This heavyweight, stainless-steel beauty is a fine example of contemporary engineering and style. Its mirror finish gleams, and its black handles, including a loop handle for two-handed lifting, stay cool. Pressure cooking traps steam to heat foods at temperatures higher than boiling. This cooker has an aluminum disk sandwiched by stainless steel in its base to speed the process even more through fast heat conductivity. It's safe on electric, gas, ceramic, and induction stovetops. Little water is required, so nutrients, flavor, and color are not boiled away. Vegetables emerge vibrantly colored from the steamer basket insert. Stews, soups, beans--even meat loaf, pork chops, and desserts like bread pudding--come out tasty and nutritious. (Recipes included.) Meats can be browned in the pot before the lid is locked on, and the pot can be used without the lid. The operating valve offers high and low pressure settings for cooking foods at ideal speeds.

Safety measures abound. The lid twists onto the pot, with a rubber gasket ensuring a tight seal. A lock secures lid to pot. A vent releases steam if pressure builds too high, as does a valve that also locks the lid when any pressure whatsoever is inside the cooker. Another device indicates pressure and gently releases steam during cooking.

Cleanup is a bit complicated. Hand wash pot, gasket, and lid with a mild detergent. Lightly oil the gasket. Remove and clean the operative valve. This minor cleaning inconvenience, however, should not overshadow the major convenience of pressure cooking. --Fred Brack

From the Manufacturer

Fagor is Green: Fagor's mission is to use resources efficiently to preserve the environment and save energy, developing highly efficient products that consume less and save money; contributing to a healthy planet for us and our future generations. From a social perspective, Fagor's environmental policy strategy offers advantages to both workers and consumers. It provides workers with environmentally-appropriate working conditions, which, among other benefits, minimizes and eliminates the handling of hazardous materials, while for consumers, the end-users of Fagor's products and services, it allows for efficient use of the appliances, which reduces energy and water consumption. Fagor has manufacturing systems established to minimize environmental impact on soil, water, energy, and air during the production process. There is also proper waste management and recycling procedures in place after the manufacturing process is completed. In addition to numerous European product certifications and environmental stewardship awards, Fagor is also notably a participant in the Energy Star program in the USA, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department Of Energy. Products that bear the energy star label allow consumers to recognize such products that have been manufactured to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.