A pressure cooker always sounded a little bit daunting to me; like it was something only my mother could master. I was always happy with basic pots and pans, but mother would get her pressure cooker out pretty much daily and I’d be in awe at its size whilst disappearing amidst the steam.
Moreover, I’d refuse to use it. I’d freeze just looking at it and timidly say that I’m okay with just cereal. So, when I was taking my time over my cooking, managing to get the roast turkey dinner ready in just a little under 24 hours (hey, I prepared it and got it on the table in the same day!), my mother would be conjuring up dishes left, right and centre like a wizard straight out of Azkaban. Or so I thought.
It turns out there is no mystery beneath all the stream that a pressure cooker exerts; no secret code attached underneath that, once unravelled, tells you exactly how to use one. Nor are they as dangerous as some of us perceive. In fact, a pressure cooker is extremely easy to use, and not only this but they cook at more than double the speed of other methods by increasing the boiling point.
Fagor’s Chef Pressure Cooker is one of the best pressure cookers around, making use of all the advances that have been made in the cooking utensils sector over the years. This means it is safer than ever before, even more energy efficient and reduces your cooking time by an incredible 70%. This is great for anyone who has a lot to do during the day, and for whom cooking simply cannot eat up most of their time. Moreover, you can cook several foods at the same time, tossing in your ingredients and watching the cooker work its magic. With a built-in timer, you can relax knowing exactly when your cooking is done, meaning no more burnt foods.
The funny thing about the name pressure cooker is that it removes all pressure. There is less pressure on you to come up with fantastic meals for your kids all week, less pressure on you to get the cooking done before your eldest tells you they are ‘literally going to starve to death if dinner isn’t ready in exactly one minute,’ and less pressure on you to please a large family gathering. It does all the hard work for you.
One of my favourite recipes to rustle up for me and the kids are roasted baby potatoes, which you can eat individually or as an accompaniment to a bigger meal. Without a pressure cooker, this recipe would ordinarily take at least double the amount of time. Conversely, with this Chef Pressure Cooker by Fargo, I regularly cook up the dish in just a few minutes. Once prepared, you can pour the ingredients into the pot and cook for around 5 minutes. The time you save is incredible, and even better, there is absolutely no hassle when it comes to cleaning after use. It comes with a self-cleaning valve that is designed for convenience.
Halloween is a time of the year you like to treat the kids to a seasonal recipe, and this year I tried pumpkin soup using the pressure cooker. I made it so that it would serve 4, making sure there was plenty to go around, and it took just a few minutes to prepare and cook. First, you melt butter in the pressure cooker and gently fry onions for a couple of minutes or until onion is soft. Add pumpkin chunks and pour in chicken stock and bring to boil. Simmer until tender then puree the soup and season. Something that is extremely seasonal, tasty and which is so easy to make gets you right in the mood. It certainly hit the spot with the kids before they went off trick or treating.
As the holidays are fast approaching, I can’t recommend this pressure cooker highly enough as the perfect gift for anyone who hasn’t yet had the chance to marvel at the brilliance of a pressure cooker.
Features:
- Made in Spain and crafted from 18/10 Stainless Steel
- Pressure Indicator with distinct positions – the 1st – indicates LOW pressure (8 psi) and the 2nd indicates HIGH pressure (15 psi)
- Easy automatic release setting
- Valve removing position for easy cleaning
- Removable Timer/Alarm gives you 100 minutes of available time
- The Chef provides 3 security valves. The unit automatically locks the lid while pressure is still inside and if lid is not closed properly, the unit will not create any additional pressure
- The Chef Pressure Cooker includes:
- 10” Tempered Glass Lid that allows the body to be used as a traditional cooking vessel
- Steamer/ Grater Basket with Trivet, for steaming vegetables that also functions as a grater
- A DVD with information on the basics of a pressure cooker
- DVD Recipe Collection
It’ll certainly ease the pressure of Christmas dinner, and the holidays will be a magical period when the turkey is ready in double quick time. They’ll love it so much they may even start believing in Santa Claus again! Available in three separate capacities – 6qt, 8qt, and 10qt – and with the addition of a streamer with trivet, and a MAX Line Indicator that makes sure you never put too much food in the cooktop, it is a product that simply cannot be beaten for price. You can find more best cookware here.
**Disclosure: I received a sample of the product to facilitate this post. No other compensation was provided and all views and opinions stated on this post are 100% my own.