I have a new cooking appliance! A multicooker with pressure cooking as one of its functions. So I had a Tefal 8 in 1 multicooker which our dear friends gifted as a wedding present just over 3 years ago. It lasted about 2.5 years altogether and I heavily used it (at least 3 times a week). It basically showed an error code one day, upon researching I realised it was a common issue after the 2 year mark, the cables connecting the pop-up lid to the base snaps. As you'll know we moved from the UK to the Republic of Ireland, I attempted getting quotes to fix but had no luck there. So I posted this in a group chat saying I had lost a kitchen friend and would like a replacement as a joke. To my surprise, my best friend and her husband decided they wanted to replace it as my Christmas present. This was the best thing ever as I love to get practical gifts, better still kitchen appliances as gifts.
I started to research with a budget in mind, I knew there were various options on the market so I started to make a mental list of features I wanted and what was not essential. I wanted an upgrade from my previous multicooker but did not also want to spend too much. The key features and uses I knew I wanted was pressure cooking, rice, and stew functions that made cooking easier and quicker. This is because I started a new job this year, which I knew I'll be in the office more than I have been since 2019! So I needed something that would cut my cooking time as you know I am a self-proclaimed meal prep queen 👑
Reasons to get a multi-purpose pressure cooker
If you want to cut down on cooking time or ramp up your multi-tasking kictchen, then a multi-cooker might just be your best investment in the kitchen. This Drew & Cole pressure cooker like many other brands in the range has 10 or more functions such as sauté, rice, soup, stew and pressure cooking functionalities. Obviously, you could cook on the hob, which I very much do but for meal prep days I tend to cook 4 or more dishes at once so this along with my air fryer (check out the review here) aids a successful cooking session.
I have had this multi-cooker for just over a month and have used it every week, sometimes 2 times a day. I love it as it is super sturdy, stylish and easy to clean. Most of my appliances are black and stainless steel, so this fits in perfectly. It cuts cooking time in half or even more for certain dishes and I am totally loving it. I will come back later in the year to update if anything changes but this was the best-reviewed and priced, I am glad I went with this. Fun fact this brand is actually from Yorkshire so it sealed the deal as I lived in both South and West Yorkshire whilst in the UK - so felt like a bit of home.
In future recipes, you'll see how handy this kitchen appliance is as I share simple and delicious dishes for you to try. I tend to make rice or all varieties (pilau, plain, with kidney beans), brown beans, Asian sauces, curries and even chicken stew. The best way to use this is for one-pot dishes that do not require much attention or steps too and would otherwise take so long on the hob. This allows you to simply pour everything in at once or sauté at the start and requires minimal chef skills.
In a time of ever-increasing energy bills, this also cuts down cooking time thus less energy consumption, so it is a win-win. If you are a savvy shopper like me, then make sure to check a few websites and look for discount codes or sales before buying. There are many on the market so you should be able to find something in your price range. However, do not buy one simply because it is the cheapest as this could mean less durability, I suggest a good budget will be upwards of £90 depending on the capacity. I also went with the 5,7l as the max line is about 3/4 of the inner pot so you'll need to consider your capacity needs. It also comes with a handy app that gives recipes of some popular dishes which you can use to also guide you in making your favourite meals.
Other things to consider (Cons)
Space - It takes up some space on the kitchen counter and will recommend there is a wide gap between the pressure nozzle and the ceiling. So if you have a small kitchen or only space under a kitchen cabinet, I will not recommend as it needs that space for when releasing the pressure. This would otherwise cause condensation and watermark issues on the wall or cabinets. Also the same is for if you do not like appliances on display, it takes up space depending on the capacity. I love the look of kitchen appliances so is not a problem for me. Alternatively, you will need to have storage options in the cupboard or pantry to bring it out when required.
Noise & timings - It isn't noisy when cooking, a slight simmer when calibrating and when releasing pressure. So it is a great addition to the kitchen as will not be loud. However, it's worth noting that although it cuts cooking time, it needs time (about 2 - 8 mins) to build up to the right pressure levels and also release time to consider. Over time I have actually reduced the cooking time to factor this in as I found it actually starts cooking at the calibration stage and continues to with the steam at the end. For example, rather than the default 12mins to cook rice, I reduce this to 10mins which means it's cooked in the same duration considering the above.
Everyone cooks differently and so the default or recommended times are only a guide, the more it is used the more you figure out what works for you. Overall, this is a welcomed upgrade and addition to the Food by Gbemi kitchen.
I will list this on my amazon list, do have a look, otherwise, check your usual homeware store for what's on offer. I got this from an Ireland store (online) called Topline Heavins & Euronics as it was the best deal and it arrived quickly, so do have a shop around. I hope this helps you decide and you will see more recipes using my pressure cooker on the blog.
Happy cooking! Let me know what you think.
2024 update - still great and I still owe you some recipes I know 🙈
Jan 2025 update - still works like a charm and I must be enjoying it so much I just can't sit down to write recipes (or atleast type them up as I do have physical notes!). Sorry guys, I'll try to do better 😅
#pressurecooker #multicooker #drewandcole #foodie #Kitchenmusthaves #kitchenappliances #appliancereview
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