Fagor 6-Quart Pressure Cooker Saturday, April 18, 2009

What could be better than a faster and healthier way of cooking? The Fagor 6-Quart Pressure Cooker seals in steam and nutrients so you can experience textures and tastes that are a true sensation. Make plentiful portions of perfectly cooked rice without the hassle of timer, boiling-over pots or incomplete cooking. Fagor 6-Quart Pressure Cooker Includes: Pressure cooker - measures approx. 17"L x 9"W x 7"H Instruction manual Recipe book Product Features: Steam vent Safety lock handle Fast cooking - reduces cooking times up to 70% Easy to use - place ingredients inside, lock lid in place, select pressure and begin cooking Healthy cooking - retains important water-soluble vitamins and minerals while cooking Safety lock handle - prevents opening before all pressure is released Aluminum sandwich base - even heat distribution Versatile - cooks on all types of stoves tops including induction Stainless steel lid - raised indentation on the top allows you to easily position the lid Base handle - easily move and carry the pressure cooker; interlocks with the lid handle Support grip - helps provide stability when moving the cooker Operating valve - 2 pressure settings: steam release and unlock position Rubber gasket - provides an air-tight seal Indicator - indicates whether there is pressure inside the cooker; indicator will raise automatically on the handle (there will be a slight amount of steam coming out of the lid handle) UL listed Brushed interior finish Mirror-polish exterior finish Made of 18/10 stainless steel, aluminum and plastic Hand wash only Made in Spain Comes with a manufacturer's 10-year limited warranty  

Fagor Duo Stainless-Steel 6-Quart Pressure Cooker Thursday, April 16, 2009

Imagine turning dried beans into soup in just 20 minutes, cooking risotto in 7 minutes, or sitting down to fresh cioppino in 3 minutes. This 6-quart cooker helps you fix these and other delicious meals in about 70-percent less time than with other cooking methods while also using one of the healthiest cooking procedures, pressurized steam, to retain more of foods vital nutrients, delicious taste, and natural color. Made in Spain, the Duo pressure cooker is constructed of high-quality 18/10 stainless steel with an encapsulated aluminum base for even and efficient heat distribution. All ingredients go inside the cooker at once and the lid twists and locks into place. Once you set the cooker to one of two pressure settings, it is ready to go. A sliding pressure lock on the handle ensures that the lid will not open until all the pressure is released, and, for additional safety, the Duo has two pressure release valves to prevent excessive steam build-up. The cooker has a black ergonomically designed handle, along with a helper handle, that makes it easier to lift it off the stove. The Duo comes with a stainless-steel steamer basket and trivet plus a full-color cookbook with over 50 recipes and a detailed instruction manual. It is safe to use on gas, electric, ceramic, or induction stovetops and should be hand washed with mild soap to preserve the mirror finish and the gasket. --Cristina Vaamonde

From the Manufacturer

Fagor is Green: Fagor's mission is to use resources efficiently to preserve the environment and save energy, developing highly efficient products that consume less and save money; contributing to a healthy planet for us and our future generations. From a social perspective, Fagor's environmental policy strategy offers advantages to both workers and consumers. It provides workers with environmentally-appropriate working conditions, which, among other benefits, minimizes and eliminates the handling of hazardous materials, while for consumers, the end-users of Fagor's products and services, it allows for efficient use of the appliances, which reduces energy and water consumption. Fagor has manufacturing systems established to minimize environmental impact on soil, water, energy, and air during the production process. There is also proper waste management and recycling procedures in place after the manufacturing process is completed. In addition to numerous European product certifications and environmental stewardship awards, Fagor is also notably a participant in the Energy Star program in the USA, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department Of Energy. Products that bear the energy star label allow consumers to recognize such products that have been manufactured to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Customer Review: not big enough for corn on the cob
The pressure works great in getting up to pressure quickly and love the safety features built in, but the overall diameter is not big enough for cooking corn on the cob.
Customer Review: Nice Design
I had a Kuhn Rikon and still have a Presto pressure cooker. I got rid of the Kuhn Rikon. I love the Fagor Duo. The Kuhn Rikon design is a real pain if you have an electric stove. It is probably almost acceptable if you have a gas stove. The Fagor models work equally well on either type stove. Also, along the same lines, the Fagor and the Presto designs are much more forgiving. You better plan on watching a Kuhn Rikon very closely -- especially on an electric stove -- but also on a gas range. It can get to an over pressure situation easily. Granted you will likely just blow out part of your gasket (the safety measure) if you get distracted. Who needs that? You better have an eagle eye and fast reactions to maintain a reasonably constant pressure inside your cooker with an electric stove. You do lose some steam with a Fagor though typically much less than with a Presto model. (You lose nearly no vapor with a Kuhn Rikon -- that is about their only big selling point in my book.) The Fagor model uses a compressed spring to regulate pressure. The Presto uses a weight on top of a vent pipe -- this combination is called a jiggler valve -- to regulate pressure. To regulate pressure with a Kuhn Rikon you basically watch a rising spring loaded pressure indicator and adjust the heat as needed. Gas heat is more quickly adjustable than electric. You have to either hope for the best as you crank the heat up and down with an electric stove or play hop scotch between a too hot and a too cold burner. On the Fagor Duo there are two spring compression settings. You can cook at 8 psig or 15 psig. 15 psig is the normal setting used for most pressure cooking. For delicate foods, like fish, or if you are in no particular rush the 8 psig setting will come in handy. Bottom line is I like the Fagor the best of the three pressure cookers I discussed, next I like the Presto. The Kuhn Rikon is built like a tank and it is an interesting design. I just don't like it as well as the Fagor's and I am a both a mechanical engineer and I cook for a hobby. I'd like to think my opinion is an informed one.