pressure cooker gasket keeps failing

[SparkyTris]

We have a rather new (4yr old) Prestige pressure cooker, which seems to destroy its own gasket. It appears that the gasket succumbs to the heat and expands or otherwise becomes mis-shapen then fails to seat properly.
The first time this happened I simply replaced the gasket, but exactly the same has now happened to the replacement. To begin with, the gasket would eventually resume its shape and the vessel would seal, but with repeated use the gasket has again cooked out of seal.

I feel that this must be user error but I can't work out what is going wrong.
Is this a known problem? any wizard wheezes?
any help much appreciated.

 

[bernardgreen]

Two things come to mind.

Is the lid being tightened down fully ? If not fully down the pressure could force the gasket out of place.

Are you cooking at a very high pressure that is beyond the design spec of the gasket ? Does the pressure relief valve operate while you are cooking ? this would hindicate pressure might be excessive. ( based my aunt's pressure cooker which had a pressure setting valve and a separate fixed pressure relief valve )

 

[SparkyTris]

INteresting; - That (the lid not being locked home) was my first thought too. Whenever I have used it I have found the quarter-turn interlocking flange locking procedure to be somewhat harder than I would have expected for an appliance designed for domestic use. It is possible that my co-director is not locking her flanges appropriately...
as for the design spec of the gasket.... they are only a few quid and don't come with a data sheet so it's difficult to tell.
The vessel does not have a fixed PRV.
I have just noticed that on the front cover of the manual it actually specifically advises "For performance and safety, remember to replace your gasket every 12 months"....!

 

[bernardgreen]

"For performance and safety, remember to replace your gasket every 12 months"....!

Nothing like a new gasket......

It is possible that my co-director is not locking her flanges appropriately...

One kitchen.....one cook, two many cooks always spoil something.........

 

[JohnD]

it may help to rub the "rubber" seal lightly with cooking oil, so it can slide easily into position when the lid is turned. The older aluminium pans were prone to roughness and benefitted from a polish with a green scourer.

If you're using a gas hob it's possible for the flames or heat to lick up the sides of the pan and heat the flange.