pressure cooker?
 

never heard of it. some enlightenment?

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I need to get one. It's used for canning things like veggies and such that can't be canned with just a boiling water bath. Deciding whether something can be canned with water or pressure is based on the acid level.

I've heard of some people actually cooking in a pressure cooker, but I've only seen one used for for canning.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I just got a new one yesterday :tu I haven't used one in several years so I'm :popcorn for recipes. Basically a pressure cooker cooks the food under pressure (created by steam) and it cooks food dramatically faster. For instance, a roast that would normally cook for 3 or 4 hours to be fork tender would cook for 20 or 30 minutes in the pressure cooker. I'm so excited to have one again :yes

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Beans are fantastic in a pressure cooker. They cook quickly and end up with a lovely texture (not mushy, like cooking for a long time can do.) Some recipes require a pressure cooker for making things like sticky rice for rice balls. You can also make less expensive cuts of meat very quickly. Chuck roasts, stew meat, etc., become tender in very little time in the pressure cooker.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Forgot to mention that we're having corned beef and cabbage tonight to inaugurate our new pressure cooker :giggle I'll be sure and report back about how it goes.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I am getting over being scared of mine. :giggle I found one just like my mom's. I looooove beef roast in it. My mom did chicken also.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

ooooohhh i've been trying to find ways to make cooking my beans easier!! they always seem come out wrong :shrug3

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I have thought about one of these... I almost feel like a traitor to GCM but I just don't like crock pots or the way food turns out in them. I was thinking a pressure cooker would be a good alternative for pot roast and things like that.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I don't care much for crock pots either. I've had people give me cookbooks and recipes but I just don't like much from them. I use my electric roasting pot way more. I usually just cook a meat in it then cook veggies close to dinner time.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

yeah i haven't been having too much luck with my crock pot lately either :shrug3 i try to cook whole chickens but they don't seem to cook right...

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I do them in the electric roaster and they are good! The only thing I like from the crockpot is a chicken and rice recipe. I just prefer stuff not cooked together, I think.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Love mine for beans, soup, risotto, irish stew, potatoes.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Corned beef was perfect :tu It was a bit of a learning curve figuring out if it was up to pressure and getting the heat turned down the right amount. At first I think I turned it down too low (the little knob thing on the lid stopped sputtering :giggle) I think that's to be expected. Now that I'm more comfy with it, I think we'll have many more yummy pressure cooker meals in our future :yes

ETA: It took approx 50 minutes to cook, and that was with me cooking it at too low of a temp for a while. That corned beef would have normally taken 3 hours or so in a regular pot on the stove.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I love my pressure cooker. And like others have posted here, crock pots are icky. Everything is overcooked and tastes the same -- yuck. PC cooking makes the flavors of ingredients lively and preserves nutrients (whereas a crock pot overcooks everything).

I've had my PC for probably 10 years and I go through stages of using a lot. I make lots of soups, risotto, and I cook meats quickly for either immediate use or for freezing and ease of use for later. My friend taught PC cooking classes at the local co-op for years, so she has inspired me.

There are some great PC cookbooks out there that will teach you how to use your PC. I can make recommendations - I have my faves. Lorna Sass is one author that seems to be the "star" PC cookbook writer, but I don't have any of her books so can't vouch. I have three others, two of which I like a lot.

ETA: My friend who teaches PC cooking classes recommended buying a Kuhn Rikon, and I did, and I love it. Not sure what a less expensive brand would be like to use.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Does anyone have a particular make/model of pressure cooker they'd recommend?

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Not a make/model, but I'd absolutely recommend getting stainless steel rather than aluminum.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I have a 7qt. Kuhn Rikon and a family of 4. There are several different sizes depending on your needs.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Come joing the 2013/2014 thread http://www.gentlechristianmothers.co...d.php?t=495110

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I'm glad to be a part of this new thread! I love my PC and use it a lot, especially this time of the year -- soups stews, roasts, whole chickens -- it's all yummy.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

ooohhhh... tell me how you cook whole chickens!!????

Re: pressure cooker?
 

Okay, typical 3-4lb. chicken, whole, I quarter a large onion, roughly cut 2 large carrots, and 2 stalks of celery. Add 4-6 cups of water. You can add seasonings, too -- salt, pepper, marjoram, thyme are my most frequent. Put all into pot, secure the lid, and bring to high pressure. Once at high, reduce to medium and cook 5 minutes for every pound of meat, which usually translates to about 20-25 minutes, just to be safe. Remove from heat, reduce pressure (I usually run the whole pot under cold water), take the lid off. Remove chicken and allow to cool so you can work with it (taking meat off bones, etc.). The stock is lovely and you can work through whether you want to keep the cooked veggies or not (I do, then pulverize them and make a thicker broth from the stock and veggies). The meat tastes great and of course can be used for lots of things. I usually do this to make soup (add back to the broth about 2 cups of chopped chicken and then boil in some noodles), then freeze the rest of the chicken meat I have picked from the bones.

Re: pressure cooker?
 

I don't have a crock pot, either! I did for a long time, but once I got my PC, I realized how washed-out the flavors are in a crock pot. So when my crock pot died last year (yes, they actually die -- mine was probably 25 years old!), I didn't replace it. And have never regretted it.