Caring for a Mirro Pressure Cooker

Caring for your Mirro pressure cooker does not have to be hard and caring for it properly can help extend the lifetime of your cooker.

If you have just purchased your Mirro Cooker then you will want to wash it with hot soapy water and dry it before your first use.

When using your cooker never beat a spoon, potato masher, etc against the rim. This could cause a mar or dent that could potentially prevent  your cooker from sealing properly. 

You will want to clean inside your cooker after every use. To make cleaning the inside of your cooker easier run warm water into it as soon as you remove the food from it. Then when you are ready to wash it, use warm, soapy water.

If your cooker has hard water stains to remove them you will need:

• soap filled steel-wool pad
• cream of tartar

To clean: boil 1 quart water and 2 teaspoons of the cream of tartar. Allow this solution to boil in the cooker, with the cover OFF, for a few minutes. Allow to cool, clean with steel-wool pad, and allow to dry. (You can also substitute a the cream of tartar solution with a solution made of equal parts water and vinegar).

To clean the exterior, occasionally clean with silver polish. To keep your exterior from dulling never soak or cover the pan in water and do not wash in the dishwasher. 

After each use of your pressure cooker you will want to remove the gasket from the cover. Wash it in warm soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. Then put the gasket back into the cover so that your cooker is ready for its next use.

You will want to be sure to always wash the cover thoroughly after each use. Run hot water around all of the openings in the handle to keep the lift pin assembly free from grease or food particles that could keep your cooker from operating correctly. -Keep in mind that if moisture stays inside of the handle, the steam may not appear around the handle during the next use. Mirro's User Manual states that this is normal.

After washing and rinsing the cooker's cover, and before using, hold the cover up to the light so you can see through the vent tube. If you cannot see light through the vent tube then it may be blocked. To unblock your cooker's vent tube, carefully run a wire in and out of the vent tube to be sure that the tube is clear and unobstructed. Rinse again in hot water.

Your pressure control will typically stay clean as the steam that comes out of the cleaner serves as almost a self cleaning for the pressure control. However, it will not harm the control if you choose to wash it in warm, soapy water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after washing.

 To store your Mirro cooker you should store it with the cover off, or upside down on the cooker. Do not store with cover and gasket tightened on.