pressure cookers

[anniemae]

Does anyone use one a pressure cooker? I know nothing about them, but was thinking of getting one. I heard they cook meat really well. I have a crock pot, that I use all the time, but what are the pros and cons of a pressure cooker? Do you like it or not?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Montel Williams sells his own pressure cooker and features are pretty cool. I watched him one day. I know he suffers from MS I think?

http://montelwilliams.com/

 

[gator75]

I have used a pressure cooker on many occasion. They do fantastic roasts, and the potatoes especially the baby potatoes can't be beat. you can do pretty much any vegteble. they make what ever you put in them very tender.As for the cons i have none to speak of, although when my mother was growing up she was using one and it exploded all over the kitchen so please be careful. other then that they are great

 

[LiberalPrincess]

I love my pressure cooker. You can braise meat to an incredible tenderness very quickly. I like the crock pot, but I use it more for soups.

 

[C.Ann]

although when my mother was growing up she was using one and it exploded all over the kitchen so please be careful. other then that they are great

My mom was the "Queen of The Pressure Cookers".. One time when I was fairly young (and knew nothing about them), she left me to watch what was cooking - with instructions as to what I was supposed to do.. Well - obviously I didn't understand her instructions and we ended up with potatoes, meat, carrots, onions, and celery all over the kitchen ceiling..

I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole after that.. I feel a million times safer with my crock pots.. LOL..

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Interesting. I just bought a roaster, so now I am going to want a pressure cooker.

 

[Nelfamily]

As far as having one explode on me, that's never happened. What probably happened on both occasions is it became over pressurized. They are called pressure cookers for a reason. I have never used one of the smaller cookers like what I'm assuming is what has been mentioned. I use a full size pressure cooker for home canning. I have never cooked meat in it unless it was in the jars. I can do pretty much any vegetable, sauce, meat/fish, beans etc in it. One rule of thumb with my cooker is that you don't leave it unattended. EVER! It can quickly get overpressurized if left unattended. I have to sit next to the stove and have a book to read, etc. so I can check the gauge every 5 minutes or so, and adjust the burner's heat accordingly. I have used this cooker for 15 years now and have yet to have it blow up on me. But I follow the instruction manual to a T. That's the one thing I would suggest you do. Read the manual and follow it, you should do fine. Enjoy your new purchase.

 

[pazzaglia]

Ok, enough with the exploding pressure cooker stories! As noted, all of these accidents happened a long time ago, with older pressure cookers. Modern pressure cookers have a back-up safety valve- so the worst thing that will happen is that the silicone valve will pop out to release the pressure in case of an emergency.

Anniemae, the pros of a pressure cooker are the speed. Anything that will take 6-8 hours in your crock-pot will only need 30-40 minutes to cook in your pressure cooker. The energy savings are great, too because once it reaches pressure you have to turn the flam down low, low, low to almost turning it off.

I can't think of any cons' except that they do come with parts in rubber or silicone, sealing ring for the top, that do need to be replaced - eventually. If you take good care of these parts - they can last for a long, long time!

Take a look at this pressure cooker timing chart to see how quickly different foods can cook:
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Oops, I cannot post links yet. Just google "The Definitive Page of Pressure Cooker Cooking Times" and you will see how fast beans, tough cuts of meat, and other veggies and fruits can cook!

That website has recipes, too!

 

[bambii]

fried chicken.. my mom uses hers to can stuff with.