under pressure

[BroadRipple]

[all together now...'under pressure'...]
OK so i know this is hardly an unheard-of question on the vine, but I'm thinking of buying a pressure cooker.
You have NO IDEA how long this thinking, i.e. faffing about online reading unhelpful info, has been going on. i could have MINED for the damn, er, steel, sort of, by now.
But as i haven't...here are my questions:
a)yes? no?
b)prestige? WMF (too expensive surely)? other?
c)fave books to cook from it with?
d)etc
e)etc.
Thank you grapelings.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Pressure cooker great for boiling the beetroot we have a prestige. easy to get new seals etc for them when needed. Probably cost a fortune these days though.

[binley100]

We have an automatic prestige given to us as a wedding pressie 24 years ago ..........very rarely comes out to play as I'm a bit afeard of using it.

[Bren In Pots]

I think with pressure cookers you either love or hate them I've got an 2 ones an ancient Prestige we bought 30 year ago then the others a small Hawkins we bought to take camping.
They're perfect for making stock, soups, cooking beans and stewing meat but hopeless for fresh veg because a minute either side means mushy veg.

[taff]

if it's only for veg, a metal 3 tier steamer is much better, I got one years ago for a tenner, it's still being used now, i lent it to someone to see how they liked it, and I haven't had it back yet, my sister had to get me another one for christmas last year.
I have an old tefal one, the handle broke, so it's been 'fixed' with a rod, but honestly, i use it as a stockpot rather than a pressure cooker.
Good for spotted dick though

[BroadRipple]

hmmm...can't say your advice is making my kitchen-item-loving heart miss a beat...anyone else? stock? jam? jamstock?

[Aberdeenplotter]

I do my jam in a jam pan

[taff]

I use it as a big pan so stock, jam, boiling up apples, soups, stews, bolognese sauces, anything that requires a large pan really.
My parents use theirs for cooking large pieces of meat, or spaghetti sauces as a pressure cooker to cut down cooking time.