Problem is probably that the rubber seal is old and swollen. It will probably take brute force to open the lid. What is the brand name of the cooker? If it's an old Presto or Mirro, it probably has two handles, upper and lower. You may need a person with more strength to force it open.
Once you have it open, do NOT reuse this seal. New ones can be ordered on line at various sites. Do a search on "Pressure Cooker repair parts".
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Try buying a new pressure canner. http://www.canology.com is a great source for pressure canners and canning supplies.
SOURCE: How do i use the pressure cooker? After adding
Add the water and beans. Put the lid on the cooker and tighten down. Turn on the heat and let the steam make a full plume before closing the valve. Lower the temperature to medium. Watch the gauge and when it reaches the correct pressure keep adjusting the heat to maintain the pressure for however many minutes the beans need to cook. When the time is up turn off the heat and let the cooker cool for a while. Ten minutes or so. Then slowly open the pressure valve when the pressure has reduced to a low level. If the pressure is still to high when you open the valve the water will be pulled out of the beans and the jars will only be half full of liquid. Once the pressure is down to zero, open the lid carefully because the jars are still hot and break easily. As the jars cool you will hear them pop. This means that they are sealed. Good luck.
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