Helpful Tips

Are Pressure Cookers Worth it?

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If you’re shopping around for new kitchen appliances and you’ve heard a thing or two about pressure cookers and what they can do, then you may be wondering are pressure cookers worth it? Can they really cook food up to six times faster? Does the food taste just as good?

If you’re interested in buying a pressure cooker, but you don’t know much about how they work and what types of benefits they offer, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, you’ll learn about the types of foods these appliances can handle, how they work, and what you can expect concerning performance and results.

A Look at What the Pressure Cooker Can Do

The pressure cooker is a type of airtight appliance that will cook food lightning fast, due to the high level of steam pressure that builds up inside. The steam also works to retain the moisture in food, so the meat comes out moist and tender. Because of this, the pressure cooker is a great choice if you’re looking for a way to whip up your favorite entrees including chicken, pork chops, steaks, and more.

Below, you’ll find an extensive list of all the benefits these appliances have to offer, what makes them so special, and why you’ll quickly find yourself relying on this appliance for a variety of your favorite dishes.

What Can I Cook?

When it comes to preparing a meal using this type of appliance, the possibilities are endless. You can make a wide range of dishes including pot roast, brisket, steaks, soup, chicken, risotto, and stews. And the results? You’ll find that your food is moister and creamier compared to when you use your oven or stovetop.

Faster Meal Prep

If you don’t want to hang around the house all day as you cook a brisket or roast, then you’ll love the fact that a pressure cooker can prepare your food three times faster. These devices are designed to prepare food at lightning speed, so if you want to cook a whole chicken in under an hour, you want an appliance that can save you plenty of time in the kitchen, then give a pressure cooker a closer look. If you’re looking for a large, versatile model, and one that won’t hit your wallet too hard, I recommend the Mirro 92122A pressure cooker.

How You Can Save Money and Energy

Did you know that preparing food with a pressure cooker is a great way to save on your monthly energy bill? Since you won’t have to heat up the oven for several hours, cooking with this type of appliance can actually save you big on your monthly energy bill.

Versatility

If you don’t have much counter space, or you’re on a tight budget, the pressure cooker can take the place of several appliances in your kitchen such as a crockpot, steamer, and a rice cooker. Not only will you save money that would otherwise be spent on buying several other appliances, but you’ll also save big on counter space.

Make Healthier Food Choices

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One of the biggest reasons people skip healthy foods in favor of fast food is the fact that it takes a lot of time and work in the kitchen to prepare a healthy meal. But again, the pressure cooker’s faster cooking times will allow you to enjoy a delicious, healthy meal in just a fraction of the time.

If you’re looking for an appliance that allows you to set it and forget it, or one that can cook a large meal in under an hour, then a pressure cooker will be invaluable. Once you learn more about this appliance’s versatility, you’ll find yourself using it several times a week.

Retains Nutrients

Some people mistakenly believe that a pressure cooker will zap all of the nutrients out of food. In fact, it works to help retain the nutrients in all of your favorite dishes, unlike an oven, since you won’t cook the food for very long. Since the container is airtight, the nutrients will also be unable to escape through the steam.

Low Maintenance

Many of these appliances are very low-maintenance and come equipped with a non-stick internal pot, so cleanup is a breeze and should only take five to ten minutes. Of course, proper maintenance is essential in order to keep your pressure cooker working efficiently. To learn more click here to read my article on the right way to clean a pressure cooker.

Get Better Results

So, you’re worried about getting a pressure cooker because you’re somewhat of a novice in the kitchen? These appliances are very beginner-friendly. So, even if you’re not the best cook, these appliances can provide the type of results both you and your family love.

The pressure cooker utilizes extra high heat, which promotes browning and caramelization. This will bring out complex flavors in your food while also creating a rich thick juice that you can use to baste your meat, flavor veggies, or make a gravy.

The fact that this type of appliance can easily cook meats that are fall off the bone tender, in a short amount of time and with no effort from the cook, is just one of the reasons why many people love and rely on these appliances to prepare a healthy, flavor-packed meal for the whole family.

Keep the House Cool

Do you tend to avoid cooking in the summer because the oven heats the entire house, which can make life unbearable when it’s hot out? These appliances are so noninvasive. Not only are they quiet-running, but they won’t heat up the kitchen during use. This is just another reason why you need a pressure cooker in your life.

Frozen Food

If mornings in your house are chaotic, as you rush around the house, packing lunches for the kids, making breakfast and pushing everyone out of the house to make sure everyone makes it to school and work on time, then there’s going to be mornings when you forget to take the roast out of the freezer.

It happens to us all, which is why pizza nights exist. But if you have a pressure cooker, you don’t have to worry about defrosting your meat ahead of time. Now, you can pull frozen meat straight out of the freezer, no defrosting needed, and dinner will be ready in no time.

Convenience

While these devices can looking intimidating, they’re actually very easy to use. ll you have to do is add the food, close and lock the lid, and adjust the settings, no babysitting needed. This type of set it and forget it cooking process will make your life easier, especially after a long day at work.

Safety

If you’ve heard about exploding pressure cookers back in the 1960, then you’re probably wondering how safe pressure cookers are these days. Fortunately, with the advancements in technology, pressure cookers couldn’t be safer. These days, these models come loaded with a variety of safety features including multiple steam escape routes, which allows the steam to be released, even if one of the vents becomes clogged.

That was a common problem with older models. Those ancient pressure cookers would only have one single steam escape route, and once this vent became clogged, the appliance had no way to vent steam. Aside from multiple steam release options, the large lids come with a locking system that will not allow you to open the lid until all the steam has safely been vented.

Before You Buy

By now, you’re probably pretty eager to go shopping for a pressure cooker, however, there are some factors you’ll want to consider before you buy. First, consider how often you’ll use one. Do you have the counter space? How can you tell if the model you’re interested in is capable of handling the types of foods you want to cook?

Do you want a model that can also work as a water bath canner? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then click here to visit my pressure cooker buyer’s guide, where you’ll also find information regarding the leading models on the market, in addition to an extensive guide that can answer all of your questions.

Final Thoughts

So, are pressure cookers worth it? For many families and tired moms and dads they are. If you’re on a budget, if you’re not the best cook, or if you want a way to prepare your favorite meals in a fraction time, then get a pressure cooker.

These appliances are designed to save you big on your monthly electric bill, can cook your food faster, will make your favorite meats fall off the bone tender, and they’ll provide consistent results every time. In the end, you’ll find that you can rely on this appliance to handle most of your cooking duties, which will allow you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time relaxing with the family.

Originally posted 2019-12-16 14:21:08.