Prices for pressure cookers vary greatly depending on brand, size and type. There are duo pressure cookers that cost just over $100, and there are single 4 quart pressure cookers that are under $25. Mirro makes a 22 quart pressure cooker for around $80 on Amazon. I believe you get what you pay for, so therefore I usually choose something mid-range. You can find a wide variety of pressure cookers either online or at your favorite department store. If you’re unsure, I would suggest sticking with a brand you already know and trust.

Another thing to consider when choosing a pressure cooker is functionality. Many recipes call for using a trivet and basket, so you will want to be sure your pressure cooker comes with those, or is available for purchase separately or at a later date.

If you have an older pressure cooker, you should consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. Pressure cookers today aren’t the same ones your mom used 30 years ago. Today, pressure cookers are safer and come in a variety of pressures.

Speaking of pressure, that’s another thing to consider when choosing a pressure cooker; what’s the greatest amount of pressure should you choose? Most recipes call for 15psi, so for ease of meal preparation you should choose one at that pressure. If you decide to go with less pressure, you will have to increase the cooking time depending on the amount of pressure your cooker supplies. This could be anywhere from 12% to 20%, so you’ll need to keep that in mind when using a recipe.

There are many things to consider when choosing a pressure cooker that’s right for you and your family’s cooking needs, such as size, price and functionality. In this article, we will cover how to choose a pressure cooker that’s just the right size for your family and visitors. We will also cover how to choose a pressure cooker that has the functions you need for your family’s eating style, and of course the price variations that go along with the different brands and types of pressure cookers.

First off, let’s talk about size. Because there are different sizes of pressure cookers, you need to know which one will best fit your needs. When preparing a meal or dish in a pressure cooker, you need to keep in mind that you can only fill it 2/3 full to allow room for any foam or debris that may build up during cooking. This also prevents the vent from getting clogged.

You can cook small amounts of food in a larger pressure cooker but you can’t cook large amounts of food in a smaller pressure cooker. The 6 quart size is good for just about any recipe that serves 4 to 6 people. However, if you want to cook a whole chicken or a large roast, a 9.5 quart size serves this purpose best.

Pressure cooker sizes range from 4 quart all the way up to 12 quart, so if you have a really large family or entertain guests often, one of the larger sizes will work best for you. Larger pressure cookers can also be used for canning.

Time-Saving

Another advantage of using a pressure cooker over a slow cooker is the fact that you can caramelize onions in the pressure cooker. Again, if you needed caramelized onions in a recipe for a slow cooker, you’d have to prepare them in a separate pan. Not only is this annoying, but it’s also more time consuming. Most of you are rushed in the mornings as it is, and rarely have time to prepare a dish for the slow cooker, but you can have the same great tasting meals, and more, using a pressure cooker.

Energy Savings

Not only will you not have to rush to get it ready in the morning for dinner time, but you’ll also save energy. Instead of having a slow cooker that’s plugged in all day and using energy, you’ll be able to prepare yummy, healthy and delicious meals in just a few minutes time using a pressure cooker.

There you have it. Pressure cookers can actually save you more time and money over a crock pot. For those who’ve swore by a crock pot, why not give a pressure cooker a try next time? You might be pleasantly surprised at how much you like it.

We’ve all heard of a slow cooker (aka crock pot) and we’ve all probably heard of a pressure cooker. While most of you know and probably use a slow cooker, some of you may not know what a pressure cooker is, how it works, or the benefits of using a pressure cooker. While both the slow cooker and the pressure cooker cook foods like meats, vegetables, casseroles and beans very well, pressure cookers can also cook things like cheesecake and oatmeal.

Speed of Cooking

Pressure cookers cook in significantly less time than slow cookers. And, you don’t have to be super organized to prepare a meal in a pressure cooker, where with a slow cooker you do. For instance, using a slow cooker, you have to get up in the morning and prepare all your ingredients and place them in the slow cooker in order for them to cook all day while you’re at work or running errands. When you use a pressure cooker, you can come home from work and in just a few minutes time have a quick, healthy and delicious meal all prepared all at once.

Convenience

Pressure cookers are also much more convenient than slow cookers. For instance, to gain the maximum flavor from meat, it should be browned. When you use a slow cooker an extra pan has to be used for the browning, but you can brown the meat right inside a pressure cooker. If you have a recipe that calls for bacon, you can fry up the bacon right in the pressure cooker as well. So there is no extra washing of a pan using a pressure cooker like there is if you were to use a slow cooker.

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