Which size pressure cooker do I need?

Hi - Which size pressure cooker should I order? I cook for one, lots of beans, and usually make enough for a few meals.

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Sassy Sez: Hi there, so funny you ask this, because someone asked me a similar question recently.

Personally, I recommend the largest size of either cooker because it will last you for years - and you just never know what your cooking future holds. ;O)

But for a more precise answer...

One serving of beans (nutritionally speaking) is around 1/2 cup. Let's say you want to make enough beans for the recommended 2-3 servings of beans per day, for about 3-4 days. Then that is right around 4 cups of cooked beans.

Now let's break down two of the three sizes of pressure cookers I offer on my site...

One quart equals 3 cups. The smallest Practika Plus is 3.2 quarts and the smallest Mageplus is 4.2 quarts. So that means the PP holds 9 cups to the top, and the Mageplus holds 12 cups to the top.

Take into consideration that when you use a pressure cooker you cannot fill it more than 2/3rds full BEFORE cooking, which is 6 cups for the small PP and 8 cups for the small Mageplus.

Still with me?...

If you want to make 4 cups of beans, you would have to add the 2 cups uncooked (soaked) beans and 6 cups water.

The total is now 8 cups going into that pressure cooker before cooking.

So to sum up all my blabbering, it seems the smallest Mageplus would suit your needs because it is designed for 8 cups of food/liquid before cooking.

WHEW!

Only one thing to consider. If you want to use a steamer basket in your PC, you cannot use the smallest cookers because they are SO adorable and perfect for 1 or 2 servings that they don't fit the steamer basket!

In this case, you would go with the next size up, in which case the mid-size Practika Plus OR the Mageplus would work. ;O)

Please feel free to ask for further clarification if you need it. xo








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