It’s not everyday that I come back home to a new kitchen gadget to try out: a shiny pressure cooker.  Silit is apparently a well-known brand in Germany for cookware that likes to combine fashion with practicality.  This particular model comes with a glossy outer coating and non-stick interior.  The lid and handle slide nicely into place but leave just enough wiggle room to allow sufficient venting of steam.  This was my first time using a pressure cooker, and I was surprised by how other than the constant hiss of steam, the rest of the pot was remarkably still.  It might also be due to the fact that it is incredibly heavy, like cast iron heavy.

To try out the Silit, I made an HK-style beef soup with 牛腩, a cut of beef that benefits from a long braise, at least a few hours.  With the pressure cooker on the highest setting, the meat was tender in about 25 minutes.  The Silit holds heat remarkably well.  Once the desired pressure is achieved, it only takes the minimal of heat to maintain cooking conditions.  Clean-up was a cinch, non-stick surface and lego-like lid components.  Given our penchant for stews and soups, it’s a wonder that G and I ever got along back in SF without a pressure cooker.  This fella is now on my must-have kitchenware shortlist.