[scrappinchar]

Hi!

Well, this time, I want to pick your brains about pressure cookers. I've been eying electric/electronic pressure cookers.

So, who uses one? (Regular or electric) Are the end results any different than using a Crock Pot? Just faster, of course.

What's your favorite thing to cook in it?

Thanks!

[Sara Arell]

I don't use a pressure cooker, Char, but Rich's Mom always did and honestly, the things she turned out from her pressure cooker were fabulous! I wouldn't mind having one myself! I'll watch this thread too to see what everyone says.

You just come up with the best questions, girl!

[tiza126]

I've never used a pressure cooker. I see them on cooking shows all the time though

[April Showers]

I use a regular pressure cooker. I have a canning one (enormous) and a smaller one (6 quart) that I use mostly for making dinner. It isn't the same as using a slow cooker. I mostly use it to speed up soup making.

For Chicken Soup, I throw some chicken tenders (frozen because I don't usually think that far ahead), some vegetables (celery &carrots - or whatever else you like in your chicken soup) and a spoonful of chicken stock base along with enough water to cover the chicken. Pressure cook it for 10-15 minutes then use kitchen shears to cut the chicken tenders into smaller pieces. I just stick the shears in the soup and chop. (I'm lazy like that. I put them in the dishwasher after I use them- they're clean.) I'll throw in some mini farfalle (we like the little bow tie shape) for chicken noodle soup. I usually whip up some biscuits from scratch while the rest is cooking. Maybe I should make that for dinner tonight...

We like our clam chowder thick, but not "thickened" so I make it with a lot less water in the pressure cooker - adding the clams and half & half after I pressure cooked it, of course. I've done stew in it too. It works well.

I haven't looked at electric pressure cookers. It sounds like they make it pretty easy.

[scrappinchar]

I've been looking around the web at videos and options. And, of course, at reviews.

The electric ones take away the fear of "explosions." And they (most or all) can/will switch to "warm" mode when the pressure time is up.

I don't always plan ahead. (Go figure. ) When I do, I can have things in the Crock Pot half the day. Otherwise, I'm cooking, as normal, just before mealtime. Sounds nice to think that, occasionally, I could buy ingredients that would normally take a while to cook and do it just before mealtime.

I need to dig deeper (or hear from you all) but it seems that everything is a broth based recipe. Or soupy, saucy, wet. lol Is that correct?

Off to check out recipes...

[jenrou]

I pretty much use my pressure cooker (electric) like Aprilshowers does. I also have a large canning pressure cooker, and an older stove top PC that is from the 1970's. I'm cooking a roast with onions in my electric right now. About an hour to cook. I'll put some carrots, etc. in and cook it a little more, so they won't be mushy.
I got mine through Costco for around $100. (Cuisinart) I think Chef Brad uses a Farber or something, but it has the same timers and settings.
It has a digital menu for low pressure, high pressure, brown, warm, minutes, and I'm not sure if anything else. Real easy to use and you don't have to watch it. As with all of them, don't fill them too full. You don't want the foam or whatever going into the release valve thingy. It's good if you forget to defrost things and need a meal in a hurry. I use it for soups, stews, BBQ, almost anything.
Jean

[AmandaFace]

I don't own one, but I'd love to! Especially when basebeall season starts here!

[podiumchick]

I have a regular one, mostly because my DH grew up with one being used. The only one I ever saw used was the pressure canner (and I have one of those too!) Mostly mine is used to cook potatoes for mashing. Peel, quarter, add a cup of water, turn it on and, once it reaches pressure, takes 8 mins. to cook them. I've used it to cook beef stew cuts in order to make soup/stew/stroganoff, but really I'm more likely to use the slow cooker. If you've read the Jan recipe thread, you've seen my dry bean story. Not a good thing.

[PolkaDot]

My Mom used a pressure cooker constantly with a large family to feed. I was never afraid of them and you shouldn't worry about "explosions." They are easy to control and you'll get used to it quickly. From what I have been reading, the electric cooker takes the fear out of pressure cooking, but take a bit longer to cook. Also, some people complain about the gasket seals leaking. I don't have any experience, and as far as time, "slow electric pressure cooking" would still be pretty fast. Sometimes "fast" is too fast and I don't have time to get everything else together, LOL.

I've been reading up on the new cookers every since you asked the other day, and the Miss Vicki site offers some good comparisons. I usually type in "Pressure Cooker Reviews" in the google search tool. If you also read the reviews on Amazon, it seems as if the Fagor 6 qt is a popular brand. There's also a very expensive brand (can't think of it now) which some people mentioned they chose because they were able to cook with much less water. (Then, of course, some other people said it wasn't worth the extra $$$.)

Presto has been around forever. Fagor looks interesting. Other decisions are shape....round or oval. The electric Cuisinart gets good reviews, if you have the counter space or a place to store it. I try to stay away from buying more countertop, single use appliances anymore.

Head over to Amazon and read up on a few brands- fun reading! Good Luck!

[Smoky]

I use my pressure cooker pretty often. Mine is just the typical stovetop stainless steel Presto. They used to be dangerous, before the safety/overpressure valve was added. Now, probably the worst thing that could happen is that the little plug will blow out, which would make a mess on your stove. That would only happen if the little hole in the center (under the jiggler) was clogged. I've never had it happen, but I always clean it thoroughly after using. Also, I always run mine under cold water when I want it to stop cooking, and I never try to open it until I hear the "woosh" of the pressure being released.

They're great for cooking really tough cuts of meat to fall-apart-tender in record time. I like to cook venison in mine. It's also great for cooking dried beans in a hurry. I soak the beans overnight and most any kind will be done in 15 minutes. When I don't soak them, it only adds about 5-8 minutes more to the cooking time. I cook them with smoked sausage, onion, and garlic. After cooking, I ladle out any extra liquid, then season how I like. Just a little slower than opening and heating up a can of beans, but tastes light years better!

[sarabethp]

We use ours for soups and such. My favorite use though is for Artichokes. They take forever otherwise. There are so many things you can cook in it. We have a stovetop one. I've never heard of an electric one. I personally dislike too many kitchen gadgets that have a cord. They are almost always harder to clean. So if there is a stove top option then that is what I prefer. We only had one incident with our pressure cooker. It wasn't exactly an explosion, just too much in the cooker our first time. Let's just call it painting the kitchen Pea Soup Green.

[April Showers]

PolkaDot, on 24 January 2012 - 04:06 PM, said:

My Mom used a pressure cooker constantly with a large family to feed. I was never afraid of them and you shouldn't worry about "explosions." They are easy to control and you'll get used to it quickly. From what I have been reading, the electric cooker takes the fear out of pressure cooking, but take a bit longer to cook. Also, some people complain about the gasket seals leaking. I don't have any experience, and as far as time, "slow electric pressure cooking" would still be pretty fast. Sometimes "fast" is too fast and I don't have time to get everything else together, LOL.

I've been reading up on the new cookers every since you asked the other day, and the Miss Vicki site offers some good comparisons. I usually type in "Pressure Cooker Reviews" in the google search tool. If you also read the reviews on Amazon, it seems as if the Fagor 6 qt is a popular brand. There's also a very expensive brand (can't think of it now) which some people mentioned they chose because they were able to cook with much less water. (Then, of course, some other people said it wasn't worth the extra $.)

Presto has been around forever. Fagor looks interesting. Other decisions are shape....round or oval. The electric Cuisinart gets good reviews, if you have the counter space or a place to store it. I try to stay away from buying more countertop, single use appliances anymore.

Head over to Amazon and read up on a few brands- fun reading! Good Luck!

Mine is a Kuhn Rikon Duromatic - a Swiss brand, I believe. I think it was pricey though - perhaps it is the one you read about.

Um, wow, I just looked them up and they cost more now than when I got mine! I have the 7.25 quart one. They called it the Mercedes of pressure cookers. Guess that is why I love it.

[jenrou]

I still have my old Presto 1960's-70's stove top pressure cooker, but I think in moving I've lost the jiggler. I wonder if you can buy parts like that, and a new gasket. I don't need it myself, but somebody else might could use it. My mother used one so I used one for venison, and just fast meal making.

I really prefer cooking with the stove or slow cooker, but this year I've started using electric appliances that you don't have to watch as much. I forget things on the stove. I've always been bad about going off, doing something else and forgetting the stove. So I've bought several small electric appliances. Storing them is a problem since I don't have a real pantry. Our house is an older, but remodeled, and added to, cottage style house. We have about 2000 sq. ft. but the rooms are small, so I have to store pantry and cookware in several different places. Try to organize that! It's not worth moving, though.

All in all, I like the electric pressure cooker. I just need to get used to it again.

Jean

[scrappinchar]

I've been reading and reading and reading and, well, you get the point lol...online reviews, blogs, etc.

There were a few times that I decided that I would just get a stovetop kind. I'm not really worried about the explosions or safety. But...I keep thinking how nice it would be to put the food in, set the pressure/timer and walk away. Take Nathan outside. Help Ethan and Hunter with something. Etc. It would switch to warm when done and I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe when Nathan is older I will revisit the stovetop idea if I want to.

But...for now, I'm trying to decide on which electric one. Decisions, decisions. lol

The thing that irritates me is that the companies don't post the psi for them. As far as the "around $100, give or take" versions, people say the Nesco is the only one that gets to 15psi. If that is true, you'd think the company would post that as a huge selling point. I've requested that info from 2 other companies but haven't heard back yet. But, according to reviews, they get to maybe 10 to 12 psi. Either way, most people adore their electric cookers.

[scrappinchar]

I just heard from Cuisinart customer service. They said:
Thank you for your inquiry. The PSI on High is 10, and the PSI on low is 6.

I will contact Nesco and see what they say about theirs. Still haven't heard back from a couple of others.

By the way...I know that with some foods (some veggies, for instance) you would want to be near when the time was up and do a quick pressure release. But for longer cooking meals, the walking away from it and letting it depressurize itself and go to "warm" sounds great!

[kimmybutton]

Char, I have a pressure cooker from QVC. Got it at least 5-7 years ago. Love it! Easy to use! Not scary! This is similar to my model. Pretty affordable. I'm able to brown meats prior to cooking and also able to make gravy in it after cooking. Don't know all the specs. I didn't research that carefully. But, for my needs, it's great. I'm sure there are more whistles and bells on the recent models.

[scrappinchar]

Boy, Nesco was quick to resond! They said,
The low setting is 5PSI & the high setting is 15PSI.

Kimmy, I'm adding the one you linked to my list. lol It has 3 different psi settings and shows 15psi right there on the product. Oval sounds nice.

I just HATE reading the negative comments. lol Some people say the one they own is the best thing ever and someone else says it is a piece of junk. Argh! lol On Amazon, I tell myself to only take seriously the comments that are from verified purchasers. But, I don't know.

[kimmybutton]

scrappinchar, on 27 January 2012 - 10:19 AM, said:

Boy, Nesco was quick to resond! They said,
The low setting is 5PSI & the high setting is 15PSI.

Kimmy, I'm adding the one you linked to my list. lol It has 3 different psi settings and shows 15psi right there on the product. Oval sounds nice.

I just HATE reading the negative comments. lol Some people say the one they own is the best thing ever and someone else says it is a piece of junk. Argh! lol On Amazon, I tell myself to only take seriously the comments that are from verified purchasers. But, I don't know.

Yeah, I love the oval shape. Mine is old enough that it doesn't have those psi settings on it. And, it only came in stainless. Certain things I do research quite a bit, but this purchase was just an impulse one. It has suited my needs and is still going strong. I'm sure you'll figure out which pressure cooker is right for you.

[jenrou]

Today I checked out some cookbooks from the library, although I have shelves full of them. They had books on pressure cookers and it tells you how to turn your regular recipes into pressure cooker recipes. It is pretty interesting. It's Express Cooking by Barry Bluestein and Keven Morrisey, written in 2000. I does have some information on electric and stove top cookers. I doubt I would buy it, but I like reading it. It also has a section on wild game for those of you in Alaska.

Jean

[satippetts]

Good question Char, I had thought about one too. Especially the thought of cooking things quick and fast, as I often wait till last minute to decide what for dinner. Might have to look into one myself!

[Becster]

It's been interesting reading about this. I'm such an innovator, I'm just now beginning to use a crock pot, dare I take it up another notch?

[scrappinchar]

Well ladies...I did it!


I bought one! I was waiting until it came in and I used it before I posted. In case it was a dud. lol
HSN was premiering a new line of products by Bon Appetit (the magazine) and an electric pressure cooker was one of the items. It was offered that day for $99.00 and free shipping so I went for it. Then later that day, I ordered another one for my Mom for Mother's Day. My plan is to use hers, too... to make sure it's not a dud. I'll tell her so when I give it to her.

Maybe I shouldn't post a link, so it's called: Bon Appétit 7qt Programmable Pressure Cooker. Right now they just have a green and orange. They did have black, blue, and red, too.

If you check it out, you'll see my review. I'm SouthernChar. A lot of people have given it poor reviews because the manual is not as good as it could be and the recipe booklet isn't fabulous. But, in my research, hardly any PC comes with a great manual or recipes. I went to numerous sites and saved the manuals and recipe booklets that the companies gave. I read through them. I had also already ordered Bob Warden's Great Food Fast cookbook from QVC. I received it almost a week before the PC came. It's a great cookbook. I had contacted HSN and told them that they needed to provide a general cooking chart. So many people were complaining in their reviews about the lack of one. (I already had some charts from other places.) They added a link to a chart on their page. Now they need to post the mac & cheese recipe that Chef Ryan showed on the airings. I recorded all of the airings for the product and watched them. lol A lady called in and he told her that the recipe was included. Well...it's not. I informed HSN of that. Hmph! But, I have one in the cookbook anyway.

Rich has a couple of times told me about a time when he was in highschool and came home from a sports practice. His Mom had BBQ beef tips and rice kept warm in the oven for him. It's a fond memory of his. lol So...the first meal I made with the PC was BBQ beef tips! They turned out so yummy and Rich said they were sooo tender (unlike his Mom's.)

Okay. That was long. lol

[PolkaDot]

scrappinchar, on 08 February 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

Well ladies...I did it!


I bought one! I was waiting until it came in and I used it before I posted. In case it was a dud. lol
HSN was premiering a new line of products by Bon Appetit (the magazine) and an electric pressure cooker was one of the items. It was offered that day for $99.00 and free shipping so I went for it. Then later that day, I ordered another one for my Mom for Mother's Day. My plan is to use hers, too... to make sure it's not a dud. I'll tell her so when I give it to her.

Maybe I shouldn't post a link, so it's called: Bon Appétit 7qt Programmable Pressure Cooker. Right now they just have a green and orange. They did have black, blue, and red, too.

If you check it out, you'll see my review. I'm SouthernChar. A lot of people have given it poor reviews because the manual is not as good as it could be and the recipe booklet isn't fabulous. But, in my research, hardly any PC comes with a great manual or recipes. I went to numerous sites and saved the manuals and recipe booklets that the companies gave. I read through them. I had also already ordered Bob Warden's Great Food Fast cookbook from QVC. I received it almost a week before the PC came. It's a great cookbook. I had contacted HSN and told them that they needed to provide a general cooking chart. So many people were complaining in their reviews about the lack of one. (I already had some charts from other places.) They added a link to a chart on their page. Now they need to post the mac & cheese recipe that Chef Ryan showed on the airings. I recorded all of the airings for the product and watched them. lol A lady called in and he told her that the recipe was included. Well...it's not. I informed HSN of that. Hmph! But, I have one in the cookbook anyway.

Rich has a couple of times told me about a time when he was in highschool and came home from a sports practice. His Mom had BBQ beef tips and rice kept warm in the oven for him. It's a fond memory of his. lol So...the first meal I made with the PC was BBQ beef tips! They turned out so yummy and Rich said they were sooo tender (unlike his Mom's.)

Okay. That was long. lol

Yay! Congratulations, Char! Sounds like you are having fun with it already! You're a good wife to remember DH's story and make his favorite dish as your first PC meal!! Back in HS my Mom used to keep dinner warm in the dry oven for when I came home late, which I always appreciated. Thanks for that nice memory.

I am so, so glad that you started this thread! I'll tell you my experience in a separate message.

[scrappinchar]

Um, Dot? Heeelllooo? lol
You have left me hanging here!

Just gotta know what your experience was. lol

Rich commented again today about how good those beef tips were. I'd better keep them in the dinner rotation.