Yes, according to one specific reference, you can put salt in a pressure cooker, but under very particular conditions and not for standard pressure cooking.
Using Salt as a Heating Medium
The reference describes a method where salt (or sand) is placed in the pressure cooker not as an ingredient in the liquid, but as a dry heating medium.
Here's how the reference explains this use:
- The pressure cooker is used without the top lid or the pressure relief valve.
- There is no water and thus no steam, meaning the cooker is not operating under pressure.
- Adding salt or sand in the cooker and keeping the food in it ensures that the heating is slow and all around the food.
This method essentially transforms the pressure cooker into a vessel used for dry, indirect heating, similar to baking in salt or sand. The salt acts as a buffer, distributing heat evenly and slowly around the food item (which is typically placed within the salt or in a container submerged in the salt). This technique is useful for achieving slow, consistent cooking or baking results where direct heat might scorch the food.
It is crucial to understand that this method does not involve operating the pressure cooker under pressure with salt and water simultaneously, which could potentially cause issues depending on the amount and type of salt. The reference specifically details using salt as a dry heating medium in a non-pressurized context.
