Presto 8-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

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Product Features

• Heavy-duty 8-quart stainless steel pressure cooker
• Comfortably ergonomic, stay-cool black plastic handles
• Strong-lock lid with steam vent, pressure indicator, and overpressure plug
• Comes with rack for steaming food
• 15-1/2 by 8 inches; 12-year warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11 x 10.5 inches ; 12 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000Z6JIW
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #374 in Kitchen & Dining (See Bestsellers in Kitchen & Dining)

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Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Pressure cookers have experienced renewed popularity over the last several years because cooks have rediscovered what some cooks (particularly grandmas) have known for a long time--they're really fast. And it's easy to cook healthfully with pressure cookers, since the food retains so much more of its nutrients and flavor. Presto's 8-quart pressure cooker is a multi-purpose pot that can stand in as a conventional soup pot as well as perform the kitchen magic that pressure cookers are famous for. Chicken Cacciatore cooks in 8 minutes! And it's big enough for home canning, too. (The USDA recommends pressure canning as the only safe method for low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, and poultry.) This professional-quality stainless steel pressure cooker is a handy addition to any well-rounded set of kitchen tools.

The heavy-duty lid locks down during cooking; an inner sealing ring keeps the steam in. In addition to a pop-up pressure indicator and a simple steam release mechanism, there is an overpressure plug that will let off steam if it builds up excessively. This pressure cooker is useful for weeknight dinners or for any meal that needs to come together quickly. An accompanying booklet contains 75 recipes, ranging from basic soup stocks to stews and pot roasts--even desserts like Petite Pumpkin Custards! Tenderize lean cuts of beef or pork; or cook chicken, fish, or vegetables faster than you can in a microwave, and without losing moisture.

Nonabrasive cleansers are best for cleaning this stainless steel pressure cooker, though occasional use of a fine metal polish will help the exterior keep its shine. The Presto 8-quart pressure cooker is fully immersible; in addition, the sealing ring should be removed after each use to allow cleaning of the inside rim of the lid. The vent pipe is simple to keep clean with a small brush or pipe cleaner, and both the air vent/cover lock and the overpressure plug are removable. The pressure cooker measures 10-1/2 inches in diameter (15-1/2 inches including handles) and 8-1/2 inches tall (including lid). Presto guarantees this pressure cooker with an extended 12-year warranty. A detailed instruction and recipe booklet is included; special safety issues that pertain to pressure cookers are clearly explained. --Garland Withers

Product Description

Cooks lighter meals, healthier, fast and easy. 3 to 10 times faster than ordinary methods - faster than a microwave. Chicken, fish, vegetables and more cook to perfection in minutes. Tenderizes leaner cuts of beef and pork. Quick steam release. Stainless steel steamer basket.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Basic Pressure Cooker, October 18, 2006

By	RM (Newport Beach, California) - See all my reviews

This is a solid, basic stainless pressure cooker, that is quite a bargain at the $41.45 price (or $33 something after the $25 off $125 kitchen purchases).

Advantages:

* Easy to use flip pressure regulator for quick release of pressure
* Only has 15 lbs pressure that is adequate for normal pressure cooking
* Has handles on both sides that makes the cooker easy to carry and stable when full.
* Stainless won't interact with food product such as tomatoes.
* 8 qt. capacity gives 4 qts of capacity when cooking foaming products such as beans or lentils.
* Easier to clean than some pressure cookers I have used.

Disadvantages:

* Only cooks at 15 lbs of pressure, where some recipes call for only 10 lbs and would have to be adjusted.
* Most canning is done at 10 lbs pressure at sealevel and up to 1000 ft elevation
* I respectfully disagree that this cooker is meant for canning. It could process 3 or 4 pints in a pinch, but a 23 qt pressure cooker is the canning workhorse and will hold 19 pts or 7 qts. The manual suggests not canning in it, and it doesn't have a canning trivet included.
* It is much lighter weight than older Presto models, so I don't know if it will last as long as the old ones did.

Overall, it is a great pressure cooker for most cooking, and is a very good value.

85 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great value for the money!, November 16, 2004

By	Fruit Loop (Down South) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I bought this for canning and found it more than worth the money. I never expected to use it for cooking but it came with great recipes so I tried it. Makes wondrous custards and delectable roasts as well. Forget the more expensive models - this one does a fabulous job of canning and spare parts are readily available (I blew out a pressure indicator - my fault). Highly recommend

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, March 14, 2006

By	R. Bramwell "Never expose a child to the irra... - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Presto's 8 qt stainless pressure cooker is awesome; it's quiet, effective, and easy to clean. Its safety features do not interfere with regular use in any way. The short handles/grips are better than the short-grip + long-handle combination used on some models. This Presto just makes sense. It is my third one and is the best by far.

Though I only have experience with Presto, I cannot imagine another cooker being worth either the savings or the extra expense.

If you only want to own one pressure cooker, don't get the smaller sizes. When you want to do a big stew, chicken or roast you won't have room. A small secondary pressure cooker for extra vegetables etc. might be useful, but not as your primary cooker.

Hey Presto, A double-decker basket would be nice for separating certain foods. How about it?

*Never* buy the aluminum pressure cookers, they save you money but are forever spreading aluminum about when you clean them. Stainless steel rocks(heh heh).

As always, never risk letting a cooker run dry while cooking under pressure.