My mom used hers all the tiem to cook chickens, beef and such. Add carrots, onions and taters and you have a meal.

The Microwave, or should I say Mirrowave before microwaves. Cut cooking time considerable.

Mom did have the lead pop-off valve blow once. It was a safety device in case the pressure vent tube, topped with pressure disk, got plugged. If that happened the pressure would just build, and build until "BLEWEY"! In her case the the pressure puck was working okay. She suspected that the safety valve just got old and let go. The liquid contents rocketed out of the hole where the safety valve was like Mount Vesuvius. There was chicken soup raining from the ceiling. I was about six years old and thought it was funnier than heck. Mom was not amused.