AIBU to feel slightly intimidated?

[Meadowflowers]

So, I bought a pressure cooker today at the request of dh.
Threw in the ingredients for a stew, stuck the lid on and after panicking for 50 mins and almost having a heart attack at the release of pressure at the end, it came out with the most beautiful stew ever created.
After years of lovingly stirring stews for 3hrs at a time, this beast sat on the hob laughing it's silver, shiny ass off at me and creates perfection in a fraction of the time and then hissed and spat at me for going anywhere near it!
Then to top it off dh exclaims that the stew was gorgeous, so much nicer than mine the normal stew. As did all the dc!
Pissed off but secretly loving the new contraption.
Seeing as I am recently a pressure cooker virgin, what do you cook in yours and how?

[EZA15]

They scare me but I really really want one! Which one did you buy? (Complete with pic please!)

[eynesbury]

They scare me too!

I was terrified of my mums as a child.... they look sinister!

[PodgeBod]

What's your recipe for the stew? I have an instant pot (bought after a thread on here) but have never had much luck with it.

[Meadowflowers]

Bear with. I'm just trying to figure out how to add a link.

[Meadowflowers]

VonShef 6L Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker - Suitable for All Cooking Surfaces

Can't add the link but I will post a pic.

I literally diced the beef, cut potatoes into quarters, chopped an onion, and peeled and halved carrots. Little bit of salt and pepper. Put water in to the line.
You put the lid on put the steam to number 2, put the gas on full, as soon as it starts whistling out steam turn the gas down.
It worried me not stirring it or seeing it cook, but it really was amazing. It's 100% stainless steel so much better for you as no aluminium is going into your cooking. After it was cooked, I just added a bit if gravy granules.

[Heratnumber7]

I wouldn't have thought a stew even needs 59mins in a pc tbh. But they are fab!

[Meadowflowers]

VonShef 6L Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

[Meadowflowers]

The cheapest I found it was amazon. It's 100% stainless steel so no aluminium is going into your food. Much better for you.
The recipe is so easy. Dice the beef, peel and half the potatoes and carrots, depending on size. If you cut the carrots to small they will dissolve and disappear. Chop and onion, fill with water to the line. Add salt and pepper. Pop on the lid and away you go. I put the steam to number 2. Put the gas on high until it starts screaming at you then turn down the gas. Walk away and leave for 40mins. Then the fun starts with releasing the Pressure, VERY SLOWLY!!!! Angry machine. When I finally got the balls up to remove the lid I just added some gravy granules to thicken. Beautiful.

[EZA15]

That sounds amazing - going to have a look now!

[AndTakeYourHorseWithYou]

Get an electric pressure cooker like an Instant Pot (also a slow cooker, rice cooker and more) and its much safer. I wouldn't use one on the hob, they have been known to explode.

[RainbowPastel]

They are scary things. I watched an episode of 'Curious and Unusual Deaths'. A woman was making something I think it was beetroot. There was a fault with her pressure cooker. It literally exploded killing her and there was shrapnel all over her kitchen.

[Wixi]

I have a pressure cooker and usually only use it for making my Christmas puddings. I have though once made a lovely casserole with dumplings in it, just haven't got around to doing it since.

[DramaAlpaca]

Mine is over 30 years old and still going strong. My lovely grandmother bought it for my 21st birthday, bless her.

It is quite scary when it's hissing away on the hob, but I love it. It makes the best casseroles and stews ever, and it's great for steamed puddings and Christmas puddings.

My mother had one in the 70s, it had some sort of heavy weight on the top. One time it built up too much pressure and the weight flew off and hit the kitchen ceiling. Thankfully nobody was hurt, but I don't think she ever used it again.

[Meadowflowers]

Ha ha Ha! These stories are brilliant! Hilarious. I think I'm getting the hang if it now though. I put a whole chicken in it half an hour ago. It should be done in 10 mins. I'll ket you know how that goes.
DramaAlpaca have you got any recipes?
I'd like the Christmas pudding one as well. I bet that's gorgeous.

[BettySmut]

I have one but now I'm used to it it doesn't scare me. When I first had it I'd put it on then go and hide around the corner.

My Nan was to blame for my initial fear. She had one when we were kids and if we so much as looked in the direction of the kitchen when it was on she'd yell "Jesus Christ Almighty don't go near that it'll blow your bastard head off" in a high pitched gabbling way.

Had a way with words, did my Nan.

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

Your man sounds hilarious!
And in my head for some reason her screeching was in an Irish accent

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

*nan

I've never met your man

[BettySmut]

ICan almost, broad Scouse! She was like the Nan in Catherine Tate.

[Weebitty]

I have an instant pot... on my god it's a thing of beauty. no hassle. easy to use. and everything comes out tasting fab

[Meadowflowers]

Well tonight I cooked the chicken, the meat just fell off the bone.
I left the stock from the chicken in the pot, added a little water, salt, pepper and mixed herbs, put a bag of pasta in. It came out in its own beautiful creamy sauce. It did however take just as long to cook the pasta as normal.
The whole dinner took an hour to make though. Another point for the pressure cooker!

[SofaToad]

I remember a few occasions when I saw my Mum cleaning rice pudding off the walls when using the pressure cooker. I don't know if it was her fault or whether the valve broke.

She bought me one the same when I left home. I still have it, unused about 30 years on.