Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker Set – A combination of pressure cookers for all occasions!
If you are uncertain as to what size of pressure cooker to buy for your culinary needs, buy a set and get two sizes, one for an individual and one for a decent sized family–get the Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker set! If you are feeling generous you can give the smaller one away to a single friend, or keep it for yourself, for those days when you need a quick lunch for one. Alternatively, if you are a single person, keep the large sized 8 quart pot for making delicious soups that you can freeze for that lunch for one, cannot be bothered to cook moment.
Style file
The Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker set is a stove top set made from 18/10 stainless steel, with ergonomic black heat resistant plastic handles and a tempered glass lid for when using the four quart as a saucepan not a cooker. The pots are dishwasher safe, and it is easy to keep them looking good with the occasional polish. The steamer basket is a useful additional feature and good for draining pasta and vegetables and it also comes with a trivet. The manufacturer, Fagor, is a participant in the US energy star scheme which indicates that their manufacturing processes are environmentally friendly and energy efficient, which gives this Fagor Duo Pressure cooker an added bonus in this age of high energy bills!
Features
• 4 and 8 quart pressure cookers, glass lid for using 4 quart pot as a saucepan, steamer basket with trivet
• Safety lock handle that cannot be opened under pressure
• Visual pressure indicator, pops up when ready
• Dial settings, low, high and pressure release, spring dial mechanism can change pressure without changing valves
• Aluminum insert to stainless steel body allows for even cooking
• Dishwasher safe, except for lid
• Recipe booklet included
• 10 year warranty
• Reaches 15psi pressure on high setting and 8psi on low setting
Usability
The handles are a good designon this 5 piece Fagor Duo Pressure Coioker set, making it easy to pick up the cookers. The dial mechanism is easy to operate, and with all functions in the handle makes the operation simple. You do need to line up the handle and the cooker so that it locks properly, but it will not work unless you do so, therefore no danger of cooking without the lid on properly. The handle does lock until the cooker is ready so cannot accidentally release steam. The dial is well marked so it is clear what each of the settings are, and you can choose to use the quick release steam valve or allow the pressure to drop naturally.
Cooking time with this pressure cooker is about a third of the normal cooking time for a meal, although you can cook something like a risotto in seven minutes on the high setting. Do not use abrasive cleaning materials on the inside and if you get any cooking build up, or are finding it difficult to clean, a half lemon and water, brought to the boil will help you clean away any marks.
What customers say
Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker is one of the least expensive pressure cooker brands on the market that still includes all of the more recent product features of the more expensive brands. It is a Spanish manufacturer, but the manual and instruction booklet are well written and easy to understand.
The DVD that is supplied with some sets says to start timing once the pressure button has popped up, but most experts say to wait until steam starts to come out of the top. It only comes with one pressure cooking lid so you cannot use both pots as pressure cookers at the same time, it is either, or, and the other one is then used as a saucepan. Fagor does not appear to supply another lid as a replacement part, or additional part. There have been some customers who have experienced issues with the handles being broken in transit; however this appears to be a shipping issue not a product issue with this Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker set.
The rubber gaskets in the lid that form the seal are easy to replace, but should be checked before cooking, for wear and tear. Customers are very impressed by the double layer base to the cookers, heavy duty and a nice even heat as they cook, especially pleasing considering the value for money pricing.
Another often made comment is how good the smaller pot is as a sauté pan and that even when not using the pressure cooker they use the smaller cooker as a regular pan and it is much better than their other saucepans and fryers. There are positive comments about Fagor’s customer service and the value extends to replacement parts easily available from the Fagor website for the Fagor Duo Pressure cooker set.
Customer reviews on Amazon average out at 4.5 out of 5 stars. Depending on where you buy your Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker Set, you get either a steamer or a pasta bucket, if you would have preferred the other item, it is available on the Fagor website, customers report having bought the extra accessories because they are value for money and extend the use of both cookers. The 4 quart seems to be the favorite for preparing vegetables and the 8 quart for main meals, soups and stews.
As far as durability goes, a number of customers were good enough to update their reviews and some posted reviews as long term owners of this cooker combination. The reviews are all very positive about durability and also that the cookers still look good after several years use.
Overall verdict
The Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker Set is best appreciated for the flexibility of having two differently sized cookers and the option of using one as a steamer and vegetable cooker. The negative reviews all center round a batch of cookers with broken handles from poor packaging and delivery, immediately replaced by Amazon or the manufacturer, depending on where purchased.
The overall value of this product is indisputable; you get a lot of cooker for your money. The list price is $149.99 but the Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker is also available from other suppliers at between $120 and $145 and Amazon have it priced at $118.95 and have currently included it in their “buy 4 products, get the cheapest free” promotion.
Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker is definitely a great choice for pressure cooker set!
