faiman@uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU (01/10/86)
Some months ago I put out an enquiry in this newsgroup about where to get a good pressure cooker, and no one responded. Well, we finally found one in London a couple of weeks ago, on sale at Selfridges (department store) for 33 pounds. At current exchange rates that's about $42 after you get the VAT back. Having now used it a few times, I can safely say that it's much better than the Presto variety which seems to be the standard over here, and better also than the more expensive Swiss Duromatic (which we used to have until the handle disintegrated). It's made in France by Tefal. Stainless steel, 6 liter capacity. Comes with two pressure valves, an interior basket with a lift-out handle, and two stands of different heights for raising the basket off the bottom of the cooker. There's also an instruction/recipe book in which the recom- mended vegetable cooking times are much too long (mushy vegetables for the English?). Mechanical design and construction are very good. It heats fast and maintains pressure at a very low burner setting.