Save on fuel with a Pressure Cooker

[melroccan]

I have just started using my Pressure Cooker again, and it is a fantastic way to save on gas/electric and make a tasty meal in minutes. Today I am cooking lentils which I will serve with fresh bread, just the job on a cold and miserable day like today. I use garlic, onoins, chopped tomatoes and fresh or dried coriander leaves and a bit of black pepper, ginger, cumin, coriander and cinnamon. Haven't worked out the cost of it but must be very little. And Asda have pressure cookers for £17 at the mo.

[dune]

2 bits of kit i wouldn't be without is my stacking steamers (usually stack em 5 high or high 5 if your a halifax customer :lol:) and my pressure cooker

[rainbowhope]

Totally agree--and the cost of lentils is very cheap source of protein too !--very nutritious! !

---havent had those in ages---add spinach to mine..:)

[melroccan]

Totally agree--and the cost of lentils is very cheap source of protein too !--very nutritious! !

---havent had those in ages---add spinach to mine..:)

I'm going to try that next time, will be a good way to get some spinach in the kids without them noticing! They will just think its a lot of coriander with any luck.

[Mamzie]

hmmm, I adore my slow cookers, would never even have tried them without reading about them on here...

Always willing to learn more. Can someone give me a basic guide to pressure cooker please, and how they work? As simple as possible :)

[Hibiscus]

I've never used a pressure cooker, but I'm willing to give anything a go, particularly if it saves money. Perhaps someone could start a thread on 'how to' with some recipes?
My OH loves casseroles and stews, and I gather a pressure cooker is ideal for those. Thanks in anticipation.:D

[choccywoccygirl]

Melroccan did you see the pressure cooker on sale in store as the web site is out of stock. This sounds like a great way to save some money on fuel. I wonder if anyone can tell me how easy are they to wash up. I use my slow cooker all the time and know it is really easy to wash up. At the end of the day this will help me feed the family after being at work all day without lots of pots and pans-am i right? Can i cook things like pasta in it or is it just for vegetables and stew?

[melroccan]

Melroccan did you see the pressure cooker on sale in store as the web site is out of stock. This sounds like a great way to save some money on fuel. I wonder if anyone can tell me how easy are they to wash up. I use my slow cooker all the time and know it is really easy to wash up. At the end of the day this will help me feed the family after being at work all day without lots of pots and pans-am i right? Can i cook things like pasta in it or is it just for vegetables and stew?

No I didn't see it in store, maybe they sold out fast. I use it for stews and cooking things like chick peas and lentils, it is very quick and you can use cheap cuts of meat because it makes it tender. I would put the meat and onions first, close it and heat up quickly to get the pressure up, when it starts hissing turn it down low and cook for 10 minutes or so. Then release the pressure (mine has a switch on top to turn), add the veg and it will all be ready in another 10 minutes or so. This is how I make the stew for couscous, everybody uses a pressure cooker in Morocco! It is great for soups too, just cook up all your veg and puree it with a handblender then chuck in some pasta and rice, your kids will never know they ate the dreaded VEGETABLES! :D PS very easy to wash up too.

[frexy]

I was given a pressure cooker for a wedding present many many years ago now and am on to my 3rd one.
I have a bit of a love hate relationship with mine, love it for making stocks and soups also ham/bacon joints but dont like the flavour of veggies cooked on their own in it.
It really comes into its own when cooking seville oranges for marmalade.
great for sterilising things too.

[elainemn]

I love mine. Use it for batch cooking just as a big pan. Extremely easy to clean. Cooks well & rarely burns. As pressure cooker cooks veg, stews, currys in about quarter of time of usual. I have 2.

[choccywoccygirl]

thank you melroccan that was really good info. will go to asda tomorrow and try to get one unless anyone finds one on here any better.

[Mamzie]

For some dumb reason I thought they took ages to cook, honestly never realised they cut the time by so much. thanks all,

[Jules_2005]

I used to love brisket done in the pressure cooker :)

[saucy77]

I use my pressure cooker religiously for my roast spuds.... I know what you're thinking but noooo not like that!
I put them in and wait for it to start steaming and then empty water out and place spuds in roasting tin. No more mushy roasties, and they don't fall apart when roasted.

So much better to cook your own than buy frozen :D

[99redballs]

i've only cook gammon in the pressure cooker, as once i tried to cook a stew in it and burnt it all- so too scared to waste any more food like that, i'll stick to what i know.

[hippygirl]

I re-found mine last summer and have rediscovered how fab it is. I mainly use it for pulses, as you don't have to soak them first, so great if I have a sudden urge for making chilli or a beany soup. I've been trying ot find some seville oranges to make marmalade, but no luck yet.

[pookienoodle]

I have to say I am terrified of pressure cookers after my Mum managed to blow one up when I was a kid.
I am sure the modern ones are perfectly safe but I am still nervous.
may keep my eyes open for a good one as it is probably the only kitchen gadget I don't have.

[pookienoodle]

I re-found mine last summer and have rediscovered how fab it is. I mainly use it for pulses, as you don't have to soak them first, so great if I have a sudden urge for making chilli or a beany soup. I've been trying ot find some seville oranges to make marmalade, but no luck yet.

Our local morrisons have large bags of them,they are marked as special offer oranges but if you look at the little label they are sevilles.

[hippygirl]

Our local morrisons have large bags of them,they are marked as special offer oranges but if you look at the little label they are sevilles.

Thank you !-we don't have a Morrisons close, but I'll look more closely at the labels in local shops and if I don't find any I'll have to make an expedition to Morissons.