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(More customer reviews)I've been using my Fagor 3-in-1 multi-cooker for a few months now and have really enjoyed it. I've tried all 3 functions. For the rice cooker function, I like it but the rice comes out a little stickier than we're used to. I've tried cutting back on the amount of water and that seems to help. But I typically just use my old rice cooker because the multi-cooker is already in use making the main dish. For the slow cooker function, it seems to cook at a slightly lower temperature than even the low setting on regular slow cookers. The food gets done, but meats aren't as "falling apart" as they are in my old slow cooker. But maybe that's a good thing since they're not overcooked. Depending on what I'm making, sometimes I use the multi-cooker and sometimes I use my old one. The multi-cooker is 6 qts, but is taller and has a smaller diameter than most slow cookers. So it wouldn't work well for a big flat piece of meat like a brisket. Also, the multi-cooker is teflon coated, so if I'm making something that I will need to use my immersion blender on, I use my old slow cooker with the corning-ware insert. Another small problem with the multi-cooker is that even though the insert is removable, it's not very good for putting the ingredients in the night before and putting in the fridge until you're ready to cook. There's no handles to grab it by and there's no lid just for the insert. Because there are no handles, it's also very difficult, and dangerous, to lift it out after cooking to pour the food into a serving dish. The function I was most nervous about was the pressure cooker. I had never had a pressure cooker before and had visions of horror remembering my mother's and grandmother's disasters. But honestly, once I learned to trust the multi-cooker, it's been great. I didn't know how long it would take to reach pressure, so I would get nervous that it wasn't closed right. But it was fine. You just need to add about 20 minutes to your estimated prep time for it to get up to pressure and start cooking. I was concerned about the 9 psi pressure after reading the other reviews here. I sent an e-mail to Fagor customer service and they actually sent me a page from Miss Vickie's web site that said you need to increase the cooking time by 40% and that you shouldn't use anything less than a 15 psi cooker. I couldn't believe they would send me something that says not to use their product! But it was all the customer service people could offer. Well, it turns out Miss Vickie's web site is wrong. You don't need to increase the cooking time at all, or just a minute or two if it's a long-cooking recipe. The problem is that Miss Vickie based her calculation on the ratio of the pressures (9 being 40% less than 15). But pressure isn't doing the cooking, temperature is. And the ratio of the temperatures is less than 10%. And if you use absolute temperature (according to my engineer husband) the ratio is even less, about 1%. So for a recipe that cooks 10 minutes you would increase it by a few seconds. So now I just use the recommended times in recipes and everything has come out perfectly cooked. I should add that this multi-cooker does not come with a steamer insert, and many pressure cooker recipes, especially for vegetables, require one. It doesn't even seem that Fagor offers one separately. I really like the browning function. It gets very hot and is useful not only for browning ingredients at the beginning but also for getting things boiling at the end of slow cooking so that you can add thickeners like cornstarch or roux. The warming function is nice, too. I've used the cook delay once or twice, but only for an hour or two. Longer would be risky for bacterial growth. So I really like this appliance. I don't think I'll be getting rid of my rice cooker or slow cookers, but they've moved to the basement and the Fagor 3-in-1 multi-cooker has the prize spot on the kitchen counter.
Note: Since writing this comment over a year ago, I have found this silicone vegetable steamer and it works perfectly as a trivet for this pressure cooker. It has firm legs which hold it above the liquid. They were strong enough to hold 4 pounds of brisket. It worked beautifully and cleaned up very nicely.
Chef'n Sleekstor VeggiSteam 8-1/2-Inch Silicone Steamer, Arugula
And I should add that I still love my Fagor 3-in-1 and use it several times a week. I still mainly use it for the pressure cooker function, though. I've found that I really don't need a slow cooker anymore.
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Fagor 670040230 Stainless-Steel 3-in-1 6-Quart Multi-CookerAn exceptionally versatile addition to any busy kitchen, this 6-quart multi-cooker offers a variety of functions all in one handy appliance--use it as a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, or a slow cooker. In rice-cooker mode, the unit automatically cooks any type of rice to light, fluffy, restaurant-quality perfection. In pressure-cooker mode, the appliance offers high (9 psi) and low (5 psi) pressure settings for cooking healthy meals in no time. The higher the pressure the faster the results. For peace of mind, the unit's self-locking lid comes with an automatic pressure-release setting, which means the lid won't open until all the pressure inside gets safely released. In slow-cooker mode, the appliance can be used to make delicious pot roasts, soups, and stews. Simply add the ingredients in the morning, set the timer, and dinner will be ready and waiting after a long day at the office. Best of all, the multi-cooker automatically shifts to "keep warm" at the end of any cooking program, keeping food hot and ready to serve without overcooking. Other highlights include a "brown" function for true one-pot cooking, an LED screen with soft-touch control buttons, a programmable eight-hour delay timer, stay-cool handles, overheat protection, and two independent pressure-control valves for added security. When finished, the nonstick cooking pot can be removed for quick cleanup by hand or in the dishwasher. A user manual with 40 delicious recipes comes included. Attractively housed in brushed stainless steel, the ETL-approved multi-cooker measures approximately 12 by 12 by 13 inches.
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