pressure cookers

[shoelace]

other than one being 10 qt and one being 8, any reason not to go for the 5 piece set? any clue what the difference is between the two? anyone have experience with one of the other or both?

thanks in advance for your help

http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.a...

[Fritter]

I wouldn't get either one and I buy a lot of stuff from Costco. You can get one at Wally world for half that that will last for years. Mine is a Mirro 8 qt. About $40. What ever brand you buy make sure you have a source for new seals.

[Buckethead]

Fagor is one of the most popular brands of pressure cookers, I don't think finding seals will be a problem. I have their Futuro model and it works great.

I'd go with the 10 quart model, if you ever decide to use it for pressure canning you'll want as much space as possible.

[alanbarnes]

I'd go for the set. 8 quarts is a good size for regular use by a normal-sized family, and I could think of a lot of applications for the short 4-quart pot. The 10-quart model is on the big side for everyday use and on the small side for canning (it only holds pint jars, and only 4 of 'em). Better to have a smaller cooker (or two) and a dedicated 16- or 23-quart pressure canner.

I disagree with Fritter's recommendation to get a Mirro or any other first-generation (jiggle-top) pressure cooker for everyday use. They're less efficient, noisier, harder to control, and more prone to failure than spring-valve cookers made by the likes of Fagor and Kuhn-Rikon.

[paulj]

Unless you are into canning, or cooking for crowds, the 10 is likely to be too big. I looked at a couple of 4/8 Fagor combos, as well as a 4/6 combo, but ended up getting a single 6qt Fagor. The 6 is big enough to serve as a pasta pot.

Since the 4qt uses the same lid as the 8, it is relatively wide and shallow for a pressure cooker (10" diameter?). So it fits somewhere between a sauté pan and sauce pan (for non pressure applications). It might be easier to turn items that you are searing than a deeper pot.

[jayt90]

10 qt is small for a canner, and large for a pressure cooker. It will take longer to get up to 250 F than the 8 qt or especially the 5 qt.
The 5 piece kit is an excellent buy. The 10 qt is problematic and doesn't fit in as a PC or a canner.

[Miss Priss]

I have the Fagor 5-piece set, and am very happy with it. Paulj is exactly right about the virtues of the 4-quart pot; it's great for dishes where you first have to saute or sear the ingredients, and it comes up to pressure quickly. In fact, I use it more than the 8-quart pot (but then, I'm usually cooking for two). The larger pot is a good size for stock, soup, big batches of stew, a whole chicken, etc. Replacement gaskets are readily available at Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy's, or any good kitchenware store.

[shoelace]

thanks for all the great input!

[Candy]

I have a 6 and a 10 qt. Fagor Duo and sell them. My 6 qt. gets regular work outs. The size has more to do with how much you are cooking. You should never fill a pressure cooker more than 2/3 full. You will reduce the cooking time defeating the purpose of the pressure cooker. So for 2 - 4 people a 6 qt. is usually big enough.