About Cooker Racks
Most pressure cookers come with a rack or trivet. Racks may be made of aluminum of stainless steel, or in the case of electric pressure cookers they are just plastic.
Except for the plastic type, all metal racks and trivets are easily interchangeable regardless if they are aluminum or stainless steel. Racks and trivets come in all sizes and are generally made from stainless steel, although some inexpensive manufacturers will cut costs and supply aluminum racks, while others use wire racks. Some racks are wide enough to cover the bottom of the cookers, a good thing to have, others are so small they are almost worthless. Some racks have a rim or legs that raise the surface much higher than others and this is a desired feature, while others are scarcely 1/8 inch high and do not do a good job. Electric pressure cooker often use small plastic inserts.
This is a discolored aluminum rack in an aluminum canner. Note that the rack covers most of the bottom.
Whatever type of rack you have this is an important and very useful accessory to your pressure cooker .A rack or trivet serves many purposes. By raising foods off the bottom of the cooker you can minimize the chance of scorching foods. Don't limit it just for meats, use racks in soups, beans and stews as well. Racks are particularly useful for aluminum or stainless steel pressure cooker that do not have the added benefit of a 3 -ply bottom to guard against scorching foods. Racks are a necessity if you must cook on an electric stove for the some reason. A full pot will take longer to come to pressure so the chances of your food scorching is higher than with a partially filled pot and a rack will protect most of the food it this should happen. Use a rack when cooking thick sauces such a spaghetti sauce for the same reason.
If you are cooking a recipe that uses accessories, such as in my PIP recipes, pudding and cakes cooked in a mold, or cheesecakes or casserole in a dish, then you should use a rivet. Foods that are to be steamed should be placed on a rack and raised ABOVE the level of the water. When cooking several items that can be stacked, such as individual custard cups, use an additional rack over the top of the first layer of cups, and then stack the second tier on top.
If you need a replacement contact the manufacturer, racks or trivets are very inexpensive. You may also find that it is possible to use racks from other manufacturers as long as the replacement fits the width of your cooker. Cooks may want to replace an aluminum rack with stainless from another company as long as it will fit inside your cooker.
