Pressure Cooker

[Andy Hamilton]

Been reading up on using a pressure cooker and it seems that they can save an awful amount of energy. I am thinking of buying one at some point when I next have some cash.

Are they worth it? Can it blow up if I get one second hand, silly question but a consideration none the less. Can you cook meat in them or is pretty much just for veg?

[Shirley]

You can cook meat in it Andy.

We are looking at buying one - if anyone has any to recommend then please let us know.

I think (but don't quote me) that modern ones are safer... we used to have one that my parents used and it was quite scary, but they cooked all kind of things in there in a fraction of the time it used to take ordinarily.

[Andy Hamilton]

THey really do seem to vary in price, the cheapestis this one from amazon market place at 24 quid. There are ones out there for £100 an up. I think I might have to ask santa for amazon vouchers for chirstmas

[Shirley]

http://www.headcook.co.uk/kuhn-rikon-30 ... -1163.html this one looks excellent but it's pretty much one hundred pounds!!

[Andy Hamilton]

I get it from a reliable source (cheers SH) that you do have to do your homework when looking for a decent pressure cooker, not all will work that well on every hob, some will have handles that are not sturdy and will tend to fall off and unless you invest in a good one the heat efficiency is lost. Stainless steel is the best, with a triple rimmed bottom. - a lot more to pressure cookers than first meets the eye then.

I can't seem a time in foreseeable future where I will be able to pay £100 for a decent pressure cooker so will have to keep this idea on the back burner for now. - It is not really an item you see much in charity shops.

[Muddypause]

I bought a pressure cooker probably about 30 years ago now. It was undoubtedly the cheapest one I could have bought at the time, but it's still perfectly OK. I've only ever used it for vegetables, which sit in a basket above the water inside it, so I can't see what difference a triple rimmed botttom would make to that, but it may be different if you are cooking meats and things.

It's made of aluminium, which may not be quite as exotic as stainless steel, but really hasn't caused any problems. I think the only issue with that is, that because aluminium is relatively soft, whacking a utensil against the rim is to be avoided, because this is where it has to seal, and any damage there could ruin it.

I think the exploding pressure cooker must be a myth (in the unlikely event of there being a problem, they should all have a pop-off valve), but I can think of three things to watch for:
1) Make sure that replacement seals are readily available, because they do wear out (some makes will fit other makes, I found out. Keep the old seal to compare it to a replacement).
2) A single weight has done everything I needed it to, but some cookers have more than one weight, for added utility.
3) Don't loose the weight.

If you really think that a £100 one would be the right one for you, it may still be more feasible to start off with a £20 one, try it out for a while, see how you like it, before committing a lot of money to a better one.

A little while ago, I found an all-plastic pressure cooker at a jumble sale - for use in a microwave oven. Haven't actually used it yet, but it sounds plausible, and maybe even more economical.

[shiney]

I have a Prestige one, I am still scared of it! It's brilliant to make a stew in no time at all, cook your veggies or make chutney's in (without the lid) as the bottom is well sturdy and doesn't burn things. We also take it camping!

You could try freecycle. I expect someone has one still in it's box, never used.

[Wombat]

Um, at one stage Mrs Wombat (I think it was her) was in hospital with a lady on the receiving end of one blowing up! If you cook food that froths, like dried beans, if you put too much in it can foam up and block the relief valve = trouble!

Perfectly safe when used "according to the instructions" though....

Nev

[Milims]

I use a Prestige one that my Mum gave me and before that a very ancient model with a complicated lid that came from my Granny - neither of which gave me a bit of bother and made fantastic lentil soup and Irish stew in a very short time!! Like Muddypause says - make sure the seal ring on the lid is ok, the extra pressure seal on the top is ok and that the weight is with it. I think the scary bit is letting the pressure off but I've found that if you take it off the heat and balance a fork thru the ring on the weight it does it more slowly and gently. Happy cooking
Helen and Chris
PS Andy - did you send me your cold???

[2steps]

you can make pretty much anything in a pressure cooker. I used to use mine loads but then lost the weight and haven't gotten round to getting a new one. I often use it as a big saceoan with the dividers when I am cooking several veg and my mum uses her a lot. I use the pan for jam making too. It does worry me a bit, like shiney said but it is good and cooks things faster too. I've had mine for about 10 years and as far as I know my mum has had hers since before we were born so they last well too

[Milims]

Have you thought about a slow cooker as an alternative? Ok so its the opposite - it cooks slow instead of fast - but it only uses about as much power as a light bulb and you can put something in before you leave for work and come home to a lovely cooked tea. I use mine all the time - especially in the winter - I even took it on holiday with me. They make fab soup - especially things like italian tomato where the flavour is improved by slow cooking. They also make fab pot roast - just sear your meat, saute some onions and veg and chuck them in with stock and hey presto - your tea is ready when you come home and no scary steamy accidents!! Apparently you can even bake cakes in them.
Regards
Helen and Chris

[hedgewizard]

I'm thinking of one of these, but I'd want one with a rack inside for jars for canning - what the yanks call a pressure canner. Anyone seen them for sale in the UK?