Cooking apparatus and methods of employing such apparatus

A cooking apparatus comprising:

• a cooking vessel;
• a lid for covering said cooking vessel;
• a first sealing means for forming a first seal between said cooking vessel and said lid;
• and
• a second sealing means for forming a second seal between said cooking vessel and said lid, wherein said first seal is broken when the pressure level inside said cooking vessel is at a first pressure level and said second seal is broken when the pressure level inside said cooking vessel is at a second pressure level, and said first pressure level is less than said second pressure level.

A cooking apparatus comprising:

• a cooking vessel;
• a lid for covering said cooking vessel;
• an exhaust tube for bleeding off pressure within said cooking vessel, wherein at least a portion of said exhaust tube is positioned above said lid when said lid covers said cooking vessel;
• a first means for forming a first seal between said cooking vessel and said lid;
• a second sealing means for forming a second seal between said cooking vessel and said lid;
• a first vertical rod connected to said lid;
• a gear rack connected to at least a portion of said first vertical rod;
• a first gear comprising a first plurality of gear teeth, wherein said first gear teeth engage said gear rack;
• and
• means for rotating said first gear, wherein said rotation of said first gear raises or lowers said lid.

A method for reducing pressure comprising the steps of:

• providing a vessel;
• covering said vessel with a lid;
• positioning at least a portion of an exhaust tube above said lid when said lid covers said vessel;
• bleeding off at least a portion of said pressure inside said vessel through said exhaust tube;
• and
• connecting a cap member to said lid, wherein the step of connecting said cap member comprises the step of disposing said portion of said exhaust tube positioned above said lid within said portion of said cap member positioned above said lid when said lid covers said vessel.

A method for covering a vessel comprising the steps of:

• providing a vessel;
• covering said vessel with a lid;
• forming a first seal between said vessel and said lid;
• forming a second seal between said vessel and said lid;
• and
• uncovering said vessel, wherein the step of uncovering said vessel comprises the steps of:
• breaking said first seal when the pressure level inside said cooking vessel is at a first pressure level;
• and
• breaking said second seal when the pressure level inside said cooking vessel is at a second pressure level, wherein said first pressure level is less than said second pressure level.