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Best stovetop pressure cooker
- Stainless-steel construction
- Numerous safety features
- Two pressure settings
- Roomy size
- Steamer basket
- 10-year warranty
- Lid doesn't lock automatically
- Some durability issues with handle
- Reports of the lid exploding off
The Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker is roomier than the standard 6-quart size and is packed with all the safety features found in more expensive models. It has a secure lid that locks in place, and a pop-up indicator that lets you know when the optical cooking pressure is reached. The manufacturer warns that the pressure cooker should only be filled two-thirds full (or half full for contents that expand during cooking) to prevent a malfunction. If the operating steam valve should become blocked during cooking, the Duo has a secondary release and vent opening in the lid to allow the pressure to release. It also features a quick-release valve that can be manually opened to quickly reduce pressure. Its biggest competitor, the Kuhn Rikon 7-Quart Pressure Cooker (*Est. $220), costs twice as much and lacks a locking lid.
In addition to a standout design, the Fagor Duo gets its share of praise from experts after comparison testing on cooking performance. Reviewers say that the generously sized stainless-steel base on the Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker is great for caramelizing foods before cooking, and it includes a steamer basket. The Fagor Duo is also available in 4-, 6- or 10-quart sizes, all of which offer the standard high-pressure setting as well as a lower setting for cooking delicate foods. The manufacturer covers these pressure cookers under a 10-year warranty.
We read the best reviews of the Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker in Cook's Illustrated and Choice magazines. New Zealand's Consumer magazine publishes the same review as Choice magazine, which is based in Australia. To assess owner satisfaction, we turned to user reviews at Macys.com, Amazon.com and Cooking.com.
| Fagor 8-Quart Stainless-Steel Pressure Cooker with Steamer Basket | |
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Our Sources
1. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Editors at Cook's Illustrated magazine line up four electric pressure cookers and compare their performance with a favorite stovetop model -- the Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker. Generally, the electric models fell short on ease of use compared to the Fagor Duo's simple design.
Review: Electric Pressure Cookers, Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine, January 2010
2. Choice magazine
Australia's Choice magazine tests eight pressure cookers, including the 6-quart version of the Fagor Duo pressure cooker. Ratings are based on the ability to turn lamb shanks and dried soup mix into a tender, flavorful meal. The ease of locking the lid, using the controls, and disassembling and cleaning the unit accounted for 60 percent of each product's overall score.
Review: Pressure Cookers Review and Compare, Editors of Choice magazine, March 2009
3. Consumer magazine
Editors compare six models of pressure cookers and rank them based on cooking performance and ease of use. They pick a smaller version of the Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker as their favorite stovetop model. These same models and results are published in Choice magazine.
Review: Pressure Cookers, Editors of Consumer magazine, April 23, 2009
4. Macys.com
The reviews here are primarily for pressure cookers by Fagor. The Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker receives a perfect score from about a dozen owners. Reviews agree less expensive cuts of meat turn out tender, and it's easy to use and clean. Owners appreciate the DVD that comes with the cooker.
Review: Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker, 8 Quart, Contributors to Macys.com
5. Amazon.com
More than half of the approximately 80 owner reviews of the Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker give it a perfect rating. Owners say the lid is easy to attach and lock in place, and the yellow indicator makes it easy to know when the correct pressure is achieved. Several owners, however, report bad experiences with the Fagor Duo that range from the handle breaking to very rare explosions while cooking. It isn't clear whether some of these mishaps are due to improper use.
Review: Fagor Duo 8-Quart Stainless-Steel Pressure Cooker with Steamer Basket, Contributors to Amazon.com
6. Cooking.com
There aren't many reviews for the Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker on Cooking.com and the few that exist are pretty brief. The Fagor Duo 8-Quart earns 4.3 stars out of 5 from only a handful of reviewers. Other sizes of the Fagor Duo have similar ratings. Owners say it's sturdy and well-priced.
Review: Pressure Cooker Duo by Fagor, Contributors to Cooking.com