Shall I get a pressure cooker or slow cooker? Do I need both?

[nappyaddict]

I know what sort of things you can cook in a slow cooker, but not really sure about a pressure cooker.

[stayathomegardener]

bump interested to know myself

[DawnOfTheDeementedDead]

I'd go with a slowcooker tbh, but that's just me.

Especially if you tend to be out a lot in the day, or are busy - you can just bung stuff in on low, and then come home to a hot meal. There's nowt better.

And you can do puds, cakes and porridges in it too.

[sismith42]

My only experience with a pressure cooker is that my MIL swears by hers. It apparently saves loads of time cooking vegetables and potatoes on the stove?

I adore my Slow Cooker and use it on average once a week (some weeks I won't touch it, other weeks, I'll use it every day!)

[GhoulsGhouls]

Slow cooker more useful imo.

Did use a pressure cooker at school in Home Economics, (way back in the previous century, obviously) for soups etc. Now when I make soup I'm quite happy to have it on the hob in a casserole pan for however long it needs.

Also, probably completely unreasonably, I'm slightly concerned about the pressure element of the pressure cooker... can they explode if you set them wrongly? [hblush]

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

As I have an oven with a self-timer facility, the pressure cooker wins hands down. Stewing steak that normally takes 3 hours in an oven (or all day in a slow cooker) is tender and delicious in under 40 mins. Soups, stews, sauces, casseroles... speedy means 'less gas/electric' and the flavour is nicely trapped in. Wouldn't use one for potatoes or veg on their own as they don't take that long conventionally.

[GhoulsGhouls]

Bit more info here from Lakeland.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

@GhoulsGhouls... I know what you mean about risk of explosion. :) My DM's old Prestige used scare the crap out of me as a kid. That wobbly weight on top hissing away like a cartoon bomb. The WMF one I have is about as unscary as they come, full of reassuring safety features, no hissing or wobbly weights at all and doesn't unlock until the pressure is totally back to normal.