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Old 26-12-2012, 15:59
Orangemaid
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Does anyone have one ?

I have one but its broke or doesnt come to pressure..Thinking of getting new one..We used the pressure cooker all the time in the family as kids. the potatoes and carrots cooked nice for a family dinner..Soups and stews were also nice..Do you use it often or is it in the cupboard stashed away The love doing nice soup in it..havent made homemade soups for years
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Old 26-12-2012, 17:12
Bunny82
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We have one and use it at least a couple of times a week. It's the OH's and he's had it over 20 years and it's only just needed the seal replacing. I'd never used one before meeting him and I'm still impressed at how tender meat is when it's cooked in one.

We do all kinds in it - curries, Boston baked beans, casseroles, soups, chilli, chops, chicken/duck thighs/legs... In fact we'll be cooking some gammon in it tomorrow with a few juniper berries. Yum.
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Old 26-12-2012, 18:29
burnt toast
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I have one. The only thing I cook in it is stew. Mine has a sealing ring which needs heating and stretching every time otherwise it doesn't make a seal. I still wouldn't be without it though as stew and sometimes dumplings in it is great.
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Old 26-12-2012, 18:34
degsyhufc
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I have one from my mam but i've never used it as a pressure cooker. I use the pan for very big quantities of soup/stew/curry/bolognaise etc.


If I ever did use it as a pressure cooker I would try southern fried chicken in it.
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Old 26-12-2012, 21:58
dragonrapide
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I use mine for making soup mostly. In the winter we usually make a huge pot of soup a couple of times a week. So quick and easy.

For vegetables I have recently bought a rice steamer for the microwave which is much quicker than the pressure cooker as you don't have to wait for it to get up to pressure.
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Old 27-12-2012, 05:33
alsmama
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I've thought about getting a pressure cooker in the past but can't see the benefit over an ordinary big pan! Can anyone tell me what makes a pressure cooker worth getting?
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Old 27-12-2012, 06:22
sweetpeanut
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I always wanted one and bought one about 7 years ago and it still sits in my cupboard all shiny and new because I am to scared to use it.

To be fair to me though I am of the age that remembers all the hoo ha about them blowing up and as no one in my family had one I never got to get over the scare.

I would really love to use it and I blooming well will one of these days
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Old 27-12-2012, 07:31
Summat
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I've thought about getting a pressure cooker in the past but can't see the benefit over an ordinary big pan! Can anyone tell me what makes a pressure cooker worth getting?
I'm only going on a hunch, but it's a plausible one, at least: The pressure vessel will increase the boiling point of the cooking liquor and so speed up the cooking time. Perfect for those dishes that would normally take hours to cook.
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Old 27-12-2012, 11:38
ninjahandfriend
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Everyone has one over here. We only use ours for making the ubiquitous Brazilian black beans and occasionally for beef in Guinness.
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Old 27-12-2012, 19:23
alsmama
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I'm only going on a hunch, but it's a plausible one, at least: The pressure vessel will increase the boiling point of the cooking liquor and so speed up the cooking time. Perfect for those dishes that would normally take hours to cook.
Ah ok thanks. We tend to slow cook rather than fast cook so we will give it a miss I think.
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Old 28-12-2012, 13:17
Ginger Nut
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I have one but haven't used it in years. The rubber seal ring might need replacing OP. They go brittle with no use and won't seal properly. I'll need to do that if I want to use it.
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Old 28-12-2012, 15:03
Orangemaid
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I have one but haven't used it in years. The rubber seal ring might need replacing OP. They go brittle with no use and won't seal properly. I'll need to do that if I want to use it.
i thought so..I have just purchased a new one as the one i got is over 10years plus old..So when i comes i will do a stew/soup with it..Already got all the food items in ready..cant wait to try it..come in handy for when i get in from work too
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Old 29-12-2012, 14:01
jerseyporter
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This is my first venture to the Food and Drink forum - I never even knew there was one, only found it by accident googling for something else!

Anyway, this thread caught my eye...

I always wanted one and bought one about 7 years ago and it still sits in my cupboard all shiny and new because I am to scared to use it.

To be fair to me though I am of the age that remembers all the hoo ha about them blowing up and as no one in my family had one I never got to get over the scare.

I would really love to use it and I blooming well will one of these days
My Mum always used her pressure cooker when I was growing up, but I was so scared of it - she had the odd 'blowing up' disaster, and that put me off. However, when I got married in 1992 she insisted on buying me a pressure cooker, but I never even took it out of the box! I used to regret it, but then I discovered slow cookers, and slow cooking. To my mind, and for my needs, they achieve the same results as pressure cookers, they just do it in a different way and in a different time frame - and slow cookers don't have the scary steam thing going on!

Ah ok thanks. We tend to slow cook rather than fast cook so we will give it a miss I think.
Us too - I wouldn't be without my slow cooker. I use it at least once a week all year round (even if it's just for making chicken or vegetable stock in the summer) and sometimes 2 or 3 times a week in the autumn/winter. For what they cost to buy (I paid about £40 for my huge, oval slow cooker about six years ago) a slow cooker is one of the best kitchen gadgets you can have!

I'm a big believer in using cheap cuts of meat. My grandfather was a butcher, so I have an advantage in knowing which bits of each meat is best for what. I also buy whole chickens, never packs of separate breast or leg portions, and joint them up myself. That way you get so much out of one bird for the price of a pack of 4 breasts (at least, that's the way it works cost-wise over here). Yes, you have to be a bit more inventive, and not use breast meat for every chicken dish you cook, but leg and thigh meat is so much better for many dishes anyway!

I also save the wings in a bag in the freezer until I have enough to make something like Jamie's 'make ahead gravy', or for a 'finger food' Saturday night meal like homemade chicken wings in BBQ sauce (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it!). I also freeze the carcasses - six carcasses, boiled up with carrots, onions and celery, gives enough meat for a pie, plus pints of good stock; 2 carcasses gives enough meat for a chicken soup (and gives you the stock for it too, all in one go!) or enough meat for chicken and bacon club sandwiches. It's all about thinking a bit more 'outside the box' than usual!

Would anyone object if I made a thread just about the whole chicken uses? So many of my friends have found it useful - I'd like to share if anyone is interested.
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Old 29-12-2012, 15:37
diablo
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I have a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, One is better than the other for certain things and vice versa, so they both get used. There is also the time thing to think of.
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Old 29-12-2012, 19:09
c4rv
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They are pretty issue in Indian households, great for quickly pulses. We've had ours for around 15 years and I think my parents one must be at least 25 years old. Both of ours are the old weight's style one though newer ones use a spring loaded value.
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Old 29-12-2012, 22:08
Mad Hatter
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I regularly use a pressure cooker that my neighbour kindly let me use - it needed a few new bits and bobs.

I cook all my vegetables in it for a meal, potatoes in the bottom then carrots, cauliflower, peas etc in the basket for 6 minutes.

When I am having a salmon fillet I put the potatoes in the bottom, the veg in the basket and wrap the salmon in foil and place that on top of the veg and cook for almost 7 minutes. Everything is cooked perfectly and the salmon is just delicious and lovely and moist.

I also have a slow cooker and will line the base with onion then put on top a chicken breast plus thinly sliced potatoes, carrots and peas, salt and pepper and a sprinkle of oxo cube and not a lot of water. The chicken is right yummy and melts in your mouth - an easy meal.
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Old 04-01-2013, 10:57
Orangemaid
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i thought so..I have just purchased a new one as the one i got is over 10years plus old..So when i comes i will do a stew/soup with it..Already got all the food items in ready..cant wait to try it..come in handy for when i get in from work too
i just tracked my parcel down and its delivery estimate is for 15th January ..i want it now not in the summer
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Old 04-01-2013, 11:51
sweetpeanut
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My Mum always used her pressure cooker when I was growing up, but I was so scared of it - she had the odd 'blowing up' disaster, and that put me off. However, when I got married in 1992 she insisted on buying me a pressure cooker, but I never even took it out of the box! I used to regret it, but then I discovered slow cookers, and slow cooking. To my mind, and for my needs, they achieve the same results as pressure cookers, they just do it in a different way and in a different time frame - and slow cookers don't have the scary steam thing going on!
I have a slow cooker but wanted the pressure one for things that I needed in a rush.. I WILL use it one of these days
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Old 04-01-2013, 12:24
flobadob
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This is my first venture to the Food and Drink forum - I never even knew there was one, only found it by accident googling for something else!

Anyway, this thread caught my eye...



My Mum always used her pressure cooker when I was growing up, but I was so scared of it - she had the odd 'blowing up' disaster, and that put me off. However, when I got married in 1992 she insisted on buying me a pressure cooker, but I never even took it out of the box! I used to regret it, but then I discovered slow cookers, and slow cooking. To my mind, and for my needs, they achieve the same results as pressure cookers, they just do it in a different way and in a different time frame - and slow cookers don't have the scary steam thing going on!



Us too - I wouldn't be without my slow cooker. I use it at least once a week all year round (even if it's just for making chicken or vegetable stock in the summer) and sometimes 2 or 3 times a week in the autumn/winter. For what they cost to buy (I paid about £40 for my huge, oval slow cooker about six years ago) a slow cooker is one of the best kitchen gadgets you can have!

I'm a big believer in using cheap cuts of meat. My grandfather was a butcher, so I have an advantage in knowing which bits of each meat is best for what. I also buy whole chickens, never packs of separate breast or leg portions, and joint them up myself. That way you get so much out of one bird for the price of a pack of 4 breasts (at least, that's the way it works cost-wise over here). Yes, you have to be a bit more inventive, and not use breast meat for every chicken dish you cook, but leg and thigh meat is so much better for many dishes anyway!

I also save the wings in a bag in the freezer until I have enough to make something like Jamie's 'make ahead gravy', or for a 'finger food' Saturday night meal like homemade chicken wings in BBQ sauce (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it!). I also freeze the carcasses - six carcasses, boiled up with carrots, onions and celery, gives enough meat for a pie, plus pints of good stock; 2 carcasses gives enough meat for a chicken soup (and gives you the stock for it too, all in one go!) or enough meat for chicken and bacon club sandwiches. It's all about thinking a bit more 'outside the box' than usual!

Would anyone object if I made a thread just about the whole chicken uses? So many of my friends have found it useful - I'd like to share if anyone is interested.
A large thermos flask makes a brilliant slow cooker. Obviously you can't put joints in it, but it can make great stew. Let your stew simmer for ten minutes on the hob, then pour it into a preheated vacuum flask (use a jam funnel). It will retain so much heat that it will go on cooking for four or five hours. Lay the flask on its side to stop the ingredients separating out.
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Old 04-01-2013, 13:41
gemma-the-husky
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I've thought about getting a pressure cooker in the past but can't see the benefit over an ordinary big pan! Can anyone tell me what makes a pressure cooker worth getting?
normally water boils at 100 C.

in low pressure it boils at a lower temperature (which is why mountain climbers can't make a decent cuppa tea.)

in high pressure it boils at a higher temerature

so in a pressure cooker, the pressure makes the water hotter, the temperature is about - 120 C apparently, so food cooks quicker.

i would think some foods work better than others.
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Old 05-01-2013, 16:20
Orangemaid
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Oohh its come today, but took me ages assembling the handle on it

Soup or cassserole tomorrow for me tea
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Old 05-01-2013, 19:50
ChoccyCarole
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Oohh its come today, but took me ages assembling the handle on it

Soup or cassserole tomorrow for me tea
yay It came 10 days sooner than stated
I would say......make a casserole
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Old 05-01-2013, 20:30
JumpTheShark
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I use mine fairly often, at least once a week. I use it for lentils, pearl barley and anything else that takes a long time to cook in a saucepan.
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Old 05-01-2013, 23:47
Ignazio
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This is my first venture to the Food and Drink forum - I never even knew there was one, only found it by accident googling for something else!

Anyway, this thread caught my eye...



My Mum always used her pressure cooker when I was growing up, but I was so scared of it - she had the odd 'blowing up' disaster, and that put me off. However, when I got married in 1992 she insisted on buying me a pressure cooker, but I never even took it out of the box! I used to regret it, but then I discovered slow cookers, and slow cooking. To my mind, and for my needs, they achieve the same results as pressure cookers, they just do it in a different way and in a different time frame - and slow cookers don't have the scary steam thing going on!



Us too - I wouldn't be without my slow cooker. I use it at least once a week all year round (even if it's just for making chicken or vegetable stock in the summer) and sometimes 2 or 3 times a week in the autumn/winter. For what they cost to buy (I paid about £40 for my huge, oval slow cooker about six years ago) a slow cooker is one of the best kitchen gadgets you can have!

I'm a big believer in using cheap cuts of meat. My grandfather was a butcher, so I have an advantage in knowing which bits of each meat is best for what. I also buy whole chickens, never packs of separate breast or leg portions, and joint them up myself. That way you get so much out of one bird for the price of a pack of 4 breasts (at least, that's the way it works cost-wise over here). Yes, you have to be a bit more inventive, and not use breast meat for every chicken dish you cook, but leg and thigh meat is so much better for many dishes anyway!

I also save the wings in a bag in the freezer until I have enough to make something like Jamie's 'make ahead gravy', or for a 'finger food' Saturday night meal like homemade chicken wings in BBQ sauce (I have a great recipe if anyone wants it!). I also freeze the carcasses - six carcasses, boiled up with carrots, onions and celery, gives enough meat for a pie, plus pints of good stock; 2 carcasses gives enough meat for a chicken soup (and gives you the stock for it too, all in one go!) or enough meat for chicken and bacon club sandwiches. It's all about thinking a bit more 'outside the box' than usual!

Would anyone object if I made a thread just about the whole chicken uses? So many of my friends have found it useful - I'd like to share if anyone is interested.
I found this post very interesting - lots of useful tips.

Did you start your thread about the use of whole chickens - if not I hope you do so.
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Old 14-01-2013, 21:23
Miss Poppy
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Yes, I'm finding this thread useful too as I'm thinking of getting a pressure cooker but need to overcome my childhood terror of them....

Do people find they are a more economical way to cook?
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