Pick a Pot

Before the meeting:

1. Review the owner’s manual for the pressure cooker you will demonstrate.
2. Learn how pressure cookers work by watching the YouTube video “The Science Behind Pressure Cookers.” (duration 1 minutes 49 seconds)
3. Set up the meeting so Cub Scouts can easily see the pressure cooker. Lay out the different pieces of the pressure cooker.

During the meeting:

1. Gather Cub Scouts and inform them that for this Adventure they are going to use a pressure cooker.
2. Explain what a pressure cooker is and how it works. A pressure cooker is a pot that has a lid with a special seal that locks the lid in place. When the pot heats up the water or moisture that is inside can get hotter than boiling water using a regular pot. This way the water gets hotter before turning into steam. This higher temperature cooks food faster and the moisture in the pressure cooker keeps it from drying out compared to cooking in an oven.
3. Explain that with this extra hot water and steam, the pressure inside the pot can be dangerous. Point out the safety valve on the pressure cooker and explain that there is a safety measure to keep from opening the lid if the pressure has not been released.
4. Tell the Cub Scouts to always have an adult supervise them when using a pressure cooker.
5. Point out the different parts of the pressure cooker and what they do.