Hawkins Classic Aluminum Pressure Cooker, 5 L, Silver

My grandparents have always used a pressure cook for raw peanuts and, as a kid, seeing that thing tick and steam away on the stove always scared the heck out of me. Needless to say, I stayed far from the kitchen when peanuts were on the stove. Fast forward 25 years- this vegan got tired of waiting 45 minutes for brown rice, 1 hour for wheat berries, and sometimes 2 hours for a pot of beans to cook. Ugh- total time drain. Then, after reading a few recipes toting how a pressure cooker renders beans soft and edible in 10 minutes I figured it might be time to put my fears aside.I love this cooker and it might have been one of the better choices for this amateur. It is easy for me to understand, easy to operate, and it doesn't hiss, tick, or blow huge amounts of steam the entire cooking time. I find the lipped edge a little annoying, but it isn't difficult to get the last few grains or beans out of the cooker.I made a batch of brown and wild rice in less than 30 minutes and a pound of soaked navy beans were cooked to complete perfection in less than 20 minutes- unbelievable! I like that I can allow the rice to depressurize normally and quick release the beans without having to run water over the cooker.Overall, the pieces are sturdy and seem like they will withstand constant use for a long time; the rubber gasket can be replaced; accessories are available right here on Amazon.

I purchased this after looking around for a "whistling" pressure cooker because the Indian recipes I found didn't have times built in and I didn't want to try and figure out how to cook Indian in a traditional pressure cooker. This came with a large book of recipes, which was an added bonus.I tested this cooker out with water and it definitely doesn't "whistle." I might have peed a little bit when it released pressure for the first time. I was expecting something like a tea kettle whistle for a few seconds...but instead, got the sound like I just pulled the release valve on an air compressor. So - be aware that the first time you try it out, it's not exactly a whistle.I am quite pleased with the construction of the cooker and the price. It seems like a good design that will bring me a lot of happiness in making Indian food!

Needed another pressure cooker since my Fagor stopped holding pressure. Read the review and decided on the Hawkins. Glad I did.First thing I noticed about the Hawkins was that who ever was the designer really knew his stuff. Instead of using heavy lids, locking mechanisms and pressure regulators, the Hawkins uses an elliptical lid which pressure locks the device and a weight to regulate pressure. Like all good engineering solutions, it's simple, elegant and effective.And with hand tools I can do my own repairs, which I could not do with the Fagor.So how does the Hawkins cook? Very good indeed.Last night made a split pea soup in 45 minutes. And this morning a corned beef brisket in 40 minutes. Both turned out fine.Hearty recommendation!

I could give this product 4 stars (because it cooks well) but as soon as I opned the box, I could tell they shipped me a used product with lots of scratches and also it was fairly obvious that they glued the Hawkins sticker back on the pan.I cooked some acidic food (lemon juice) on the pan and now there is a huge stain that was left behind that I've been unable to remove. The rubber around the lid frequently comes off and it isn't thick enough to fasten tightly.Overall, I have acheived success in cooking with this, but it definitely has its structural flaws. If you've used a pressure cooker before and know what you are doing, it is good for the price.

This brand of pressure cooker is the absolute best available on the market today. I have been using it for many years and never had any problems. I just wasnt happy about the shipping costs for such a small item.

It took 40 years to break myself of the fear instilled in me about the ever-present danger of pressure cookers. Thx, Mom. So when I finally decided to face my fears and purchase a PC, it was with a bit of trepidation. But it has been one of the best investments in kitchen appliances I have ever made. Friends are amazed at the speed it cooks. I'm amazed it won't ever blow up in my face. We all happy now!!

this is a great product cooks fast and tasty meals.make sure you read instructions book to operate correctly.the lid is different but effective instruction book states exactly how to use it.meat comes out tender and moist no matter how tough meat is.the price is reasonable and quality is high.

We received ahead of promised time and immediately put it to use. The base is flat so that helps keep it stable on all type of heating surfaces. It is big enough for 6 persons. The handle fits nicely and operation is exactly as expected. Washing is not a problem. We are not going to put it in the dishwasher though. That will take all shine off and make it look horrible.I have been using a pressure cooker for cooking since last 25 years or so (and have seen my mother use it since I can remember). So this gets high marks for being just what I expected.