Question about vintage "Mirro" pressure cookers.
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Are Old Pressure Cookers Safe?
I would say YES, there is no way if the body and lid are in good shape that one of these cookers would ever blow up. Anyone that has seen my pantry knows that there are at least 25+ old PCs in there and I have used every one with no hint of any safety issues. In this day in age if older Presto PCs were failing you can bet the Consumer Product Safety Commission would have issued either an advisory or product recall by now.
All that said newer models do have better safety interlocks that make them more foolproof to use, so depending on your mechanical comfort level you might opt for a newer one.
I would say YES, there is no way if the body and lid are in good shape that one of these cookers would ever blow up. Anyone that has seen my pantry knows that there are at least 25+ old PCs in there and I have used every one with no hint of any safety issues. In this day in age if older Presto PCs were failing you can bet the Consumer Product Safety Commission would have issued either an advisory or product recall by now.
All that said newer models do have better safety interlocks that make them more foolproof to use, so depending on your mechanical comfort level you might opt for a newer one.
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
My Mom still has her 60 something year old P/C. We were advised by the man at ACE hardware that Mirro still makes all the parts for all the Pressure Cookers they ever made.
So you can still get the seals, fuses, and gauges.
As for testing the pressure vessel itself. Usually at canning season the extension office will pressure test cookers for free. Some hardware stores, such as ACE will test them as well. You would just need to call around to see if they have someone, and the equipment to do so.
So you can still get the seals, fuses, and gauges.
As for testing the pressure vessel itself. Usually at canning season the extension office will pressure test cookers for free. Some hardware stores, such as ACE will test them as well. You would just need to call around to see if they have someone, and the equipment to do so.
Many thanks for the answers in this thread...
I certainly appreciate the time and thought that went into the answers on this thread. Mom rarely did pressure cooking and I have no memories at all of the process or the food ... only the equipment.
I certainly appreciate the time and thought that went into the answers on this thread. Mom rarely did pressure cooking and I have no memories at all of the process or the food ... only the equipment.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Give pressure cooking a try, you'll love it! My recipe above is good for a first timer. It's variable recipe. You can cut your carrots any shape you want, use any kind of potatoes you want, adjust the seasonings any way you want and it will still turn out great. And of course you can use any brand of beef broth too.
With the way pressure cookers are designed and made, the worst thing that will happen is that the relief valve will melt. When I was about 12, I was outside playing baseball and my mother had a pot roast cooking on the stove in her PC. She said "In a half hour, come in the house and turn the gas off under the PC." Heh, telling a 12 year old involved in a baseball game is not going to give you an accurate time measurement. I completely forgot about the PC cooking away. All that happened was the pressure relief valve melted depressurizing the pressure cooker. No pot roast on the ceiling or anything like that. Just smoke in the house.
So maybe about 2 hours after I was supposed to turn the thing off, I got home.
The house was filled with smoke! It smelled like burnt pot roast. I turned the gas off and let the pot sit. I thought I ruined the thing. When my mother got home she couldn't figure out why I forgot about the PC cooking away. All that was left of the pot roast was the bone that was within. Everything else was gone! So she cleaned the pot out, sent me to the local hardware store and for $1.25 she had me pick up a replacement pressure relief valve and the PC was good to go again!
And as for the stories of people who have heard of pressure cookers exploding and taking the house with it are things that may have happened back in the 1920's or so. Back then hot water tanks used to explode too and fly through the roofs of houses. But people today aren't as afraid of hot water tanks as they are of pressure cookers.
With the way pressure cookers are designed and made, the worst thing that will happen is that the relief valve will melt. When I was about 12, I was outside playing baseball and my mother had a pot roast cooking on the stove in her PC. She said "In a half hour, come in the house and turn the gas off under the PC." Heh, telling a 12 year old involved in a baseball game is not going to give you an accurate time measurement. I completely forgot about the PC cooking away. All that happened was the pressure relief valve melted depressurizing the pressure cooker. No pot roast on the ceiling or anything like that. Just smoke in the house.
So maybe about 2 hours after I was supposed to turn the thing off, I got home.
The house was filled with smoke! It smelled like burnt pot roast. I turned the gas off and let the pot sit. I thought I ruined the thing. When my mother got home she couldn't figure out why I forgot about the PC cooking away. All that was left of the pot roast was the bone that was within. Everything else was gone! So she cleaned the pot out, sent me to the local hardware store and for $1.25 she had me pick up a replacement pressure relief valve and the PC was good to go again!
And as for the stories of people who have heard of pressure cookers exploding and taking the house with it are things that may have happened back in the 1920's or so. Back then hot water tanks used to explode too and fly through the roofs of houses. But people today aren't as afraid of hot water tanks as they are of pressure cookers.
norgeway
Well-known member
RE Square handled Mirro Matic..
The picture of the Mirro Matic with square handles was Mirros first pressure cooker introduced just after WW2.
The picture of the Mirro Matic with square handles was Mirros first pressure cooker introduced just after WW2.
Thanks Hans!
It was a rare pair of events that had me come across two of those post-war cookers within a week's time, both complete and in perfect working order.
This thread has me anxious to find a reason to use one of mine soon. It's the gadgetry that helps keep cooking interesting for me. I just used my Crock-a-Dial to make stew last week!
It was a rare pair of events that had me come across two of those post-war cookers within a week's time, both complete and in perfect working order.
This thread has me anxious to find a reason to use one of mine soon. It's the gadgetry that helps keep cooking interesting for me. I just used my Crock-a-Dial to make stew last week!
I've been using PC for many many years. Only issue I had was my own fault. When I used to do ribs, I cook them in the PC and then toss on grill with barbecue sauce. This time it was a large slab of ribs and during cooking it somehow blocked the center where the regulator sits. Consequently the pressure built up and the safety plug blew, it did spray rib juice all over the kitchen. Now I make sure there is plenty of room in the pot and point the pressure plug toward the back of the stove so if it does blow the mess will be contained.
norgeway
Well-known member
I remember...
My Aunt blew the plug out of her Mirro Matic cooking ...of all things, pork liver and 1/2 of a hog head!!LOL...have mercy what a greasy mess!!!!..for the non Southerners, you cook this combination of stuff to make liver mush....something akin to scrapple....when the meat is cooked, you grind it , put it back in the broth, bring to a boil and add sage, salt and red pepper, and add corn meal until thick, pack into a loaf pan and chill it, slice it and brown it...truly a dish of the South!..
My Aunt blew the plug out of her Mirro Matic cooking ...of all things, pork liver and 1/2 of a hog head!!LOL...have mercy what a greasy mess!!!!..for the non Southerners, you cook this combination of stuff to make liver mush....something akin to scrapple....when the meat is cooked, you grind it , put it back in the broth, bring to a boil and add sage, salt and red pepper, and add corn meal until thick, pack into a loaf pan and chill it, slice it and brown it...truly a dish of the South!..
whirlcool
Well-known member
You got to also be careful when cooking certain items in a PC. I have heard that rice can foam up and block the pressure regulator valve too. We always make sure that the liquid we are cooking with never goes more that 1/2" above the meat that we are cooking. You have to have room for boiling and liquid exapansion.
norgeway
Well-known member
Rhubarb
Is another no no!..I know a lady who got scalded really bad when she cooked some rhubarb and blew out the safety plug.
Is another no no!..I know a lady who got scalded really bad when she cooked some rhubarb and blew out the safety plug.
classicguywi
Well-known member
My Family....
I grew up with a grandfather that was a pressure cooker wiz, and would basically have it on the stove all winter long. He would always have stews, and one pot meals in them. Because of the memories of my childhood I have been on the hunt for a Mirro cooker, and I have finally come up with one. It had a replacement seal, owners manual and looked to be used very little. It also has a safety latch that keeps the lid locked while under pressure.
I had come across many cookers while looking for this one and most of them looked like they had been used to hammer nails, or worse. I must have passed on at least fifty or so before I found this one.
I enjoy using mine and have perfected a beef stew, and porcupine meatballs... I love the speed and flavor that develops in these and the fond memories that come back
with the sound of using these.
I recommend them, there is a learning curve to using them, but that is true with anything.... just start slow and educate yourself about the recommendations and proper use. I have discovered that each unit can very, and it is something that you need to learn the quirks of the cooker that you get.
Mike
I grew up with a grandfather that was a pressure cooker wiz, and would basically have it on the stove all winter long. He would always have stews, and one pot meals in them. Because of the memories of my childhood I have been on the hunt for a Mirro cooker, and I have finally come up with one. It had a replacement seal, owners manual and looked to be used very little. It also has a safety latch that keeps the lid locked while under pressure.
I had come across many cookers while looking for this one and most of them looked like they had been used to hammer nails, or worse. I must have passed on at least fifty or so before I found this one.
I enjoy using mine and have perfected a beef stew, and porcupine meatballs... I love the speed and flavor that develops in these and the fond memories that come back
with the sound of using these.
I recommend them, there is a learning curve to using them, but that is true with anything.... just start slow and educate yourself about the recommendations and proper use. I have discovered that each unit can very, and it is something that you need to learn the quirks of the cooker that you get.
Mike
whirlcool
Well-known member
That appears to be a late 70's Mirro PC you have there. In great condition no less!
Mirro Pressure Cooker Date
Is stamped on the bottom, looks like 2-84 but can't see for sure.
Is stamped on the bottom, looks like 2-84 but can't see for sure.
Mirro Pressure Cooker Date
Is stamped on the bottom, looks like 2-84 but can't see for sure.
Is stamped on the bottom, looks like 2-84 but can't see for sure.
classicguywi
Well-known member
close....
from what I can see it is stamped 2-94
from what I can see it is stamped 2-94
Mirro Pressure Cooker Date
I kind of thought it said 2-94, I also thought it was newer than 84 because of the interlock to keep it from being opened while under pressure.
I kind of thought it said 2-94, I also thought it was newer than 84 because of the interlock to keep it from being opened while under pressure.
I bought one of the new style cookers with the lever lock and other gadgets. Tried it, but still like my mom's mirro better.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Even my 61' Mirro has a lid interlock to keep the lid on while under pressure.
I didn't think that Mirro made PC's into the 90's. At some point in time they were bought out by Newell company and then closed their factories with anything left being made overseas.
Mirro was considered an Aluminum Novelty Company, maybe that's why they never made a SS model.
I didn't think that Mirro made PC's into the 90's. At some point in time they were bought out by Newell company and then closed their factories with anything left being made overseas.
Mirro was considered an Aluminum Novelty Company, maybe that's why they never made a SS model.
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