Russian-made stainless steel pressure cooker: rating of popular models, technical characteristics

Pressure cooker? what is it and what can be cooked in it

Let's figure out what it is and what a pressure cooker is for. Essentially, it is a hermetically sealed saucepan in which food is cooked under pressure and high temperature. Such containers are equipped with special valves for pressure regulation. For the seal, heat-resistant rubber is used, which is attached to the rim of the container and ensures the tightness of the structure. There are two types of pressure cookers:

1. Mechanical. These devices do not have their own heating element, and in order to cook food, they must be placed on an electric or gas oven.
2. Electrical. Such devices are equipped with a heating element and operate from the mains.

Cooking in such a device is much faster than in a conventional saucepan. But most importantly, in the process of heat treatment of products, useful microelements are preserved, since products, due to the lack of contact with open air, practically do not oxidize. Another advantage of the device is that frozen vegetables, meat and fish do not need to be defrosted before cooking. Very often, pressure cookers are equipped with a special metal mesh or wire rack for steaming. Which undoubtedly increases the demand for this product.

The only limitation for use in this device are products that can clog the service valve.

Restrictions for use:

• the pressure cooker must not be put on fire or turned on without liquid;
• you can fill the capacity of the pan by no more than 2/3.

How a pressure cooker works - learning how it works

Let's try to discover the secret of cooking in a pressure cooker. Many centuries ago, ancient people came to the conclusion that products that undergo heat treatment are much tastier and, most importantly, they are stored longer. Since then, a lot has changed, new technologies have appeared, but the very principle of cooking, in which it must be heated, has remained the same.

The pressure cooker uses the same heating mechanism; for this, the container is placed on the panel of a gas or electric stove. Due to the tightness of the pressure cooker and the lack of gas exchange in the container, the pressure rises, and the boiling point of the liquid increases much higher than + 100 ° C. For the safety of pressure cookers, they are equipped with a special steam discharge system or valves, it is they who produce the sound of a slight hiss that we hear during the operation of the device.

Due to the high temperature and lack of oxygen access, the food inside the dishes does not oxidize, which allows you to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients during cooking.

IMPORTANT!

Before starting work, make sure that the steam relief valves are not clogged and that the cooker is full of liquid.

Types of Russian-made pressure cookers

Russian-made pressure cookers are distinguished by high quality and a serious approach of manufacturers to the choice of material for the working container. The task of the unit is to withstand high pressure. However, when buying a device, make sure that it is actually released in Russia and meets all standards and specifications.

IMPORTANT!

Pay attention to the manufacturer of the model, it is better to once again clarify the information about him. Today, there are a lot of Chinese analogues on the Russian market that use Russian names. But such a product has nothing to do with our country.

By material

All devices, from old-style Russian-made pressure cookers to the latest models, are made of two types of metal: aluminum and stainless steel. This is due to the fact that a high pressure forms inside the container, and the material of the pressure cooker must be sufficiently strong. But at the same time, the pan needs to be rearranged regularly, so the second criterion is the relative lightness of the metal.

Russian-made stainless steel pressure cooker

The most common material for making pressure cookers is stainless steel. For such devices, it is necessary to have a special heat-distributing layer at the bottom so that the products do not burn during the cooking process. Devices with a capsulated bottom allow not only cooking, but also frying food. Stainless steel goes well with any hob, including glass ceramics.

Russian-made aluminum pressure cooker

Some devices are made of anodized aluminum, which is a fairly high quality material and has a lower cost than stainless steel. This metal has high strength, beautiful appearance. However, when oxidized, it can lose its aesthetic qualities. Aluminum is not suitable for use on glass-ceramic surfaces and induction-type cookers.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's take a look at the positive and negative qualities of pressure cookers made of different types of metal:

By heating method

Mechanical pressure cookers can be heated using gas and electric stoves.

Gas cooker pressure cooker

Any type of pressure cooker (aluminum and stainless steel) can be used for use on a gas stove.

Electric cooker pressure cooker

For conventional electric cookers, you can use aluminum and steel pressure cookers. Cooking in a pressure cooker on an induction or glass ceramic hob has its limitations. In this case, it is not recommended to use containers made of aluminum.

IMPORTANT!

The pressure cooker must not be opened immediately after switching off. Read the instructions carefully and follow the instructions.

Main technical parameters of pressure cookers

When choosing a pressure cooker, you need to pay attention to its technical characteristics:

1. Volume. When choosing it, you need to be guided by the required amount of cooked food, given that you can fill the pan by a maximum of 2/3 of the volume. It can be from 5 to 9 liters.
2. Weight. This is a rather important indicator, because the container must be placed on the stove and removed from it.
3. Bottom diameter. This indicator must be taken into account when used on electric stoves (including glass-ceramic hobs), because in this case the size of the base must be the same size as the diameter of the cooking zone.

How do you choose a good pressure cooker? editorial advice

Before you buy a stainless steel or aluminum pressure cooker, you need to carefully consider how much food you are going to cook in it. This will help you choose the size of the container you need and save you money and effort as a larger device will be significantly heavier. In the next step, you must determine which stove the pressure cooker will be heating on. Since not all types of these devices are suitable for induction and glass-ceramic surfaces.

We recommend that you choose the models made of stainless steel with a special capsule bottom, since these are the highest quality devices that will be easy to maintain and, most importantly, are not subject to oxidation. Pay particular attention to the presence of pressure relief valves. Is it desirable that there are several of them? worker and emergency. When buying a pressure cooker, check how tight the lid is against the main container and inspect the seal. There should be no cracks or other damage on it.

Some models are equipped with protection against accidental opening, if possible, purchase just such a device. The presence of a grid for steaming will be a nice bonus when buying. Having received the long-awaited equipment in hand, do not forget to check the complete set.

Review of the most popular and best models and manufacturers of Russian pressure cookers

As we wrote above, not all pressure cookers that are positioned as Russian are manufactured in Russia. An example of this are the models "Varya" and "Miracle". Both devices are manufactured in China. Another example is the Oka SV-5050. There is no information about the manufacturer of the device. Unfortunately, the market is literally overrun with low-end counterparts and fakes. Perhaps some of them are of good quality, but it is always important for any buyer to know what exactly he is buying. Let's look at the models of stainless steel pressure cookers that are made in Russia.

Pressure cooker "Miracle 50 N"

Another popular model of the Russian manufacturer.

pressure cooker

Pressure cooker "Miracle 55"

Unlike the 50 N and 70 models, the body of this pressure cooker is made of aluminum.

pressure cooker

Pressure cooker "Miracle 70"

Modification of the "Miracle 50 N" model with an increased volume.

pressure cooker

Pressure cooker "Clever SA-26sm-9l-K-N"

Decent stainless steel pressure cooker. It is produced in various modifications not only from steel, but also from aluminum.

pressure cooker smart

Pressure cooker "Dzerzhinsk 442507"

Quite popular and well-assembled pressure cooker made of aluminum.

pressure cooker

Conclusion

The pressure cooker will help you quickly prepare any dish, however, in order for the food to be edible, you must adhere to special recipes. Since the process is very fast, any excess of time will turn your products into mashed potatoes or porridge instead of a beautiful culinary masterpiece. Before buying such a device, you need to be clear about what functions you want to get from it. Whether the options provided by a conventional pressure cooker will be enough for you, or is it still worth increasing your budget and purchasing a multicooker. When buying a pressure cooker, you should remember that this is a completely unsafe device, and you need to treat it with great care. Because high pressure and temperature can cause serious injury to the user if handled inadvertently and carelessly.

If you have any additional questions or comments on this article, we'd love to hear from you.