Microwave pressure cooker

A microwave pressure cooker (12)including safety interlock mechanisms. A blow vent (76) is provided in the cooker lid (14), and a lock bar (54) is pivoted to the cooker lid (14) in a position to block the blow vent (76) when the lock bar (56) is resting under its own weight. The free end (58) of the lock bar (54) includes a lock tab (62) with a spline (72) projecting outward. The lock tab (62) extends through a slot (60) at the periphery of the lid (14). The cooker base (12) include a handle (24) with a cam section (64) ending in a lock wall (68) . The cooker lid (14) is placed on the base (12) in a release position and rotated to a locking position. During this rotation the lock tab (62) rides over the cam section (64) and then falls adjacent the lock wall (68) , thus sealing the blow vent (76) . After cooking the lid (14) is physically prevented from rotating back to the release position by the lock tab (62) abutting the lock wall (68). The user must physically lift the lock bar (54) which in turn unseals the blow vent (76) to ensure internal pressure is released. The spline (72) may hold the lock bar (54) in the raised position during rotation to the release position.