ProCook Professional stainless steel pressure cooker review

First impressions and set-up

Simply unwrapping this pressure cooker was a joy, with its eco-friendly packaging and not a scrap of plastic to be found. Out of the box, it is impressive and has an excellent weight to it without being overly heavy to move around.

After just a hand wash and wipe of the main pot and lid, the pressure cooker is ready to go.

• Available from ProCook (£119)

Usability and functionality – how easy it is to use?

The instruction book is easy to read and has great photographs that explain everything step-by-step. We appreciated the advice around minimum and maximum filling for safety. However, the book has no recipes, which could be a problem for a novice.

Using the ProCook pressure cooker could not be easier. Pressing the close button on the central handle of the lid makes the jaws snap shut with a reassuring thump. There's a pressure regulator set to one side of the lid, with two pressure settings that are easy to see and read. The pressure is reached quickly and responds well to lowering the heat and maintaining a steady pressure.

Cooking results

The cooker heats quickly and evenly for searing meat and vegetables, and apart from the hissing as the cooker preheated, it was quiet during cooking. We cooked our stew on high for an hour and were delighted with the results. The meat was tender and just at the point of falling apart, and the vegetables had retained good colour and texture. After cooling, we could keep the stew in the pan, cover it with the glass lid and pop it in the fridge overnight, which is a distinct advantage of this model.

Safety

With the secure, one-handed closing mechanism on the lid, we felt safe using this cooker. Everything is easy to read and see, including the safety window on the side in case of excessive pressure levels.

The manual has clear instructions around safety while using the cooker, including advice on not lowering the pressure too quickly from high to off, but instead moving this through stages. It also has clear markings for minimum and maximum fill.

Conclusion

The ProCook pressure cooker is a high-quality product, with the added advantage of using it as a regular stock pot thanks to the glass lid. For an absolute beginner, we felt recipes would be helpful to get started. But, if you understand using a pressure cooker safely and efficiently, this is an excellent buy at the price.

• Available from ProCook (£119)

Full product specifications

Size: 23.5 x 16.5cm
Volume: 6-litre
Dishwasher-safe: cooker body only
Hob-safe: stovetop model, suitable for all hobs
Includes: a steamer basket, trivet and additional glass lid for daily cooking
Guarantee: 25-year

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