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Old pressure cooker?

QuiltyMom

QuiltyMom

I'll never run out of things to do!
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Feb 3, 2012
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I have an old stovetop Revere ware pressure cooker (3 qt?) that was my MiL’s. I’ve had it two years and never have used it. I’m thinking it’s not worth the bother to try and figure out. Has anyone used one, and do you feel it’s worth keeping, or not?

I’m on a whole-house cleaning binge, so I won’t be sad if it goes to the consignment shop!
 
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Jan, I have always had one. It is something we use in Puerto Rico a lot. Mine is 20 years old and I believe needs replacing because sometimes the rubber doesn't seal correctly and that could be dangerous. I also bought a instapot that I haven't gotten out of the box yet. YIKES. I do love pressure cookers!
 
I have used one, but it's been so many years ago. My ex-husband and I used to can a lot of the deer meat he would bring home because that's the only way I liked to eat it. But honestly it scared me to death. When I was a little girl, my mom was making spaghetti sauce in one and it blew. It was all over the ceiling, floors, cabinets. I don't think they ever got all the sauce out of that house lol.
 
You have been talking about going through the house and getting rid of stuff and you say in your post that you wouldn't be sad if it goes, so...
get rid of it. Tell it:
giphy.gif

:giggle Now, if you had said that you had a huge connection to it, then I wouldn't be so cavalier, but I know this decluttering thing has been on your mind. Think of how happy that pressure cooker could make someone else! Think of the empty space it'll create in your home!
 
Dalis said:
Jan, I have always had one. It is something we use in Puerto Rico a lot. Mine is 20 years old and I believe needs replacing because sometimes the rubber doesn't seal correctly and that could be dangerous. I also bought a instapot that I haven't gotten out of the box yet. YIKES. I do love pressure cookers!
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The thing is, I’ve never, ever used one. The only two things I ever saw my mom use hers for was to make Boston brown bread or steamed puddings, neither of which I can eat now. I’d have no idea what else to use it for!

IntenseMagic said:
I have used one, but it's been so many years ago. My ex-husband and I used to can a lot of the deer meat he would bring home because that's the only way I liked to eat it. But honestly it scared me to death. When I was a little girl, my mom was making spaghetti sauce in one and it blew. It was all over the ceiling, floors, cabinets. I don't think they ever got all the sauce out of that house lol.
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Oh, ick. What a mess! I think that is my biggest fear is to have it blow! Since it’s a small one I couldn’t use it for much canning. I don’t think a half-pint jar would fit.

Tree City said:
You have been talking about going through the house and getting rid of stuff and you say in your post that you wouldn't be sad if it goes, so...
get rid of it. Tell it:
giphy.gif

:giggle Now, if you had said that you had a huge connection to it, then I wouldn't be so cavalier, but I know this decluttering thing has been on your mind. Think of how happy that pressure cooker could make someone else! Think of the empty space it'll create in your home!
Click to expand...
You’re too funny! That’s exactly what I was thinking - someone else out there could use it. And it does clean out a big spot in my pantry when it’s gone. I got rid of other items and rearranged all my gluten-free flours and such in the kitchen, so now I have room in my pantry for the vacuum, which hasn’t had a “home” in years.

And you should see my closet - I can actually walk into it now! Woohoo!

So, I think it will go bye-bye. I just wasn’t sure if there was a use for it for me, and it doesn’t seem like it.
 
Yea for finding space for the vacuum! (Wow, I feel like a Real Adult just typing that ROFL!)

And I didn't even think about the gluten issue. I mean, you could probably find gluten-free canning recipes to try if you really wanted to, but it sounds like you already have a better use for the space it commanded in your kitchen, so good for you!

Also...I see a "before and after" kitchen organization layout in your future! :happyclap
 
Let it go.
You haven't used it and in 2 years haven't figured out how.

Now, I'm a huge pressure cooker fan! And at some point down the road you might enjoy it. But, this is the one thing where I recommend a newer one. It doesn't have to be an instapot. I use a stove top canner/cooker. But with pressure cooking it needs to be one that you are comfortable maintaining and using. Unless you are super comfortable with the older version like Dalis, get a new one when (if) you reach that point.
 
Send it off. Unless you want to learn and invest the time to use it and more than once, get rid of it.
 
@QuiltyMom
Jan, you use it for anything you would use your slow cooker for. The only difference is that the pressure cooker is going to take just minutes.
 
I have one. When we both had full-time jobs I used it a lot for quick one pot cooking. It was my go to appliance. Now, we use it as a large pan and have a steamer attachment. The steamer gets used a lot but I've lost the standard pressure cooker lid. With my family I find slow cookers better as I can prepare in advance and leave it on without having to worry about attending to it when a child needs me.
 
We have both - the old school type and an Instant Pot. My husband prefers the old school over the Instant Pot. We've had the IP for almost three years now and have used it once. Such a waste!
 
I keep thinking I want an Instapot because they look cool, but I think the same thing would happen at my house @carrie1977 ! I don't have the really old one. Just a simple stovetop version. It's also convenient for large batches of soup!
shopping
 
I've got a standard pressure cooker that I didn't use often, I never knew how long to let it build up steam and what to set the burner setting to. It was heavy and cleaning it out was a PITA. Plus it made me nervous, knowing that accidents can happen with them.

Then I got an electric PC and that changed everything. Its easy to set it electronically (I got a power xL model) and then walk away, letting it do its thing. I like it so much I bought another one recently (an Instant Pot) and I love this even more. It doesn't just pressure cook, it has lots of other functions and I'm going to try out the yogurt setting soon.

My old PC is going to charity.
 
bestcee said:
I keep thinking I want an Instapot because they look cool, but I think the same thing would happen at my house @carrie1977 ! I don't have the really old one. Just a simple stovetop version. It's also convenient for large batches of soup!
shopping
Click to expand...

Yeah...my husband does a lot of canning so his pot that he uses is just easier for him. I think the IP took all of the fun out of it for him. He really loves to cook and I'm ok with that. :)
 
QuiltyMom said:
I have an old stovetop Revere ware pressure cooker (3 qt?) that was my MiL’s. I’ve had it two years and never have used it. I’m thinking it’s not worth the bother to try and figure out. Has anyone used one, and do you feel it’s worth keeping, or not?

I’m on a whole-house cleaning binge, so I won’t be sad if it goes to the consignment shop!
Click to expand...
I used my Dad's a few months ago.. I never used it before but it really worked great. If there is no book to it, you can probably look it up on line.. I made lamb shanks in it and they were done in 45 minutes.... My grandmother and my aunt always used it.. I just was afraid of explosion but after making it I want to make them again. It really cooks stuff real quick :)
 
IntenseMagic said:
I have used one, but it's been so many years ago. My ex-husband and I used to can a lot of the deer meat he would bring home because that's the only way I liked to eat it. But honestly it scared me to death. When I was a little girl, my mom was making spaghetti sauce in one and it blew. It was all over the ceiling, floors, cabinets. I don't think they ever got all the sauce out of that house lol.
Click to expand...
my father did that with my grandmother's ... he did not know the pressure needed to be released first.. there was potatoes all over the ceiling and floor :)
 
bestcee said:
I keep thinking I want an Instapot because they look cool, but I think the same thing would happen at my house @carrie1977 ! I don't have the really old one. Just a simple stovetop version. It's also convenient for large batches of soup!
shopping
Click to expand...
Mine is similar to Courtney's.. Courtney, remember when we had the conversation re the pressure cooker and the lamb shanks? :) You gave me courage :)
 
I grew up hearing the pressure cooker hissing and jiggling. I don't think we'd have had a lot of meals without one. My mom used to come home after church and have a meal ready in what seemed like no time. Because of this, I used one for years. I never had any mishaps with mine, but I know it happens. I haven't used one for a long time now, but reading this thread has brought back a lot of memories for me.
 
We used one in the years when Dick and I got married (2001 not the 40s or 60s!). We made pot roasts and other things that could be done quickly in summer heat without heating up the kitchen too much. He was the one who showed me how to use it though my grandmother cooked a lot in it but I'll be darned if i can remember what. She didn't can but I did once Dick showed me how to use the pressure cooker. Then I got tired of the work involved including making sure I got a big supply of canning tomatoes. August is just to hot for me. I also did beans but then again neither of us are big bean eaters (though we could be if we went healthier or vegetarian). I think I'll look at my PC cookbooks and see if it's a Keep or Get Rid Of for me too! I bet I could give it away on Freecycle!
 
I know that Julia Child's French Cookbook have instructions for pressure cookers since they were all the rage back when she wrote the cookbook. I'll have to look through it again. I haven't browsed the recipes for a long time since I really can't eat much of the recipes she has in there. Having such a restrictive diet isn't fun sometimes.
 
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