Do you use a pressure cooker?

[mamazee]

A friend has one and I like the idea of it, but I'm not sure I'd use one. So, please tell me what you use it for, and whether you're glad you have it.

Thanks!

[summermay]

We use it to make donuts, to cook all sorts of veggies and fruits (for further progressing).
It saves time to have the textures boiled, especially during jam/marmelade season.

[DashsMama]

I use mine mostly to cook dried beans in. I can cook unsoaked pinto beans or navy beans in 20 minutes or less (time it takes water to come to a boil plus about 15 min to cook) compared to about 3 hours on the stovetop. Lentils only take about 7 to 10 minutes total. The pressure cooker lets me be more spontaneous with my cooking because I don't have to soak beans overnight or boil for hours. Also, I find beans cooked in the pressure cooker are less gassy, though I'm not sure why this is.

[allnaturalmom]

When everyone is super hungry and wanted dinner 10 minutes ago.... It's super fast! Much better than ordering out garbage food. Plus... one-pot cooking... can't forget that!
:

[staceychev]

Mostly for cooking beans, but also for making quick "pickled" beets. If you eat vegetarian food ever, I highly recommend Lorna Sass' "Complete Vegetarian Kitchen." It's a very pressure-cooker oriented book. Lots of great recipes even for the meat eaters among us!

[tbone_kneegrabber]

we use it several times a week, mostly to make beans
also broth

I would love that donut recipe though!

[velochic]

I've never heard of making donuts in a pressure cooker. Recipe?

I use a pressure cooker a lot. Ribs are ready for the grill in 20 minutes (processing time), I make quick roasts, stews, etc. I don't find them to be helpful for vegetables because by the time you heat it up, process and cool down, you could have them roasted off nice and carmelized in the oven more quickly.

[dogmom327]

I have one of the canning versions (huge--not meant to make a meal in) and I just use it for canning.

[luv-my-boys]

I have had 2 kinds of pressure cookers, the old fashioned one that sits on the stove and rattles and whistles and later an electronic one. I LOVE the electronic one. It has a timer so I can get things ready a head of time and cook later on. I use it cook cheaper cuts of beef/pork. Our family loves pulled pork sandwiches, cheap cuts of pork and dump a bottle of bbq sauce. I then literally run the fork thru the meat right before serving. I love that I can cook a roast or whatever a lot faster say if I forgot or if we want something that typically takes longer to cook. I also use it to cook soup and various stews in the winter.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

I have one of the canning versions (huge--not meant to make a meal in) and I just use it for canning.

Nah, you can make a meal in it. All canners can be used to cook. Don't let the size fool you. I have a 25 quart All American that I can barely pick up (I usually have dh help me with it) and I make ribs in it when we have a whole gaggle of people over for our cook outs. It works just fine as a cooker.

My cookers are 10 qt. and 12 qt. Then I have 16, 20 and 25 quart canners. I use the canners to cook in all the time when neither of my two cookers are big enough to accommodate the food.

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by velochic

Nah, you can make a meal in it. All canners can be used to cook. Don't let the size fool you. I have a 25 quart All American that I can barely pick up (I usually have dh help me with it) and I make ribs in it when we have a whole gaggle of people over for our cook outs. It works just fine as a cooker.

My cookers are 10 qt. and 12 qt. Then I have 16, 20 and 25 quart canners. I use the canners to cook in all the time when neither of my two cookers are big enough to accommodate the food.

Unfortunately mine is lined with aluminum and I wouldn't want it leaching into my food. Too bad though because the ribs are a great idea!

[velochic]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

Unfortunately mine is lined with aluminum and I wouldn't want it leaching into my food. Too bad though because the ribs are a great idea!

Yeah, all mine are aluminum.

[Elecampane]

I do dried unsoaked beans mostly, occasionally beef stew. Someone once told me the texture of pressure cooked brown rice is awesome, but I've never tried it.