[FarmBaby]

I am becoming concerned about the plastic lining in cans. We eat beans and chickpeas out of cans. I would cook them from scratch but I never get my act together in time. Would a pressure cooker maybe be the answer?? Also, can I use a pressure cooker for preserving vegies such as corn? Apparently you shouldn't use the Vacola for corn as it is only suitable for acidic foods.

Why else should I buy a pressure cooker??

P.S. I hated my slow cooker. I like to fiddle with my food a fair bit.

[Funnington]

My only experience with a pressure cooker is a dangerous, lethal weapon that almost exploded in my face because the lid (and closing mechanism) was faulty. Even before it broke I was frightened to use the dam thing - it's nerve racking undoing the lid to check.

Do you necessarily need a pressure cooker to cook those types of things? I can't see why it couldn't be done in any pot?

This post has been edited by Funnington: 09/01/2013, 05:20 PM

[FarmBaby]

Cooking beans in a pot takes too long. I need something that cooks beans quicker.

[noi'mnot]

I don't have a pressure cooker, but it probably would help with cooking beans. I'm the same, I love beans but I'm not too keen on the canned kind and not organised enough for the dried kind!

Yes, you can do pressure canning for things like corn, as far as I understand. But for this you need a specific pressure canner (not a regular pressure cooker) with which you can adjust the pressure to that which is needed. This is the kind of thing you need, with the regulator. You can't use a standard pressure cooker for canning.

[lorywhol]

Nope = wouldn't buy one.

Just gave mine away!

[Schnitzelvonkrum...]

This is precisely why I bough a pressure cooker, and it works beautifully. Also great for throwing together stock when you want soup for dinner in under an hour, including home made stock. The only problem I have now is remembering to soak my beans LOL

[ubermum]

I love mine. I bought a 5 in one cooker. It does high and low pressure cooking, slow cooking, soup pot and electric frypan. I can defrost a cheap cut of meat, chop it up, brown it, throw in a heap of veg and set if for 25 minutes. When I come back, a lovely casserole is ready like it has been cooking all day. Long cooking for things like beans and chick peas takes about the same amount of time. Before unlocking the lid (it has to be turned all the way to the right so can't be inadvertently opened), you turn a valve and the pressurised steam releases. Once the steam stops shooting out, it is safe to open. It's pretty simple. I got this one. I got one for mum too and we both got rid of some of the appliances in our kitchen.

This post has been edited by ubermum: 15/01/2013, 07:31 PM

[noi'mnot]

I love mine. I bought a 5 in one cooker. It does high and low pressure cooking, slow cooking, soup pot and electric frypan. I can defrost a cheap cut of meat, chop it up, brown it, throw in a heap of veg and set if for 25 minutes. When I come back, a lovely casserole is ready like it has been cooking all day. Long cooking for things like beans and chick peas takes about the same amount of time. Before unlocking the lid (it has to be turned all the way to the right so can't be inadvertently opened), you turn a valve and the pressurised steam releases. Once the steam stops shooting out, it is safe to open. It's pretty simple. I got this one. I got one for mum too and we both got rid of some of the appliances in our kitchen.

Ooooooh, I've been coveting one of these for ages. Such a great idea. Now for my Aldi slow cooker to break down so I can get one (why is it that some of their stuff dies within 30 seconds of getting it home, and the thing that I want to upgrade keeps on going and going???)!

[VioletRose]

I have one and it's easy and safe to use not like the old style.
I'm not sure how much you will like it if you need to fiddle though as once the lid is pressured you have to wait before opening. I do like mine though and am very happy with my purchase. It is big so having a big pot for general cooking is handy too.
We don't have a microwave and I use the pressure cooker to defrost frozen meals too.

[*LucyE*]

I have a 5 in 1 too and am really impressed with it. I think mine's a Breville brand (because that was the only one I could find in our town that day).