Kitchen

[AZ Jan]

I am new to pressure cooking.  I bought the 4 qt. yesterday, but other than the cheesecake, I didn't see Meredith use the silicone inserts for anything else.  (I didn't get to see all of her presentations so I may have missed something.)  

Why would I need these inserts?  What do you use them for?

TIA

[Kachina624]

I've been using a PC over 50 years and never needed them.  If I'm going to the trouble and expense of making a cheesecake, I want one bigger than 7" and will use my big or my Breville oven.

FYI:  Yesterday some people were worried about having a spare gasket.  That gasket will probably be going strong long after the PC has bit the dust.  I still have the original rubber gasket in my 50+ year old stove top PC.  It needs replacing but I could probably get by with using it if I had to.

[JohnnieD]

They're a convenience, but not a necessity.  Convenient for cooking or re-heating small quantities (rice, cereals, leftovers).  The rack is convenient for roasting and steaming, but could also be replaced by the collapsible steamers you'll find in the store or online for about $6.  I frequently use the pressure cooker for cooking or re-heating, and the cake pan and handles makes a good lifter.  It's a personal choice.

[AZ Jan]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

I've been using a PC over 50 years and never needed them.  If I'm going to the trouble and expense of making a cheesecake, I want one bigger than 7" and will use my big or my Breville oven.

FYI:  Yesterday some people were worried about having a spare gasket.  That gasket will probably be going strong long after the PC has bit the dust.  I still have the original rubber gasket in my 50+ year old stove top PC.  It needs replacing but I could probably get by with using it if I had to.

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Thanks Kachina!  I like your thinking about cheesecake...Bigger is Better🤗

I have a Breville also.  It's a win win🌹

[AZ Jan]

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@JohnnieD wrote:

They're a convenience, but not a necessity.  Convenient for cooking or re-heating small quantities (rice, cereals, leftovers).  The rack is convenient for roasting and steaming, but could also be replaced by the collapsible steamers you'll find in the store or online for about $6.  I frequently use the pressure cooker for cooking or re-heating, and the cake pan and handles makes a good lifter.  It's a personal choice.

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JohnnieD,  Thanks for the info re the use of the inserts.  Since I'm so new to Pressure Cooking, I think I'll just wait n see how much I use it and what I actually use it for.

Thanks again😍

[debic]

I've bought a ton of silicone stuff and have ended up tossing most of it.   It discolors, hard to wash, especially if there's grease involved.  And they are dust magnets, you almost have to wash them before you use them.

I still use my trivets and potholders.  Spatulas as well.  I have these strainers that hook on to the pot which I have to wash before I use them.    Black isn't a good color for silicone.  LOL

[mima]

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@JohnnieD wrote:

They're a convenience, but not a necessity.  Convenient for cooking or re-heating small quantities (rice, cereals, leftovers).  The rack is convenient for roasting and steaming, but could also be replaced by the collapsible steamers you'll find in the store or online for about $6.  I frequently use the pressure cooker for cooking or re-heating, and the cake pan and handles makes a good lifter.  It's a personal choice.

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I have used a PC for a few years now and have never used it for reheating leftovers. In fact I've never heard of it.   Can you give me an example of how you heat up leftovers?  Pretend I have part of a meatloaf to reheat.  How do you do it?  Do you put it in a bowl and put water in the bottom of the PC?  Then bring it to pressure?  How do you know how long to reheat it?

I use mine constantly and this would another use for mine.

Thanks!

[Kachina624]

@mima  I agree, it would never occur to me to use the PC for reheating.  I'm not that fond of washing the thing.  Isn't that why we have microwaves?  I imagine people put the food on the rack, water in the bottom, and steam it.

[JohnnieD]

Sorry for any delay.  I usually use a heat-proof aluminum pan w/cover (bought it at a restaurant supply store - 7.5" diameter, 3" high).  Place it on a trivet with enough water in the pressure cooker to bring it to pressure.  For a small meat loaf, I'd use 10 minutes, and let the pressure drop naturally.  I prefer to re-heat items that I don't want to dry out in the microwave (mac & cheese, vegetables, even soup).  If I'm using any other type bowl (ceramic, glass, etc.), I usually cover it with foil.  That's what I like about these inserts; they do the same thing.

[debic]

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@JohnnieD wrote:

Sorry for any delay.  I usually use a heat-proof aluminum pan w/cover (bought it at a restaurant supply store - 7.5" diameter, 3" high).  Place it on a trivet with enough water in the pressure cooker to bring it to pressure.  For a small meat loaf, I'd use 10 minutes, and let the pressure drop naturally.  I prefer to re-heat items that I don't want to dry out in the microwave (mac & cheese, vegetables, even soup).  If I'm using any other type bowl (ceramic, glass, etc.), I usually cover it with foil.  That's what I like about these inserts; they do the same thing.

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That would be a good way to utulize your PC for sure.  Mine is huge tho.

Depends on what I'm reheating on how I do it.   Some kinds of meat I vacuum in foodsaver bags with a pat of butter, some I seal in foil and toss in the oven.   If I microwave stuff to reheat I cover with saran wrap and poke a small hole in the middle and use a low power setting.