FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about Magefesa Products
If repairs become necessary during the warranty period, please return the unit and a copy of your original purchase receipt, freight prepaid to:
Magefesa USA
3325 NW 70th Avenue
Miami, FL 33122-133
Toll Free: 1-866-MGF-SUSA
To avoid damage in transit, please package the cooker carefully in its original box and packing material. Magefesa is not responsible for any damage caused to the unit in return shipment.
Overcooking is the common mistake of novices and long time pressure cooker users alike that not only produces mushy foods, but a loss of nutrition. A pressure cooker requires fairly accurate timing to achieve high quality results. The size of the food will also affect the cooking times. To balance out the differences in cooking times of foods cut the foods that require the longest cooking times in smaller pieces, and the shorter cooking foods in larger pieces.
There may be some reasons for this to happen.
The pressure cooker is too full. Remember that a pressure cooker needs space for the steam so never fill it more than two-thirds full.
The pressure cooker was not closed properly. Make sure the pressure cooker is properly closed so that a tight seal is created. Always refer to your user’s manual for detailed instructions.
You may see some steam venting around the handle as the pressure cooker exhausts the inside air in the process of pressurization. This is normal and part of our built in safety features that allow the pressure cooker to safely regulate the amount of pressure inside the cooker at all times.
There may still be a buildup of pressure inside. Never attempt to force open the lid of the cooker if there is pressure inside. To check whether there is pressure inside, slightly lift the weight valve and if steam comes out, allow the cooker to cool for some more time. If you used the cold-water-release method, release any remaining pressure and try opening again. If you used the natural release method to de-pressurize the cooker, a slight vacuum may have developed. Heat the pressure cooker over high heat just until steam begins to come out of the pressure regulator valve.
There can be numerous reasons why pressure would not build up in your pressure cooker. Not enough cooking liquid. Always use a sufficient amount of cooking liquid for the type of food being prepared and the length of cooking. Consult the pressure-cooker recipe you are following for the amount of liquid.
The pressure cooker was not properly closed. Refer to the instructional manual packaged with your cooker.
The pressure cooker was not heated over high enough heat. Always heat the closed pressure cooker over high heat until high pressure has been reached.
Pressure-regulator valve is dirty and/or obstructed. The pressure-regulator valve can become dirty when cooking. Clean the valve after each use as explained in your user’s manual.
The gasket is improperly positioned, dirty or worn. Always check to make sure that the gasket is in place and properly inserted before attempting to use the pressure cooker. The gasket should be removed from the lid and washed after each use. Refer to your instruction manual for care and maintenance tips. After continued use, gasket will begin to wear or dry out. It should be replaced at least once a year or more often if the pressure cooker is used more frequently.
All of our super-fast pressure cookers (Ideal, Mageplus and Practika Plus models)are equipped with spring-mechanism valves. Therefore, the spring loaded pressure indicator (Red or blue pin) will rise to indicate the unit has come up to pressure. Once the unit has come up to pressure and the steam starts to be released, slightly lower the heat to Medium*. It is at this time when you start counting the time for cooking as it appears in your recipe. Do not lower the burner heat too much, otherwise the internal temperature will drop and you will lose pressure in your cooker.
Magefesa currently works with two Star pressure cooker models:
Those ones manufactured until 2012.
Those ones manufactured from 2013 onwards.
In our online store you will find spare parts for both models, identified with 2012 and 2013 seals respectively.
If any doubt should arise about the manufacturing year of your pressure cooker, you only need to pay attention to the date on the base, as you may observe in the image below:
In order for the pressure cooker to build pressure, the cooking liquid in the pot has to be brought to a boil with the lid positioned and locked in place. As the cooking liquid begins to boil, steam is produced. The trapped steam will build up and compress, creating pressure. Therefore, once your cooker is loaded and locked into place, raise the burner heat to High. As pressure builds, the pressure regulator valve will activate in accordance with the specifications and features of your pressure cooker model.
Magefesa pressure cookers are made of premium stainless steel with a beautiful high luster finish. However, sometimes stains may build up from normal everyday use. A simple technique will help you remove the stains. Add equal parts of lemon juice and water to your cooker and heat the mixture until hot, then use a nonabrasive sponge to remove the stains. Do not clean the cooker with any abrasive materials as this might damage the finish on your pressure cooker.
Magefesa offers an extended warranty of TEN YEARS from date of purchase against all defects in material and workmanship. This warranty is only valid if the pressure cooker is used solely for household purposes in accordance with the use and care instructions supplied.
Parts such as gaskets, internal component parts, etc. which are subject to normal wear and tear are excluded from the warranty. Also excluded are all defects resulting from accident, damaged suffered in transit, misuse or negligence (including overheating and boiling dry), normal wear and tear such as scratched, dulling of the polish or staining, etc., and repairs or manipulations carried out by unauthorized or non-qualified personnel.
The gasket placed around the lid to seal the cooker is subject to the usual wear and tear of frequent use. Generally, it should be replaced once every 12 to 18 months or more often if the pressure cooker is used frequently. The first indication you may notice is steam escaping from a certain spots beneath the lid. Sometimes this is a very tiny tear, but it is enough to prevent the cooker from coming to pressure. If the gasket is either too shrunken to fit to the lid, or too stretched to lie smoothly, then it is time to be replaced. Please check the diameter of your pressure cooker pot before ordering, as they come in different sizes.
At high altitudes (3500-6500 ft) water boils at temperatures significantly below 100 °C (212 °F). Therefore, when pressure cooking at those altitudes the cooking time should be increased. Increase cooking times by 5% for every 1000 feet above 2000 feet.
Magefesa pressure cookers comply with the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and feature multiple safety systems. Some models such as Ideal, Mageplus, Practika Plus, Avant y Vital are manufactured with five different built in mechanisms providing you with extra comfort and safety when handling your pressure cooker.
There are many reasons to invest in a Magefesa pressure cooker. Our pressure cookers feature advanced safety mechanisms that will make cooking and handling 100% safe. The premium stainless steel construction with a triple wall bottom will minimize burned foods, heat faster and retain heat longer. This will improved energy efficiency and will make you save a little money on bills over time. Magefesa is a long established company and you will need new replacements every now and then, so you’ll want a reliable company where you can still purchase parts and accessories in the future. Magefesa offers a toll-free customer service number: 1-866-MGF-SUSA and an extended 10 year warranty.
If you would like to order replacement parts for your Magefesa pressure cookers click here. Once the order has been placed, you will receive a confirmation email with an order number and will be able to track your shipment on this site by clicking on order tracking.
When the food has finished cooking, remove the pressure cooker from the burner. Even though the pressure cooker is no longer in contact with the heat source, the contents will continue to cook until the temperature and level of pressure drop. There are three ways of releasing cooking pressure in a pressure cooker:
The Natural-Release Method: Foods like stocks, tomato sauces, and certain cuts of meat benefit from continuing to cook in the pressure cooker as the pressure and temperature drop naturally after the unit is removed from the burner. The natural-release method can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over 30 minutes, depending on the kind of food in the pressure cooker and how much of it there is. You will know when the pressure has dropped completely once the spring-loaded pressure indicator lowers completely.
The Cold-Water Release Method: For the most part, you will want to lower and release the cooking pressure as quickly as possible in order to stop the cooking process. The quickest way to do this is to carefully take the pressure cooker from the stove and bring it to the sink. Place it in the sink in a tilted position, and allow a small amount of cold water to run over the lid of the cooker. This will stabilize the temperature and force the pressure to dissipate in a matter of seconds. You will normally hear a decompressing sound-almost like a swooshing “pop”-once all the pressure has been released.
The Automatic-Release Method: All Magefesa super-fast pressure cooker models such as Ideal, Mageplus and Practika Plus feature an automatic release setting, which enables you to release without having to place the pressure cooker under cold water. Simply turn the switch to the icon resembling a steam cloud and the pressure will quickly release.
The difference between quick cooling the cooker and letting pressure drop naturally is determined by the food being cooked. Delicate foods such as custards and fresh vegetables usually require a quick cooling method. To quick cool your pressure cooker simply transfer it to the sink and run cold water over the top until the all the pressure is released. For other foods, like roasts and ribs, it is recommended to let the pressure cooker cool of its own accord by setting it aside until the pressure drops naturally.
Provided that water must be added when pressure cooking you may consider adding a flavoring liquid or a cooking sauce to improve the flavor of your dishes. Thin liquids such as wine, beer or vegetable stock may be used freely to the maximum fill level. Thicker sauces should be thinned to prevent burning. Add at least 1/4 cup water or other thin flavoring liquid per every 2 cups of sauce. As far as dairy products such as milk, cream cheese or yogurt, they should be added after pressure cooking as they tend to separate and leave a curdled appearance at high heat.
Steaming doesn’t transmit or mix flavors so if you don’t desire the flavors of food to mix use the steamer basket and trivet. They will allow you to separate the foods and hold them out of the cooking liquid. This way you will be able to cook different dishes in the same pot without having the flavors intermingle. Whenever you want the flavors to blend, simply remove the steamer and let the ingredients get in contact with the liquid. Some Magefesa pressure cooker models such as Star, Ideal and Mageplus include a steamer basket and a trivet. For those who doesn’t, the steamer basket and trivet are available for purchase in our website: www.magefesausa.com
There are no universal guidelines and, in some cases, this may involve a series of trial and errors. However, there are three key elements that you will need to keep in mind for successful results.
Cooking times: Although cooking times vary according to the size or thickness of the food, generally speaking pressure cookers cook foods in about 1/3 the time of conventional cooking methods so if a beef stew normally takes 2 hours, in a pressure cooker it will only take 40 minutes.
Amount of Liquid: Make sure there is enough liquid used to create the steam, usually a minimum of 300ml/10fl.oz. Bear in mind that the longer the cooking time the more liquid is needed. In general add another 150ml/5fl.oz.f or each extra 15 minutes of cooking.
Pressure release methods: Whether you should cool the cooker immediately or let pressure drop of its own accord depends on the type of food being prepared. The Cooking Time Chart gives the recommended methods to depressurize the cooker for all types of foods.
FAQs about Magefesa Online
If you have any questions about the products or services provided in our online store, go to our FAQS section. On these pages you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you can´t find the answer to your question, please contact our customer service by sending an e-mail to info@magefesausa.com or by phone at:
Toll Free: 1-866-FGM-SUSA
Tel.: 786-594-3781
Your inquiry will be resolved as soon as possible.
To place an order at Magefesausa online store you need to register. By creating an account with our store you will be able to move through the checkout process faster when placing a new order.
Registering and placing orders at our online store is very simple. All you’ll need to do is click on “LOGIN” and provide us with your personal details to create an account. You will be asked to choose a username and password to be entered every time you wish to make a purchase in our store. Once you have finished creating your account, you will receive a confirmation email at your registered email address .Click on the confirmation link to activate your account, and you`ll be ready to start shopping with us.
In addition to being able to shop our products and receive our Newsletters with offers, promotions, news, etc, by clicking on ‘My account’, you will have access to your profile details including: by clicking on ‘My account’.
Account information
Shipment tracking information
Order status
Oder history
Your profile information may be modified or updated at any time. All you´ll need to do is login into your account with the username and password you chose at registration. Once you are in ‘My account’ enter your new details and click on the ‘Save’ button to confirm changes.
If you have forgotten your login password, go to “Login” and click on the link Forgot your password? Enter the e-mail address you used at registration and click on the “submit” button. Within minutes you will receive a confirmation email with instructions to retrieve your password.
You can select your preferred method of shipment upon your order confirmation.
There are four shipping options available on our website:
UPS Ground ($ 9.11)
UPS 3 Day Select ($ 16.46) – 3 day delivery guaranteed.
UPS 2nd Day Air ($ 23.13) – 2 day delivery guaranteed.
UPS Next Day Air ($ 66.86) – 1 day delivery guaranteed.
For purchases eligible for “Free Shipping”, the following shipping fee will be applied:
UPS Ground ($ 0.00)
As soon as the payment has been made and your order has been recorded in our system, you will receive a confirmation email of your order.
If you have received a discount coupon to use in our special promotions at Magefesausa, first you will need to select all the products you want to buy and then add them to your shopping cart.
Enter the discount code in the field indicated under your shopping cart and click on the ‘submit’ button.
Remember that the discount code will apply to eligible products during the promotional period only.
Once you have entered your coupon code, the discount will be applied. Make sure the discount is reflected in your total and then complete your purchase. If any errors occur, please contact us via email at: info@magefesausa.com.
Magefesa online shopping is currently available within the US only.
All the orders received will ship within 48 hours. Exceptions to this will be posted on the web site during peak periods.
Magefesausa online store accepts the following payment methods:
• Paypal
• All mayor credit and debit cards
The information provided is for exclusive use on this page. By providing this information you are giving as permission to contact you for updates on products or events we think may be of your interest or to provide relevant information about the company or product/s you have purchased. Magefesa USA guarantees this information will not be supplied to/ shared with third party databases.
Magefesausa.com will never use cookies to save passwords, credit card numbers or other highly confidential information.
If the payment for your order has been declined, check the number and expiration date on your credit card to make sure they were entered correctly.
If your card details are correct, you may have reached your daily or total credit card limit on the day we tried to charge your card. Please, contact your credit card issuer to verify if any restrictions are in place.
Please contact us as soon as possible so we can track your order. You can do so through our “Contact us” form or any of the channels listed above.
To check the delivery status of your order all you’ll need to do is send us an e-mail to info@magefesausa.com and we will send you the tracking number provided by the carrier in charge to deliver your order. All orders are shipped within 48-72 hours from the time you place your order.
At magefesausa.com every item is carefully inspected before leaving our warehouse. We encourage you to do the same upon receipt of your purchase. In the event that damage occurs in transit, please contact us within 7 days of delivery; we will accept returns within 30 days of delivery. Upon return, your merchandise will be inspected and a compensation claim will be processed against the transport company. Our promise is to take care of the problem with the least possible inconvenience for you.
At www.magefesausa.com we want you to be happy with your purchase. If for any reason you are not satisfied, merchandise may be exchanged or returned for a full refund, less shipping charges, within 30 days of purchase.
Contact the customer service department via e-mail: info@magefesausa.com
Toll Free: 1-866-MGF-SUSA
Tel.: 786-594-3781
All returns must be accompanied by the original packing slip and PO reference number to ensure proper credit. In some cases, restocking charges may be applicable.
Refunds will be issued to the credit card used to make the original purchase.
All authorized returns must be sent to us freight prepaid. Merchandise must be in brand new condition and include the original packaging and contents. Shipping costs are not refundable unless we ship an incorrect or defective item. In such case, shipping for the new item will be free of charge.
As soon as we receive your returned item/s they will be inspected by our team to make sure they are in good conditions. Approved refunds will automatically be issued to the same payment method used to purchase the goods. As soon as your return has been processed we will send you a notification email to let you know.
Returns or exchanges of online purchases are not accepted at retail outlets. Magefesa will only issue refunds/exchange items that have followed the refund/exchange policies set forth above.
Unless there is a proof of defective workmanship, you should always contact your local distributor or dealer where the product was purchased. They will guide you through the warranty process.
If the product you receive is defective or not what you ordered, contact us immediately and we will gladly exchange the product or credit your account as soon as we receive the return.
In this case, return shipping costs will be free for the customer.
You can download the instruction manuals of your Magefesa products from our website www.magefesausa.com. Please note that if you can’t find an instruction manual using our page, then it is not available.
Limited Warranty
This warranty covers defects in material and workmanship for a period of 10 YEARS from the date of original purchase by the first buyer, provided that the product is used according to the manufacturer’s manual for home use. Moving and/or perishable parts including gaskets and internal pieces that are subject to normal wear and tear are excluded from the warranty.
Product defects resulting from accidents, damages sustained in transit, misuse or negligence (including overheating and boiling dry), normal wear and tear such as scratches, dulling of polish or staining, and repairs or manipulations carried out by unauthorized or non-qualified personnel are not covered by the warranty.
If repairs become necessary during the warranty period, please return the unit, postage pre-paid to:
MAGEFESA USA
3325 NW 70th Avenue
Miami, FL 33122-133
After a product inspection confirms whether the claim adheres to the warranty specifications, the defective piece will, at the discretion of the manufacturer, be repaired or replaced at no charge.
This warranty supersedes all other existing warranties and formalities involved and other obligations or liabilities.
Accidental damages are excluded from warranty coverage. Remaining defects, excluding or limited by accidental damage, or the aforementioned parameters, do not guarantee warranty coverage. This warranty gives the holder specific rights as recognized by law and additional rights that may vary from state to state.
To purchase replacement parts, or for assistance that does not require product returns, please contact our Customer Service Department at (786) 594 – 3781 or email at info@magefesausa.com
