Pressure Cooker - Kuhn Rikon

Kuhn Rikon has specialized in the manufacture of pressure cookers for more than 50 years, offering a broad line of shapes and sizes. We tested the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic 6-Liter Stockpot, which differs from what they call “pressure cookers” in the shape of the handle. The stockpots have small handles as shown in the photo below; the “pressure cookers” have one long, frying pan-like handle (in the style of the older pressure cookers) and one short one, like the handle on the stock pot (called a helper handle). Kuhn Rikon’s use of the two different terms, pressure cooker and stockpot, is confusing to the consumer, because both styles are the same shape and function exactly the same, and because “stockpot” has a specific connotation, i.e. not a pressure cooker.

Which style you choose is a matter of personal preference. According to Kuhn Rikon, some people find the long handle (with the helper handle) easier to carry on and off the stove, to the sink, etc., but we had no problem toting the stockpot style with the two short handles. From both an aesthetic perspective and because the longer handle is more difficult to store, we prefer the stockpot style.

The six-liter (6-1/3 quarts) size is ideal for a family or a single-person household. It can make either a whole chicken or a single meal in one pot. With enhanced safety features, new users need have no worries about over-pressuring. The quick-pressure release method is a modern evolution of earlier valves, that allows pressure to drop without losing heat. You can add ingredients or check for doneness without stopping the cooking process. Kuhn Rikon has also enabled accuracy in the timing of cooking by adding a well-defined red ring that measures internal pressure, so there is no second-guessing when your food will be done.

You can make anything from soup to cheesecake in a pressure cooker.

While a nonstick finish may seem attractive, it requires hand washing; the stainless steel features of an all-stainless product like Kuhn Rikon is thus a plus. In addition to durability, the stainless steel is also more versatile: It can be cooked on any surface, including wood and charcoal fires.

What To Cook

A pressure cooker is ideal for foods that take a while to cook—think 40 minutes to several hours. We cooked a number of recipes from Miss Vickie’s Big Book Of Pressure Cooking Recipes; all cooked evenly and tenderly. We were extremely impressed that we could make a three-course meal of perfectly medium-rare lamb, garlic mashed potatoes and fluffy cheesecake all in the same cooker. Some of our favorites from Miss Vickie’s book:

Beef Brisket With Winter Vegetables And Pan Gravy
Beef Short Ribs With Potato Wedges, Carrots, Corn-On-The-Cob And Gravy
Braised Lamb Shanks With Vegetables
Chicken and Penne Pasta With Walnut Pesto Sauce
Gourmet Blue Cheese-Stuffed Burgers
Lamb Chops With Au Gratin Potatoes
New England Clam Chowder
Pork Chops With Red Wine Risotto
Wine-Braised Chicken With Potatoes Romanoff

In addition to Miss Vickie’s, we browsed through several other cookbooks that we’ll turn our attention to next. There are eight pressure cooker cookbooks listed on Amazon.com.

The guide that comes with the cooker explains how to adapt the cooking times of your own recipes, to prepare everyday foods such as:

Chickens (a whole 3.5-lb bird fits
into the 6L)
Chili
Corn-on-the-cob
Roasts (accommodates 4 pounds)

Soups
Stews
Stocks

Testing Notes

Here are the results of our test-drive of the Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker from an operational and functional standpoint:

Perfect Timing. The Duromatic's spring-loaded valve has visual indicators, which takes the guesswork out of pressure cooking. You see the exact pressure and can time your recipes accordingly.
Handles. The easy-grip handles on the sides are a plus for straining vegetables or pasta, since the cooker itself can get very hot. The handles are also heat resistant, so the pot can go into the oven, although temperatures higher than 300°F are not recommended.
Clean-Up. All meats need to be browned before cooking in the pressure cooker, to seal in the natural juices. This leaves browning on the bottom of the pot; but after a few minutes of soaking and a trip to the dishwasher, the pot is sparkling clean.
Capacity. Although this pot claims to feed a family of 8 to 10, we recommend the 8L size if you are cooking for more than six.
Fear Factor. The instructions may seemed a bit overwhelming to a first-time pressure cooker user who isn’t accustomed to a long list, but stay focused: Our first attempt was delicious and we are a lifetime convert to the ease and deliciousness of pressure cooking.

While many of this pressure cooker’s features are fairly standard, its tall asking price of $200 is easily justified. With new enhanced safety features, the Kuhn Rikon gives a first-time user peace of mind while cooking, and allows a family to prepare an entire meal in one pot, in half the time or less. It’s fun, too: Pressure cooking is an enjoyable path to more nutritious, less expensive meals than purchasing prepared foods.

This pressure cooker is a great investment for a first time cooker or a seasoned veteran, and a welcome gift for anyone who enjoys spending time in the kitchen—or who doesn’t, and wants to get in and out that much faster.

Product Features

5 over-pressure safety systems, UL listed
Integrated automatic lid-locking system
18/10 stainless steel (will not interact with food and is dishwasher safe)
Solid thermal aluminum sandwich for even browning and rapid heat absorption
Stainless steel steaming plate
New generation spring-loaded precision valve
User-friendly operation
Interior fill lines
10-year warranty on all non-replaceable parts, material and workmanship

Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cooker

6-1/3 quart (6L) capacity
8-3/4” (22cm) diameter
$200 Suggested Retail
Includes free Quick Cuisine Cookbook
$14.00 retail value

Click Here To Purchase on Amazon.com

Learn More At KuhnRikon.com

Continue To Page 4: Miss Vickie’s Big Book Of Pressure Cooker Recipes

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