Discovered the joy of pressure cooking!

[piercedan]

Well, I recently picked up a Presto pressure cooker after wanting one for a long time. So far, I've cooked two meals in it and am really impressed!

First meal was pinto beans with ham cut up in it. With out a doubt the best I've ever made, and it was about two and a half hours (quick soak included) start to finish and I had a two pound pot of beans.

Second meal, I quartered some red potatoes (about 9 medium sized) and put them in the bottom with two cups of water, two bullion cubes, and then put the divider tray in. On that, I put six inch-thick boneless pork chops seasoned with a little salt and Ms. Dash. Topped with two tbs. butter. Brought it to pressure and cooked for 16 minutes.

Start to finish, I had about 35 minutes of work for a fantastic meal. I finished the chops with a quick sear in a pan, 45 seconds on each side. They were fork tender and wonderful! I mashed the potatoes with a little more butter and seasoning.

Can't believe I waited this long to try a pressure cooker. I'm sold!

[tercel89]

Cant you put fish in it and cook it to where you can eat the bones ? Like salmon in a can where the bones are soft enough to eat ?

[piercedan]

Not sure about that. Fish is on my list though.

[Westwindmike]

When I was a kid, my mom cooked everything in the pressure cooker. She would set it in the sink and run cold water over it to cool it enough to open.

I have a microwave pressure cooker that we used to use a lot. Could cook a small roast in just a few minutes!

[221 Fireball]

Always thought about getting one ... but I heard they can blow up too! Have they remedied that yet?

[vontar]

I like cooking in mine.

My favor thing is to first fry some beef stew meat.

In the pressure cooker, combine with green beans, carrots, and potatoes. (feel like I am forgetting something)

Cook it until the potatoes are done and it is a good feeling meal. The meat favor is in everything. Edited November 21, 2012 by vontar

[piercedan]

[quote name='221 Fireball' timestamp='1353537007' post='849257']
Always thought about getting one ... but I heard they can blow up too! Have they remedied that yet?
[/quote]

Mine has a lid lock that keeps the lid closed while pressurized, as well as three stages of pressure relief. First the normal one with the weight, then a secondary rubber plug, and finally a large emergency release that will rapidly vent if it gets critical. You will be completely safe as long as you follow the instructions and don't over fill it. Mine is a Presto 6 quart, and seems to be very good.

Edited November 22, 2012 by piercedan

[Glenn]

I recently got an electric pressure cooker that seems to have solved the overheating problem. When i was a kid my mom was cooking green beans in a pressure cooker. The vent got stopped up. When the emergency release popped the entire pot of beans shot out of the approx. 3/8" hole and formed a green stalactite on the ceiling. I think they are much safer now.

[piercedan]

I bet she was traumatized!

[vontar]

well, unlike most kids, you had an actually excuse to not eat green beans. (as a kid, I didn't want to eat them, but I don't remember actually disliking the taste.)