Presto 8-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

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.

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-Inch by 8 inch; 12-Year warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11 x 10.5 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds 
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside 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
• Item model number: 01370

Customer Reviews

Review 1:

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.

Review 2:
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

Review 3:
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.

Review 4:
I use this Pressure Cooker at 6500ft. I found the adjustments that needed to be made at the Presto website:
Q. Are there any adjustments that need to be made when pressure cooking at high altitudes?
A. When pressure cooking at altitudes over 2000 feet, the cooking time should be increased. Increase cooking times 5% for every 1000 feet above 2000 feet. Increase cooking times as follows:
3000 ft: 5% 4000 ft: 10% 5000 ft: 15%
6000 ft: 20% 7000 ft: 25% 8000 ft: 30%

Review 5:
I knew that I wanted a Presto stainless steel pressure cooker because it has been so well rated. However, I struggled determining what size to get. Amazon sells the 4, 6, and 8 quart cooker. I am a single guy and thought that maybe the 8 quart was going to be too big but then did not want to get the 4 or 6 and be limited to what I could cook.

So I decided to get the 8 quart, and it turned out to be the perfect size. As you might be aware, for most foods, one should not fill the pot past the halfway mark. I like cooking chicken soup, chicken stew, turkey legs, beans, etc. Well, once I finish adding the meat, vegetables, and water, the pot is almost approaching the halfway mark. The size is also perfect for storing food in the fridge. When I am done cooking, I leave the leftovers in the pot and place the pot in the fridge. The next day, I can easily reheat the food right in the pot.

As for the pressure cooker itself, it works great. It cooks food fast and preserves all the food flavors. The pot is well made. The outer stainless steel surface is beautiful. Overall, this is just a great product. 

Review 6:
Not sure what to say here... it's a pressure cooker.
Seriously it does what it's supposed to do.
It's the perfect size for my needs, it holds 4 - 1-pint jars without any problems, easy to close, easy to clean afterwards, that's about it.

I guess the key here is that should it break somewhere beyond it's 12 year guarantee I would buy another one exactly like it. 

Review 7:
I had an old Presto 4 quart pressure cooker it worked well but this eight quart is great. One of the things I like about it is that I can safely release the pressure without moving the cooker to the sink. Trying to put the old one in the sink without burning myself or having the pressure valve release steam in my face was always concern. The double handles are wonderful for moving the cooker when it's hot. I use this cooker about 2-3 times a week. I do fresh veggies, stews, soup, stuffed peppers and potatoes all the time. It comes up to pressure quickly and maintains the pressure evenly in spite of my electric stove. I recommend it whole heartedly!

Review 8:
My son asked for a pressure cooker for Christmas last year, and after a lot of research, this is the one I bought. I highly recommend this item! My son uses it at least 4 times a week, and loves it! I also bought him a rice cooker and returned it as he says he doesn't need any other cooking device because this does it all!

Review 9:
I have used a Presto pressure cooker for years. Pressure cookers help to cook many foods quickly. Moving to a town where the altitude is about 3,500 feet, I discovered that beans were difficult to cook through without a pressure cooker. Also, because we had a new stove with a smooth top, we needed a larger pressure cooker to match the size of the heating element. Before I had an aluminium cooker. This is simply a great cooker at a great price for what you are getting. The release for the pressure is easy to use and safe. The bottom which is extra thick, prevents scotching. I think everybody should own a pressure cooker for flavor, speed, and it is the "green thing" to do as it uses less resources to accomplish the same end. Of the differing sizes, this is a great size to own. If you wish to cook rice, you will need to have a suitable bowl, but this cooker is large enough that a large stainless bowl will easily fit inside! I don't think you can go wrong with this finely made cookware. A warning is in order for those planning to use this pressure cooker for canning. It is not designed for canning at high altitudes.

Review 10:
Just completed teaching a class on how to use a pressure cooker, and I used this model to demonstrate. We steamed cauliflower, made a batch of black beans, perfect risotto, delicious chicken cacciatore, and topped off the meal with a batch of apple crisp. The recipes, more or less, came from the instruction manual (I always add more garlic where I can). The class was a big hit, and the pressure cooker was the star of the show.
First of all it is a lovely item. It's just beautiful to look at. It is sturdy, and has two handles which makes handling much easier. It nicely accommodates the 2 quart souffle dish I use to make desserts like the apple crisp. The capacity is perfect for making stews, you really need the 8 quart size to make a batch of stew or cacciatore or the like. The instructions are easy to understand and use, it's easy to clean (get some Bon Ami if you don't already have it. This baby sparkles after cleaning.), and it hasn't left my stovetop since I bought it.

For more information visit the link below:

Presto 8-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

Other Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Product:
Presto 01362 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

Posted in: Presto