Customer Reviews

Kuhn Rikon 3344 7.4-Quart Stainless-Steel Pressure Cooker

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My grandmother and my mother both used pressure cookers frequently. When I was younger, one of the first kitchen items I purchased was a pressure cooker of my very own (a Hawkins Futura jiggle-type, which still works perfectly).

Recently, I decided to purchase the 7 liter Kuhn Rikon, primarily because it is larger than my Futura. Some other reviewers have noted that the Kuhn Rikon requires more monitoring than jiggle-type pressure cookers. This is only somewhat true. Jiggle-type pressure cookers release steam throughout the cooking process. This provides confirmation that the cooker is operating through sound. It IS convenient if this is what you are used to. However, these cookers require more liquid to achieve pressure and as a result, certain items can come out more watery than I prefer. You can boil away the excess liquid after releasing pressure, but then you lose some of the time saved.

The Kuhn Rikon uses an advanced enclosed system. As a result, the "sound of pressure", or hiss is missing. A small valve with two red lines provides confirmation that half and full pressure have been achieved. At this point in the cooking process, you must turn down the heat to maintain pressure only; if you leave the heat on high, pressure will continue to rise. Without sound to guide you, one must rely on visual clues. The Kuhn Rikon makes it easy. But, it IS different than listening for the hiss.

The first few times you use the cooker, you will need to determine how far to lower your cooktop temperature to maintain the pressure in the cooker. This does require monitoring and a little guess work. However, once you determine how your cooktop and pressure cooker interact, it is the same every time. From that point on, you simply wait for the red line to appear and turn your cooktop down to your pre-determined setting. Set the timer and you're almost done. Easy. In addition:

1. The enclosed system is virtually silent;
2. The enclosed system allows fast, high temperature cooking without heating up your kitchen;
3. The benefits of a lower liquid requirement to achieve high pressure can not be overstated.

The Kuhn Rikon system is different but produces superior results. For those who possess even a modicum of patience, I highly recommend this pressure cooker.

I bought the Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker after the New York Times called it 'the Mercedes Benz among pressure cookers'. And even though I haven't tried any other cookers (so I can't compare) I am totally happy with it. I'm actually spoiled, I got two of these! I use them all the time! I usually make recipes out of the cookbooks 'Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure' and 'Complete Vegetarian Kitchen'. Both books are by Lorna Sass. She is an expert on pressure cooking and gives a lot of nice helpful pressure cooking recipes, tips and charts in these books.

If you want to buy a flame tamer for your cooker (highly recommended), please get the Kuhn Rikon one! It's a bit expensive, but the two other ones I tried ended up in the trash can.

I also recommend buying an 'Ohsawa Pot'. When you make rice straight in a pressure cooker it is very sticky and can get stuck to the bottom. With this pot (which you place in the pressure cooker), you get absolutely delicious rice (especially brown and wild rice turn out great!).

And I thought I knew what a `good' pressure cooker was! And boy does this save energy!

A friend recommend this model to me when I was looking at new pressure cookers. My old family hand-me down Presto worked, but the cap with the white lines that popped up wasn't popping up - and I detest the `rocker' pots - noisy, and to me, dangerous. So I was looking for a new PC and I was on the fence between this model and the one without the long handle. GET THIS ONE. It might seem a bit awkward at first, but if you have ever lifted a pot of pot roast or 6 Liters of Bean Soup, you know how heavy it can be! - and the long handle saves the day! And I have to say that I own several `large' pressure cookers for canning, but only had the 1940's-early 1950's pressure cooker from my grandmother for cooking.

Before I go too far I also have to say that I went to school with a friend who became a beach-bum in the South Pacific - Degrees in Environmental Engineering and Enviro. Planning from UC and she's a beach bum on a sail boat in the South Pacific while I had to teach! - Well she points out that on a sail boat, energy is precious, more so than gold sometimes - and that one of the greatest presents she ever got was a Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker - given to her by a Scandinavian who was about to declare his boat open salvage for anyone who chose to come and take stuff - and she says that this pressure cooker saves them hundreds of dollars a year in gas. WOW!

And I've noticed the same thing - this puppy is so tight that I can put in, literally, 2-4 tablespoons of water and cook two large artichokes in about 15 minutes! Once the water boils (about 3 minutes) I can lock the top, turn the gas down, and in 15 minutes on a bare simmer I can get perfect artichokes! Carrots take 5 minutes, Broccoli about 3. A pot FULL of close to seven liters of whole potatoes will cook perfectly with less than a quarter cup of water and about 30 minutes on low flame! You can have an entire pot-roast dinner in under an hour - and that includes browning your meat in the pressure cooker, adding the veggies and spices, and bringing it up to pressure and turning it down to simmer. And it is KILLER pot roast.

YOU WILL WANT A FLAME-TAMER (or if you have hung around bio. or chem. labs, a `flame spreader') it's one of those things you put on top of a burner that has lots of holes in it and `spreads out the heat' so you keep from scorching the bottom of cheap pans, or cook cast iron with thick tomato paste low enough so it can cook all day and not burn the tomato to the bottom of the pan. Others have mentioned this and the reason has been mentioned by others, this pot is SO energy efficient that most stoves today just don't go low enough to keep the pressure where it belongs. Older stoves do, but newer stoves don't. This is particularly true if you are cooking using very little water.

I took out my personal camping stove - an MSR Dragonfly - and using a home-made stand, was able to make about a gallon of bean soup in an hour! And my Dragonfly was not on `scorch' - even IT was turned down to a medium flame! I tried an old soviet gasoline stove modeled after the ever famous Seva known to back-packers and campers world wide - and I made 7 liters of chicken and dumplings in an hour and 20 minutes!! WOW!

So - is this a wonder cooker or what? Here's the deal - is it worth almost TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A PRESSURE COOKER!? - well, simply put, yeah, it is!

Why? Because it cooks FAST, it uses very little fuel, you can cook with nearly no water for extended periods of time because there is nearly no water lost through venting - thus the FIVE part safety valves - the friend who recommend it to me had a pressure cooker blow up on her once and was a scaredy-cat. And she loves hers and is comfortable with it. I can tell you that there are enough safety features on this pot that even if you were stupid you wouldn't be able to burn yourself or have it blow up in your face - or blow up unattended in the kitchen - it would simply blow out multiple valves and not vent stuff up onto your ceilings like older designed cookers do. (I've made the mistake of taking the top off of a pressure cooker too soon - and know how scary it can be - this cooker seems to `lock' the lid until the pressure is right enough for me to take the lid off and not have the contents blow-up in my face.

So -- this pressure cooker rocks! - and if you have never used one before - THIS IS THE MICROWAVE OF THE PAST - only it actually cooks food so that it tastes like it should! I've had mine about two years now - and I can say that it is a very rare week when I don't use it for at least steaming veggies - and in the winter - well - you can have amazing home made soups in well under an hour from start to finish - using far less than a quarter of the fuel that you would normally use! - This is a Pressure Cooker for a New Age of Environmentally Friendly and Healthy cooking! I think I have probably saved the cost of the pot in natural gas over two years -- not to mention the vitamins that are retained because you cook with so little water they stay IN the food you are cooking! (not in the water you take the 'food' out of as in older types of pressure cookers) --

This pot rocks!

This product is by far the best purchase I have made for my kitchen. I know plenty of people who own PCs (jiggle tops) but now is when I finally discovered why they loved theirs so much. I can make so many dishes in a fraction of the time! Some weekend-type meals are now weeknight meals. A stew on Tuesday night, Pot Roast on Wednesday, not a problem. Even making mashed potatoes is quick and easy. Chicken broth in 30 minutes not 2 hours.

Another important point is safety. You cannot open the cooker until it is completely de-pressurized (i.e. idiot (me) proof) and it has 2 additional escaped valves (asided from the main one) in case you accidently overpressurize it. The main reason I had not purchased a pressure cooker sooner was safety concerns (read: fear). But now, I could just kick myself for not getting one sooner.

However, I would just like to clarify 2 points:

To the reviewer that rated the pot 4 stars because of the shape: I do agree that the shape is a little ackward. It is taller than it is wide. However, I haven't had any problems with it so far. I checked the manufacturers website and the 8 liter model has the same diameter. It is just slightly taller. But this one does have 2 handles (a regular handle and a helper handle). I appreciate the long handle as it makes it easier for me to open the lid without burning myself (better leverage).

As for the reviewer who compared this cooker to a 1912 model: I really don't understand what he expects of a Pressure Cooker. The principle hasn't changed since his grandmother's era but the execution certainly has. But yes, you are still going to have to regulate the heat under the pot. Kuhn Rikon introduced this spring valve technology in 1949 so I doubt it is the same cooker his grandmother owned. The whole idea of a spring valve is that is isn't supposed to vent (as much if at all).

This is an excellent product and I have recommended it to everyone I know. Although the cost is a bit high, this is definitly one of those times when you get what you pay for!

Kuhn-Rikon has triple insulated, stainless steel construction. Aluminum PC's I caution against due to aluminum leaching into the foods with acid veggies like tomatoes, etc. Aluminum and acid cannot mix. I RATE THE 7-LITER WITH 4 STARS ONLY DUE TO IT'S SHAPE. It is awkward to use that size with one handle and, by comparison to the 8-liter, it is tall and narrow. I recommend going for the 8-liter two-handled PC. The dimensions are wider at the top by an inch or two and less deep, therefore, it allows for easy access for turning roasts and has the needed 'head room' for the best stocks you ever tasted. One consideration is the amount of liquid required by the different manufacturers of Pressure Cookers. Only Kuhn-Rikon has the ability to come to high pressure with the least amount of water required. For example, the 2.5 liter honey-comb bottomed fry pan pressure cooker only needs 2 to 3 TABLESPOONS of liquid to come to full pressure. Other manufacturers of PC's require 2 cups or more of liquid which forces everything to come out like stew or soup. Have you ever thought you can make RARE LAMB CHOPS in a pressure cooker? Well, try this fry pan. It is a recommended addition to the 8-liter 'hotel' two-handled pressure cooker so that while a roast is in the big pot, a side dish is in the small pot. Voila! A Complete Dinner within an hour, start to finish. The one thing that is finally available in this country is the Japanese Ohsawa Rice Pot which fits into the pressure cooker. It makes the best brown rice and whole grains you ever tasted without the potential problem of foaming up and clogging the steam vent. The Kuhn-Rikon also has a TW0 pressure indicator rod that makes regulating a cinch. Kuhn-Rikon has its own flame-tamer which is the widest available (I believe it is approx. 10 or 11 inches) used to prevent scorching the food in the bottom of the pot when highest heat is needed to bring it up to pressure and it also prevents flame from 'licking' up the sides of the pot. If that should happen it would ruin the shiny finish of the stainless steel. Their flame-tamer is highly recommended to purchase when you buy the pot. The newest addition to the Kuhn-Rikon line is the 5-liter Duromatic Thermal Pressure Cooker. It Pressure cooks, comes with a serving lid and a serving disc that goes directly from the stovetop to the table without scorching or damaging your table top and keeps the food 'piping hot' for a minumum of two hours. I take it to the swim club when we want to get away from the standard bar-b-q supper. It is a tremendous addition for anyone you likes healthy food prep that is so fast and transportable. Kuhn-Rikon is called the 'Mercedes Benz' of pressure cookers. I certainly endorse this statement.

This is the second pressure cooker that I've owned and I am extremely pleased with it's performance. If you have not used one in the past, it is well worth the investment of money and time to learn how to use it. I did a lot of searching before deciding on this model, mostly due to the inordinate number of positive reviews. I was not dissapointed. You can make wonderful meals quickly, easily, and for less money that with conventional cookware. The last cooker I had was an older style with a jiggle top. It worked, but was not convenient to use, so I did not use it very often. The Kuhn Rikon is so easy to use that I've been using is several times per week and plan most of my menus around the pressure cooker. I am already thinking about buying others in different sizes. I find the 7 liter a good size for most uses. It will easily accomodate soups and stock but is not too big to use for smaller meals. For the few people that have not had good experiences with pressure cookers, I urge them to try again. It is not hard to master and the rewards are well worth it. The Kuhn Rikon is easy to use, safe, and will quickly become the primary pot in your kitchen. If you are new to pressure cooking, it is worthwhile to buy a pressure cooker cookbook at the same time. I liked Pressure Cooking for Dummies by Tom Calamita.

We have owned a Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker for the past 5+ years and use it on average 4 times a week. That's over 1000 times we have cooked with this incredible pressure cooker.

It has never failed us. It is easy to use. It is easy to clean. Follow the instruction book and you can't go wrong.

This pressure cooker will open your horizons to try foods you may not have been inclined to cook because of the time required to prepare them, e.g. beans and artichokes.

There is a large variety of beans and with the Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker you will be cooking them perfect everytime in only 10-12 minutes (for most beans) compared to several hours in a regular pot. The taste of homemade beans beats the canned variety hands down. You can even make your own Senate Navy Bean Soup.

We have used it to cook beans, artichokes, rice, all types of soups, and for steaming vegetables and custards. With a new baby we have even used it to sterilize bottles (only 1 minute).

Obviously, we are very satisfied with the Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker as we hope you will be, too.

I recently purchased this pressure cooker and have found it to be extremely easy to use. I have never used a pressure cooker before. You will love this one. The size is perfect for most recipes. The instructions are clear and the book includes good recipes to get started. I am very impressed with the quality of this product and I am equally impressed with how quickly I was able to make delicious dinners. So far I have made pot roast, spaghetti sauce, turkey breast, risotto and chicken soup. Each recipe was easy to make--one would think I was cooking all day.
You will enjoy this pressure cooker! I ordered this on a Wednesday from Amazon and received it on Friday--what superb service!

This is an outstanding pressure cooker. It's bigger than I expected, even for a 7 liter unit. The workmanship and materials appear to be first rate. Two bits of advice: (1) you may have a hard time keeping the pressure at the desired level if you have an electric stove. My solution is to turn on TWO elements. One is set to "high" to get the pressure cooker up and cooking; the other is adjusted to a simmer setting. I simply move the cooker from the hot burner to the simmer burner once the desired pressure is established.

Second bit of advice: watch out if you buy this device from Amazon. Mine arrived in a dilapidated box that appeared to have been returned one or more times previously, and there were abrasions and other evidence of use on the device itself. No crusted food, fortunately. Because it was in working condition, I finally elected to keep it rather than go to the hassle of an exchange, but caveat emptor: you may have the same annoying experience.

It is every bit as good as they say it is. It's very easy to use. No jiggle, no hissing, just a little sound to let you know the pressure is coming up. Just two little red lines that are easy to see. 1st. line is for low pressure, 2nd. line is for high pressure. Not only does it work like a dream, it looks like one too. If all you have every owned is a jiggle pressure cooker, please give this one a try. I'm sure you will be impressed with this 2nd generation pc.