Is There Such A Thing As Good Pressure Cooking?

Question

Hi everyone,

I have been considering getting a pressure cooker as an interesting kitchen experiment, but I have started to wonder if they are worth the money and if I can produce great food with one. Are pressure cookers used in top commercial kitchens or are they just a gadget for making fast poor quality food? Could I ever expect to see a Pressure Cooking book by Thomas Keller sitting next to his book on Sous Vide?

Thanks for your input!

Answer 1

I love my pressure cooker.

Great for making soups and stews. Fantastic ribs and beans are done in no time.

I would suggest that you get one from a place like Bed Bath and Beyond (don't forget the 20% off coupon). Try the pressure cooker for a few times, if you don't like it return the cooker. If you like it great.

My only advice is get one a bit bigger than you think you will need.



Gone are the days when you have to worry about the pressure cooker exploding. There are at least 2 "fail safe" valves in every one that I have seen lately.



I would advise against getting one from a resale shop unless you know for sure it is in very good condition and all parts are there and the instructions are there as well. Make sure the gasket is in good condition. (I am a fan of resale stores but in this case I would hold off getting a pressure cooker at one unless you are sure it is in working condition.)



Ask around you may have friends that have one and can loan you theirs as well as give you a lesson in pressure cooking.



I say go for it!!!

Answer 2

I have a line of pressure cookers in my gadget pantry! I used to use them daily to make cooking faster and easier. I used one for frijoles in an hour, cabbage to al dente stage in 5 minutes with no mistakes, very lean cuts of beef in an hour, things like that.



I have been a ranch cook for more than 40 years. I fed breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks to 50 to 100 cowboys, as traveling cook when we were working. There were about 6 different ranches most of the time working together covering some 1000 square miles of high mountains.



No, you will never see a cookbook by a celebrity "chef" honoring the humble presser cooker. But when you have 4 hours between meals, they are absolutely necessary. Crockpots may be nice, but are only good in winter when you need constant soup kettle. They don't burn so easily as stockpot converted to soup kettle on hot burner.



Yes, commercial kitchens do use huge pressure cookers to cook some foods more quickly. School and hospital kitchens use them all the time. Lunch must be on time.



I have no idea who Thomas Keller may be or what may be in his book! My bibles are Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book and Boston Cooking School Cook Book (aka Fannie Farmer Cook Book). Cowboys don't want fancy food, just filling common food well presented.

Answer 3

Actually many top restaurants rely on pressure cookers to get things done FAST, like making stock. It is not a gadget for making poor quality food. If you want to try it then buy one. They are expensive and although I personally do not use one because of that I've know several people who enjoy theirs a lot.

Answer 4

In my opinion, a pressure cooker is a great tool if you do any canning or make preserves. I remember my grandmother using one, and she never, ever made bad tasting poor quality food. I do not know exactly what she used it for except pot roast, but I am sure there was more.



I doubt Thomas Keller will be writing that book anytime soon, but you never know.

Answer 5

Pressure cooking is a great way to make nutritious food fast. You can cook with lesser water, quicker time and less heat. They are used in homes across countries in Europe as well as Asia. They are safe and a economical way to cook good quality food.

Answer 6

in case you seek up the manufacture - you in all likelihood can get a handbook for it. all of them run on an analogous thought - yet how the regulator is connected on the precise and how the protection valve works are all unique to each particular type. i'm going to offer you with an tip - the quickest thank you to end what is going on is to tug the pot off the warmth (assuming you're utilising a range precise type and not a self contained electric powered) and positioned it interior the sink and run chilly water over it till the stress indicator drops.

Answer 7

Very healthy way to cook veggies as they cooked in steam not water so more nutrients are saved.

Because they cook fast it is important to time foods accurately to avoid overcooking

Answer 8

The question is :does the pressure cooker destroy the food or not ? personally I believe it destroy food structure.

Pressure cooking is a non natural cooking way !

Answer 9

I'm on my 3rd one in 40 years and wouldn't be without one.