How To Choose Right Pressure Cooker?
October 21st, 2008 Posted in Home ImprovementYou should know what you are dealing with here, and it’s best to be straight to the point about cookers to get the best information possible. Choosing the right pressure cooker is no an easy task, and some knowledge helps a lot.
The best cookers on the market are with us for a long time and they offer a variety of cooker sizes. Most chefs prefer using stainless steel cookers since they are easily cleaned in dishwasher and are non-reactive. Just in case, take a heat resistant handles on your pressure cooker. Pressure cooker that is a minimum for a family is a 6 quart. Go for a larger cooker if you plan to use it as a pressure canner.
Even if the price is your primary consideration, you should stick with a brand name product. The quality control will be beter and you will be able to find replacement parts 10 years from today. Valves get lost. The gaskets do get damaged and wear out in time. Your stock pot won’t be affected by a loose lid, but your pressure cooker would be ruined.
Lots of pressure cookers come with useful features like trivers, racks and vegetable steamers. Most chefs brown meats before attaching the lid so sticking does occur. However, you may want to avoid non stick interiors. Its better to deal with a bit more cleaning then to risking the peeling of interior coating. With an electric pressure cookers, a nonstick interior is a less of a problem.
The programmable electric cooker by Cuisinart is worth considering. The push buttons controls and digital display make this cooker a great value. The Cuisinart can be programmed for high or low pressure cooking, browning, simmering, sauteing or warming. Electronic thermostat gets advantage over the stovetop control that needs to be set in precise position. You do give up some flexibility, however, because you can’t open the lid until the cooker says you can. You will be able to drop the pressure instantly and open the lid with help from some cold water.
One Response to “How To Choose Right Pressure Cooker?”
By Jill, The Veggie Queen on Oct 22, 2008
You are right about the size of the cooker for a family but smaller families or single people can use a 4 quart cooker well. Good to know is that you can cook just 1 cup of rice in any size cooker but it’s most efficient in a smaller cooker.
I prefer stove top models to the electric but have not yet tried the Cuisinart.
I completely agree about the nonstick interior and always avoid it.
A pressure cooker is something that everyone needs in their kitchen but choosing one is not difficult.
What you didn’t point out is the difference between a an old-fashioned jiggle top cooker and the modern pressure cooker. The modern one does not hiss, make other noise or possibly explode — it’s quiet and safe.