On The Hob

Pressure cookers are large saucepans with locking lids that cook food on the hob.  A pressure cooker is usually heavy as it has to be strong.  A pressure cooker works by sealing in all air and liquid so as the hob heats it and the contents expand the pressure increases.

Why cook at pressure?

As the pressure increases so does waters boiling point.  Pressure cooking allows you t0 cook food at a higher temperature than normal cooking.  The advantage of this is that food cooks much more quickly than normal.  For example a whole chicken only takes around 20 minutes.  Pressure cookers are also used to give the effect of braising or simmering but in much shorter time periods.

Safety

Cooking under pressure sounds dangerous, but it isn’t.  Many modern pressure cookers have an interlocking lid which is prevents you from opening the cooker while it is pressurised.  Also they have a safety valve which releases excess pressure.

Pressure Cooker Picks

Salton Tower 4 Litre Pressure Cooker

The Salton Tower 4 litre Pressure cooker is a good entry level cooker with a low price point.  It holds 4 litres, has an auto locking mechanism and a 10 year body guarantee.

WMF Perfect Plus Pressure Cooker 6.5 litres

The WMF Pressure cooker is slightly larger at 6.5 litres.  It has Four safety features to prevent over-pressurizing, scalding and damage to the pressure cooker, importantly it is also suitable for any heat source including Induction hobs as it has a “TransTherm” Base.  This cooker has a 3 year Guarantee.

Click here to buy Pressure cookers from Amazon UK

Here is an interesting You Tube Clip looking at how pressure cookers work and their history.

Click here to buy Pressure cookers from Amazon UK

You may be wanting to buy a pressure cooker cook book also or you may have a pressure cooker and want to expand your recipes.  Here are a couple of our picks.

Click on the image to find out more at Amazon UK

Pressure Cooking the Easy Way

Pressure Cookers for Dummies

Amazon is a brilliant store for kitchenware, don’t think they only sell books and CD’s!  They have most brands of kitchenware at very competitive prices.

Amazon.co.uk have weekly offers from Midnight Sunday each week.  Here are our picks for the week commencing 29th December 2008.

One Touch Automatic Can Opener Blue

The One touch range is up to 50% off at Amazon.  The above can opener is £20 down to £10.  Click here to shop.  Click here to see our reviews of the one touch range.

Denby Jet Champagne Flute, Set of 6,

This beautiful Denby Jet Champagne Flute set of 6 is just over 50% off, £78 down to £38.17.  All Denby glassware is dishwasher safe.  Click here to shop.

Brita Red Water Filters

Brita Red water filters are 50% off at Amazon UK.  The unique BRITA water filter cartridge reduces chlorine, lime scale and other impurities, so you can enjoy great tasting BRITA filtered water.  Click here to buy and find out more about Brita Water Filters.

Denby Imperial Blue 28 Piece Ceramic, Glass and Accessories Tableware Set for 4 Placesettings

Everybody knows great food (and drink) looks and tastes better if it’s well presented and Denby offer something for every taste. Denby ceramic products are safe for microwave, oven, dishwasher and freezer use. Plates, cups, mugs, serveware and cookware are available in stoneware, porcelain and bone china.  Click here to see the full range of offers on Denby Dinnerware.

Not every one’s favourite coffee is from an espresso machine in Starbucks.  In the home Cafetieres and Stovetop coffee makers are increasingly popular.  But what are they and which should you choose?

Cafetieres

A Cafetiere is a glass or plastic pot with a plunger on top.  The brand La Cafetière  is most popular but they are also known as a French Press coffee maker or just a coffee maker.

Cafetieres

To use a Cafetiere you take the lid and plunger off, spoon in your freshly ground coffee and then hot water from a kettle.  Put the lid on with the plunger up.  Then once you have allowed sufficient time push the plunger down to separate the coffee grounds from the coffee.

Cafetieres are simple to use and great when you have guests, they come in all sizes from one cup to 12 cups, so much quicker than making an espresso for every guest!

Click here to buy a Cafetiere coffee maker

Stovetops

Stovetop coffee makers are becoming increasingly popular.  As the name suggests these are coffee makers for use on the stove / on the hob.

Stovetop Espresso Makers

A stovetop coffee maker has three components.  The water reservoir at the bottom.  A funnel shaped filter in the middle and the jug top ontop.  To use the coffee maker fill the bottom section with water, and the filter with your ground coffee.  Then place on the hob.

As the water heats it will produce steam.  But with nowhere for the steam to go the pressure forces the water up the funnel and through to the ground coffee.  As the water combines with the ground coffee it expands the coffee effectively “self tamping” and means more pressure is required for the water to pass through the coffee.  This pressure means that the coffee produced is espresso rather than a standard coffee you would get from a Cafetiere.  As the last of the water passes through the coffee it makes a characteristic gurgling sound telling you the coffee is brewed and ready to drink.

The most popular range of Stovetops is the Moka range by Bialetti.  You can buy the stovetops in “cup sizes” from just a one cup all the way to a 18 cup.

Click here to buy Bialetti Moka Stovetops from Amazon UK

Still not sure about stovetops?  Take a look at this great YouTube video showing how simple it is to make the perfect espresso.

Click here to buy Bialetti Moka Stovetops from Amazon UK

One of our readers Justine has written in asking “What type of saucepan should I use on an induction hob?”

Thanks for the message Justine, we discussed how to pick the perfect saucepan previously here

But I’ll try to go into a bit more information on Induction hobs here.

So what is an induction hob?

An induction hob uses induction to cook, therefore pans must be conductive.  This is because the hob itself doesn’t become hot or create heat.  Only the pan is heated through conduction.

This makes Induction hobs very energy efficient – Pick up the pan off the hob and energy stops being used (on many models).  Also heat is not wasted by going into the air as the pan itself is being heated directly.

They are very quick to heat aswell, depending on the cookers wattage a stirfry pan could be ready for cooking in as little as 10 minutes.

Saucepans.

For an induction hob to work the saucepan sits on top of the hob where it conducts heat.  The best saucepans benefit from being flat bottomed as they have more contact with the hob.

Saucepans must be ferromagnetic in order to conduct the heat.  Aluminium and other non magnetic materials will not work on an induction hob.

As Induction hobs heat very quickly beware of thin saucepans, as a sharp burst of heat could burn food.

Our Saucepan picks

There are many saucepans which work with induction hobs as this is becoming a very popular hob type as people convert from gas.

Here are two

Le Creuset Cast Iron 3 Piece Saucepan Set, Granite

The Le Creuset Cast Iron Saucepan set is perfect for use on a induction hob.  The enamelled finish makes these saucepans incredibly durable. Click here to read more and buy

Meyer Circulon Infinite Cookware Set, 5 Piece

Meyer are a well known Saucepan manufacturer with a great reputation.  These heavy gauge Hard Anodised pans are perfect for Induction hobs.  Click here to read more and buy from Amazon UK

Thanks for your question Justine I hope this helps.

Do you have a kitchen dilemma, contact us here and let us help!