Papin's pressure cooker. Illustration of a version of the pressure cooker or steam digester invented by French physicist and engineer Dennis Papin (1647-1712) in 1681. It consists of an iron pot with a sealed lid. A pressure vent allows steam to escape and stops the pot from exploding. By increasing the pressure, water boils at a higher temperature and food will cook faster. The title page of the book (right) suggests the use of steam as a force to drive an engine. The book's title is: 'A new digester or engine for softning bones', printed in London in 1681. The title page text also states that Papin is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.