Presto 01341 4-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

I have a larger Presto pressure cooker that I don't use that often as it is just too big for me and my small kitchen. This one is just the right size to make smaller meals when I want, or larger ones when I am feeding more people. It works great and is very easy to use and clean. I can make a soup that will feed 8 people in this! When cooking beans, especially lentils, I recommend adding some oil to reduce foaming. I have not had any issues with the screw rusting as other viewers have mentioned. If I do, it looks like it will be easy to replace them cheaply at my hardware store. I have borrowed a $250 Fagor pressure cooker and this one works just as well. I cook more because this speeds up cooking time (especially at my high altitude), and everything tastes so much better. I don't bother adding broth to soups anymore as the simple act of cooking the ingredients in the pressure cooker amplified the flavor. I can cook heirloom beans in 20 minutes, potatoes in 5 minutes, lentils in 5 minutes, soup in 7 minutes, brocolli in 1 minute (may be faster for you if you are at a lower altitude). Yesterday I whipped up a chili with potatoes in 7 minutes that tasted like it had simmered all day. I have turned many friends onto pressure cookers because the speed and taste is so much better. Fresh cooked beans are a million times more delicious than canned! And cheaper! Do keep your eye on the time. It is easy to overcook your food and thus have it burn. But that is no fault of this pressure cooker. Set a timer and keep your eye on it. The included mini cookbook is helpful and a good start. But I recommend buying a cookbook. Follow the instructions to always remove the seal and wash it each time, then store it with the lid upside down. A friend didn't do that and his seal adhered to the lid, which was a pain to remove. I expect this cooker will last me for many years.

I received the 4 qt version of this cooker a few days ago. I almost did not order it because of the negative reviews but, having canned/cooked with pressure cookers for over 60 years, I realized many of the negative reviews were written by folks who simply had no business messing with a pressure cooker!!!!!! There is absolutely nothing wrong with this cooker. It cost $40.00 so the stainless is not surgical quality but IT IS GOOD!!!! The "rusting screws" is simply pure non sense. The screws for the handles are stainless, too, BUT the locking washers with them ARE NOT!!!! So, it may be necessary to replace the lock washers along the line or simply get rid of them and occasionally "snug the dern screws"!! Don't use "lock tight" on the screws on the lid as that handle might need to be removed for maintenance in the future. The business about the handles coming loose is mentioned above. If, perhaps, someone initially over tightened them then that would completely flatten the lock washer and if you then backed the screw out the washer would no longer serve a useful purpose and the handles probably would, over time, loosen a bit. No big deal. Do not "gorilla" tighten them! Just firm, snug, secure ... all that is necessary. I used the 15 psi regulator that came with this unit and it works just fine if you are looking for 15 psi. I don't like to cook at 15 psi, I like 10 psi at my altitude of 750 ft msl. Therefore, I tried the Presto variable regulator, part number 50332, that I have for two other Presto pressure cookers and it works just fine on this one. This allows me to cook at either 5 or 10 psi and that makes a huge difference re: texture and quality on some foods. This part is available here on Amazon or at PCO. This is a small pressure cooker so most of the time it will be operating at the edge of acceptable operational limits. Therefore, in my view, it is not a good choice for a Newbie to pressure cooking!!!!!! Volumes must be kept within limits and HIGH heat must be used to activate the two safety devices, over pressure plug and interlocking mechanism, so THE MOMENT DESIRED PRESSURE IS REACHED, regulator is jiggling a little, THE HEAT MUST BE TURNED DOWN IMMEDIATELY!!!!! The first downward adjustment would be slight and then a moment later a little more and a couple of minutes after that a little more!!!! Sorry, if you are not willing to do these things to gain the advantages of pressure cooking then don't fool with the devices. Heat must be adjusted downward until a slight jiggle is maintained on the regulator. Heat is controlled by the pressure, NOT BY THE BURNER!!!!! The burner must simply provide the bare amount of heat necessary to bounce the jiggler for the pressure you have selected. Bottom line, this is a fine device. It has three safety systems that must be maintained. The over pressure plug, the vent tube and the interlocking mechanism and seal must be kept clean and must be attended after each use!! Do not give one of these cookers to someone who is not able to follow instructions, not capable of remembering to turn down the heat, or, someone who is not willing to CLEAN THEIR TOOLS AFTER EACH USE!!!! Many of the negative reviews posted here are pure rubbish from a science perspective. Overfilled, over heated, under maintained pressure cookers are not apt to kill anyone but they can make a variety of messes!!!!! All this can be avoided by taking time to understand the basic physics involved in this wonderful cooking option. Again, small pressure cookers are not, in my view, a good choice for the novice. A 6 or 8 qt. unit is more apt to be used at safer loading levels and that is why I am pushing this point! Replacement parts are available for this and other pressure cookers at Amazon and at PCO, Pressure Cooker Outlet! I don't work for either but I enjoy doing business with both!!!!

I bought this cooker 6 months ago from amazon for $35, and frankly, although the reviews I read on this product all said that it's great, I was very skeptical about the $35 price tag and was not expecting much. On top of that, both my mother and my mother-in-law warned me that cheap pressure cookers are dangerous, and I *must* buy something more expensive for safety reasons. I am just very glad that they were both wrong! This is definitely one of the best purchases I have made on amazon. I still cannot believe they sell this for $35! The pot does not feel cheap at all. It has very sturdy handles, and a thick, heavy bottom, which holds in heat well. I like this pan so much that sometimes I use it instead of my skillet to sautee meat, because of the deeper pot + the cover, less cleaning up for me :-) I love making soup and stock, but it usually takes up so much of my time when the stock is simmering. With this pressure cooker, I can make a meat-fall-off-the-bone soup in an hour! Some might find this pot to be a little on the small side, but this pot works great for my wife and I. Although we have guests over regularly, I find the capacity of the pot to be very good. I would guess that this pot would work well for up to a 4-person family. Pros: ===== - Cheap, at $35, it's hard to beat - Sturdy, I was afraid that the plastic handles would break easily, but they are in fact quite strong - Stainless steel makes it great for browning meat pieces for stew or stock, and it heats up fast and holds heat well. - Safe, you cannot open it when it's pressurized. - Dish washer safe, though I prefer to wash it by hand. Cons: ===== - The handle can be tricky to hold with one hand. My hands are small, and when you've closed the top, the handle is kind of big. Luckily, I don't need to do this very often, and when I need to move it around, I just use both handles. - The top cap can be tricky to clean. I usually soak it in hot soapy water, and then clean it thoroughly with Q-tip. Watch outs: =========== - The handle curves in a way that it catches any dripping liquid, I've hurt myself once when I wasn't careful at opening the cover. - Do *NOT* remove the cap while it's blowing! The steam from inside is extremely hot and as soon as you remove the cap, the hot steam will shoot up faster than you can move your hand(s) away. Tips: ===== - I keep some water bottles in my freezer, and when I need to cool this off in a hurry, I can make a bath of cold water in my sink, put the hot pot inside, and throw the froze water bottles in. This usually cools it down very fast, great when I want to refrigerate it overnight to skim off the fat, and didn't want to wait too long for it to cool down.

I bought this for my own birthday present a couple of years ago and just started to use it, in the 6 or so times I've used it--it works well. Vegetables are a breeze, potatoes cook in a reasonable amount of time, and if you time it right you will be able to cook different portions of your meal that will all end up in the pot at the end--leaving clean up to be one big pot (with a few pieces). I was unnecessarily hesitant to use it--wish Grandma had been around for me to ask how--that would have relieved some of my internal pressure! Recommend you read the book, and reread the section on the specific food you are about to cook. That will save unnecessary worry. Overall quality is good for a $75 kitchen appliance--you can pay quite a bit more in the store. If you are unfamiliar with pressure cookers take your time and talk to someone who has used them. I forgot to follow one of the warnings, and while the consequences were not dire, the food did not cook as quickly as expected. The direction was to put the rice or beans in a separate metal bowl in the pot to avoid bubbling up the starchy food and clogging the valves. Another way to deal with the frothing when you want the stew to cook together is cook your rice or beans first in the bowl, then pour the starch into the pot, and put your meat and vegetables on top being careful not to exceed the fill lines. That will keep the frothing down and cook everything. Given it is stainless steel you don't have to worry about it exploding, it feels sturdy and looks great. My one concern, and it is a foreseeable one rather than of immediate nature, is the handle--it is held to the pot by one screw, and if overtightened it will strip. A more solid stainless screw or even two would hold the handle more tightly without the concern for stripping. In short, I like the capability of making stews without using a crockpot running all day while I tend the vessels in the harbor, but the handle could be better. I would certainly buy this for a young couple's house warming present especially if you take the time to show the cook how to use it a couple of times. Looking forward to making a lentil stew with salt pork and beets next.

A replacement for our electric pressure pot as they are just about impossible to clean properly and they are unreliable for this stove top pressure cooker. This Presto is top notch quality, a breeze to clean and works like a pressure pot should do.

Absolutely love this pressure cooker. I cooked fresh green beans with new potatoes and they turned out just like my grandmother's. High quality material, perfect pressure control, nothing stuck, easy to read instructions. I would definitely buy this again. Highly recommended.

I've owned and used a 4 quart pressure cooker for 38 years and have been delighted that parts are still easy to get for it. So when I decided that I needed increased cooking capacity, I was happy to see that the current models are similar to the one that I bought in 1974. The cooker is pretty much what you need to cook with little more, no basket you might find convenient for jars used for canning. Other models specifically for canning have this. It is, however, well designed for cooking and the design well executed. The handles (there are three) are not attached but are easily assembled using 5 phillips screws. I used some heat resistant anti-seize compound sparingly on the threads. The same as I use on the spark plugs in my car. The handles on my old 4 quart cooker are slightly loose but the screws are hopelessly seized, despite being made from stainless steel. The handle and helper handle on the opposing side is just right for managing it on the range. The low aluminum rack, called a trivet, has not changed at all, it allows the food to sit above the water in the bottom and prevents it from burning. The pressure regulator has changed little and the over-pressure emergency relief plug is the same, except that the poppet valve is now incorporated with the lid pressure interlock. The poppet valve allows steam to escape until the rate is high enough to close the valve and seal the cooker allowing the pressure to begin building. The lid interlock prevents the lid from being opened when the pot is pressurized. This strikes me as a redundant feature since it is almost impossible to open the lid when even it is under even a small amount of pressure, but I guess someone has done it. Consequently, with the safety interlock, closing the lid must be done with a little more care than on my old cooker which did not have it. It just takes a little more attention to alignment. The lid sealing ring is thinner, but is actually easier to grease and install in the lid. Finally, the gauge of the stainless steal is exactly as thick as my older 4 quart cooker although it appears thinner. The sides, lid, and bottom of the older models are uniform thickness and are heavy enough to spread heat evenly. This cooker now has a layer of aluminum to help spread the heat evenly across the bottom of the pot. This layer is clad in stainless steel, so all exposed surfaces, most importantly, the bottom, are stainless steel. The pot and lid are highly polished, but the bar code sticker was a little difficult to get off the side. There are indented markings at the levels of 1/2 and 2/3 capacity which are visible on the inside and outside of the pot, a nice addition. The inside dimensions are 8 1/2 inches in diameter and 6 1/4 inches deep same diameter as my 4 quart and about 2 1/4 inches deeper. I cooked a 15 lbs pumpkin using it an my old 4 quart in parallel (cooking several pots in each cooker) and I'm with happy with the results. Despite the extra complication of the lid interlock it proved easy to operate and the thinner seal seems less likely to leak as sometime happens with the older cooker. While I was a little put off by the lighter-looking gauge metal (actually the same thicknes) and leery of the complication of the lid-interlock, after using it I was very pleased to see that Presto is still maintaining excellence in design and construction of a classic cooking utensil whose basic utility is often overlooked in today's gadget filled kitchen. I can do things with a pressure cooker which cannot be done with a microwave!

I got this to combine with my presto 8 qt My wife likes homemade mashed potatoes...that's what she makes for her family probably 4 times a week (we eat at home 95% of the evening meals --she is a wonderful mom and teaches our 11 and 13 her tips and tricks--she spoils us. But mashed potatoes take 20-30 minutes cook time. Well after reading bunch of things and watching video's i said lets try this cut our cooking time by 2/3. So potatoes are easy now---1/ 1/2 cup water 5 russet potatoes cook 5 min at pressure (bobble rocking starts the timer) take off heat let come to base pressure. prep other things mix right in the same pan. easy peasy WOW they are done SAVED A TON OF TIME OK OK i'll get to the review---this is wonderful, simple effective EASY TO UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY VALVES. stainless steel for durability and EASY cleanup. its stove top (ours is gas lucky us) gets to the 15psi quickly, has a thick conducting bottom. Very easy to tell if still under pressure. you stop hearing the bobble head pressure thing, but look near the handle it has a pop up indicator that if its down its safe to open--very easy to understand...not intimidating easy on lid-- HIGH QUALITY--i'd recommend this to friends in a heart beat. I bought both this and the 8 qt presto to give my family flexibility i'd suggest this as well, maybe you could go with the lover priced 6 qt but the 8 qt quick release valve is THE BOMB to get this to quick release as per recipes (not all request it) reguires you to put under cold water till the safety indicator drops its a tad of a hassle but thats pressure cooking. I don't think this model comes with the newer style release valve ---maybe but didn't find it. if so get it with the same valve system as the 8 qt SIMPLY WONDERFUL no regrets would do it again----but if presto makes this size with the newer valve i'd get that I was at first intimidated by pressure cooking but this system really made the learning curve easy and quick.

This is an update to the previous review of two years ago! I love this pressure cooker and it is working just great!! It really is large enough to make a lot for about ten people!!! I really am thinking of purchasing another one as back up to this one because I just don't want to be without this perfect one!!! I definitely recommend it to all!!! Previous review at the time I purchased it: This pressure cooker works very well, exactly like my last one of many years that I was used to. It cooked the beef stew exactly as expected and it is nice and heavy! It's a smaller size than my old one, looks really nice on the stove and it makes enough for a large family. Love it!

Good stuff

You require a timer to know if the food is cooked. Whereas in traditional cookers, the weights go off and one can count on the whistle to tell you if the food might be cooked.

Na culinária diária. Excelente qualidade!

I wish I could give this pressure cooker 10 stars! For about 45 years, I've enjoyed and used my very simple but large Lagostina. Now that I'm alone, I wanted to be able to pressure cook small pot roasts and corned beef, etc. The chuck roast I cooked first came out beautifully - I knew then my 4-quart Presto was just perfect for my needs. Where it went over the top was when I cut a larger corned beef piece into two pieces, added about a cup of water, put the pieces on the insert that came with it, brought the Presto to the point where the top hissed strongly, lowered the heat so it hissed quietly - and an hour later had the most succulent, tender, juicy corned beef that just melted in my mouth. The stainless steel is high quality and cleans easily. The manual said I could put it in my dishwasher, but I'm so crazy about this wonderful pressure cooker that I hand wash it lovingly. I don't think I can praise the Presto Pressure cooker adequately. I'm just dithering with delight and strongly recommend it. Lastly, the price is reasonable! Don't even think about it - if you need a smaller pressure cooker, this Presto 4 Quart is unbeatable!