Fagor "Elite" Pressure Cooker, 6 Qt. Wednesday, May 13, 2009

A contemporary 6-Qt. pressure cooker with European design and easy one-touch cooking. Made of 18/10 stainless steel with aluminum-clad base sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel for even heat distribution. Triple safety system that includes a dual-pressure control valve, two independent over-pressure release valves plus safety locking handle that prevents opening while cooker is under pressure. 10-year consumer warranty. UL approved. Model # 918012660
Customer Review: Back to the future of speed cooking
With a Christmas gift card from Cathy's uncle Bob in hand, I headed straight for the cookware department at Macy's. My inner food geek wanted something for the kitchen. We didn't know what it would be, only that we would know it when we found it. And there they were, in all their gleaming stainless steel splendor. Twenty out-of-pocket bucks later, I'm strolling the streets of Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga with my new Fagor Elite 6-quart pressure cooker. Things sure have changed since I gave my mother a Presto Harvest Gold pressure cooker back in the last century. Fagor replaces the wobbling weight with a captive spring-loaded pressure regulator. Instead of a rubber plug that blasts out of the lid in the event of excess pressure, the Fagor's emergency release is a cutout portion of the lid that exposes part of the gasket. The gasket stretches but if it should snap, it would stay in place and the steam would escape out the side, not into the cook's face. To earn the Underwriters' Laboratories seal, Fagor pressure cookers feature a pressure-activated safety lock in addition to the manual latch. You'd have to be built like Mister Universe to force open a pressurized cooker. In operation, the Fagor behaves a little differently than a weight-regulated pressure cooker. On the latter, you have to determine if the weight is wobbling at just the right rhythm. The weight should waggle but not bang against the vent stem. With the Fagor, all you have to see or hear is a gentle constant flow of steam. The regulator knob is also the release valve, should you wish to depressurize the cooker immediately instead of allowing the pressure to drop naturally. The steam is routed through a fan-shaped outlet, allowing it to disperse and cool quickly. At six inches from the outlet, the steam is warm but not burning hot. So far, the cooker has performed as promised. Lentil soup with diced smoked sausage cooked up thick and flavorful in just 10 minutes under pressure. Ditto for spaghetti sauce and whole links of Italian sausage. The sauce had intense flavors of garlic and herbs, and the sausage came out juicy with a hint of snap in the casing. Three pounds of diced red potatoes and the peeled cloves from a whole bulb of garlic were ready to mash in 6 minutes. The amazingly short cooking times omit the time required for the cooker to come up to pressure which can take about 10 minutes. Still, you save a lot of time overall. Keeping the all-important gasket clean is a cinch because it's so easy to remove and replace. The lid and pot are made of gleaming 18/10 stainless steel with an encapsulated aluminum base that cooks over any gas or electric heat source as well as the latest induction cooktops. When it's time to clean up, you can use cleaners like Bar Keeper's Friend on the inside and out, but if the discoloration is from cooking lentils, split peas, potatoes or beans, it's iron and other minerals that are good for you. Just wash and dry the pot and put it away until you're ready to prepare spaghetti sauce or some other high acidity recipe. You'll get back a little nutrition and you won't have to scour your pressure cooker. If you've never heard of Fagor or you're wondering if it's a brand a pro would use, Lola Bistro owner and head chef Michael Symon used a Fagor pressure cooker while competing to become Food Network's newest Iron Chef. He then went on to win his first Iron Chef America challenge, preparing one of his winning dishes in his Fagor. Although he's not officially connected to Fagor in any way, I can't think of a better endorsement.

Fagor Duo Combi 5-Piece Pressure Cooker Set Sunday, May 10, 2009

Pressure cookers are gaining momentum as the new healthy, time-saving, and energy-saving way to prepare food. While not a new method, the technology has certainly been transformed over the years to be easier and safer than ever. This two-cooker set allows you to save up to 70 percent of the time and energy traditionally used in cooking rice, meat, and vegetables. One pressure lid fits both cookers in the set. The 4-quart pressure cooker doubles as a saucepan, when used with the included glass lid, while the 8-quart cooker holds the handy basket insert, with its legs and handle, great for draining pasta or steaming vegetables. Fagor constructs the cookers of 18/10 stainless steel, the handles of black heat-resistant plastic, and the lid of tempered glass. A safety-lock handle, visual pressure indicator, and automatic pressure release setting ensure the lid won't come off unintentionally. The dial format of the spring-type mechanism means you can change the setting without changing valves. A recipe book is included, and all parts except the pressure lid are dishwasher-safe.

Founded in Spain, Fagor manufactures home appliances and cookware with a "green" focus on environmentally-sound working conditions for employees and energy efficiency for consumers. In Europe, Fagor holds environmental stewardship awards, and in the U.S. is a participant in the Energy Star program, a government-backed program to help protect the environment. Join the green revolution and try a pressure cooker today. --Ann Bieri

What's in the Box
Pressure cooker set. The set consists of: 4- and 8-quart pressure cookers; pressure lid; tempered glass lid; pasta/steamer basket insert. 5 pieces total.

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: The bottom of the inside of the pan turn to color
I am a first time user of pressure cooker. After the first use( made some lentil soup the inside of the pan, on the bottom it turn to colorful, red and purple marks. I have 5 stainless steel pan and none of them turn to be colorful after 5 and 6 years use. I am quite concerned that what caused stainless steel to become colorful. Stainless steel are not supposed to react with the food. By the way the lentil's color is yellow. Give it 2 star because it is very easy to use and works fine except this annoying colorful bottom.
Customer Review: excellent
Product was exactly as described. It is so easy to use and to clean. Was worth every penny. I would recomend this product to everyone and I would definitely purchase it again. I purchased to duo set because of the price savings. The steamer basket and trivet work perfectly and I will use them alot.