Pressures cookers are a popular choice in modern-day households. Most people prefer them over regular cooking pots due to their time and energy-efficient nature. However, they are a bit expensive. Let us find out the reason behind this.
Why are pressure cookers so expensive? How much it costs?
A pressure cooker can save 70-90 % of energy and can cook ten times faster. It saves time and energy, increasing its value. For these reasons, it is very desired and costly. Its characteristics determine its price. Depending on the size, the values range around $400.
Why are pressure cookers so expensive?
Compared to similar conventional cookware, pressure cookers are much more expensive. They indeed provide more features and better functioning than other products at a higher price. These are the reason for their higher price:
Materials:
The pressure cooker has a solid aluminum or stainless-steel body. The other materials that form the handle and the gasket are also very high in quality. These make a pressure cooker costly.
Functions:
Pressure cookers come with special features that allow them to fit with both induction and gas cookers. Because of their versatility, pressure cookers are a costly piece of equipment.
Durability:
A pressure cooker can endure and offer years of use. Compared to their pure aluminum cousins, they are stronger and longer-lasting.
As a result of their design, color, and, elegance you are compelled to use them for cooking and serving food. Scratch, stick, and stain resistance make them simple to maintain.
Investing in a high-quality stovetop pressure cooker can pay dividends for many years. Chances are, you’ll pass it on to your offspring. In addition, stovetop pressure cooker components are less costly.
Gaskets, for example, will cost the same whether you use an electric or a stovetop oven.
Cooking Benefits:
A pressure cooker’s capacity to cook food rapidly has several advantages. Cooking speeds may be increased by up to three to ten times compared to typical circumstances.
One-pot can cook a whole dinner, reducing the number of pots and pans needed. As a consequence of substantially shorter cooking periods, it uses less energy.
How much does a pressure cooker cost?
Pressure cookers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Every size has its own set of costs. In addition, various types of functionalities are available, resulting in a wide range of prices.
The average pressure cooker can be found for less than $100 and is fairly small in size. The cost of locating a huge size will be between $150 and $200.
The pressure cookers that cost more than $300 are large in capacity, ranging from 17 quarts to 22 quarts.
| Brand | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Fagor | $76 to $118 |
| Ninja | $109 to $350 |
| Tefal | $79 to $209 |
| Farberware | $30 to $110 |
| Tower | $69 to $207 |
| Presto | $91 to $137 |
| Tupperware | $41 to $352 |
| Cuisinart | $21 to $380 |
| Bella | $80 to $216 |
| WMF | $99 to $240 |
| Fissler | $109 to $140 |
| Ambiano | $39 to $326 |
| Philips | $173 to $370 |
| Crock pot | $27 to $200 |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pressure cooker?
In the kitchen, pressure cookers are excellent equipment. Their popularity has lately grown owing to their efficiency and many safety features. Although there are numerous benefits to it, there are also a few drawbacks.
Advantage:
Time-Saving:
Pressure cookers cook food two to ten times quicker than steam, steaming, reheating, or simmering. It’s so easy to make that you can assemble everything in one pot and enjoy it within 30 minutes.
Food will retain vitamins, nutrients, and flavor:
It requires a small amount of liquid to create steam and thus retain most of the moisture. Shorter cooking times also reduce the loss of heat-sensitive food components, retaining color and flavor.
Less energy consuming:
Cooking a meal in a single pot using several burners. Cooking faster uses less electricity overall.
Using a pressure cooker also reduces heat in the kitchen, so you won’t need to turn on the cooktop fan or the air conditioner in the summer.
Saving money:
A pressure cooker can cook even the hardest beef cuts quickly and safely. Cheap lamb shanks, oxtail, and pig shoulder are ideal for fast, tasty dinners. You may use a pressure cooker for cooking grains and dry beans.
Disadvantage:
Overcooking:
In a hurry, it’s easy to overcook food. Overcooked dishes turn mushy in minutes. Many first-time users of pressure cookers complain about mushy or overdone food.
The food cannot be checked:
The user cannot remove the cover to check or add ingredients because of the pressure. A cooker once depressurized, again requires pressure to build up.
Are pressure cookers worth it?
If you are an amateur home cook or a bachelor living alone, then a pressure cooker will be an invaluable asset for you. They are definitely worth it if you are looking for fast and efficient cooking.
However, there are some drawbacks of a pressure cooker which are mostly negligible.
Some complain that pressure sometimes overcook. Although it is true, with some practice, you can, however, overcome this easily. Additionally, considering the time and energy efficiency, pressure cookers are worth the buck.
So, while pressure cookers have some small limitations, they are nevertheless worthwhile to purchase.
How long does a pressure cooker last?
There is no indication of the pressure cooker’s anticipated lifeline. However, based on user experiences, we can get some idea about it. Usually, the manufacturer provides a guarantee ranging from one to two years.
But pressure cookers operate far beyond the warranty term.
The layers underneath the heating element endure beyond 100,000 uses. However, the sealing gasket will need a change every 12-18 months throughout the first two years of operation.
The inside of a pressure cooker resists any dents or damage throughout its lifespan. It is hard to say how long a pressure cooker will survive, but its long-lasting components suggest that it is intended to last many years.
What should I look for when buying a pressure cooker?
When buying a new pressure cooker, there are several factors that you should take into consideration. These factors can save you both money and get you the most efficient cooker for your need. Some of these factors are listed below:
Size:
A pressure cooker’s size is important. If you want to prepare smaller meals, select two to three quarts. However, for larger families, bigger sizes like 6-quart or 8-quart will be fine.
Right Liner:
A pressure cooker’s liner material matters much. Stainless steel lining. The liner needs to be dishwasher safe. It may chip or scrape due to lack of care. So, look out for proper liner material before buying your pressure cooker.
Safety:
Given heated steam and high pressure, those cookers need to be safe. It perhaps is the most important factor to keep in mind. Although the rate is low, there are instances where a pressure cooker leaks and causes injury.
That is why check all the pressure capacity details and valves properly before getting a pressure cooker.
Do professional chefs use pressure cookers?
Pressure cookers are very helpful in the home kitchen when you are running late. However, chefs avoid pressure cookers in their professional kitchens. They oppose the use of pressure cookers. So, they have less impact on the final product.
For professional chefs, the flavor and taste of the recipe are the priority. Low-temperature cooking brings out the inherent flavors of the ingredients and enhances the taste. As a reason, slow cookers are preferable to pressure cookers.
Chefs produce large amounts of food every day. But there are just a few sizes of pressure cookers. As a result, utilizing pressure cookers to complete a dish is challenging.
Professional chefs use pressure cookers to create stocks and sauces. These dishes are easy to monitor. Modern home cooks, on the other hand, often rely on the pressure cooker for help.
What PSI should my pressure cooker be?
Almost every cooker on a stove satisfies the core criteria, depending on the type, as the pressure cooker works at 15 psi pressure or 9 to 12 psi pressure.
You can use a regular pot for cooking when the atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi or above. In some cases, the pressure within the cooker may increase by an additional 15 psi, reaching almost 30 psi.
Most pressure-cooking recipes start with a 15-psi pressure setting as a starting point for cooking. As a result, a pressure cooker needs to be between 15 and 30 psi.
How big should my pressure cooker be?
Sizes of pressure cockers vary. It depends on the number of individuals. So they are typically sold by their whole liquid capacity.
The following are the capacities of the most common sizes:
4-QUART:
For individuals or couples, this is a good-sized pressure cooker. 4-quart will usually be sufficient for individual use.
6-QUART:
Many families with two or more people choose the 6-QUART size. This size is the most common.
8-QUART:
This size is popular for big families, huge roasts, and bulk cooking.
A larger pressure cooker is also available in 17 and 22-quart versions. Canning low-acid foods in pint and quart jars are their primary use.
Final Thoughts:
A pressure cooker is undeniable if you want to cook your meals fast. It saves our time and energy. Thus, it gives us an advantage over normal cooking. Costing around $400, they are costly. But they are excellent for searing meats because they braise, simmer, and boil quicker, generating steam heat.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does a Pressure Cooker Burn Food?
Why Is My Pressure Cooker Not Whistling?
Can You Boil Water in a Pressure Cooker?
Does a Pressure Cooker Use a Lot of Electricity?
Why Pressure Cookers Is Used in High-Altitude or Hilly Areas?