#5: Presto 1781 23-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner

Presto 1781 23-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner
by Presto
(321)

Buy new: $109.99 $81.54
35 used & new from $76.99

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Holds 7 quarts, 20 pints or 24 1/2 pint jars. Features readable steam gauge for easy and accurate pressure control. Extra strong, warp-resistant aluminum construction provides fast, even heating. Doubles as a large capacity pressure cooker. Gleaming, polished finish for lasting beauty. Cooking/canning rack and complete instruction/recipe booklet. 23 Qt. capacity.The USDA recommends pressure canning as the only safe method for low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, and poultry. The Presto 23-quart pressure canner is more than adequate for any home canning needs. It's a professional-quality tool, made of heavy-duty aluminum, with stay-cool handles and a strong-lock steel lid. An accompanying rack fits down into the pot to keep jars up off the bottom, so that liquid can circulate underneath. And it can do double duty as a large pressure cooker. It's easy to cook healthfully with pressure cookers, since the food retains so much more of its nutrients and flavor.

The sturdy lid locks down during canning or cooking; an inner sealing ring keeps the steam in. In addition to a pop-up pressure indicator and a simple steam release mechanism, there is an overpressure plug that will let off steam if it builds up excessively. The pressure dial gauge gives an accurate reading so that pressure can be kept constant during canning. This pressure canner is also a cooker that's useful for weeknight dinners or for any meal that needs to come together quickly. An accompanying booklet contains more than 50 recipes, ranging from basic soup stocks to stews and pot roasts--even sweets like English Plum Pudding or Brown Bread! Tenderize lean cuts of beef or pork, or cook chicken, fish, or vegetables faster than you can in a microwave, and without losing moisture.

Nonabrasive cleansers are best for cleaning this aluminum pressure cooker, though occasional use of a fine metal polish will help the exterior keep its shine. The lid of the Presto 23-quart pressure canner is not immersible. In addition, the sealing ring should be removed after each use to allow cleaning of the inside rim of the lid. The dial gauge is delicate; detailed care instructions are found in the accompanying booklet. The vent pipe is simple to keep clean with a small brush or pipe cleaner, and both the air vent/cover lock and the overpressure plug are removable. The pressure cooker measures 14 inches in diameter (17 inches including handles) and 15-1/2 inches tall (including lid). Presto guarantees this pressure cooker with an extended 12-year warranty. A detailed instruction and recipe booklet is included; special safety issues that pertain to pressure cookers are clearly explained. --Garland Withers Read more

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#8: Cuisinart 77-10 Chef's Classic Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

Cuisinart 77-10 Chef's Classic Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
by Cuisinart
(469)

Buy new: $400.00 $119.37
26 used & new from $109.95

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Endorsed by none other than the legendary French chef Paul Bocuse (the only restaurateur in the world to be awarded the prestigious Michelin 3 Stars for over 36 consecutive years), Cuisinart's Chef's Classic stainless cookware is high quality, yet affordable. Unlike many lines of cookware, it can go in the dishwasher for clean up, yet the aluminum core within the base provides even and efficient heating. If you've been thinking of investing in a new set of pots and pans, you'd do well to consider Cuisinart Chef's Classic. This set offers pieces in a useful range of size and function, and with the added value of set pricing.Sautéing wild salmon and stirring a perfect risotto take on spiritual dimensions with this classic Cuisinart cookware. Made of professional quality stainless steel that won't react with acidic foods, the pots and pans in this set feature solid cast handles, tight-fitting lids with drip-free rims, and a mirror finish that retains its brightness through dishwasher, freezer, broiler, and oven use up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. For superior, even heating, an aluminum disk is encapsulated between two layers of stainless steel in each base. The set includes: 8- and 10-inch skillets, 1-1/2- and 3-quart covered saucepans, 3-1/2-quart covered sauté pan, and a 8-quart covered stockpot. Cuisinart covers the set with a limited lifetime warranty. --Ann Bieri

What's in the Box
1-1/2-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 3-1/2-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid, 8-inch skillet, 10-inch skillet Read more

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#5: Lodge Logic L8SK3 10-1/4-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet

Lodge Logic L8SK3 10-1/4-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet
by Lodge Logic
1257 days in the top 100
(250)

Buy new: $16.99 $14.97
29 used & new from $13.88

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Seasoned, ready to use. This skillet is a kitchen's most essential item. The even heating of cast iron is necessary for golden, tender, perfectly pan-fried chicken. What other cookware can rival the heat retention, versatility, value and durability of cast iron.. 10-1/4 inch diameter.The American-based company Lodge has been fine-tuning its construction of rugged, cast-iron cookware for more than a century. No other metal is as long-lasting and works as well for spreading and retaining heat evenly during cooking. Lodge's Logic line of cookware comes factory pre-seasoned with the company's vegetable oil formula, and is ready to use right out of the box. After cooking, simply scrub the cast iron with a stiff brush and hot water, no soap, and dry immediately.

Breakfast in particular somehow tastes extra hearty when cooked in a heavy cast-iron skillet. Cast iron loves a campfire, a stovetop, or an oven, and can slow-cook foods without scorching and sear meat at higher temperatures. A good all-purpose size at 10-1/4 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep, this skillet can fry up eggs, pancakes, steaks, chicken, hamburgers, and can bake desserts and casseroles as well. A helper handle aids in lifting, and the looped primary handle allows hanging. Two side spouts pour off grease or juice. Even though the pan comes pre-seasoned, applying a little vegetable oil before use helps prevent food from sticking. Whether used in a kitchen or camp, this virtually indestructible pan should last for generations and is covered by a lifetime warranty. --Ann Bieri Read more

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