Often newlyweds face the challenge of equipping their kitchen with the tools for making their home complete. Deciding on whether or not to even own a pressure cooker, and then whether or not to go with stainless steel or aluminum can be quite a daunting task. Is the stainless steel or aluminum pressure cooker the right choice? Though often of similar design, some basic differences exist between the two types of pots.
The earliest form of the pressure cooker dates back to the late 1670’s with a mathematician named Denis Papin. During a demonstration for the Royal Society, guests were amazed at how quickly even the bones of beef were softened to pasty consistency. Improvements in design and materials have made modern pressure cookers safer, more efficient and lighter than Papin’s creation, but the pressure cooker continues to perform its primary function: cooking food faster.
You may find the choice to use one simple, however, which one of the two is more effective? Defining what is effective, and more to the point, what you are looking for from your cooker, is the key to finding an answer to this question.
Resistance to stain, rust or pitting, can be attractive assets for a stainless steel model. Following the directions and care instructions carefully can insure the long life of a good one. Often, a quality cooker will have a heavier bottom that includes a copper layer to ensure the even distribution of thermal energy. These qualities, and the usually higher cost of steel, can make them cost more than a nearly identical one made from aluminum.
Commonly, cooks who favor stainless steel are sure that they cook the food better. Some attribute this to the lower thermal conductivity of the stainless steel, as compared to aluminum. Others point at the stainless nature of the cooker that keeps the food from sticking to the bottom and possibly scorching. This is often added to the general quality and sturdiness of the cookers.
Sauteing or browning foods before cooking in the same pot is an advantage that may be overlooked by those who use a stainless steel pressure cooker. As implied in its name, the stainless steel cooker will not be marred by the prepping of certain foods before sealing the cooker and cooking with steam. Nothing sticks to the pot, allowing the cook to avoid having to use another pan or pot for the sauteing or browning.
For a lighter cooker, aluminum pots may be the way to go. Unlike stainless steel cookers, aluminum pressure cookers do not need other layers or materials to help with their conductivity. Add to all this the relatively lower cost, some households may opt for this choice. It must be pointed out that the cost difference in pots of equal size and quality may sometimes be minimal.
Aluminum cookers are sometimes preferred by those who need a large pot, but do not feel comfortable having to deal with the greater mass of a stainless steel cooker of equal capacity. This is most true for those who submerge the hot pressure cooker in cold water to lower the cooker’s pressure quickly.
Whether they’re made of stainless steel or aluminum, pressure cookers all have been designed with safety in mind. In most models three stand-alone safety valves make up part of the mechanism that allows the cooker to use pressure safely. Added to many models is a device for not permitting a lid to be removed while the contents are under pressure. Keeping the pressure cooker clean and properly maintained is important in keeping it safe as well.
One must chose their own way when it comes to deciding on a pressure cooker. The consumer must do a little researching and balance his or her needs with what the pressure cooker, stainless steel or aluminum, has to offer. Despite the years of change and innovation, the pressure cooker is still considered a cheap and effective way to cook healthy food quickly.
A lot of consumers opt for a Presto pressure cooker since it is well known brand, but there are several other options. The best aluminum or stainless steel pressure cooker is the one that can handle your specific preferences, so be sure to buy what you really need and not just what’s on sale.