pressure cookers + Agas

[bugbear]

As I understand matters, given that an Aga's
plates are machined flat, it is rather important
that cooking vessels have a similarly flat bottom,
otherwise heat transfer is poor.

But I've also never seen a (used) pressure cooker
thick and rigid enough that the bottom
doesn't bulge a little (from the internal
pressure).

Does this mean that pressure cookers
don't work (as well as usual) on an Aga?

Or does someone make a super thick (and
suitably expensive) Aga special pressure
cooker?

BugBear

[Anne Chambers]

Post by bugbear
As I understand matters, given that an Aga's
plates are machined flat, it is rather important
that cooking vessels have a similarly flat bottom,
otherwise heat transfer is poor.
But I've also never seen a (used) pressure cooker
thick and rigid enough that the bottom
doesn't bulge a little (from the internal
pressure).
Does this mean that pressure cookers
don't work (as well as usual) on an Aga?
Or does someone make a super thick (and
suitably expensive) Aga special pressure
cooker?
BugBear

I'll probably be shot down by really experienced Aga users, but it would
never occur to me to use a pressure cooker on an Aga (or any sort of
solid fuel stove - I have a Rayburn)....the heat cannot be controlled
well enough (IMO) for the initial high temperature needed to get the
pressure cooker up to pressure, followed by the far lower temperature
required for the rest of the cooking period. Can you not just put the
food on the back of the Aga and do the long slow cooking they do so well ?

[bugbear]

Post by Anne Chambers

Post by bugbear
As I understand matters, given that an Aga's
plates are machined flat, it is rather important
that cooking vessels have a similarly flat bottom,
otherwise heat transfer is poor.
But I've also never seen a (used) pressure cooker
thick and rigid enough that the bottom
doesn't bulge a little (from the internal
pressure).
Does this mean that pressure cookers
don't work (as well as usual) on an Aga?
Or does someone make a super thick (and
suitably expensive) Aga special pressure
cooker?
BugBear

I'll probably be shot down by really experienced Aga users, but it would
never occur to me to use a pressure cooker on an Aga (or any sort of
solid fuel stove - I have a Rayburn)....the heat cannot be controlled
well enough (IMO) for the initial high temperature needed to get the
pressure cooker up to pressure, followed by the far lower temperature
required for the rest of the cooking period. Can you not just put the
food on the back of the Aga and do the long slow cooking they do so well ?

That's clearly the alternative; as far as I'm aware
there's nothing you can cook in a pressure cooker
that can't be done some other way.

Pressure cookers are mainly about speed.
If you have lots of time, a pressure
cooker is of no benefit.

But since I work full time, the ability to
(e.g.) make excellent chicken stock in 40 minutes
is a valuable benefit; it means I can do some
stock at the same time (and in the same amount of time)
as cooking the evening meal, which is a substantial
benefit.

http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,1141752,00.html

Similarly, it means you can have a meal
which normally takes long cooking a little
more spontaneously.

BugBear

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by bugbear
As I understand matters, given that an Aga's
plates are machined flat, it is rather important
that cooking vessels have a similarly flat bottom,
otherwise heat transfer is poor.
But I've also never seen a (used) pressure cooker
thick and rigid enough that the bottom
doesn't bulge a little (from the internal
pressure).

Never had that problem on mine. It's still as good as new apart from
occasionally replacing the rubber seal ring.

Post by bugbear
Does this mean that pressure cookers
don't work (as well as usual) on an Aga?

My pressure cooker ( "Prestige", a very solid make) is about 25 years
old and still has a flat bottom. I very often used it on the Aga for
cooking steamed sponge puddings and it worked fine (no problem with
maintaining pressure on Aga hotplates either; you never adjust the heat
setting, just the position of the pan).

Janet

[bugbear]

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by bugbear
As I understand matters, given that an Aga's
plates are machined flat, it is rather important
that cooking vessels have a similarly flat bottom,
otherwise heat transfer is poor.
But I've also never seen a (used) pressure cooker
thick and rigid enough that the bottom
doesn't bulge a little (from the internal
pressure).

Never had that problem on mine. It's still as good as new apart from
occasionally replacing the rubber seal ring.

Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!

BugBear (car boot hound)

[Ophelia]

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the base. I
don't know if they still do that though.

[Christina Websell]

Post by Ophelia

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the base.
I don't know if they still do that though.

They usually only bulge if they've been allowed to boil dry. This happened
with my first pressure cooker because I left it on and forgot it. I sent it
back to Prestige and they sent me a new bottom half. That was 20 years ago
and the "new" one is still in use ;-)

['Mike']

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the base.
I don't know if they still do that though.

They usually only bulge if they've been allowed to boil dry. This
happened with my first pressure cooker because I left it on and forgot it.
I sent it back to Prestige and they sent me a new bottom half. That was
20 years ago and the "new" one is still in use ;-)

Sorry. Our Pressure Cooker has a bulging bottom and it has never run dry.

We have a teapot with a bulging bottom and by its nature of use, that has
never boiled dry :-(

Mike

[Christina Websell]

Post by 'Mike'

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the
base. I don't know if they still do that though.

They usually only bulge if they've been allowed to boil dry. This
happened with my first pressure cooker because I left it on and forgot
it. I sent it back to Prestige and they sent me a new bottom half. That
was 20 years ago and the "new" one is still in use ;-)

Sorry. Our Pressure Cooker has a bulging bottom and it has never run dry.
We have a teapot with a bulging bottom and by its nature of use, that has
never boiled dry :-(

Dunno then ;-)
Prestige were great about replacing it, even though I told them it was my
fault. I actually have two, I rarely use them to pressure cook now but the
bases are great for cooking pasta. And they still have flat bottoms even
after all these years.

[Ophelia]

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the
base. I don't know if they still do that though.

They usually only bulge if they've been allowed to boil dry.

Yep:) That is what I did:)


This

Post by Christina Websell
happened with my first pressure cooker because I left it on and
forgot it. I sent it back to Prestige and they sent me a new bottom
half. That was 20 years ago and the "new" one is still in use ;-)

[Christina Websell]

Post by Ophelia

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the
base. I don't know if they still do that though.

They usually only bulge if they've been allowed to boil dry.

Yep:) That is what I did:)
This

Post by Christina Websell
happened with my first pressure cooker because I left it on and
forgot it. I sent it back to Prestige and they sent me a new bottom
half. That was 20 years ago and the "new" one is still in use ;-)

Well, there you have your answer, bugbear. All those bulged Prestige
pressure cookers you see at the car boot sales are caused by stupid
operators who did not read the instructions :-)

[Ophelia]

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the
base. I don't know if they still do that though.

They usually only bulge if they've been allowed to boil dry.

Yep:) That is what I did:)
This

Post by Christina Websell
happened with my first pressure cooker because I left it on and
forgot it. I sent it back to Prestige and they sent me a new bottom
half. That was 20 years ago and the "new" one is still in use ;-)

Well, there you have your answer, bugbear. All those bulged Prestige
pressure cookers you see at the car boot sales are caused by stupid
operators who did not read the instructions :-)

Well thank you ma'am.

[CP]

On May 26, 1:08 am, "Christina Websell"

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Ophelia

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Years ago I had that problem. I sent it back and they reground the
base. I don't know if they still do that though.

They usually only bulge if they've been allowed to boil dry.

Yep:) That is what I did:)
This

Post by Christina Websell
happened with my first pressure cooker because I left it on and
forgot it. I sent it back to Prestige and they sent me a new bottom
half. That was 20 years ago and the "new" one is still in use ;-)

Well, there you have your answer, bugbear. All those bulged Prestige
pressure cookers you see at the car boot sales are caused by stupid
operators who did not read the instructions :-)

Thought you didn't like people calling other people 'stupid'?

[bugbear]

Post by Christina Websell

Post by bugbear
Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!

Well, there you have your answer, bugbear. All those bulged Prestige
pressure cookers you see at the car boot sales are caused by stupid
operators who did not read the instructions :-)

Good grief! There's evidently a lot
of stupid (or at least ignorant, or careless)
people around; evem more than I thought,
and I wasn't optimistic in the first place ;-)

BugBear

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by bugbear

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by bugbear
As I understand matters, given that an Aga's
plates are machined flat, it is rather important
that cooking vessels have a similarly flat bottom,
otherwise heat transfer is poor.
But I've also never seen a (used) pressure cooker
thick and rigid enough that the bottom
doesn't bulge a little (from the internal
pressure).

Never had that problem on mine. It's still as good as new apart from
occasionally replacing the rubber seal ring.

Interesting; I've seen loads of these (prestige
had a damn-near monopoly for years) and they
all bulge!
BugBear (car boot hound)

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if that's why they ended up in car
boot sales :-) A bit like all those jigsaws with missing bits, ancient
videotapes, and battered soft toys with the stuffing coming out.

Janet. (jumble sale junkie)

Janet