Here are a couple of pressure cooker reviews if you're thinking of buying a pressure cooker, and a good cookbook to go along with it.
Electric Pressure Cookers
I have become a convert to the electric pressure cooker, notably the Instant Pot. You can buy the Instant Pot model I use here. (affiliate link) Watch the video and then read on about some of the reasons I like it.
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Review:
- Turn it on and walk away, no monitoring cooktop burner flame.
- Built in keep warm setting.
- Smart technology monitors internal temperature.
- Easy to close lid.
- It makes yogurt!
Stove Top Pressure Cookers: I own two of these. I recently bought a Fagor pressure cooker which was highly recommended as a Best Buy by the people at America's Test Kitchen. I found the Fagor to be easy to use and pretty straightforward. Here is a link to buy the Fagor Pressure Cooker. (affiliate link) I suggest buying the 10 quart.
The Fagor has a nice thick bottom and the lid is fairly easy to attach. You'll find pressure cookers can be a little clunky fitting the lid on because it has a gasket. But this one drops on pretty quickly and it has a couple of guide marks to help you with that.
As far as price it lands about in the middle of what a pressure cooker costs. Don't buy a cheap pressure cooker, it's just not worth it, it's going to not work well and you're going to be unhappy and then you're not going to like pressure cookers. You get what you pay for with most things in life and that's true with pressure cookers as well.
I also own a Magafesa pressure cooker, it is the first one I bought about 10 years ago. It got a good rating from Cook's Illustrated back then. Now it does not make the recommended list on Cook's. It works, but I find if the relief valve gets any food debris in it, it can take some time to clean it up.
Do not buy a pressure cooker with what has a jiggle top, this is an old technology, go with the current models. Also don't buy a used one at a garage sale, you don't know if it works properly. Take your money and go buy new one.
Listen to me talk about Pressure Cooker tips on GardenFork Radio here. We also have some pressure cooker videos for you here.
What to look for in a pressure cooker
I use a 6 quart cooker, but I would opt for a larger cooker (8 or 10 quart) if you have the cash and kids. This allows you to make a bigger meal that can be lunch or dinner the next day too. Putting the lid on a cooker can take some practice, none of them are like butter, but the one you buy should go on easily. Make sure the bottom of the cooker has a thick base, much like regular pots, a thin base burns food.
I imagine there are a ton of pressure cooker reviews online, this is my take on it. Please let me know yours in the comments
When I bought my Fagor pressure cooker I also picked up a book, Pressure Cooker Perfection, which is from the people at America's Test Kitchen.
It has a lot of good information in the front of the book. I mean it's what you expect when you get something from the Cook's Illustrated - America's Test Kitchen people. It's researched to death - lot of good information and the recipes are good as well. I think the recipes are good for those of us who follow directions and then you can jump off from these pressure cooker recipes and make your own dishes. The Bolognese is kind a good one to start with, I skipped the Mortadella called for in the recipe.
The authors of Pressure Cooker Perfection cookbook haven't really broken any new ground but they do list out here some nice recipes they have good pictures it shows you step-by-step and that typical America's Test Kitchen way they do things. I like them for that I applaud them for that.
I also like Lorna Sass's Cooking Under Pressure cookbooks, they have good recipes and charts for cooking times.
Let me know what you guys think in the notes below what kind of pressure cooker do you own.
Watch all our pressure cooker recipe videos here.
James Meads
I like every show that I have watched with you giving directions Bee Keeping to pressure cooking. I do have a question in regards to cooking rice with a pressure cooker. I noticed that the new electric ones that are being advertised on T.V now tell how to use it to cook Rice. I have a couple of Mirror Pressure cookers and I really do like them and I have no plans ever buying a electric one. I am terrible at cooking rice and as I stated the T.V add states cooking Rice with a pressure cooker. I would of never of guessed using a pressure cooker for Rice but I am willing to try anything if it will help me cook Rice. I usually have a big ball of glue. I realize I am using to much water and possibly cooking the Rice to long or on to high of heat ? I just wanted to ask. Thanks for your video's ! I really do enjoy them!
Tony Coury
Eric
We have a glass top stove. Can we use a pressure cooker. I want one just not sure.
Tony
Eric Gunnar Rochow
Hi Tony, I'm not sure about that. maybe you can check with the company that made the stove? thx, eric.
Eric Gunnar Rochow
Hi James, i bought a simple electric rice cooker, they are about $20 and work great. i would not use a pressure cooker to cook rice. thx! eric.
Rick
I don't know why people are so down on electric pressure cookers. I have an InstantPot (there are lots of other brands but I wanted a stainless steel pot ) and I use and like it a lot. It has presets for common foods (including rice and other grains) and also doubles as a slow cooker. It has a timer for scheduled cooking and and an auto shut off (for we absent minded). I can use it in picnic areas or camp grounds where there is electricity (great for feeding large groups, family gatherings, etc).
The pressure in the electric models is slightly lower than the stove top models, but I just add a couple of minutes to the recipes. It is one of my most-used appliances in the kitchen.
What are the problems that people have with these?
Eric Gunnar Rochow
Hi Rick, if it works for you, great! I have a friend with one, and its nothing but problems. Good to hear there is an electric one that works, thx! eric.
Linda
I have the Fagor Duo. I purchased it for pressure canning and I wanted the stainless steel pot instead of aluminum. I also purchased on line a round rack to fit inside so that I can fit more jars than the metal basket provided. The metal rack is not made by Fagor but it fits perfectly. The pressure cooker makes small canning batches which is fine for my small family. I just love this product. It has paid for itself many times over. I have canned tomato sauce, pea soup, chicken broth, ground beef, corn beef, chili, pinto beans, baked beans! Canned potatoes, etc. I think it is fantastic product and easy to use and I have some ready made meals on the shelf. I was glad to see your Fagor post it is a product that I really really like. I have to say I am hooked on pressure canning.
Eric Gunnar Rochow
good to hear Linda, I have the mediums sized model, and it works great. thx! eric.
Eric Gunnar Rochow
Hi Rick, I have heard not great things about them from friends who have them, but if it works for you, that's great and good to know for me going forward. I imagine my friends own models that are not great. thx! eric.
Julia
I love my Kuhn-Rikon pressure cookers! (Yes, multiple. I'm that much of a geek.) I save up chicken bones in the freezer until I can pretty much fill up the pot, cover with water and bring to high pressure (similar to the Fagor, it's the second line on a button that pushes up with the pressure). Unlike what the Fagor sounds like in the polenta video, once it reaches pressure it's just about silent. I turn my (glasstop) cooker down to low and it will stay pressurized for hours.
Typically, I start the broth after dinner and once I've got the right number on the burner to maintain pressure, I can go to bed. Ideally I let it go for 24 hours. I get gorgeous clear broth and the bones are so soft they will break with gentle finger pressure. All the cartilage, etc has been transformed into broth. So good. I make it with beef bones (those are best if you roast them first) or other bones.
I don't know if you could run the Fagor for 24 hrs without losing too much fluid to steam. I know you couldn't run an old-fashioned "jiggle top" cooker for that long without it just going dry.
SandyR
Eric,
Help! I bought a Fagor express at BB&B today. I decided to try it out on Pork and sauerkraut. I got it going and the little button popped up but it took 5 more minutes before steam came out the little nozzle. It was coming out around the nozzle and the black plastic part on the lid. I didn't know if I started the timer and lower the heat when the button pops up or when the stream of steam starts coming out of the nozzle.
I timed it 20 minutes from the steam coming out the nozzle and the pork was nicely cooked. I'm just confused.
Thanks Eric. Love your videos
Eric Gunnar Rochow
Hi Sandy, I suggest reading through the information that comes with the pressure cooker. They are all a little different. The button that pops up is a safety feature, then the black selector dial pops up shortly afterward. thx! eric.
Eric Gunnar Rochow
Hi Julia, I have yet to use the pressure cooker for broth, but I have read it works very well for that. good to hear and thanks for taking the time to write! eric.
Rick
Eric,
Way late to the party here with another post, because I revisited the pressure cooker page again. I don't know what your friend with the InstantPot is talking about when they say they "cannot brown meat" in the cooker. I just cooked a pork shoulder, selected the "sauté" feature, browned the pork on all sides, reset the machine to pressure cooker mode and proceeded with standard pressure cooking. A great result.
Last week I poured a quart of organic whole milk into the pot, added some yoghurt starter, selected the "Yoghurt" mode, put on the lid. Came back 7 hours later to some decent yoghurt.
You need to get the company to give you one to try, or one of the other companies that make these things. Use your own experience to form an opinion. I like the versatility of the unit. It seems "gardenforkee."
David Owens
I own a Fagor Duo but do not use it any more. Instant Pot is the future of pressure cooking. Set it and forget it.
And use the sauté button to brown meat-tell him to make searches on YouTube. There are hundreds of videos on the Instant Pot.
Eugenia
I prefer the Karmin professional rice cooker 😉