They’re somewhat more fiddly—if the rubber gasket cracks or if the pressure regulator knob gets lost (on an old style one) it just becomes a normal pot. Worst case the valve gets blocked and it explodes.
Newer ones come with silicone gaskets which don’t crack as easily (and these are easily replaced in any case) and if the valve gets blocked there’s an analgoue release valve which is designed to pop first (search for “pressure cooker safety relief valve” to see), which is also replaceable.
So the worst case is actually “user didn’t wait for steam to emerge before putting on the weight, AND the valve gets blocked, AND the safety valve was replaced with a bad one” and then it explodes.
The additional handful of steps (lock in lid, wait for steam, place weight, and then after cooking unlock lid, check valve is clear) is definitely worth the time and energy savings.
They’re somewhat more fiddly—if the rubber gasket cracks or if the pressure regulator knob gets lost (on an old style one) it just becomes a normal pot. Worst case the valve gets blocked and it explodes.
Newer ones come with silicone gaskets which don’t crack as easily (and these are easily replaced in any case) and if the valve gets blocked there’s an analgoue release valve which is designed to pop first (search for “pressure cooker safety relief valve” to see), which is also replaceable.
So the worst case is actually “user didn’t wait for steam to emerge before putting on the weight, AND the valve gets blocked, AND the safety valve was replaced with a bad one” and then it explodes.
The additional handful of steps (lock in lid, wait for steam, place weight, and then after cooking unlock lid, check valve is clear) is definitely worth the time and energy savings.