I am not being trite, I promise. I have heard a fair few stories – some of them from you – about pressure cookers and other kitchen gadgets purchased, only for them to sit in the box for weeks, months, in extreme cases, even years! This postponement of the inevitable (or is it inevitable? Do they sometimes end up in charity shops, unopened?) frequently comes from nervousness – people love the idea of what a pressure cooker can do and how much time, money, fuel and water they will save. However, when faced with the reality of using one for the first time, the fear factor so often associated with pressure cooking kicks in. If this is you, then hopefully this post will help.
Really enjoying these emails Catherine. Thank you. Having had an Instant Pot for a few years I have invested in the Procook stove top pressure cooker. It’s marvellous! I have challenged myself to use it daily and your book is invaluable.
Loving the posts too. We’re in the middle of a reno and a new kitchen- I’m looking forward to investing in my second PC when it’s finally complete and I’ve got somewhere to store it 😊 I’m also looking forward to understanding how to maintain pressure correctly - I’m used to a steady, hissing stream of steam but I think next week you might tell me otherwise!!
Inspired first by Rachel Roddy, then you, I borrowed (stole) my mother-in-law’s stovetop which was a wedding present in 1967 and hadn’t been used more than twice since then.
I’m an instant convert!
Much in the same way as making coffee, it appeals to the foody+sciency+nerdy part of my psyche, while my wife is distracted from the disconcerting wet hiss of the valve by the speed with which food appears from the kitchen, as well as the slight improvement in our gas bill.
Wonderful! I love Rachel, she's helped me and my book enormously. How are you finding the timings with the older pressure cooker? I think a lot of them are set at a slightly higher PSI.
I’ve been very lucky. It’s an Italian model and the timings don’t seem to that far out. The seals are like new - it was very well looked-after, if ignored / avoided!
You have to leave the high heat on a little longer than seems sensible, otherwise the pressure doesn’t build to a plateau, but it’s giving me great results and is really easy to clean and store.
I do have to say it was in part this anxiety about pressure cookers that made me go down the electric pressure cooker route when I first bought one, and I am so glad I did it has been so useful. I love it for cooking dried beans, but also its set and forget ability and all the extra functions that I didn't think I would ever use, but have certainly got a work out.
Really enjoying these reads Catherine. I am exactly the sort of person who would leave my pressure cooker in the box - indeed the reason why I’ve only just read your three articles now. I am definitely buying a PC and your book. Promise!
Ha-ha! This brought back memories of my mom's (ancient) pressure cooker with a rocking weight on the top. One time the weight fell off and beef stew blew through the tiny hole onto the ceiling. Scrubbing dried-on beef off the ceiling was not fun, but made for a good story.
Yeah, modern ones don't do that, don't make a lot of noise and are very safe. No fear here: I love mine and look forward to doing more with it :) Thanks so much for these posts!
Ha yea, those weights were something! I say we’re, there are still some models around which use them, but most have them embedded in the lid these days, thank goodness!
Okay. Waiting for further instruction. I'm used to cooking regular batches of beans, lentils and chickpeas all in the oven at same time, bag em up and pop em in the freezer to finish later.
Really enjoying these emails Catherine. Thank you. Having had an Instant Pot for a few years I have invested in the Procook stove top pressure cooker. It’s marvellous! I have challenged myself to use it daily and your book is invaluable.
Thank you! Very relieved as I thought it might be dull for people who have used them for years!
Loving the posts too. We’re in the middle of a reno and a new kitchen- I’m looking forward to investing in my second PC when it’s finally complete and I’ve got somewhere to store it 😊 I’m also looking forward to understanding how to maintain pressure correctly - I’m used to a steady, hissing stream of steam but I think next week you might tell me otherwise!!
I might well, yes! But honestly does depend on the pressure cooker.
And your comment has just made me realise how I get through our impending kitchen reno. It’s got to be the Pressure Cooker!!
Getting Catherine’s book for Christmas has made a huge difference to our meal choices in our reduced circumstances!!
Inspired first by Rachel Roddy, then you, I borrowed (stole) my mother-in-law’s stovetop which was a wedding present in 1967 and hadn’t been used more than twice since then.
I’m an instant convert!
Much in the same way as making coffee, it appeals to the foody+sciency+nerdy part of my psyche, while my wife is distracted from the disconcerting wet hiss of the valve by the speed with which food appears from the kitchen, as well as the slight improvement in our gas bill.
Loving your work, Catherine 😊
Wonderful! I love Rachel, she's helped me and my book enormously. How are you finding the timings with the older pressure cooker? I think a lot of them are set at a slightly higher PSI.
I’ve been very lucky. It’s an Italian model and the timings don’t seem to that far out. The seals are like new - it was very well looked-after, if ignored / avoided!
You have to leave the high heat on a little longer than seems sensible, otherwise the pressure doesn’t build to a plateau, but it’s giving me great results and is really easy to clean and store.
I do have to say it was in part this anxiety about pressure cookers that made me go down the electric pressure cooker route when I first bought one, and I am so glad I did it has been so useful. I love it for cooking dried beans, but also its set and forget ability and all the extra functions that I didn't think I would ever use, but have certainly got a work out.
Really enjoying these reads Catherine. I am exactly the sort of person who would leave my pressure cooker in the box - indeed the reason why I’ve only just read your three articles now. I am definitely buying a PC and your book. Promise!
Ha, thank you!
So interesting to read, Catherine- appreciate your reassuring insight into the reality of modern pressure cookers.
Thanks Jenny!
Ha-ha! This brought back memories of my mom's (ancient) pressure cooker with a rocking weight on the top. One time the weight fell off and beef stew blew through the tiny hole onto the ceiling. Scrubbing dried-on beef off the ceiling was not fun, but made for a good story.
Yeah, modern ones don't do that, don't make a lot of noise and are very safe. No fear here: I love mine and look forward to doing more with it :) Thanks so much for these posts!
Ha yea, those weights were something! I say we’re, there are still some models around which use them, but most have them embedded in the lid these days, thank goodness!
Okay. Waiting for further instruction. I'm used to cooking regular batches of beans, lentils and chickpeas all in the oven at same time, bag em up and pop em in the freezer to finish later.
Well that is a very efficient way to use your oven, cooking everything together.