Christopher Kimball for Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Pressure Cooker, 5 Qt.

Pressure cookers cheat time, putting dishes like soups, stews, braises and beans on the table in minutes, not hours. The Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker is sturdily built for the long haul and very easy to use, with clear instructions and a spring-loaded pressure valve that keeps things entirely safe. We love this model because it is heavy-duty and you can actually cook with it on the stovetop, doing the sautéing and other functions that are often required before closing the lid. Electric pressure cookers, for example, are flimsy by comparison and no good for serious cooking. By the way, the Duromatic Pressure Cooker goes all the way back to 1949 when the first model came to market. So when it comes to pressure cookers, Kuhn Rikon knows more about them than just about anyone.