Buying a pressure cooker means reconnecting with a classic cooking tool that saves time and money. Here's how to pick a pressure cooker according to brand, size, materials, features and accessories.
Aluminum or Stainless Steel Pressure Cookers - Which is Better?
Though the link between aluminum cookware and Alzheimer's has not been conclusively proven as of this writing, most cooks have switched to stainless steel. And for good reason: stainless steel pressure cookers are easier to keep clean and don't absorb odors and flavors as readily as aluminum pressure cookers do. Plus, aluminum is a softer metal that pits and stains, and doesn't have as long of a life as stainless steel does.
Aluminum is a better conductor of heat than steel is, however, so most higher-end pressure cookers have layers of aluminum on the bottom of the pot to help conduct the heat more efficiently.
Pressure Cooker Safety Features to Look For
Any pressure cooker should have the following features for safety and convenience:
- A pressure regulator indicator: This can be either the traditional "jiggle-top" pressure indicator or a spring valve that pops up. Just read the manual to make sure that the pressure is 15 psi, the most common pressure used in pressure cookers (and pressure cooker recipes) and the pressure setting most likely to save time cooking.
- Handles on both sides of the pot for safer lifting.
- A pressure release setting, which is handy for quick de-pressurizing - just watch out for the steam! (If a pressure cooker doesn't have the quick-release feature, simply place it in the sink and run cold water over the lid to release the pressure inside.)
Older pressure cookers may not have safety features or may not be in the best structural condition (especially if they are aluminum), so even if Grandma's pressure cooker holds fond memories, choose a new model to use instead.
Pressure Cooker Accessories
Most pressure cookers come with a few accessories, but even if these items aren't included, they are very good to have on hand:
- A spare gasket (the silicon or rubber ring that fits in the lid).
- A clear glass lid to use with the pressure cooker pot when pressurizing isn't required.
- A cooking rack that allows foods to be cooked above the liquid in the pot.
- A steamer basket for cooking vegetables in the pressure cooker.
It's also good to have a well-reviewed pressure cooker cookbook / recipe book or two, although pressure cooker recipes and pressure cooker tips are easy to find online.
What Size Pressure Cooker to Buy
For most families, a 6 quart (or 6 liter) pressure cooker will do just fine - it provides plenty of room to cook a chicken or two without being overly bulky or heavy.
Are Electric Pressure Cookers a Good Choice?
Not really. There are several reasons why a traditional, stainless steel stove-top model of pressure cooker is better. Electric pressure cookers:
- Have a shorter life expectancy than non-electric pressure cookers.
- Don't reach pressures as high as those of traditional pressure cookers.
- Often have a non-stick coating that can be scratched easily and flake off into food.
- Have a shorter warranty, many times, than high quality traditional pressure cookers.
For all those reasons, it's better to stick with the old-fashioned stove-top pressure cooker.
Best Pressure Cooker Brands
There are many brands of pressure cooker, but these are some of the best-known:
- American brands like Presto and Mirro aluminum pressure cookers can be found in stores like Walmart and Target. These inexpensive pressure cookers can provide an introduction to pressure cooking and are good for occasional use. However, with weekly usage they may only last a few years. Plus, with less expensive pressure cookers, the vent tubes are often harder to clean.
- Swiss-made Kuhn Rikon pressure cookers are at the upper end of the price spectrum and are made from stainless steel, reliable to use and beloved by cooks everywhere. They also use less water than cheaper brands because they conserve steam well.
- An excellent mid-range pressure cooker - and one that's easy for beginner pressure cooker chefs to use - is the Fagor pressure cooker. Fagor products are Spanish-made, quiet, dependable and fairly affordable - and will last for years.
One last piece of advice for choosing a pressure cooker: the "jiggle-top" pressure indicators, though they are traditional, are also easy to lose or misplace.
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