Presto 01362 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

Works well on my electric glass top and my gas stove. Haven't tried it on coil electric.This will last many years and perform well if:1. Clean and dry thoroughly before storing2. Inspect parts/screws etc before cooking.3. Once weight starts dancing turn heat down to med low so as to not over-pressure. Too much will risk blowing out the small rubber stopper.This is true for ANY pressure cooker, not just Presto.Not for canning.

Ideal for preparing shredded meat, grains, ribs, and much more — quick, easy to use, and super easy to clean thanks to its excellent material.

I bought this cooker 6 months ago from amazon for $35, and frankly, although the reviews I read on this product all said that it's great, I was very skeptical about the $35 price tag and was not expecting much. On top of that, both my mother and my mother-in-law warned me that cheap pressure cookers are dangerous, and I *must* buy something more expensive for safety reasons. I am just very glad that they were both wrong!This is definitely one of the best purchases I have made on amazon. I still cannot believe they sell this for $35! The pot does not feel cheap at all. It has very sturdy handles, and a thick, heavy bottom, which holds in heat well. I like this pan so much that sometimes I use it instead of my skillet to sautee meat, because of the deeper pot + the cover, less cleaning up for me :-)I love making soup and stock, but it usually takes up so much of my time when the stock is simmering. With this pressure cooker, I can make a meat-fall-off-the-bone soup in an hour!Some might find this pot to be a little on the small side, but this pot works great for my wife and I. Although we have guests over regularly, I find the capacity of the pot to be very good. I would guess that this pot would work well for up to a 4-person family.Pros:=====- Cheap, at $35, it's hard to beat- Sturdy, I was afraid that the plastic handles would break easily, but they are in fact quite strong- Stainless steel makes it great for browning meat pieces for stew or stock, and it heats up fast and holds heat well.- Safe, you cannot open it when it's pressurized.- Dish washer safe, though I prefer to wash it by hand.Cons:=====- The handle can be tricky to hold with one hand. My hands are small, and when you've closed the top, the handle is kind of big. Luckily, I don't need to do this very often, and when I need to move it around, I just use both handles.- The top cap can be tricky to clean. I usually soak it in hot soapy water, and then clean it thoroughly with Q-tip.Watch outs:===========- The handle curves in a way that it catches any dripping liquid, I've hurt myself once when I wasn't careful at opening the cover.- Do *NOT* remove the cap while it's blowing! The steam from inside is extremely hot and as soon as you remove the cap, the hot steam will shoot up faster than you can move your hand(s) away.Tips:=====- I keep some water bottles in my freezer, and when I need to cool this off in a hurry, I can make a bath of cold water in my sink, put the hot pot inside, and throw the froze water bottles in. This usually cools it down very fast, great when I want to refrigerate it overnight to skim off the fat, and didn't want to wait too long for it to cool down.

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.