Presto 01362 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

This cooker has completely transformed my cooking experience! It heats up quickly and cooks food evenly every time. The different settings are intuitive, making it easy to prepare anything from rice and stews to steamed vegetables or soups. I especially love how easy it is to clean — the non-stick surface and removable parts make cleanup a breeze. The build quality feels solid, and it’s clear this is a durable appliance that will last for years. Read more

The best Stainless steel pressure cooker! Make meals in minutes that taste like they took all day to cook! Works great on an induction stove too! Read more

I got this to combine with my presto 8 qt My wife likes homemade mashed potatoes...that's what she makes for her family probably 4 times a week (we eat at home 95% of the evening meals --she is a wonderful mom and teaches our 11 and 13 her tips and tricks--she spoils us. But mashed potatoes take 20-30 minutes cook time. Well after reading bunch of things and watching video's i said lets try this cut our cooking time by 2/3. So potatoes are easy now---1/ 1/2 cup water 5 russet potatoes cook 5 min at pressure (bobble rocking starts the timer) take off heat let come to base pressure. prep other things mix right in the same pan. easy peasy WOW they are done SAVED A TON OF TIME OK OK i'll get to the review---this is wonderful, simple effective EASY TO UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY VALVES. stainless steel for durability and EASY cleanup. its stove top (ours is gas lucky us) gets to the 15psi quickly, has a thick conducting bottom. Very easy to tell if still under pressure. you stop hearing the bobble head pressure thing, but look near the handle it has a pop up indicator that if its down its safe to open--very easy to understand...not intimidating easy on lid-- HIGH QUALITY--i'd recommend this to friends in a heart beat. I bought both this and the 8 qt presto to give my family flexibility i'd suggest this as well, maybe you could go with the lover priced 6 qt but the 8 qt quick release valve is THE BOMB to get this to quick release as per recipes (not all request it) reguires you to put under cold water till the safety indicator drops its a tad of a hassle but thats pressure cooking. I don't think this model comes with the newer style release valve ---maybe but didn't find it. if so get it with the same valve system as the 8 qt SIMPLY WONDERFUL no regrets would do it again----but if presto makes this size with the newer valve i'd get that I was at first intimidated by pressure cooking but this system really made the learning curve easy and quick. Read more

I bought this for my own birthday present a couple of years ago and just started to use it, in the 6 or so times I've used it--it works well. Vegetables are a breeze, potatoes cook in a reasonable amount of time, and if you time it right you will be able to cook different portions of your meal that will all end up in the pot at the end--leaving clean up to be one big pot (with a few pieces). I was unnecessarily hesitant to use it--wish Grandma had been around for me to ask how--that would have relieved some of my internal pressure! Recommend you read the book, and reread the section on the specific food you are about to cook. That will save unnecessary worry. Overall quality is good for a $75 kitchen appliance--you can pay quite a bit more in the store. If you are unfamiliar with pressure cookers take your time and talk to someone who has used them. I forgot to follow one of the warnings, and while the consequences were not dire, the food did not cook as quickly as expected. The direction was to put the rice or beans in a separate metal bowl in the pot to avoid bubbling up the starchy food and clogging the valves. Another way to deal with the frothing when you want the stew to cook together is cook your rice or beans first in the bowl, then pour the starch into the pot, and put your meat and vegetables on top being careful not to exceed the fill lines. That will keep the frothing down and cook everything. Given it is stainless steel you don't have to worry about it exploding, it feels sturdy and looks great. My one concern, and it is a foreseeable one rather than of immediate nature, is the handle--it is held to the pot by one screw, and if overtightened it will strip. A more solid stainless screw or even two would hold the handle more tightly without the concern for stripping. In short, I like the capability of making stews without using a crockpot running all day while I tend the vessels in the harbor, but the handle could be better. I would certainly buy this for a young couple's house warming present especially if you take the time to show the cook how to use it a couple of times. Looking forward to making a lentil stew with salt pork and beets next. Read more