Prestige Pressure Cooker, 3.5 Liter

3.5 L is just the right size for one or two people. at first the whistle was off putting, but if you know how to use it, it's like having a timer that you can hear from the other room...or outside down the block. It's not really that loud, but you might wear a diaper the first time you use it. Don't put the weight on until there is a steady jet of steam coming out of the top. then, don't start timing until you hear the first whistle. I heat mine up on high or medium high and then turn it down to 4 or 5 after the first whistle. At that level, at least on my stove, the whistles come between 3 and 4 minutes apart. I use this almost exclusively for beans. If you soak beans over night, it only takes 6 minutes (or two whistles) for them to be cooked. If you don't soak them (and you don't have to) it'll take between 7 and 10 whistles depending on the bean. It fits perfectly on my small burners, so I can have this and a larger pressure cooker going at the same time. As for quality, it's pretty solid. I have no complaints. It's a nice cooker. 10/15/2015 - I decided to buy a 2L version and it's just as great as the 3.5L. Last night I browned a stuffed chicken breast in it, then put in a 1/2 cup of water and put the lid on. After 7 minutes, I released the pressure, removed the chicken and threw in a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of flour. I wisked it with the cooking liquid and made a great pan gravy. Clean up was very easy.

The pictorial representation is incorrect. The item I received is - 'Prestige PDA-2L Alpha Deluxe Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker, 2.0-Liter, Silver'. Prestige Customer Service informed me that there is no Prestige PDA-2L Alpha Deluxe Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker, 2.0-Liter, Silver and both are one and the same. 2. Buyers beware - The real capacity is 1.5 liters max, though the advertisement says 2 liters. It is excellent for me, as a bachelor/ single person, cooking food for myself. The item does not have separators. It can be used for only single cooking of one item, at a time. I cook either half a cup rice or one third cup dhal only each occasion. The cooking time is about 5 minutes on a gas stove, while the pressure cooker can be opened after 5 to 6 minutes from taking out of gas stove. The time extends if one uses electric coil. The time extends based on the quantity. The maximum capacity of raw rice is 1.25 cup, since it makes about 1 lit cooked rice. The cooker can be used to the maximum 75% as per brochure. 3. I note that many are attempting to cook dried beans and mushrooms, after soaking in water. This small pressure cooker may not be good for those tasks. In my experience, the pressure cooker is excellent for cooking rice, all kinds of lentils and dals, hard vegetables, etc. I also used the base to make sambar gravy on occasional times. I also used the base as frying pan/ tawa to make upma for large quantity. 4. I am happy with the product and recommend to anyone who is looking for baby cooking or single cooking and also wants to cook in stainless steel pressure cooker for health and hygienic reasons.

UPDATE : I took off a star because I soon found that with 2 regular mason jars even though the lid closes the gasket does not quite seal properly and the cooker does not build more than a few pounds of pressure and the gasket leaks steam and a small drop of water drips about every 3 seconds . My application was to cook yellow split peas, which foam up too much to be cooked in pressure cooker unless you add unhealthy oil , by putting them in jars and I di do a couple of batches and it did work but Im concerned about damaging the gasket so now I just do 3 pints instead of 2 quarts and yes its very good . I also learnt that the gasket will not seat properly if the lid is closed when hot water is in the cooker AND the weight is on the valve . So either close the lid only when the water is cold or take the weight off before closing it if the water is hot . I don't know if the lid will close with wide mouth quarts which are 1/2" shorter than regular quarts .If it does I may go back to 5 stars A wide mouth mason jar is about 6 5/8" tall generally 1/2" shorter than a regular mouth mason jar whcih si about 7" tall . The 5.5L Deluxe comes with a false bottom insert that holds jars off the bottom so water can get under then so they dont heat directly from the steel bottom which could cause cracking .This insert can be flipped to hold jars off bottom by 1/8" or 1/2" depending on ho it is flipped A wide mouth with lid quart (6 5/8"tall) jar placed in the center of the 5.5"Deluxe with the insert flipped to the 1/2" position had room to spare when the lid was closed . A regular mouth quart jar ( 7" tall) placed in the center of the 5.5"Deluxe with the insert flipped to the 1/2" position was too tall to close the lid but I could close the lid on a 7" jar when the insert was flipped to the 1/2" position . I could get both jars in the 5.5L Deluxe at the same time and close the lid when the insert was flipped to the 1/8" position. Since i got the 5.5L Deluxe to do sous vide cooking using mason jars this made me very happy . HINT FOR CLOSING THE LID : When you close it put the handle to your right and press the opposite side of the lid with your left .It is not difficult to align .The secret is to get the whole lid level so none of the locking tabs hit each other when rotating closed .Once you learn to press on the opposite side of the lid from the handle to balance the downward pressure you are putting on the handle it will slide closed with no problem

I received the pressure cooker today and I was really disappointed by the size. It is too small; I was expecting a 2 Liter cooker but it is only about 1 Liter. I compared it to a 2 quarts pan that I have and it is about half the size of it (2 liters = 2.11 quarts, so I was expecting it to be bigger than my 2 quarts pan). As another reviewer said, the manufacturer is cheating. It seems well built and looks nice, but I am returning it and thinking about ordering the 3.5 liter cooker if I knew the actual size.I am assuming it is less than 3.5 liters (perhaps 2 liters and that's what I need). Can any one tell me the actual size of the Prestige 3.5 liter stainless steel cooker? By the way, I purchased 2 Presto stainless steel pressure cookers from Amazon (4 quarts and 6 quarts) and they are excellent cookers (I have used them several yrs). Unfortunately Presto does not have any cookers less than 4 quarts, that's why I ordered the Prestige cooker. I owned different brands over the years but Presto pressure cookers are the best.

I've been using pressure cookers for over 30 years so you know I'm 'hooked'!! I have a 3L T-Fal Clipso, a 4L Fagor, and a Magefesa set with a 3L and 8L pots and I use them all when needed for the cooking task. Now a days since it's just me here in the house and I cook 'for one' there are times I have wanted a smaller pressure cooker. This Prestige 2L pressure cooker fits the bill perfectly!!! I was delighted that it is Induction compatible and I just used it on my NuWave 2 induction cooktop to cook a small piece of round steak with white wine, lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper, a small bay leaf, and a bit of water. It was my shortcut knock off version of Bolice Mochado, and it was delicious!!! I am very, very impressed and extremely pleased with this 2L Prestige Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker. It is the perfect size for cooking for one or two people, it is easy to clean, and it performs very well. I am truly happy I bought it and believe me, I will work it like a rented mule!!!

This product is just what I needed for cooking quickly and without much fuss. It is versatile (good for cooking rice, dal, vegetables) and whistle-perfect. Looks good in the kitchen too. In my view Prestige is a better product than Hawkins, in which the lid constrains the cooker space because it has to go inside it to close. In Prestige cooker, the lid cleanly envelops the cooker. My suggestion for improvement: accessories, such as a couple of containers, can be supplied along with the cooker. Amazon is doing a wonderful job with its fast and efficient service. The cooker is available at Indian stores in Sydney, but Amazon was cheaper by about 40 per cent.

I have a number of pressure cookers, most of which I like. This Prestige Stainless Steel Pressure cooker was purchased for its small size and the ability to use on a induction stove. The small size is great for individual meals like a "quick pot roast" and does work with no issues on an induction stove. My issue is with how it seals. The seal is less than positive, and over a couple of uses simply did not seal on its own... just boiling away without any pressure buildup. I discovered that after it comes up to heat the lid should be twisted, pressed down, and put back into position. The pressure release valve pops right up and within a minute you cannot turn the handle anymore, along with a satisfying hiss from the top pressure release weight -- then things proceed normally. But really--who wants to press down in a hot lid, while twisting a handle, with boiling liquid underneath? Seems like a design flaw in the seal or lid to me. My own extensive experiences with pressure cookers would make me steer away from this one or similarly configured cookers. Cookers from brands like T-fal provide multiple positive locking mechanisms, which once closed come up to pressure without any further intervention. Especially if you are a beginner at using pressure cookers -- you really should not have to touch the pressure cooker once it is sealed except to release the pressure cooker weight and/or adjusting stove heat. There should be multiple signs that the cooker is under pressure and when pressure is released. The Prestige does what it is supposed to... "pressure cook"... but not without help along the way. I would not buy it again vs other cookers I have had... if only T-fal made a couple of smaller and deeper pressure cookers, for which this is my favorite larger version: T-fal P25107 Stainless Steel Dishwasher Safe PTFE PFOA and Cadmium Free 10 / 15-PSI Pressure Cooker Cookware, 6.3-Quart, Silver

This little pot is great. Keep in mind that you never fill pressure cookers more than 2/3 full. So there's really not much space in this little thing. However, I use it almost every time I'm cooking a quick meal just for myself. I can throw a variety of stuff in here: cauliflower, 1/2 a sweet potato, uncooked quinoa, lentils, spices, and a little water. Bring that up to pressure, keep it there for 5 minutes(!) and it's a tasty, cheap, healthy meal that required no planning. Larger beans than lentils (navy, mung, turtle, etc) cook in 5 minutes if they're pre-soaked. Anyway I love it and have talked it up to my family and friends who haven't yet explored pressure cooking.

The pressure cooker served my purpose and is easy to handle

I am happy to get this on good deal. As our family use this brand pressure cooker so I love using it. Thanks to amazon.

Awesome product. Very effective, Size is good enough for a family of 3. The safety plug and ring is very effective

It is really very nice cooker....

Beautiful look. I use it personally. Enjoy using.