Customer Reviews

Fagor Duo Stainless-Steel 4-Quart Pressure Cooker

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

I had a Kuhn Rikon and still have a Presto pressure cooker. I got rid of the Kuhn Rikon. I love the Fagor Duo. The Kuhn Rikon design is a real pain if you have an electric stove. It is probably almost acceptable if you have a gas stove. The Fagor models work equally well on either type stove. Also, along the same lines, the Fagor and the Presto designs are much more forgiving. You better plan on watching a Kuhn Rikon very closely -- especially on an electric stove -- but also on a gas range. It can get to an over pressure situation easily. Granted you will likely just blow out part of your gasket (the safety measure) if you get distracted. Who needs that? You better have an eagle eye and fast reactions to maintain a reasonably constant pressure inside your cooker with an electric stove.

You do lose some steam with a Fagor though typically much less than with a Presto model. (You lose nearly no vapor with a Kuhn Rikon -- that is about their only big selling point in my book.) The Fagor model uses a compressed spring to regulate pressure. The Presto uses a weight on top of a vent pipe -- this combination is called a jiggler valve -- to regulate pressure. To regulate pressure with a Kuhn Rikon you basically watch a rising spring loaded pressure indicator and adjust the heat as needed. Gas heat is more quickly adjustable than electric. You have to either hope for the best as you crank the heat up and down with an electric stove or play hop scotch between a too hot and a too cold burner. On the Fagor Duo there are two spring compression settings. You can cook at 8 psig or 15 psig. 15 psig is the normal setting used for most pressure cooking. For delicate foods, like fish, or if you are in no particular rush the 8 psig setting will come in handy.

Bottom line is I like the Fagor the best of the three pressure cookers I discussed, next I like the Presto. The Kuhn Rikon is built like a tank and it is an interesting design. I just don't like it as well as the Fagor's and I am a both a mechanical engineer and I cook for a hobby. I'd like to think my opinion is an informed one.

Length:: 2:01 Mins

The pressure cooker caught my eye after watching Iron Chef. I too wanted to cook faster with awesome results. This pressure cooker does that. I am amazed by the variety and possibilities the device has opened up to me. Potato Soup in five minutes, chicken stock in under 20 and stuff cabbages that are out of this world; all brimming with big flavor.

My recommendation is to buy it. I could not substantiate handles breaking or any failings from a cooking or manufacturing stand point. The pot is solid. It is super easy to use and seems as safe as any other pot. Check out the vid review to see it for yourself.

Verdict: BUY

We purchased this cooker based on the recommendation of a Cooks Illustrated review, and we have not been disappointed at all! The 10qt capacity is just what we need for big soups, and the 2-level pressure system offers good flexibility in terms of cooking times and tenderness. We made a fabulous, tender and juicy braised short rib dish in less than 2 hours from start to table- not a bad deal!

2008 Update: We still use this cooker and are still very happy with it! Just don't overfill or you will be picking herbs out of the pressure spout :-) I have also posted a review on TrustedOnes.com (http://www.trustedones.com/listing/view/bbSzZgRY8r3yXhaocbDfzs)

I LOVE this cooker!!! It saves me time, work, money, nutrients, cooks 3-10 times faster. You can put food in even if not defrosted [although microwaves help that issue]. They make the best stews, soups, sweet and sour ribs, chili, puddings, cheese cakes etc. You can buy a really inexpensive cut of meat, put in your spices, some water and wine, and in less than 20 minutes it is fork tender. Whenever I have a recipe that calls for cooked chicken [like enchiladas], I buy the less expensive whole chicken, put it in the cooker and in 15-20 minutes it is falling-off-the-bone tender.

This one comes with a double locking system and two levels of pressure; one for veggies and grains; the other for more dense foods like dry beans, meats or squash. I would never be without one again. I'm going to order the companion 6 quart that Fagor makes for those larger meats and veggies!

note -- I purchased the combo which including this cooker, so I am repeating my review here.

Fagor is the least expensive brand that I am aware of which also has the 'modern' features desirable in pressure cookers. To learn more about pressure cookers and what is desirable go to missvickie.com (a non-commercial site devoted to pressure cooker enthusiasts.) Some of these features deal with safety, e.g. you don't have to worry about plugging the steam escape with Fagor. Fagor cookers also reach a pressure of 15psi (which is important.) Unless a brand advertises that they do reach 15psi, assume that they don't. I suggest getting an extra gasket when you buy the item as you will need one at one point (they don't last forever). I must also compliment the company on its service. I bought this item, and sent in a rebate form (for a free stock pot). They sent me a nice paella pan by mistake. I was satisfied, however I called them to make sure that there was no mistake. They answered the phone right away (without the common maze of annoyingly slow and complex menu options that leave you screaming.) The woman I talked to was very personable. This woman check on what happened, called me back, and told me that they would also send the stock pot to me, and for me to go ahead and keep the paella pan.

Quick, healthy cooking. I have the 10 qt and the 4 qt and I love these! (If I had a smaller family I would have bought the 5 pc. Duo Combi set.) I've been looking for a high quality stainless steel pressure cooker that I can afford. Amazon's prices and promo discount made this possible. Great quality. Nothing like my old aluminum pressure cooker I had 20 years ago. These are so simple to use. We use them everyday. And I do cannning in pints in this 10 qt.

I had purchased a Cuisinart electric pressure cooker, which I did not like - you can read my review under that product. I returned it and bought this one, which I like much better. No problematic electronics, larger capacity but smaller and lighter - easier to store and less $$$.

It's easy to use, cooks enough for leftovers - which will get eaten! Pressure cooked food is easy, fast and tasty.

This one is simple to use and has a good capacity - you can only fill a pressure cooker to around 60% of capacity, so a 10 qt. cooker can make around 6 qts.

You do have to wait for it to get up to pressure before turning on the timer - you don't go off and leave these things. But the results are great, some of the best food I've ever made.

If you want to try pressure cooking, this is good unit.

I received the cooker within the prescribed delivery time and was impressed by the ease of operation, the flexibility of cooking times and the wide variety of recipes provided. I owned pressure cookers for years and still had no idea of some of the possibilities demonstrated in the recipe book. The quality of the steel is impressive and the heat distribution is very uniform. I have only one note to future users and that is to test out reactions to the high setting on your ranges since a lower heat setting may be more appropriate to avoid burning sticky foods. Even so, the Fagor performed better on high than the two other makes I used previously. The 10 quart size allows for maximum flexibility in preparing larger amounts.

Good quality. Save both time and energy.
I was worrying that 10Qt was too big. But actually I0Qt is a good size for family of two or more, because in order to be safe, you can only fill pressure cooker half full.

I bought this pressure cooker one month ago, and it saved us a lot of time and money. I bought a 10Qt. Pressure Cooker, and i going to buy another smaller p/c pot. Fagor p/c is durable, stainless, well built, and shiny. I bought and used pressure cooker for the first time and the experience is very positive. Highly recommended.