Buying a pressure cooker?

[tweakthis]

Hi all,

I am thinking about getting a pressure cooker. I used to own one but it scared the dickens out of me. Having to make sure that rocker thingy was going at the right speed, etc. I understand the newer ones are safer and easier to use. What should I look for in purchasing a pressure cooker? Any recommendations re brand and size? Where is a good place to purchase one in Ottawa? So far I've only seen them at Canadian Tire's website. Meals would primarily be for two adults, although I do like to make leftovers to freeze or take for lunches. Would you recommend a pressure cooker over a slow cooker? I'm trying to decide which would be the best purchase. Your thoughts and wisdom is appreciated. :)

[SPARKY]

I too got rid of my pressure cooker.
Now I prefer a slow cooker, load it up in the morning forget about it all day and come dinner time your meal is ready. With the removable liner clean-up is easy.
Now if your lazy someone makes frozen crock pot dinners I think you just have to add water and let it cook all day.

P.S. Some of the older pressure cookers looked like some type of midieval torcher device or something you would see in a mad scientist's lab. LOL
Now they look a lot better and are safer.

[Digiital]

I have a small 4qrt one on my boat since i have to take it easy on the propane, but also have a 6qrt. I forget who makes them.But I like better the 6 qrt one better since the controls are much easier to use.

Check out YOUTUBE you can find several video about PRESSURE COOKERS.

My cookers are in this design:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JB-KPZVPhps

[kinggirl33]

After reading this I went to Guelph with slow cooker on my mind. Hubby needed a new ladder anyhow. Picked up a 6.5 for $38.00.It's an Everstar,gonna try it today.Looks very nice, stainless & black.

[camper226]

I bought a Fagor 8 quart Pressure cooker on e-Bay on April 2006 and am really happy with it. With the larger size, I am able to do larger quantities of soups, broths, etc.

My wife and I also have a slow cooker. We use both of them. There was a discussion about using both on www.discusscooking.com/ some time ago.

There are things you can do with a pressure cooker that you can't do with a slow cooker.

[tweakthis]

I solved the problem by buying both. Admittedly they are smaller units - a 4 quart Bravetti slowcooker and a 5.5 L Fresco pressure cooker. They were both on sale for $19.99 each at Cnd Tire. We're a small family (2, 3 or 4 ppl at most), so both should suffice. I'm a great one for double batching and freezing casserols, sauces, etc, but that's mainly for weekends. These should both come in handy for different cooking needs. I like the idea of being able to cook meat from frozen with the pressure cooker. I never know when my daughter will be home, so this way I don't have to microwave a chicken breast and then cook it in the big oven. I'm sooo not a fan of toaster ovens so we use the big one for a single chicken breast. I figure with the pressure cooker, it will be a quick cook and brown under the broiler if needs be. Right?

Boy oh boy, are there a ton of sites dedicated to cooker with both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker. What are your faves? I've found a couple I like, but I don't want to spend an hour recipe searching before I cook dinner. Thanks, everyone, for your input. :)