloth or microfiber towel, avoiding chemical cleaners.
The cooking pot is dishwasher safe, but for hand-cleaning, a soft cloth or sponge should be used, taking care not to damage the inside coating. Harsh chemicals or scouring pads should never be used on the cooking pot.
To clean the sealing ring, users should hold the knob on the sealing ring supporting cover and pull the ring up. After cleaning, the sealing ring supporting cover should be put back in place.
Regular checks are recommended to ensure no foreign objects are between the bottom of the inner pot and the heating plate, as this can cause burning smells, strange sounds, or malfunctions. Similarly, the steam release opening, exhaust valve, and float valve should always be clean before use. If any unusual sounds, odors, or disruptions occur, the appliance should be switched off, and customer service contacted if the issue cannot be resolved by checking for obstructions. Users should never attempt to disassemble or repair the appliance themselves.
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