Hawkins Classic Aluminum Pressure Cooker, 2 Litre, Silver

This thing is so much easier to use than my older Presto pressure cooker--the valve mechanism is different and it's a lot easier to seal and bring up to pressure. This is a very, very small cooker, about the size of a medium/small sauce pan. It's quite limited in what you can cook in it because of that, but since I'm only cooking for one person, it's not a huge deal for me. This comes from India and includes a cookbook full of Indian recipes--mostly stuff I wouldn't dream of cooking. All the parts are replaceable and readily available. I had been toying with the idea of buying an electric pressure cooker but the reviews of all the models are a bit scary, plus the price seems high for what you get. The electric models don't come up to 15 lb. pressure which is industry standard for pressure cookers and virtually all recipes are based on that. These Hawkin's Pressure Cookers are very inexpensive compared to other models but they are very heavy-duty and sturdy. Remember when buying a pressure cooker that you can generally only fill it a bit over half full so that boiling stuff doesn't clog the safety valve. Plan for that when choosing a size. Also remember that these things weigh a ton when filled with water and food. I can't lift the big ones anymore, even if I had a reason to cook with them. This model/size is not suitable for canning, it's just too small. I like this cooker very much.

For years, I avoided pressure cookers like the plague - I was so wrong. This little pot is a real time saver in addition to being a wonderful tenderizer. I have cooked round steak and chuck roast and a fork slides through both of them - no knife required. Pork chops, pork ribs - perfect. Green beans and potatoes in no time, and the texture of the potatoes beats boiling any day. Brown rice comes out chewy and tender, but not gummy. And dried beans - I've done pintos and great northerns, as well as black-eyed peas (and hoppin' john). I have never been successful cooking beans the way I wanted them - until now. Buy this pot - it cleans up like a dream and purrs along at just a notch below medium without using up all the liquid - no sticking of meat, grain, or vegetable. Why did I wait so long?

All our birds and their own chicks have flown the nest so our big pots and pans are of little use to us. We were unaware that pressure cookers are available in small sizes until we watched an Indian recipe video. Locating a supplier in Canada met with no success but Amazon.com offered this product Hawkins Classic Aluminum 2.0 Litre Pressure Cookerin a wide range of sizes and we selected the two litre cooker which turned out to be ideal. The 2 litre cooker allows ample servings for two persons and we use it for all sorts of cuisines and recipes, Indian, European, Chinese, and North American especially. Just a couple of drawbacks - for aging hands and eyes the method of fitting and sealing the lid requires some practice, and the handle-locking device gets very hot and can deliver a nasty burn if you forget to use a mitt. Pressurizing and safety devices work well and the cooker is a breeze to clean and care for. We are delighted with results so far.

I wasnt very happy with the size of the product but then that was my fault in ordering this 2 litre cooker. The worse part is it just leaks water and whatever you have put inside if the water level is more than 1/4 of the volume of the cooker, ie, 500 ml water. So, basically i cannot cook for more than 1 person in this and whenever i tried to, it took me hours of refilling water and cooking to finally end up with non-edible food with a lot of waste and a lot of cleaning to do. I have tried adjusting the whistle and the rubber band but nothing works.No Hawkins for me anymore.

Very good sturdy built cooker. It is probably one of the basic models but it works great.I was really scared about using a pressure cooker but after a couple tries I am a pro.Food tasted incredible and don't have to worry about stirring and checking the food. Dump everything in and it gets cooked to perfection. Don't have to worry about the different cooking times for different foods.They all come out cooked right and you don't need to use a lot of spices because the pressure cooking makes everything taste better. The 6.5 litter is perfect for a family of 4.It cooks about two meals for a family of four.I love it and would recommend it.

It is actually pretty good and great for a family of 2 people. It isn't as bulky as a regular 4l pressure cooker would look. However the rubber band on the lid is kind of flimsy and keeps rolling off. As opposed to normal pressure cooker they are very thin. But so far it has been good. For the price I guess this is okay.

I probably should have got the next size up from the smallest. But it does what it says really well. The blast of steam it releases about once a minute (if you have the burner set so it does, which is recommended) is a little disconcerting at first. It will do 1 cup of raw beans, or 1 lb of meat - don't add more water than the recipe calls for - otherwise it is a little more exciting. We don't use many legumes, so it is nice to cook a small amount in just a few minutes, rather than have canned beans pass their expiration date.ps It advises only 1/3 cup of certain pulses (we call them lentils) which can clog the vent. But they cook so fast, why use a pressure cooker.