[Update 2015-02-08]: While I still like the Cuisinart, I have a new favorite pressure cooker. See my post: What Pressure Cooker Should I Buy?
I found out that Marcus, my guy at the local Apple store, follows this blog. A few months ago I stopped in to pick up an iPod touch for my oldest son. Marcus made my day by pulling me aside and thanking me for my osso bucco recipe. He told me how much he loved his new electric pressure cooker, and I confessed that I didn't have an electric PC yet.
"What? You have to get one. I already want another one." He turned to Diane: "Will you go get him an electric pressure cooker? Right now. He needs it."
Buy a new cooking gadget? Why yes, I can do that.
I did some research; the Cuisinart 6 quart Electric Pressure Cooker was the best reviewed electric PC on Amazon. I bought it, and now I know why Marcus is such a fan.
Why get an electric pressure cooker?
The Cuisinart electric pressure cooker is great for weeknight, set it and forget it cooking. I put it on the counter behind my cutting board and start feeding in ingredients - brown the meat, saute the vegetables, add some stock, lock the lid, and set the timer. At that point, I can walk away and help the kids with homework. The PC comes up to high pressure, levels off the heat, and starts the countdown timer. When the cooking time is done, the cooker beeps, cuts the heat, and enters a warming mode to start the the natural pressure release. I don't have to mess with watching the pressure valve, adjusting burners, or watching timers. Once the lid is locked, I'm done. I can sit on the couch, ignore the kids fighting over who's turn it is to put silverware on the table, and relax until it is time to serve. I love cooking with self-aware equipment.
Yes, I know, self aware machines are the first step in Skynet's plan for world domination. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever...until dinner is ready.
The electric PC is perfect for my favorite multitasking trick, making a batch of stock while I clean the kitchen. Before starting the dishes, I put a leftover roast chicken carcass in the pot with a halved onion and a bay leaf. I fill it with water, set the timer, then start filling the dishwasher. An hour later, the dishes are done, I've relaxed with a beverage, and my stock is ready to strain. Easy peasy.
The other great thing is how quiet it is. There is about thirty seconds of escaping steam between boiling and the pressure seal popping up; other than that, it is silent. After years of using pressure cookers that were only under pressure when they were venting steam, I love the peace and quiet.
Also, you get the benefits of no flavors escaping the cooker - read my post on Heston Blumenthal and sealed pressure cookers.
There are some downsides:
My biggest complaint about the cooker is the size. Most electric pressure cookers top out at six quarts. For most recipes, that's not a big deal, but feeding a family of five I always bump up against the max fill line. (Which is conveniently printed on the pot, another nice feature.)
There is one 8 ½ quart electric pressure cooker, but the reviews on Amazon are not encouraging.
I've had a couple of times where I want to make stock, and the carcass wouldn't fit in the cooker. One was a frozen duck carcass, another was the bone from a leg of lamb. Both of these stocks wound up in my larger Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker, which swallowed them without any problems.
And turkey stock? I'm not even going to try. I don't think I could break a turkey carcass down into small enough pieces without a hacksaw.
Another problem is heating time. The electric PC is slower to heat up and cool down than my stovetop PC by about 50%. I did a head to head test between my stovetop and Electric PCs to compare the differences. Two quarts of cold water from my tap took 8 minutes to come to high pressure in the stovetop PC, but 12 minutes in the electric. And, when I turned them off and let the pressure release naturally, the stovetop PC was depressurized after 13 minutes, while the electric took 20 minutes.
Surprisingly, quick release of pressure was equal, even when I cheated and put the stovetop in the sink to use a cold water release. Both depressurized in two minutes.
This matches my cooking experience; with the electric PC I keep saying "The pressure's not released yet?" while flipping the valve to quick release the remaining pressure so I can get dinner on the table.
My other big concern was the lower "high pressure" in the electric PC. Stovetop PCs usually have a high pressure setting of 15 PSI; electric PCs, including my Cuisinart, consider 10 PSI to be high pressure. Now, the manual for the Cuisinart has cooking times that are about 20% slower, on average, than my usual stovetop timings. Unfortunately, I keep forgetting to add that 20 percent. What can I say, I'm used to my normal timings. I haven't noticed any difference in my results. I think the longer heat up and natural pressure release add some extra cooking time under pressure, and the results even out.
See my pressure cooker corned beef recipe, coming Thursday, for a notable exception. It evens out for shorter cooking times and a natural pressure release, say a half an hour or less. If the cooking time is longer than that, don't forget to add that 20% to the cooking time.
Summary:
I crave soups and stews in the winter. With my stovetop PC, I made one stew a week. I cook two or three soups a week with the electric PC. I know they are quicker with the stovetop PC, but the electric PC is so convenient… They just seem easier to turn out on a busy weeknight.
Highly recommended. (Of course, I also recommend a large stovetop pressure cooker, for bigger meals.)
What do you think? Questions? Other ideas? Experiences with another electric pressure cooker? Leave them in the comments section below.
FTC disclosure: All my "Things I Love" posts are about products I use and purchased myself. I did not receive any form of compensation to write this. If you buy something through one of my Amazon links, I do get a small commission. So, put that coffee down. Coffee's for closers only.
Related Posts:
Pressure Cooker Osso Bucco
Pressure Cooker Chicken Stock
Things I Love: Pressure Cookers
My other Pressure Cooker Recipes
Inspired by:
Cuisinart 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
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Tin City says
I just got my presto pressure cooker from Amazon and it is really good. I'm so excited that I want to share the same 35% discount that I received with anyone who is in the market for a pressure cooker: http://amzn.to/16K0KOI - you will not be disappointed.
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
I don't use low pressure with my pressure cooker. Once in a blue moon I come across a recipe that asks for it, but it's always for something that is better off cooked without the pressure cooker - like green beans.
Annie in Ohio says
Thanks for the input. Wow. Your response was amazingly fast. Like the speed in which pressure cookers cook food. 🙂 Another question? About the low setting for the Cuisinart, do you use this and for what types of recipes or food would one use the low setting for?
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
The Instant Pot and Cuisinart are both good cookers.
The single pressure setting on the Instant Pot is equal to the "High" setting on the Cuisinart?
The main difference between the two is the insert. I prefer the stainless steel insert in the Instant Pot; the Cuisinart has a nonstick insert. If you prefer one type of pot to the other, let that make your choice.
The instant pot's lid is a little easier to clean; the Cuisinart's front panel is a little easier to use.
Other than that, they're both about the same, performance wise.
Hope this helps, and enjoy your cooker!
Annie in Ohio says
I am seriously considering an electric pressure cooker purchase through Amazon, but I'm not sure which one - the Cuisinart CPC600 or Instant Pot LUX60. So I did a search on google and found your blog. I'm not clear on exactly what the differences are between the two. They both seem to be highly rated. Is there an advantage to the low and high pressure that the Cuisinart has over Instant Pot's one set, low pressure? Are there other pros and cons to each that I should be aware of? You have great recommendations on your blog, so I thought your brain would be the right one to pick, before making my purchase. I read you have both, the Instant Pot purchase was "for your blog". 🙂
Lawrence Cohen says
just read this note.
I bought a stainless steel liner from Amazon that fit perfectly .... just used it for the first time
and it worked great! $30 not cheap though.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YZYYE4/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Marlo Mindi Muzzarelli says
Just recived this for my birthday!! YAY me! Never had PC stove or electric! So glad I found your sight, doing beans for a party this weekend at my house wish me luck!!
Oksana says
I almost bought on. Thank you for saving my money. 🙂
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
I haven't tried it, but I don't think it will work. The pots are slightly different sizes - the Cuisinart pot is deeper by about a half an inch. The instant-pot seems a little wider, when I set them lid to lid, but it's close.
Oksana says
I'm wondering if Stainless Steel Inner Pot from Instant Pot will fit Cuisinart. Did anyone try?
glynn says
it does. I found a scrapped IP and salvaged the pot, rack, gasket, etc.
SueM says
Loved this article. I recently bought from Amazon.ca (I live in Canada) the InstantPot Lux 60 (6-in-1 multifunction electric pressure cooker. Believe Amazon.com also sells it. Ive used it several times now with a great deal of success. What I particularly liked about this one is that it has a stainless steel insert rather than the non-stick pot - the sealing gasket is thicker than some of the other ones I've had. You can buy an extra pot and sealing gasket. It is a 6.33 quart size - but for my needs that is adequate. Also acts as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute and warmer. Has 3 saute and 3 clow cooker termperature settings. Has 10 micro-processor controlled programs: Meat/Stew; Soup, Saute; Poultry; Bean/Chili; Congee, Steam, Multigrain, Rice and Slow Cook.
I have a Presto 6-qt. stove top pressure cooker, but quite honestly I much prefer my InstantPot. Check it out.
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
Wow - does sound like you have a defective unit. Definitely call cuisinart. Let me know how it goes. I've heard good things about their customer service, but I've never needed them. I'd like to hear how they do.
Niteowlz says
I have this Cuisinart PC & trying to make a pot of beef stew. It goes to pressure beeps 3 times & goes to warm with 00 on the timer before it cooks.??? This really stinks. I have tried it 3 times. Now trying it a 4th time. I have only used this 3 times since I bought it. Guess I will have to call Cuisinart customer service tomorrow. I had an 8 qt oval heavy duty electric pressure cooker I used for 10 yrs. Worked great. Guess I will have to put it on the stove if I cannot get it to work. Bummed for sure.
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says
Good luck!
Marlo Mindi Muzzarelli says
Just recived this for my birthday!! YAY me! Never had PC stove or electric! So glad I found your sight, doing beans for a party this weekend at my house wish me luck!!