If ‘Game of Thrones’ was an appliance, it’d be a pressure cooker.
I’ve never actually been scared of an appliance before.
There’s no shortage of gadgets in my kitchen. It’s an occupational hazard that I already own a fair few of them and usually I’m into them in a jiffy and using them for as many things as I can think of within minutes.
But ever since Kambrook sent me a pressure cooker to try out, I’ve had a half-unpacked box in the corner of my kitchen just looking a bit ominous and scary. Sure, my slow cooker is heavy, and my food processor is sharp, but neither of them have a reputation for EXPLODING the way that pressure cookers do. Not easing my nerves, most of the web pages dealing with these contraptions start with reassuring lines like “These days pressure cookers are safe and easy to use…” then off they go offering poetic descriptions of the hours of joy that await me.
Also alarming is the instruction booklet, which is 50 pages of info and recipes, but with some pages covered in more ‘WARNING’ panels than instructional text.
Yeah, sure, reassuring…
So tell me, do you use one? What are your pressure cooker staples and what recipes should I start with? This ‘Dummies’ cheat sheet seems a have a bunch of good basic information on using them and A Perfect Pantry has a good list of recipes – I’m thinking the beef ragu might be good (with a stack more vegies). And this pulled pork recipe looks good and cooks about 7 hours more quickly than my slow-cooker version.
I know many people are big fans of these contraptions, so if you can steer me in the right direction, I’d love to hear from you.
E said,
May 15, 2013 @ 10:38 am
I have a $200 pressure cooker sitting in the cupboard that my husband wanted. However, I too am scared of them and so it never gets used! I much prefer to use my slow cooker as I know it can’t explode.
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 10:45 am
I’m going to bite the bullet today and try a pulled pork. I’ll let you know how I go!
Kate said,
May 15, 2013 @ 11:24 am
Hi, I recently purchased one & it still frightens the life out of me every time! Its great for making soups, Just throw everything in & turn it on – last night I did, chicken, leeks, cauliflower, parsley & potato with stock & it was delicious. I find with dishes that I would normally slow cook there is a lot of liquid when finished so I either put it in the oven or stovetop to reduce. It really cuts the time & the meat falls apart – an amazing machine really. I found popping a wet tea towel over the vent helfpul when there is a lot in the machine (liquid) as it spurts out when you release pressure. Enjoy it!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 1:07 pm
Nice tip on the tea towel! Sounds like good advice.
katie said,
May 15, 2013 @ 11:27 am
oooh, i’ve always wanted one – but i can understand the terror! good luck, be brave… looking forward to hearing about all the deliciousness you create!
Jodee said,
May 15, 2013 @ 11:44 am
Best thing I have ever bought….saves so much time in the kitchen
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 1:05 pm
What do you cook in it? Any favorite recommendations?
Kyles said,
May 15, 2013 @ 11:55 am
I have one just like in your picture (maybe the same one?). It browns, slow cooks and pressure cooks and I LOVE it! Slow cooked meals that used to take hours take 40mins. Essential for winter!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 1:06 pm
Any specific recipes you can link too?
V said,
May 15, 2013 @ 12:12 pm
I also have a pressure cooker and I am scared of it also I don’t know what to do with it.
Dani said,
May 15, 2013 @ 12:18 pm
i got given one a year or so ago and I’m also too scared to use it. The instruction book just terrifies me!!
Ange said,
May 15, 2013 @ 1:14 pm
I got one last week after years of being scared of them too (my husband managed to make a normal saucepan explode, so I could only imagine what he could do with high pressure) BUT I used it last night for the first time, and I LOVED it 🙂 we are big risotto lovers in our house, so my first recipe was a pretty simple pumpkin and sage risotto but the texture was great and it was soooo easy. I’m so excited that you’ve got one to try, bring on the pressure cooker recipes! 🙂
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 2:47 pm
promise to do my best. I’m just a little bit excited, too. I do love a new gadget. Was the rice a good texture? Not too soupy?
Lisa Z said,
May 15, 2013 @ 2:11 pm
I love mine, 7 minute rice, no more canned kidney beans, chick peas etc, http://missvickie.com her beginners basics and cooking times charts are invaluable. The other night I threw in potatoes, kale, cabbage onion and garlic, 6 minutes later, Colcannon, all cooked, then I sautéed and mashed, threw in some left over corned beef and the kids loved it, best of all, lots of veggies!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 2:46 pm
thanks for that link – looks great!
Lisa Z said,
May 15, 2013 @ 2:14 pm
Oh and check out if your library has the women’s weekly PC book (S?) or the Suzanne Gibbs one.
Anneta said,
May 15, 2013 @ 2:18 pm
I was given one as a gift and had no clue how to use it. I hit the local library and borrowed every single pressure cookbook they had. Found the ones I liked and then bought them. I use it heaps in winter and love cooking silverside in it, as eliminates the lingering odour not to mention cooks in less then half the time!
Lisa said,
May 15, 2013 @ 2:30 pm
I bought one for myself after my youngest daughter was born, to save time in the kitchen. It’s easy to use and is very safe. It’s a Fagor brand, and since I bought mine, my parents and a friend have also bought the same one. I use the Suzanne Gibbs book almost exclusively, but the AWW Pressure Cooking book is good too. I do Suzanne Gibbs’ Pea and Ham soup (you still have to soak the peas but then it is only 15 mins cooking time) and it is superb. Also, stews (chuck steak is sublime in 20 mins), chicken, rice dishes and puddings (I did a steamed Christmas pud last year, yum). Never leave it unattended is about the best rule to keep in mind. And always use the correct amount of liquid…unless you have experimented and know how to change a recipe. Good luck!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 2:45 pm
I’ll check out that book and yes, it sounds like great advice to stick to recipes for a while until I understand it properly! Steamed xmas pudding sounds good! The one I make takes 5 hours on the stove. Is that recipe in one of the books?
Lisa said,
May 15, 2013 @ 7:14 pm
Yes the steamed pud is from the AWW book (the hardback version is what I have, 200pp). There is a smaller soft back edition that has a fraction of the recipes). Also tried the caramel banana steamed pud from the same book, quite delicious!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 7:53 pm
thanks for letting me know – i’ll definitely check it out.
Sue said,
May 15, 2013 @ 3:07 pm
It also saves fuel with the shorter cooking times
this site is brilliant, I cook beans etc and freeze them too
http://fastcooking.ca/pressure_cookers/cooking_times_pressure_cooker.php
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 3:22 pm
looks good! will check it out.
Melissa said,
May 15, 2013 @ 3:26 pm
Wen, have you done any slow cooker recipes? I bought one last year but don’t feel I’ve fully mastered it. M x
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 3:49 pm
Mel, here’s the current fav… https://vegiesmugglers.com.au/2013/05/01/the-current-slow-cooker-favourite/
have a go and report back on whether you think it’s too saucy or not!
Melissa said,
May 20, 2013 @ 1:58 pm
Thanks, I’m making it this week. Will report back x
rooey5 said,
May 15, 2013 @ 3:31 pm
I love mine, it’s an old 5 litre Hawkins pressure cooker, I mean old!
I use it for making homemade bone broth/stock and Asian pork rib/belly dishes when I want to eat their sticky deliciousness quickly. I’ve done corned beef in it with great results and beef brisket, and will probably churn out a fair few casseroles with winter setting in. Love it!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 3:48 pm
yum! I hadn’t thought of rib dishes. sounds good. Sounding like a vegetarian’s nightmare though! Although I believe it can do some pretty great chilli/beans recipes.
rooey5 said,
May 15, 2013 @ 4:03 pm
I think I saw a recipe for scalloped potatoes in a pressure cooker a while ago, I’ll do a search!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 4:04 pm
sounds great!
rooey5 said,
May 16, 2013 @ 10:21 am
I can’t find it, if I do stumble back across it I’ll email it to you.
Belinda said,
May 15, 2013 @ 5:10 pm
I don’t have a pressure cooker… I’ve always made the excuse I have an induction cooktop so they don’t work on them… fact is I’m scared of them too. I defrosted a lump of unidentifiable meat yesterday and was wondering what on earth to do….. lucky for me I made the pulled pork recipe after reading your post this morning, and it looks and tastes delicious!!!….well, anyway, I think it’s pork??!!!!
wendyblume said,
May 15, 2013 @ 6:04 pm
Pulled mystery meat. Bit of sauce, bit of salad and a wrap -it’ll be delicious 😉
Jodi said,
May 15, 2013 @ 8:59 pm
I had a pressure cooker (stove top kind) and I always managed to burn a bit on the bottom so I stopped using it. Love and use my slow cooker lots and when this one dies I will probably get one of the slow cooker/pressure cooker combos to have the best of both worlds.
Elizabeth said,
May 16, 2013 @ 12:37 am
I literally grew up with a pressure cooker and cannot live without mine. I have a Kuhn Rikon (stove top) that I use nearly every day. The book by S Gibbs is a good place to start, as it clearly explains how it works and how to adapt recipes.
I’ll try to list everything I cook in mine.
Brown rice in 15 mins!
Chickpeas
Variety of soups
Variety of stews and casseroles
Lamb shanks
Leg of lamb
Large cuts of any meat
Steam potatoes for mash in 15 mins
Roast potatoes
Steam chicken until it falls of the bone to make chicken pie
Melt in your mouth beef for beef and Guinness pie
Chilli con carne
The list goes on and on….
wendyblume said,
May 16, 2013 @ 8:32 am
You’re the pressure cooker queen! My pulled pork turned out well, so I’m inspired to keep going.
Nicole said,
June 9, 2013 @ 12:17 pm
Any updates on the pressure cooker? How’s it going?
wendyblume said,
June 10, 2013 @ 3:12 pm
Yep, i’m happy with the vegie soup and I”m just perfecting an Italian lamb stew. I’m actually DIGGING IT!