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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> >But, would the more modern ones (like the one I described) blow-up?  I've 
> 

You'd have to work at it, but you could do it.  There is a pressure relief 
plug in the lid that will blow out if the pressure gets too high.  But as Bev 
mentioned, I wouldn't be surprised to see a chicken come thought that little 
hole if the pressure relief plug blew.  You'd just get chicken instead of 
shrapnel.

The danger is in filling hte pressure cooker too full so some bit of food 
bocks the vent that feeds the 'jiggler'.  Then the pressure will build up 
until 
the cooker blows the valve or the gasket.

They are dangerous no matter how the manufacturer reassures you.  It took me 
only one scalded hand to learn that when I took the lid off the pressure 
cooker to lean the lid AWAY from me so the steam did not waift right up my 
arm.  It 
isn't  212 degrees coming out of the newly opened cooker, it's as hot as 400 
degrees and must be treated with a great deal of respect.

James