Pressure Cookers For Dummies

In today's "hurry-up" society, pressure cooking is an attractive means of preparing consistent, convenient everyday meals. Increasing health concerns coupled with a continuously rising cost of living have made pressure cooking more popular as a way to save money and eat healthier at home. This revised edition of Pressure Cookers For Dummies includes all new recipes and refreshed content.

Pressure Cookers For Dummies gives you the lowdown on the different pressure cooker options that are available to make sure you get the pressure cooker best equipped to suit your needs. It includes delicious recipes for dishes such as soups, chilis, and stews; roasts and poultry; rice dishes; beans; vegetables; and desserts, jams, and compotes. It also offers a wealth of recipes for those on vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets. Pressure Cookers For Dummies offers tips on adapting your favorite recipes for the pressure cooker plus several comparison recipes made the traditional way. Every recipe Includes preparation times, cooking times, and nutritional information.

• Updated expert advice on choosing the best pressure cooker for your kitchen, including coverage of electric cookers
• Explanations on how pressure cookers work and tips on adapting your favorite recipes for the pressure cooker
• Shows you how to use pressure cookers to create vegetarian, vegan, special diet, and sustainable dishes with flavor and zest; and incorporate ethnic dishes into your pressure cooker repertoire
• Includes fun, tasty, and easy recipes for holidays and other occasions that the whole family will enjoy

If you're a new or seasoned cook, Pressure Cookers For Dummies gives you everything you need to make the most of this time-saving appliance.

Part I: Stress-Free Cooking under Pressure 7

Chapter 1: Cooking with Pressure 101 9

Chapter 2: The Pressure Cooker: Fact versus Fiction 15

Chapter 3: Exploring Modern Pressure-Cooker Options to Find What You Like Best 23

Part II: Making the Best and Safest Use of Your Pressure Cooker 39

Chapter 4: Understanding How Pressure Cookers Work 41

Chapter 5: Pressure Cooking Basics from Start to Finish 55

Chapter 6: From the Pot to the Pressure Cooker 75

Part III: Preparing Delicious Recipes in Your Pressure Cooker 91

Chapter 7: Spoon Foods: Stocks, Soups, and Great Grain Dishes 93

Chapter 8: Fork-Tender Stews 119

Chapter 9: Enjoying Roasts and Prime Poultry Any Day of the Week 135

Chapter 10: Dried Beans and the Pressure Cooker: A Match Made in Heaven! 151

Chapter 11: Vegetables: Nature’s Nourishing Bounty 175

Chapter 12: Dynamite Desserts and Fabulous Fruits 193

Chapter 13: Recipes for Special Diets 209

Part IV: The Part of Tens 231

Chapter 14: Ten Problems and How to Handle Them 233

Chapter 15: Ten Tips for Great Pressure Cooking 239

Part V: Appendixes 245

Appendix A: Recommended Cooking Times Under Pressure 247

Appendix B: Metric Conversion Guide 253

Index 255

Nominated for a James Beard cookbook award, Tom Lacalamita is a national authority on housewares and has appeared on hundreds of television and radio shows across the country, including Good Morning America, CNBC, and NPR. Tom is also a spokesperson for various food and housewares manufacturers.

The stress-free way to cook under pressure

Great food in no time? Yes, with a pressure cooker! Pressure Cookers For Dummies gives you tips for using today's safe, versatile models and recipes for otherwise long-cooking classics such as Sunday Pot Roast, Pulled Pork, Jambalaya, and Chicken Chili; as well as delicious dishes for those on vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets. Plus, all recipes include preparation times, cooking times, and nutritional information.

• The wonderful world of pressure cooking — get insight into the different types of pressure cookers available (stovetop and electric) so you can pick the right one for you
• The pressure's rising — discover tricks for getting the best results with the least amount of effort, as well as how to adapt your favorite conventional recipes for the pressure cooker
• Now you're cooking — make quick, homemade food that's healthy and delicious, from soups and grain dishes, to stews and roasts, to yummy sides and delectable desserts
• Make special note — explore a wide range of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free pressure-cooker recipes because, hey, who isn't following a special diet these days (or at least trying to eat less meat)?

Open the book and find:

• Pressure-cooker myth busters
• The benefits of using a pressure cooker
• How to open a pressure cooker safely
• Ways to keep your pressure cooker squeaky clean
• How to prep food, adjust liquids, fill the pressure cooker, and determine cooking times
• The skinny on pressure cookers with rice cooker and slow cooker programs

Learn to:

• Choose the right pressure cooker for you
• Make a variety of tasty pressure-cooker meals
• Save time and money while eating healthy at home
• Create delicious vegetarian, vegan, and special-diet dishes