5 Reasons You Should Own An All-Clad Stovetop Pressure Cooker

There are two types of people when it comes to pressure cooking: the seasoned pros (who use their cookers to do everything from braise short ribs to steam vegetables) and those who have let horror stories of exploding pressure cookers turn them off to the idea altogether. If you fall into the latter group, then you don't have to be intimidated anymore — All Clad has created their first-ever stovetop pressure cooker, and it's everything you would expect from a brand like theirs.

We tested All-Clad's new PC8-PRECISION stovetop pressure cooker and can say with confidence that anyone can use — and achieve excellent results with — this pressure cooker. Here are five reasons we think that every home cook should own one.

It's Easy to Use
We have all heard the mouth-watering stories of flavorful, fall-off-the-bone tender braised short ribs that were cooked in a fraction of the time in a pressure cooker, but take a look at all the vents and gauges and the odds are good you'll be too intimidated to try. Not the case with this particular pressure cooker — it has a smart timer that walks you through three easy steps with a series of beeps. After the first beep, you reduce the heat under the pot to low; after the second beep, you turn the heat off completely; and after the third beep, you can safely open the lid of your pressure cooker. It's that easy!

It Takes the Fear Out of Pressure Cooking
If you were ever nervous about an exploding pressure cooker, this model will ease your fears. The lid is easy to attach, and when you lock it into place, heavy-duty tabs clamp under the lip of the pot, securing it in place — trust us, it isn't going anywhere! As an added bonus, the smart timer beeps when it's time to open the pressure cooker, so you'll know when it's safe to crack the lid.

It Dramatically Reduces Cooking Time
The pressure cooker is the exact opposite of a slow cooker; it cooks food in just a fraction of the time. And what home cook doesn't need a quick and easy meal from time to time? This particular pressure cooker has four cooking programs that you can set by simply sliding a lever — vegetables, grains, meat/poultry, and seafood — guaranteeing that whatever you need to cook, you can cook it well. We tested farro, for example, which takes about half an hour on the stovetop, and it cooked in just six minutes. After another six minutes to allow the pressure to release (so, a total of 12 minutes), the farro was perfectly tender with a slight chewiness — just the way we like it.

It's Versatile
The PC8-PRECISION's wide diameter and stainless-steel construction make it perfect for searing and sautéing, too. This is especially important when you want to make a full meal in your pressure cooker — you can build a good flavor base before closing everything in the pot and letting it cook to perfection. That means you can just as easily use this pressure cooker to make a batch of game day chili as you can to make creamy Parmigiano-Reggiano risotto. The pressure cooker also includes a stainless-steel steamer basket that enables you to cook delicate foods like fish, vegetables, and desserts.

It's Dishwasher Safe
Ask any home cook what she or he looks for when buying kitchen tools, gadgets, and appliances and we're willing to bet that "dishwasher safe" makes the top of the list. The All-Clad stovetop pressure cooker is dishwasher safe with the exception of three easy-to-remove pieces (the control panel, the timer, and the silicone gasket), so you can make a delicious meal quickly and clean up just as easily!

The All-Clad PC8-PRECISION stovetop pressure cooker is available at Sur La Table. For more information about All-Clad, please visit their website.

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.