BY BECKY HUTCHINGS
Ibought my first electric pressure cooker almost three years ago (yes, I do own more than one). I had heard the hype, but didn’t want to buy into it. Well, six months later, my curiosity led me to check it out online.
I found pages and pages of glowing reviews. Feeling that I must be the only person who did not own one of these wonder appliances, I finally caved and bought one. After much use, here’s what I think about it now.
What exactly is an electric pressure cooker? There are many brands of electric pressure cookers. Each has some differences, but the main components are the same—they are a multi-cooker that does the job of a slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté/browning pan and warming pot (some even are able to make yogurt).
As I worked my way through the instruction manual (a necessary evil), I really started to put my pressure cooker to work and something happened that I never expected: The more I used my pressure cooker, the more I really enjoyed using it. I stopped expecting the worst, and even started relying on it for cooking weekly staples, like brown rice, potatoes and hard-cooked eggs.
At some point over the last 14 months, without realizing it was happening, I completely fell in love with my pressure cooker. Yes, the very one I was so skeptical about in the beginning!
If you already own a pressure cooker, or even if you don’t, if this sounds like something that you would be interested in, please call the Minidoka County Extension Office and ask to take one of our Cooking Under Pressure (Instant Pot) classes. We currently have six scheduled and they fill up fast, so call today: (208) 436-7184.
Becky Hutchings is the FCS/4-H Youth Development Extension Educator for the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension in Minidoka County.