topic Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE in Recipes

NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

Gerri S — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 16:51:05 GMT

Again I attempted to use my new ELITE PC (HSN). I've read the instruction booklet but Lord help me I just can;t figure this thing out.
The booklet has a listing of TIMES to cook each vegetable...and there's a list from A to Z....but basically all veggies cook in about 2-5 minutes.
I borrowed Bob Warden's cookbook from a friend and there was a recipe for fresh kale with mushrooms and garlic. Wow this would be a great side dish for my main course, Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken, that I already had going in my old slow cooker (that I got from this forum, and it's yummy).
So back to my new ELITE to make my kale side dish.............turned ELITE to BROWN, in went the olive oil, I added mushrooms, BROWNED them in the ELITE PC and when mushrooms were done added the kale, put cover on, closed and set the valve.
Why isn't there a MENU button for vegetables I wondered????? So I figured I'd use the STEW/SOUP MENU BUTTON, then I tried pressing the PC TIME BUTTON and the time increased..........Both the ELITE instructions and Bob's said 2 minutes......... I couldn't find a way to decrease the time!!! So...I ended up just letting the PC think I was making STEW/SOUP and about 4 minutes into it I canceled the program, let it release the pressure, and sure enough the kale was cooked (and delicious).
So now I've used this ELITE twice and both times I held my breath. (tried making rice, 12 minutes and it wasn't cooked) MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED QVC'S CE MODEL (A RECENT TSV).....BUT I did notice that neither one of the PC'S have a VEGETABLE BUTTON! Can anyone give me help? I really want to figure this out. Thanks so much, Gerri S

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

forrestwolf — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:02:46 GMT

Not sure which one you have....but this one has a rice and veggie selection.......

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

forrestwolf — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:08:25 GMT

Many of the pressure cookers out there do not cook at a PSI of 15, so sometimes you may need to add a couple of minutes on some things, except very delicate veggies......I have multiple pressure cookers, so I do hope you learn the right times and come to like yours as well as I do mine...

I find this a good site for those who have stove top models and electric models, as times are the same..........

https://fastcooking.ca/pressure_cookers/cooking_times_pressure_cooker.php

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

karlam — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:10:42 GMT

The pressure cooker has a manual setting (I believe they all do), so why don't you just use that? If the recipe called for 2 minutes, manually set it for 2 minutes. My pressure cooker is a Cooks Essential which I have had for a very long time. It only uses manual settings, which is what I like since all the recipes tell you 10 minutes on high and never press the "poultry button."

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

Mrsq2022 — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:10:57 GMT

I don't have an electronic pressure cooker. I've used a stovetop one for decades. Does t this model have the option to just cook something for 2 minutes? In the photo it looks like it does. I'd just key in 2 minutes. Or set it up longer, use your stovetop timer for 2 minutes and then shut it off (you can shut off the electronic kind early, right?). Veggies do not take much time.

I really love my stovetop version. Nothing electronic to think about, you just brown your meat/opinions as you would in any metal pot, add water, put on the lid and set your kitchen timer however long you want. Easy peasy.

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

Kachina624 — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:16:06 GMT

Although I have an electric PC, I really like the stovetop better. I've used the same one successfully for 50 years. It needs a new gasket but is otherwise like new.

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

Gerri S — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 00:06:27 GMT

THANK YOU FOR ALL RESPONSES.........

these are some the specs for the PC I have
9 preset cooking options
Choose from Rice, Soup & Stew, Beans & Grains, Brown & Saute, Slow Cook, Desserts, Meat & Chicken, Steam and Keep Warm
Programmable cook time---Set your own cooking time up to 90 minutes (not very good directions on how to do this)
Digital touchpad with LED display
Easily set and monitor cooking times

Forrestwolf, I believe the psi is 12.......I am determined so I won't despair.......I'm just thinking maybe this is NOT the one for me! Perhaps the BUTTON for pressure cooking time (that I pressed repeatedly) is broken.

Karlam, none of the BUTTONS are labled MANUAL, other than the menu buttons, there is a DELAY TIME BUTTON, and a PRESSURE COOKING TIME BUTTON ........which I pressed repeatedly and nothing happened! as I said above maybe it's defective!

CAshopper2011 & Kachina624, thank you for your suggestions, but I have an electric Jenn-Air ceramic top stove not sure how that would work. (Would rather have gas!!)

Thank you all again, I guess I'll just have to play around with this thing till I get it right......or just send it back and get another brand, one that has just a HIGH and LOW setting. I'll be in touch, Gerri S

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

Mrsq2022 — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 02:53:28 GMT

@Gerri S wrote:
THANK YOU FOR ALL RESPONSES.........
these are some the specs for the PC I have
9 preset cooking options
Choose from Rice, Soup & Stew, Beans & Grains, Brown & Saute, Slow Cook, Desserts, Meat & Chicken, Steam and Keep Warm
Programmable cook time---Set your own cooking time up to 90 minutes (not very good directions on how to do this)
Digital touchpad with LED display
Easily set and monitor cooking times
Forrestwolf, I believe the psi is 12.......I am determined so I won't despair.......I'm just thinking maybe this is NOT the one for me! Perhaps the BUTTON for pressure cooking time (that I pressed repeatedly) is broken.
Karlam, none of the BUTTONS are labled MANUAL, other than the menu buttons, there is a DELAY TIME BUTTON, and a PRESSURE COOKING TIME BUTTON ........which I pressed repeatedly and nothing happened! as I said above maybe it's defective!
CAshopper2011 & Kachina624, thank you for your suggestions, but I have an electric Jenn-Air ceramic top stove not sure how that would work. (Would rather have gas!!)
Thank you all again, I guess I'll just have to play around with this thing till I get it right......or just send it back and get another brand, one that has just a HIGH and LOW setting. I'll be in touch, Gerri S

I'm not familiar with glass/ceramic stove tops, but can you cook with a standard metal "pot" on a glass stovetop? That's all a pressure cooker is; literally, a stainless steel pot, with a special lid that locks onto the pot. If you cannot use a stainless steel pot on your ceramic stovetop, then you could not use a stovetop pressure cooker.

I do not think that the pressure cooker concept was improved upon when companies began making them electronic. It is a very simple cooking device, and anyone with a stovetop should be able to use one very easily (unless you have a special stovetop that can only be used with certain types of pans and pots).

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

forrestwolf — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:58:48 GMT

I have a glass top stove.....LG...that I have had for a couple of years.....It gives me the instructions on how to use a cooker canner pressure cooker, but not specific for just a regular pressure cooker....The last 2 glass tops that I had, said not to use a pressure cooker, which were Kennmore and Jenn Air.....Now with my LG it says NOT to use ceramic coated cookware, as it could chip off and scratch and damage glass top.....I usually only use stainless, but mostly HA....BUT, I have one 12 qt round (as opposed to not taller) stock pot that I do like Low Country Boil, or just shrimp for pickled shrimp, and have never had any problems...If I knew what style, I might could tell you how to adjust timing, as I have not seen an electric pressure that you can not put in your own time........, or add time.....

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

Mrsq2022 — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 02:26:46 GMT

I didn't know that there was a problem with glass/ceramic cooktops and pressure cookers. I hope that OP either figures out her pot, or finds another brand electronic pressure cooker that she loves! It is such a great tool. Any stew meat will become very tender in the pressure cooker. You can cook dried beans (without soaking them) in an hour. I would never buy dried beans if I didn't own a pressure cooker! Split pea soup, easy peasy. But I'm not big on programmable things - if I had to go to electronic mid like one that had only a timer and no other "functions" so that I could control exactly what I wanted. For example, when I make certain stews I might do the split peas for 10 minutes first, then turn it off, add my onions, potatoes and carrots, and then cook just for another 2-3 minutes. I like to control that.

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

Gerri S — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 23:05:25 GMT

TO ALL THOSE THAT RESPONDED TO MY POST.......THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

Since I was determined to get this PC to work for me I read and re-read the booklet and even watched some youtube PC ads and videos on electric PC cooking. Each manufacturer has different buttons and I was having a problem with which button to press for the dishes I wanted to make, and how to change the time of the cooking. I read so many positive reviews about pressure cooker cooking that I just couldn't give up. The complaints were always associated with the button selection or the booklet that came with each unit........which was exactly my angst. BUT HALLELUJAH......I finally figured it out. So in the last 2 days I have made, lentil soup, Italian wedding soup, Quinoa, BBQ pork and my DH's favorite, fresh Kale........I AM LOVING THIS THING!!!!!!! I have lots of Butternut Squash and Zucchini, Peppers and Eggplant from our garden and I plan on making soups and ratatouille to freeze. As I said above I sincerely thank you all for coming to my aid.

About the ceramic stove, my Jenn Air does not recommend PC cooking on its' surface. My kitchen is large so I have plenty of countertop room for appliances and lots of room to store them when needed. I'm hoping they come out with a stainless steel insert for this model. If not when I purchase a bigger one I'll make sure it has one. If you have any good recipes, please share I'll be looking for them. Gerri

Re: NEED HELP WITH PRESSURE COOKING VEGETABLES....PLEASE

sidsmom — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 00:11:40 GMT

@Gerri S

If thinking about a bigger model, check out the Instant Pot brand. All their models come with a stainless steel insert. I adore mine. Quality machine.