Pressure cooker or cutting board?

[FrogPrincesse]

I don't think I could survive without the pressure cooker I inherited from my grandmother (a small "SEB"). I use it to cook potatoes, make chicken stock, and also make risotto (which works best with a firmer rice such as carnaroli).

[rotuts]

the mistake I made when i got my PC is I got a smaller one initially and took it back (unused) and got the medium one when I realized my mistake: making a 'double' Rx takes the same amount of time and minimal more energy.

more to safe and freeze! id srtongly advise to go with the 8 qt. rather then the 6

.... then there is the 10 Qt!

[ermintrude]

If you do get the pressure cooker, please post frequently about your use of it so I can perhaps get over my irrational fear of them. They sound so wonderful for grains and legumes, and soups, and of course, canning.

Just want to be sure that the original poster knows that a pressure cooker is very different from a pressure canner. One cannot, as far as I know, safely use an ordinary pressure cooker to safely can foods. I am happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

You can use an ordinary pressure cooker to safely can foods provided it can reach the required pressure and you don't overcrowd it, the main problem is that you can only process small quantities due to the size of the pressure cooker (2 or 3 jars at most unless very small) but it's another use.

So another vote for the pressure cooker, and get one with a spring valve (Fagor or Kuhn Rikon) and the largest you can.

Edited February 10, 2012 by ermintrude (log)

[FrogPrincesse]

the mistake I made when i got my PC is I got a smaller one initially and took it back (unused) and got the medium one when I realized my mistake: making a 'double' Rx takes the same amount of time and minimal more energy.

more to safe and freeze! id srtongly advise to go with the 8 qt. rather then the 6

.... then there is the 10 Qt!

It's nice to have a large pressure cooker, however I don't think that mine is more than 5 quarts and it's still a life saver (we are a family of 3). So if you can't afford a large one, it's still worth considering a smaller model.

[andiesenji]

I've been using pressure cookers for most of my life and continued to use them in spite of having a big one (21 quart) explode several decades ago but as it was my fault, for filling the thing too full - I wasn't in the kitchen keeping an eye on the pressure regulator, I can't blame the pressure cooker. I had used it for years with no problems.

The newer ones without the separate weight "jiggler" are much safer to use. I have 6 qt. and 10 qt. (Fagor) stainless steel and my canning PC is a 30 qt. All American aluminum.

I also have an electric pressure cooker Farberware 8 qt., which is no longer marketed but mine works great for stock, soup, stews, beans and etc.

A friend has the Fagor multi-cooker and uses it several times a week - she works two jobs and has little time for cooking so it is a necessity.

Edited February 10, 2012 by andiesenji (log)

[Wholemeal Crank]

Just a couple of weeks ago I again had three pressure cookers on the stove at once: one with artichokes, to eat that night; one with winter squash, that needed the longest time at pressure, of all the soup ingredients; one with the rest of the makings of the cauliflower/root vegetable/squash curried soup. I've even managed four, though it's really unusual to have the 22qt pressure canner out at the same time as the little ones.

I vote pressure cooker.

Edited February 11, 2012 by Wholemeal Crank (log)

[Alex]

If you haven't decided yet, W-S has free shipping on everything until 11:59 p.m. PST tonight. If you can't decide tonight and you're leaning toward a cutting board, they have free shipping until the 26th on Boos end-grain cherry boards. I'd be glad to send you the free shipping code they sent me for that offer.

[bonkboo]

Thanks for the heads up. I went PC about a week ago and have no regrets. Love it.

[pazzaglia]

Thanks for the heads up. I went PC about a week ago and have no regrets. Love it.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Which one did you get, the elctric or stove-top?

Ciao,

L

[Sam Sunder]

My vote is for pressure cooker. But it depends on your interests and needs.