“-----electric stove which I'm guessing will make a stovetop unit a
little challenging?---“

Not really. As long as you are not talking about induction
electric.

Electric PCs are very popular and very useful in the
kitchen, but it is not for me.

1. They
   are bigger and heavier than a non-electric PC.
2. More
   components to go wrong.
3. Lower
   pressure (8 psi-230F vs 15 psi-250F
   ).
4. Not
   dishwasher safe.
5. More
   expensive.
6. You
   can’t make a good PC bomb (haha!)
7. Biggest
   drawback deal breaker for me: You can’t de-pressure under running cold
   running water. A major inconvenience.

dcarch

I was given a Breville version half a year ago. There was a thread with a few ideas of what to make in it, but I still haven't opened it.

Why not exchange it for a regular pressure cooker and some kitchen toys?

That Fagor unit is also a slow cooker and rice cooker, in addition to being a pressure cooker. So it may allow you to simplify your appliance line-up.

Purely as a pressure cooker, it has the disadvantages compared to a manual PC that dcarch noted, which makes it slower to use. E.g. quick chicken stock might take 30 min instead of 15 min. On the advantage side, it is programmable (delay start, keep warm), and doesn't take up a burner.

I'd probably get rid of another appliance to make room for that Fagor. If you come to like PC cooking, then get a manual PC as well.

I got one of the multicookers too. I pressure cooked a pork roast yesterday with it, it was still quite tough so I re-pressured it & was quite good after that. I used a recipe I already had, & didn't see a time for pork roasts, every new contraption has a learning curve for me. I quite like the idea of it, hoping it will help me downsize my small appliances. I do like how quiet it is compared to a stove top pressure cooker. Just had a little whoosh when it came to pressure, then not another peep until it was finished. I have an ancient pressure cooker-probably 40 years old, it would have cooked the pork roast a few minutes faster, but might be nice not to have to be on the spot to turn it off, etc.

You can't reduce the pressure of an electric pressure cooker under cold running water, but your Fagor has directions for the 'quick release method' in your owners manual. Just be sure to keep your hands away from the steam column when releasing because its going to be scalding hot for several seconds. I don't wait for mine to lose pressure on its own - if I need what's in it ;0)

OT, but the electric stoves that can be problematic with pressure cookers are the glass tops and when using for canning - where constant reliable pressure is a must. (You won't be canning in your electric Fagor.) The heat with the glass tops cycles up and down, a built in protective measure for the cooktop. You wouldn't notice it cooking foods, you would with canning. I don't put my largest canner on my glass top for that reason, and also because I'm concerned about the weight of a 20 qt canner fully loaded with jars - it goes over gas these days, and outside.

ETA - my Fagor browns beautifully and I don't have the optional stainless insert. I do find if I'm preparing a recipe for more than 2-4 people, I will have to brown in batches instead of all at once or I'm crowding the meat or vegetables. Of course I could brown in a larger surface skillet when prepping ingredients, but that defeats the intent of one pot cleanup meals.

If you do not have a slow cooker, I would recommend keeping it. However, I have a slow cooker that I almost never use and I store it in the garage. I use my Fagor pressure cooker all the time, and it came with two pans, one small (which I use the most), and a large one that I use when making chicken stock. I have a portable induction burner that I use with my Fagor pressure cooker, and I probably would not use it as much without that, as the induction burner turns itself off when the timer goes off.

If you do not have room for it, it might be better to exchange it for what you would use most. I tend not to exchange gifts, although I did exchange some towels my sister gave me that were the wrong color.

Congratulations! I bought myself an Instant Pot on Black Friday and there are legions of folks that love them. Mine is also a slow cooker and a rice cooker. I suggest that you check out videos and Facebook pages devoted to electric pressure cookers. The traditional stove pot models scare the heck out of me, I've been pressure cooker free until my purchase. As a matter of fact, right now I'm making chicken soup/bone broth using the carcass from Sunday's turkey dinner. Let us know what you decide to do!

If it's anything like the Instant Pot I have, I would keep it. I don't know much about the pressure difference between electric and stove top, but it cooks food and makes it tender in no time.

I love mine. Love, love it.

It has a steel insert and so many functions.

I appreciate all the responses, even if they're making me even more indecisive. :) Doesn't sound like it would be a mistake to keep it as long as I find somewhere more convenient than the basement to store it.

I'd take it back.....a good pot and a cook top and oven are all you need. Trade it for a Le Cruset cast iron something.....Dutch oven, sauce pan, gratin dish....something.

I have a multi cooker that isn't a pressure cooker too, and it's really useful. I also take it camping as I can roast a chicken in it, fry potatoes, cook stew...... and it pretty well does it by itself. I'd keep it.

I got an Instant Pot a month ago. I've used it at least twice a week, love it, and have researched all the things it can do to replace several of my other electric appliances (rice cooker, big and small crock-pots, electric roaster, yogurt maker, non-electric pressure cooker, electric vegetable steamer) - those are now in the donations box. I put it on the counter so I can use it easily, like my Food Saver, Kitchen Aid mixer, can opener, and coffee pot. If you store it away in a closet or put it in a bottom cabinet where you have to drag it out to use it, then it has little value for the wasted personal energy, or you even might forget you have it.

I don't particularly like having too much on my counters but they are tools and the kitchen is a "food manufacturing facility" not a BH&G designer kitchen with empty counters that look like no one really cooks in it. However, if you only see limited uses for it then trade it in for something that you really want. I thought I wanted a fancy Le Cruset dutch oven like all the food shows use but it had limited uses for the way I cook and the sheer weight of it was not for me so it was donated to a big family who use it every day.

A friend of mine and her daughter both got the electric pressure cookers a long time ago and love them. They use them quit often and praise them. I bought one, too, but haven't used it yet. I have heard some people brown their meat on the stove then put it in the pressure cooker.

Madonna

I've been looking at electric pressure cookers. Does the Instant Pot have any non-stick parts? I have a parrot, and it's a major health issue for him.

The IP has a metal insert.

Here's one on sale today on Amazon! Instant Pot

I'm seriously debating buying myself the Instant Pot. Everyone I know that has one loves it.

I'm skeptical like Linda. Seems a umph upgrade to a crock pot. Something stored, something to break. Mind you i do have two vintage crockpots at other homes where they can be handy once, twice a year. Killer caramelized onions.

Big families, large gatherings where an extra cooking thing might be useful. I junked and tossed appliances years ago or took them to the farm. Or beach house.

I just like basic cooking methods that are not dump pots. Yet others use it for many things i have an oven for. Why so many avoid using the stove and ovens they have. like toaster ovens and counter appliances. I use my broiler for toast. (fresh baked next day boule is lovely just top toasted.)

I'd trade it for an Anova SousVide. : ).

I was gifted a Staub grain pot that sautéed a mirepoix of leeks garlic shallot, then celery carrots minced, then cubed tiny red potato and parsley stems for a seafood chowder. 1/2 hour break, then i'll sear the seafood, add fresh/frozen white corn and fresh/frozen cherry tomatoes. Fresh herb garnish. 1/2 loaf of boule out of the freezer for croutons.

If i had 4 moody kids with head colds and a gumpy large family sure it cooks like an advanced crockpot or handy for a healthy camping meal.

Me too, Anne T. I hope you will give a review here if you get one.

Now I'm thinking about perhaps "downgrading" to a smaller and cheaper IP. I dunno. I'll probably just return this and think about it for a couple more years. Worse things in life than having credit at Sur la Table. Maybe something will catch my eye while there.

Sleevendog's post kind of did it for me. I could probably count on my fingers how many times a year my stand mixer, food processor, crock pot, sous vide(s), foodsaver, etc. get used per year. COMBINED! Vitamix, toaster oven, and coffee makers are the only counter top appliances that seem to get used.

I almost always wait for yard sales to pick up last year/ the year befores' Christmas and Mother's Day trendy gift items. That way, I can quench my curiosity on the cheap and, if I don't like it or use it enough to just the space it requires, I can pass it along at my next yard sale and get most or all of my money back.

I remember those "hot doggers" and the hamburger cooker and the bread maker and the pasta extruder and the fry baby and the electric panini maker etc etc.
I can't cook without my Cuisinart....and I use a "boat motor" blender and an electric knife for things like biscotti and a hand held mixer...but most of my stuff is "Linda powered" and heated with gas.