topic Re: Pressure Cooker in Kitchen

Pressure Cooker

mandylee — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 00:10:13 GMT

All,

I have been on the fence about ordering a pressure cooker. However now I am ready.

Any recommendations, likes or dislikes. Any information would be helpful.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Re: Pressure Cooker

Thats Me — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 00:51:12 GMT

I have 2 and love them both. I can come home and have dinner ready from prep to done in 1/2 hour or so. One is an 8-qt stovetop Technique hard anodized one (not avail. anymore sadly, but you could check ebay ; I LOVE it bc it's simple and easy to use and does not have a nonstick coating. The other one is a digital 6-qt Instant Pot that gets all kinds of rave reviews. I just got it so can't review it yet myself, but can't wait to try it out. It also doesn't have a nonstick coating. That's just my preference.

Get a bigger one than you think you need bc you can't fill it to the stated capacity; 2/3 full is the max because you have to allow space for pressure to build. Offhand I'd say a 6 or an 8 quart size would be good, or larger if you need to be able to make a large quantity.

if you're interested in making beans in one, check the model you're interested in to be sure that it can handle beans. Apparently they foam a lot when cooking and can clog the valve in a pressure cooker.

Get a pressure cooker cookbook to help you out, especially in getting started. Bob Warden's ones are good. Go online and look at Miss Vickie's website for a ton of tips and recipes. It's fun. Hope this helps.

Re: Pressure Cooker

Kachina624 — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 00:56:14 GMT

I love my pressure cooker above all other kitchen gadgets. Although I live alone, I have a 6 qt because I like to eat several days on the leftovers and freeze what I don't eat. I have the Cooks Essentials that was the TSV last fall which I especially like because I can sear my meat in it, and it also works as a slow cooker which enabled me to get rid of my crock pot, a major real estate hog. Best feature...it's turquoise.

I have been using a pressure cooker for 50 years, first the stove top then other electrics and have never had a mishap with one. Follow the instructions.

My favorite thing to make is stewed chicken and big fluffy dumplings, my favorite comfort food.

Re: Pressure Cooker

kislandlover — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 02:40:22 GMT

I also bought the 4 qt TSV, and I have cooked at home more than ever, saving a ton of money from not eating out. The 4 qt size is great for two people, often with yummy leftovers. I've used Meredith's cookbook almost front to back. It has changed the drudgery of cooking, and cleanup is a breeze. Good luck to you. I hope you enjoy pressure cooking as much as I have!

Re: Pressure Cooker

hellokitty — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 12:44:58 GMT

We have two. The Cook's Essentials 4 qt and the 6 qt. At first I didn't want to use either of them because I could see me on a ladder scraping food off my ceiling but that didn't happen.

I just recently canned green beans in the 6 qt and if anyone has ever canned using the stove top pressure cooker/canner they will appreciate the fact that buttons are pushed and you can walk away from that machine until it's time to take the jars out. The downside is I can only process 4 pint jars at a time and in my regular pressure canner I can do up to 8 or 9. As hot as it has been lately I can live with that because my kitchen didn't heat up as much.

For cook books I use Bob Warden's. We did buy the latest Blue Jean Chef one and it has a mix of fancy recipes that I will never use and plain, simple, easy to do recipes which are my favorites.

Re: Pressure Cooker

giddy up — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 21:40:16 GMT

Stay away from Cooks Essential 4 quart. It has a terrible build quality around the control knob that controls the pressure/steam functionality. Terribly unreliable. I had to send it back. If you want 4 quart try Fa-gor. That was my replacement. Got it at Kohls for around $90 with a discount code. Also sold on Amazon. It has a better made control knob that is easy to set and so far for the last couple of months hasn't given me any trouble coming up to pressure and staying there through the designated cook time.

I also have a 6 quart that I bought here on the Q from Techniques. Had if for a few years now. It has the same kind of control knob as the Fa-gor.... meaning it works. I don't think Techniques is sold here anymore though. It's all about that control knob and how it is designed to work.

Re: Pressure Cooker

chessylady — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 05:52:01 GMT

I've had my Instant pot for about 9 months. I have never had a problem cooking beans. One tip I read is to put a small amount of vegetable oil to prevent foaming. I have cooked a whole pound of beans, no problem.

Re: Pressure Cooker

Tigriss — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 13:45:54 GMT

I have an Instant Pot that I got on Prime Day on Amazon for $69.99. I love it. The pot is stainless steel, not non-stick. If I didn't get stainless steel, I would have got the one on Evine or Q that has a ceramic pot instead of the traditional non-stick. MY other two pressure cookers are non-stick and haven't caused an issue but I am very careful with them. One is from HSN by Elite and is 8qts and the other is the WolfGang Puck one from the same place and is 6qts. The new Instant Pot is 6 qts. I'm doing yogurt today in the IP since it does have that function.

Re: Pressure Cooker

mandylee — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 01:24:14 GMT

Thank you all for your replies.

Re: Pressure Cooker

grits3 — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 19:36:46 GMT

I am debating on the Instant Pot-- rave reviews but nervous about trying, I have never used a pressure cooker.

Re: Pressure Cooker

chessylady — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 20:34:03 GMT

I belong to several pressure cooker facebook groups. From what I have read, electric pressure cookers should not be used for canning regardless of what the mfg. says. You can buy pressure canning pots that are specifically designed for that purpose.

Re: Pressure Cooker

hellokitty — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 20:37:57 GMT

My canning turned out just fine. I have been canning for many, many years. I also did research. Did you know that Ball makes a multi use pressure canner for just that thing?

@chessylady wrote:
I belong to several pressure cooker facebook groups. From what I have read, electric pressure cookers should not be used for canning regardless of what the mfg. says. You can buy pressure canning pots that are specifically designed for that purpose.

Thank you for your concern.

Re: Pressure Cooker

hellokitty — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 20:41:12 GMT

@beccalou

yes, I used my 6 qt. pressure cooker for my beans. I could get 4 pint jars in it at one time. My beans turned out just fine.

Re: Pressure Cooker

chessylady — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 21:50:16 GMT

Hello,Kitty2, I stand corrected, I looked up the Ball canner online. It said they are the first of it's kind. Ball is wellknown in the canning world. I would not can enough to justify the price but I am sure it is a lovely convenient appliance.

Re: Pressure Cooker

Cactusflower — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:46:44 GMT

Just a FYI, this is from Ball's site.
Note: The Ball® freshTECH Automatic Home Canning System is not a pressure canner and cannot be used for foods that typically require pressure canning (i.e. low-acid foods like green beans and meats).

Re: Pressure Cooker

mandylee — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 01:37:02 GMT

All

After reviewing evertyhing, I have one more question.

Does anyone own the Power Pressure Cooker or the Instant Pot?

Reviews or Thougts.

Re: Pressure Cooker

chessylady — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 01:45:51 GMT

I own the Instant Pot and couldn't be happier. I like the stainless steel inner pot since nonstick coatings can peel off. It can make yogurt although I haven't tried it yet. It really does produce great flavor. You can easily order extra silicone rings from Amazon.Some of the models sold on QVC do not provide that part. It is very easy once you get over the learning curve. Youtube has many instructional videos.

Re: Pressure Cooker

Dusty1 — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 01:46:27 GMT

@Kachina624

My favorite thing to make is stewed chicken and big fluffy dumplings, my favorite comfort food.

Can you tell me your recipe for this? I have a PC but I haven't used it much & I would love to start on some easy recipes.

Re: Pressure Cooker

Thats Me — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 14:27:50 GMT

That is great to know! Thanks for posting that!

Re: Pressure Cooker

Mothertrucker — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:40:26 GMT

@giddy up wrote:
Stay away from Cooks Essential 4 quart. It has a terrible build quality around the control knob that controls the pressure/steam functionality. Terribly unreliable. I had to send it back. If you want 4 quart try Fa-gor. That was my replacement. Got it at Kohls for around $90 with a discount code. Also sold on Amazon. It has a better made control knob that is easy to set and so far for the last couple of months hasn't given me any trouble coming up to pressure and staying there through the designated cook time.

I also have a 6 quart that I bought here on the Q from Techniques. Had if for a few years now. It has the same kind of control knob as the Fa-gor.... meaning it works. I don't think Techniques is sold here anymore though. It's all about that control knob and how it is designed to work.

@giddy up I also have the Techniques 6 at and love it...no problems at all..I do worry that a silicone ring for it might be hard to find, should mine need replaced..any ideas on that?