Tex gal wrote:If the cost of a K-R is a problem, I think you would be better off with a stove top model of a less expensive brand rather than the electric model. There is nothing to break, and as long as it is a reputable brand so that you can replace gaskets when needed, you should never have to replace it.
My first stainless pc was NOT a Kuhn Rikon and I thought I was saving money. Well. The pot worked OK for a few months then developed a bubble in the bottom. I called and it was under warranty, but they didn't have that model to replace it with in that same size, since they were changing the way they were made and my particular pot was discontinued. They offered me a smaller pot with a little short frying pan model, or nothing. I was not happy with the smaller pot at all and ended up buying a Kuhn Rikon. If I had bought the Kuhn in the first place I would have saved money!
I still have the small 4 quart pot but it doesn't get used except as an extra regular kettle. It never worked as good as the Kuhn does, requires much more electricity to stay up to pressure than the Kuhn. The short fry pan is actually useful for frozen vegetables and steaming things quickly, since it is small it comes up to pressure quick but it does steam up the kitchen much more than the Kuhn does.
I'm just sold on Kuhn, it's the only way to go. They occasionally have them on sale at Amazon, one time a bunch of people on the McDougall forum got an exceptionally good deal when Amazon made a mistake and had a price 100 dollars less on a whole set or something really bizarre. So for like 49 bucks, people got a whole set of Kuhn pressure cookers. What a deal, and I missed out on it!
It's the reason we're looking at electric units; however, that's not to say an electric unit could malfunction as well.
