Anyone use a pressure cooker?

[Whyisitsosohard]

I'm about to have 2 under 2 and have been binge watching eat well for less. I'm seriously considering a pressure cooker to help with some bulk meal prep. DH is horrified and insisting it's for 50s housewives but I'm so sick of getting to 5pm and feeling that panic on what our toddler is going to have. We spend a fortune on food but still order takeaways. Am I mad??

We have the Ninja Foodie (one function is a pressure cooker) and EVERYTHING gets cooked in it. My husband insists it's the fastest way to cook anything.

"thinking about toasting some waffles"

"do it in the ninja - it will be cooked in two minutes"

Yes! I have a lovely old Lagostina 3L pressure cooker which must be at least 50 years old, but it still works perfectly! I made a chilli con carne last night with chicken & mixed beans. You should definitely get one!!

We have an instant pot. It's far better than our old slow cooker for producing tender meat etc. It can be pretty quick but don't forget to factor in time for the pressure to build up and then release. That can add 30 mins on at least to any cooking time. Far more if the recipe suggests slow release.

We also have an Instant Pot. I wasn't too sure about it at first, but it's actually pretty good. It can also be used for other things, including making yoghurt. Because it's electric you don't have to think about timings.

We have an Instant Pot pressure cooker, best thing we cook in it is frozen chicken breast, it doesn't matter how many breasts the cooking time is 25 minutes but as @Stripeypyjamas says you have to take into account it getting up to pressure. Once it is cooked you can quick release.

We also did an incredible Jambalaya but that takes time using saute mode to cook the onions etc. There are lots of recipes where you just put everything in, lots of videos on Youtube showing them or there is a Facebook group.

It is also a slow cooker which I think would be more beneficial to being able to prepare ahead, get stuff in it in the morning so it is ready for when you are flagging. Again loads of recipes on Youtube. Have a look at Batch Lady.

Another vote for the Instant Pot, along with caveat about pressurising and releasing pressure.

It makes the most amazing stock. It is also a sous vide and slow cooker with a sauté function. Ideal if you had no kitchen for a while.

Sorry, I meant 30 years old!!

I grew up with my mum and nan using pressure cookers which went on the stove. Absolutely delicious stews, soups and meals. I was always fascinated and horrified of the story of a great aunt who had one explode and a whole potato blew out the tiny hole- splattering all over her kitchen! 😱

I have an electric pressure cooker which I find easier than a stove top type. Mine is a 10 in 1 type thing, so you press the meat button, pulses, veg, rice etc or you can dial it up or down once you learn what amount of time is optimal. I think there are slow cooker/pressure cooker hybrids which would be the best of both worlds.

You can cook dried pulses which are cheaper to buy than tinned BUT, I'm not sure of the cost to cook them vs buying tinned which take far less time to heat? In Winter, I use my slow cooker more than the pressure cooker. In the pressure cooker I do ribs in a hoisin sauce, chunks of pulled pork in cider, oxtail stew etc.

Surely meal planning would help here?