I have memories of my mom using a pressure cooker when I was a young girl. The sound of it hissing and sputtering throughout the kitchen was intimidating after hearing the horror stories of ones that blew up if not used just right. Those stories are the reason I never felt good about getting one myself. But, after trying water bath canning this summer and liking it, I wanted to then get into pressure cooker canning so I could can the lower acid foods which couldn't be done safely in the water bath method. So, I recently bought my very first pressure cooker and chose the Fagor model, a 10 quart size. The first time I used it I was very nervous that I was going to make a mistake and blow something up, but it was so easy to use. I canned spaghetti sauce, 17 quarts, and am quite pleased to have been successful. I have since used it for cooking meals, making potatoes, carrots, pinto beans, string beans and rice. I like how fast it cooks and am going to be trying many more recipes. Today, I cooked carrots and it took about 2 minutes after pressure. All I did was put in a small rack in the bottom, added a cup of water, sliced carrots. Put on the lid, closed it and turned on the burner to high. Soon, a yellow valve popped up telling me it was at pressure and then the hissing sound of the steam. I then turned it down, but still hearing the steam and turned on the timer for 2 minutes. After the 2 minutes I removed it from the burner and waited until the valve released. So easy!! The white rice I made over the weekend in it was the best white rice I have ever had. So moist and delicious. With the rice and pinto beans there is some soaking time, the rice one hour and the beans four hours. The white rice took just bringing it to pressure and then taking the pot right off the burner, so quick! I then added lime juice and a little salt, The beans took 20 minutes of cooking time which I then turned into refried beans for a dip. Pressure cooking is amazing and economical, saving time and energy and I am glad to have made this purchase.
2 comments:
Okay, you are almost talking me into one. I too have been shy of them. I've done canning for years but never with the pressure cooker. I need to start getting serious about getting one of these. Have fun with it.
YAY! Sounds like you did incredible. When I was about 10 our pressure cooker did blow up on my mom, burning her terribly. It took a few years but she is back to pressure canning. I have been scared every since. I need to get over it because I want to be able to can the low acid things also. Thanks for the pep talk!!
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