Are Aluminum Pressure Cookers Safe?
According to a study, approximately 20% of the intake of aluminum daily comes from cookware.
Consumers who use aluminum cookware daily or tend to store acidic foods in aluminum containers tend to have a higher concentration of the element and thus interference with their DNA.
Yes, Aluminum pressure cookers are safe. However, it’s good to check on the frequency of use. Moreover, ensure that you diversify your cookware. Invest in those made from stainless steel or a combination of stainless steel and aluminum.
Manufacturers would not be selling aluminum cookware if they were harmful. Of course, they take the necessary precautions to ensure the concentrations are safe for humans.
It’s up to you to take the necessary precautions to ensure that you don’t ingest excessive levels of aluminum that will lead to toxicity.
Also remember, as much as you ingest the aluminum, it also leaves the body through excretion.
The BFR recommends that consumers avoid the use of cookware made using aluminum. This eliminates the chance of ingesting the element in excess levels that may lead to toxicity.
If you have aluminum cookware, avoid preparing acidic foods with them. The presence of acidic elements dissolves aluminum.
Another great tip is to check the condition of your aluminum pressure cooker.
Ensure that they’re not worn out or corroded which increases the opportunity for aluminum to be absorbed into the food.
How Much Aluminum Is Safe Per Day?
To be able to protect yourself and your family, you need to know the permissible levels of aluminum that are safe for the human body.
The safe limit of aluminum consumption per day is 4–5 μg/kg/day. With this number in mind, know that you can introduce aluminum to your body through the water you drink, what you eat, and breathing it in the air.
Here’s a table showing aluminum levels in an adult and what it may indicate.
| Aluminum Level | Indication |
| 1 to 3 µg/L | Healthy Individual |
| 10 µg/L | Normal |
| 50 µg/L | Chronic dialysis |
| 60 µg/L | Increased absorption levels |
| 100 µg/L | Toxic |
| 200 µg/L | Toxicity with clinical symptoms |
The aluminum levels in a human being can be detected in the blood, feces, urine, and bones.
According to Winchester Hospital, the symptoms of aluminum toxicity may include seizures, muscle weakness, confusion, slow growth, and bone diseases.
Advantages of Aluminum Pressure Cookers
Away from the negative effects of aluminum and its toxicity, there are benefits of using aluminum pressure cookers.
1. Affordable
Aluminum pressure cookers are affordable when compared to stainless steel. You can easily find a pressure cooker in the $35 to $60 range.
2. Lightweight
Cookware made using aluminum is lighter due to the nature of the element. You’ll therefore find large-capacity pressure cookers are not as heavy as their stainless-steel counterparts.
3. Great Conductor of Heat
Aluminum is a great conductor of heat which speeds up the process of cooking using the pressure cooker.
Read: How Hot Does a Pressure Cooker Get?
Disadvantages Of Aluminum Pressure Cookers
There are also some disadvantages to using pressure cookers made from aluminum.
- Aluminum pressure cookers are not sturdy and durable. They are easily corroded by acidic materials and stain easily.
- In addition, frequent and prolonged use exposes one to aluminum toxicity.
- Aluminum pressure cookers do not function well with different cooktops such as induction and glass-top electric cookers.
Aluminum vs Stainless Steel Pressure Cookers
There are a variety of stovetop pressure cookers available in the market.
One way to distinguish them is by the material that makes them. The two predominant pressure cookers are those made using stainless steel and aluminum.
There’s been a lot of debate on which type is better. Both varieties are great and the use depends on user preferences.
Here are a few ways in which the two pressure-cooker types differ. We hope this information will aid in your decision-making when it comes to choosing between the two.
Cost
As mentioned earlier in the article, aluminum pressure cookers are cheaper compared to stainless-steel models.
Aluminum as a metal is cheaper to buy which reduces the costs of production for the manufacturers.
Durability
Owing to the sturdy nature of stainless-steel pressure cookers, they are more durable compared to aluminum ones.
With equal care and maintenance, you’ll use a stainless-steel pressure cooker longer.
Material and Design
Stainless steel pressure cookers are sturdy, heavy, and thick. They can offer value for money and quality.
Their design is aesthetically pleasing and the accompanying parts are also made from superior materials.
Stainless steel is heavy and not the best conductor of heat. It may become a challenge to transport large-capacity pressure cookers.
Moreover, the lower heat conductivity means that you’ll cook food slower, and with the heat retention, the food might overcook if precautions are not taken.
Check out: How Long to Wait Before Opening a Pressure Cooker?
Aluminum pressure cookers are lightweight due to the nature of the metal. This is a disadvantage as it makes the cookware prone to deformities.
It can also be an advantage since they’ll be easier to transport.
The lightweight characteristic combined with its good conductivity makes aluminum pressure cookers convenient and fast for cooking.
Point to note, using very high temperatures with aluminum pressure cookers may work against you as the food can overcook.
Aluminum pressure cookers are prone to staining and are corroded by acidic materials. Using them limits what you can cook to maintain the integrity of the cooker.
Conclusion
Aluminum pressure cookers are safe to use. The key is to ensure that the levels that may be consumed from any dissolving aluminum are within the given standards.
Even though we may ingest aluminum from our cookware, the metal does leave our bodies through excretion.
It’s important to diversify our cookware to manage how much aluminum is within our reach.
There are two types of stovetop pressure cookers. Those made from aluminum and stainless steel. They both have advantages and disadvantages.
It’s good to look at all the characteristics of the pressure cookers and pick one that will meet our individual needs.
However, stainless steel pressure cookers seem to take the day as they’re durable and reliable. Let us know which type you prefer.
Share and let us learn from your experience!
