pressure cooker recommendations?

[dcason]

Looking for stove top model (not electric) pressure cooker because I want to use it boondocking with propane.

I know NOTHING about pressure cookers. I want to cook beans and rice in it FASTER. Maybe chicken if hubby wants to cook it.

Any brand recommendations? I did look up online recommendations but they were all over the board and it ended up looking like I was going to spend over $100 to cook beans and rice???

[dcason]

thanks for miss Vicky have book marked it.
Donna

[S-n-L]

Magnusfide,

Great link. When I first got the pressure cooker I would frequent this website a lot. I forgot about it. Great resource.

Stuart

[magnusfide]

Here's her chart for free online.
http://www.missvickie.com/howto/times/timingframe.html

[S-n-L]

Magnusfide,

Your correct about the cook book. That being said any pc chef can use the time charts that I find very useful. I have a stove top model and have not looked for books with info on the electric. I particularly like the stove top because I can sear meat in one pot before cooking under pressure. I also like using the pc as a conventional pot.

Stuart

[magnusfide]

S-n-L wrote:


The best book I have found on PCing is Miss Vickies Pressure Cooker recipes. It will really open your eyes. See the link here.

Stuart

A short note: excellent book but its for stovetop PCs only. She doesn't favor the electric digital PC.

[S-n-L]

Hi everyone,

I thought of a few more things about the pressure cookers;

Decason, if all you do is cook rice and beans you are only scratching the surface on cooking with a pressure cooker. It is faster than a microwave. Although there are some things you can and others you can not cook with the PC it is an amazing tool. I too bought one "just to check it out" and found it amazing.

The best book I have found on PCing is Miss Vickies Pressure Cooker recipes. It will really open your eyes. See the link here.

http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Vickies-Pressure-Cooker-Recipes/dp/0764597264/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394408274&sr=8-1&keywords=miss+vickie%27s+big+book+of+pressure+cooker+recipes

When a recipe called for cooking chicken for 8 minutes I said "no way". Well yes way! That is 8 minutes of cooking but need to add time for pressure build up and pressure release. Still very cool, super fast. You can sear then pressure cook, all in one pot.

As for those hand-me-downs. I suggest being very careful with the old PCers. I do not know when pressure cookers changed but at some time newer pressure cookers were required to have 3 safety devices built in to avoid exploding. There is no way these new units can blow up. However, the older ones can blow up, can you say chicken Fricassee all over the ceiling 🙂

I personally would not use an older unit due to not wanting the need to pay that much attention to it. Looking forward to St. Patty's day when I will cook a corned beef in 40 minutes vs. 3 hours! Corned beef, it has enough salt to supply an adult for a year but it is one of my guilty pleasures that I do at this time of year.

I also love to cook soups with it. Give me the PC and my stick blender and I am a happy camper.

Stuart

[littlemo]

deleted

[S-n-L]

Hello everyone,

As Desert Captain wrote research has revealed that aluminum contributes to many chronic diseases That are killing us today including Alzheimer's and dementia. As also mentioned aluminum can contribute an off taste when cooking acidic foods such as tomatoes and vinegar. These acidic foods also will leach more aluminum in to your foods ending up in your body. FYI, another source of aluminum that you should consider removing from your daily routine is antiperspirants. Read the label to see if yours contains aluminum and then dump them in the garbage. Replace them with deodorant. I know, I know not the same but it is healthier for you. As was also mentioned aluminum will not work with induction cook tops.

Just as an FYI I speak from a place of authority. My job is a corporate health and wellness educator and coach my credentials are: a Chiropractic Physician, a nutritionist, a certified weight management counselor, a certified diabetes prevention counselor, a certified personal trainer, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified corporate wellness culture coach, and a certified intrinsic motivation coach. There are some others but you get the point.

As for the research on aluminum, to date there are no really good double blind studies or clinical trials that I know of however there is enough good studies that make me want to use no aluminum cookware in my kitchen. That being said their are many if not most restaurants that use aluminum cookware so some is unavoidable as I will not stop eating out. I just do not need to add any more to my diet than necessary.

In addition there is new research that is indicating that Alzheimer's is killing more of us than we thought. Based on the new research Alzheimer's could soon be considered the 3rd highest rank for causes of death in the US behind heart disease then cancer. It has been found that although many people have on their death certificate and the apparent cause of death things like a heart attacks it is being uncovered that many of the real causes of death for many are Alzheimer's. Kinda scary.

Stuart

[Desert_Captain]

jamway wrote:

S-n-L wrote:
I would recommend the Fagor Duo. This is one of the highest rated PC from cooks illustrated. Make sure to get a stainless steel & would not recommend aluminum. I have two, a 10 qt & a 6qt and love them. When using it as a pressure cooker you can only use about 2/3 to 3/4 of the volume so you may need to get a larger one than you may have thought. Also, these make a great conventional pot as well. I bought the glass lid made by Fagor to use this way. Amazon has it all.

Stuart

Why would you not use aluminum? I used one yesterday (Presto) that was a hand me down over 50 years ago and it cooked fine. What am I missing?

Aluminum is a bad idea. At high temps and using acidic sauces like tomato or bbq there is evidence that the aluminum can leach into your food. This possible contamination is high on the suspect list as being contibutory for Alzheimers, Parkinsons and other neural impairments. Stainless steel is the way to and is easier to clean.

[magnusfide]

dcason wrote:
Thanks everyone...just purchased a fagor (that is a brand I was eyeing anyway) in the six quart size...there are just two of us using it and don't want it too big for rv.

If need be I can get a bigger one later one...this is a trial:)

I think you'll be happy with the Fagor stainless steel as it won't pit if you make acidic dishes like tomato-based sauces.

Your decision to use propane is a smart move as you can have better pressure control with it.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Presto 6 quart stainless steel deluxe pressure cooker at Walmart for $50.

[SWMO]

vic46 you'll find that not all SS will work. Most SS has to much nickel in it. Generally anything that is 18/0 is compatible.

[vic46]

littlemo wrote:

jamway wrote:

S-n-L wrote:
I would recommend the Fagor Duo. This is one of the highest rated PC from cooks illustrated. Make sure to get a stainless steel & would not recommend aluminum. I have two, a 10 qt & a 6qt and love them. When using it as a pressure cooker you can only use about 2/3 to 3/4 of the volume so you may need to get a larger one than you may have thought. Also, these make a great conventional pot as well. I bought the glass lid made by Fagor to use this way. Amazon has it all.

Stuart

Why would you not use aluminum? I used one yesterday (Presto) that was a hand me down over 50 years ago and it cooked fine. What am I missing?

Yes, why not aluminum? It is very heavy duty and something that lasts that many years with as much use as I give them is quality indeed.

Induction cook tops will only work with FERROUS metals. Therefore aluminum or copper, for example, will not work with an induction device. Stainless steel clad copper is fine. I received an NuWave cook top as an
Xmas parcel. I was, at a minimum, sceptical. I am now a true fan of the device. Quick, clean and easy to use.

[Greydennyhawk]

Mine is a Fagor Splendid and is made of stainless
Which works on an induction range, aluminum will not