topic Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker? in Kitchen

TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Twixy — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:09:44 GMT

How is everyone liking theirs? So far, I'm not too impressed....I really thought I would love it! Everything Meredith fixed seemed so easy and quick. For me, it's not as simple as it looked on air. I missed a few demonstrations, so never heard anything said about browning meat first. I thought it would be a simple way to cook better meals for myself when I'm alone, but now I'm not so sure. For some reason there aren't many reviews, and I'm trying to figure out if it's really worth me keeping or not. Thanks for your replies!

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Kachina624 — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 06:23:13 GMT

It's definitely a different mode of cooking with a learning curve. The more you use it, the better you're going to like it. Yes, brown your meat first in just a small amount of oil, add seasonings and liquid then let her rip. If adding veggies, I put them in after the meat is mostly cooked and cook another 8-10 min.

Cook some chicken breasts about 25' in with your seasonings and water or broth. Then remove the chicken and make some big, fluffy biscuit-like dumplings out of Bisquick and cook them in the broth w/o pressure.

I gave my crock pot away and use the PC as a slow cooker as much as a PC.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

jackthebear — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 11:57:37 GMT

@Twixy wrote:
How is everyone liking theirs? So far, I'm not too impressed....I really thought I would love it! Everything Meredith fixed seemed so easy and quick. For me, it's not as simple as it looked on air. I missed a few demonstrations, so never heard anything said about browning meat first. I thought it would be a simple way to cook better meals for myself when I'm alone, but now I'm not so sure. For some reason there aren't many reviews, and I'm trying to figure out if it's really worth me keeping or not. Thanks for your replies!

there is a learning period.

there are tons of websites about pressure cooking, just start by reading some of them to get ideas for what you can do.

I do hard boiled eggs for the week and it's the easiest way to them ever.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

wagirl — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 15:18:17 GMT

I have have a 4 qt pressure cooker for at least 15 years and I use it all the time! Got it from QVC as well as both of Bob Wardens cookbooks. You need to get them and I'm sure you will see how wonderful the p/c can be. Recipes are easy, and very good. I use those cookbooks almost exclusively.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Lisa now in AZ — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 16:44:49 GMT

I love my 4 qt. pressure cooker, but use it mostly for things like chicken soup (would NEVER make it any other way), corned beef, sometimes pulled pork (although, I also do that in the slow cooker), and it makes wonderful risotto. I have not used it for hard boiled eggs, as I have seen others do, but I do those in my rice cooker or skinny mini once a week. Keep trying things out and I am sure you will decide if it is for you. I didn't order the TSV, but did order Meredith's book since it is written for the smaller sized PC, which I have. I also make things out of Bob warden's book, which is also a great resource.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

JudyL — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 03:07:14 GMT

I used mine for the first time tonight. At first I thought it was broken but it ended up being fine. Can definitely see that there is going to be a learning curve. Agree it wasn't quite as easy as I thought but figured it was because I was new at it.

All in all, the recipe didn't come out quite as I expected - too much liquid - but I'm willing to giving it some time and hopefully I'll get better at using it. Hang in there with it and try it a few more times before you decide.

Hopefully both of us will be as enthusiastic about it as the other posters real soon!

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

wagirl — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 14:19:55 GMT

What did you cook? I know sometimes, after cooking, the food kind of thickens up after a little bit. I tried mac n cheese the first time and that happened to me but I let it stand and it was just fine.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

In-x-s — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:02:59 GMT

I have a 6 qt and an 8 qt and use them at least once a week. Just basics. They are the true set it and forget it cooker. I especially like mine for hard "boiled" eggs and boiled potatoes. I have a glass top stove and hated the boilovers -- no more boilovers using the pressure cookers!!

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

nyc1 — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:32:05 GMT

If you wind up with too much liquid, and it's the kind where you can make a good gravy, just leave the top off and turn on high (like you would if you were going to brown the meat), take a little bit of the cooled down liquid or a little water or broth, add a bit of corn starch and add to the liquid. Let it boil for a minute and it will thicken.

If I'm making a stew, I'll add more vegetables and at the end take some of the liquid and vegetables, put it in a blender to thicken and then add back to the pressure cooker. That makes the BEST gravy of all.

There is definitely a little learning curve, but in my estimation, it's worth it. I can make pulled pork in 72 mins not 6 hours, beef stew in 32 mins and not 3 hours.

If you're making a stew, rather than use a full cut of meat, cube it. if you want it to brown beautifully, just add a little bit of flour to the cubes, then brown. Make sure the meat is dry first.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

traveler — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 03:02:12 GMT

I used it for the first time tonight. Took longer than I thought and "whistled" loudly. Until I get better at it I need to figure more time into recipe. Made Asian Inspired Country Ribs. Not a favorite but the meat was so tender.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

JudyL — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 03:36:09 GMT

I also am having problems with mine. I made the hamberger macaroni dish and it came out almost like soup. Then I made the chicken and salsa dish and that came out like soup. Both recipes came from Meredith's cookbook and I followed the directions exactly. Don't know what I did wrong. I may try something else this weekend and see if I can get the recipe to come out better. Not sure whether I want to keep or not.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Gokat — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 04:43:30 GMT

How frustrating, @JudyL ! What altitude are you at? That can make a difference in the timing of the recipe. Here's a link that's pretty self-explanatory.

http://www.hippressurecooking.com/pressure-cooker-psi-faq-the-stuff-you-didnt-think-to-ask/#high

If it's not altitude, I read some reviews and the recipes do seem to be coming out well for some so it may be a defective cooker. I hope not. Hope the info is useful and takes care of the problem before you attempt a new recipe. Please let us know. HTH's

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

giddy up — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 02:22:25 GMT

I boxed mine back up today to return it. On Friday I attempted to make the baby back ribs using the recipe in the BJC cookbook. It was constant frustration and babysitting trying to get it up to pressure and stay there long enough to cook through. What should have been a 30 minute set it and forget it type dinner was more like an hour or more of my constant attention getting it done. My old Techniques pressure cooker never has this kind of pressurizing problem. Maybe I should just use that one even though it is much bigger and heavier....and oval....I must say I like the oval becasue the inner pot doesn't try to rotate every time you stir something inside....anyhow, I am returning and just put in an order for a 4 quart Fa-gor from Amazon. Hoping that one works better around the control knob like my Techniques.....it is built differently from what I can see so I am hopeful it will work flawlessly like Techniques does. It costs more though, around $100.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Gokat — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:56:51 GMT

The nice thing about having a larger pc (Mine is 7 qt.) is that you can make any size recipe you wish...small to large, @giddy up...so they're more flexible for someone who only has room for one. Most of the time I don't need nearly 7 qts., but for pot lucks, holidays, etc., it's perfect...as it will stay warm once cooked.

There are quite a few poor reviews for defective cookers for that recent 4 qt. TSV. I'm sorry to hear yours needed to go back but inclined inclined to agree that the quality overall wasn't there. ******or is a top brand for pc's so you should have no problem with that one.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

JudyL — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 03:46:22 GMT

Well my 4 qt TSV pressure cooker is defective for sure. Tried to use it today and it wouldn't even go on. So boxed it back up and will send it back this week and will not order another one. Will call QVC tomorrow because I do not want to pay for shipping to return it. I'm beginning to think that the reason it didn't work for the two recipes I did try is a pressure problem and not operator error. Since I"d never had a pressure cooker before I was thinking it was me, but now that it wouldn't even work today, I know its a defective machine. Even tried plugging it into different outlets. It was dead.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Cardamom — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:43:10 GMT

So far I like it. I've only made three things. Pot roast, perfect. Chili, so easy! Will never do another way. I'm sure soup will be the same way with the soup button. I made the Mexican rice that was in the book that came with it. It was perfect and so good! I only have 2 complaints - the stickers are ridiculously hard to remove and I still have a sticky residue on the side of my lid. It just seemed to travel there through my many times of goo gone application. The inner gasket stinks of whatever I cooked no matter how much I wash it.

Its my first electric PC. I'm used a stove top model. This is by far easier.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Gokat — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:06:50 GMT

What a bummer, @JudyL . What a way to start your venture into pressure cooking. I hope you won't let it deter you from moving on with a working pc of another brand as the results truly can't be beat! I agree whole heartedly that you weren't dealing with the correct amount of pressure from the outset. I made Beef Stroganoff in mine last night, and it was so delicious, with the tenderest stew beef and the flavor...soooo good!

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Gokat — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:13:54 GMT

Glad to see you're off to a great start on your electric version of the pc, @Cardamom . So nice to be able to set it and let it do its thing. I agree about the gasket picking up odors from the food...especially onions! I always remove mine to wash it in that case. It doesn't get rid of the odor completely but is much improved drying it separately. HTH's

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

Lacey1 — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:29:10 GMT

I'm sorry that some folks aren't enjoying their pressure cookers. I have several and I love them, ( in case of fire-grab; dog, Vitamix, pressure cooker!). My next PC will be the Instant Pot with a stainless steel liner.

Re: TSV 4 qt. pressure cooker?

traveler — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:41:48 GMT

Tried agin. This time I made Salsa chicken thighs with rice. Fully prepped efore starting. Family liked it and was 10 minutes in PC. Still on learning curve.