With the Fissler 8.5Qt vitaquick pressure cooker, cooking is truly made easy. Features include a unique positioning aid, two markings for gentle and speed settings and a locking indicator. In addition, comes with a measuring scale and an evaporation valve which enables comfort, as wasted steam no longer builds up on the handle. Discover more in Fissler 8.5Qt vitaquick pressure cooker review.
- Suitable for all stoves, even induction
- Easy handling thanks to positioning aid
- Handle with locking indicator
- 2 markings for gentle and speed settings
Specifications
- Diameter: 10.2 inches
- Liter: 8 liter
- Stoves : Ceran, electric, gas, induction
- Dishwasher safe
- Material Stainless steel
Compare Fissler vitaquick Pressure Cooker vs T-fal Pressure Cooker
| Fissler vitaquick Pressure Cooker Stainless Steel Induction, 8.5 Quart, silver | Presto 01362 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker | T-fal Pressure Cooker, Stainless Steel Cookware, 6.3-Quart, Silver, Model P25107 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Silver | Silver | Silver |
| Item Dimensions | 14.37 x 9.06 x 18.31 inches | 9.12 x 17.31 x 8.75 inches | 18.10 x 11.50 x 10.50 inches |
| Item Weight | 12.57 lbs | 2.90 lbs | 8.00 lbs |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel, stainless-steel | Stainless Steel |
| Size | 8.5 Quart | 6 qt | 6 Qt. |
What is good in Fissler 8.5Qt vitaquick pressure cooker?
Cooking settings
Settings for gentle or fast cooking help make sure your meal is prepared exactly to the point.
Cookstar all-stove base
The cookstar all-stove base lies perfectly on the cooktop and guarantees optimal heat absorption, distribution and retention – which helps you save energy with any type of stove or hob.
Removable handle
To make cleaning the lid even easier, the handle can be removed.
Positioning aid
The practical positioning aid makes it ultra-easy to position and close the lid.
Traffic light system
The clear color coding of the traffic light system makes it easier to control the exact pressure required for cooking.
Locking Indicator
When the locking indicator pops to green and you hear a clearly audible click, the pressure cooker is safely closed and ready for the stove.
Fissler 8.5Qt vitaquick pressure cooker Review
Design & build
At 8.5 quarts and measuring at 10.2″, this is the second largest of the Fissler Vitaquick line of pressure cookers. It is made with heavy gauge 18/10 stainless steal, with a shiny mirror finish. The base is wide and even with the pot, and has a heat-conducting aluminum core. This is important for even heating and durability: a pressure cooker must be able to take a high flame without warping.
Handle
The handles are made of quality plastic and have a nice feel. They close with an audible click that activates a color-coded indicator, so you can rest assured that the lid has been properly and securely locked in place.
Pressure
The pressure is indicated by a banded rod that rises as the pressure rises. When one white ring is visible, it is at low pressure, when the second band appears it is at high pressure. It was easy to spot the bands from across my kitchen, which I appreciated. With its mirror finish, matte black plastic handles, and bright blue accents, the Fissler is an attractive pot, too.
The Fissler Vitaquick comes with several safety features that keep the pot from over-pressurizing and exploding, a problem which would occasionally happen with old-fashioned models. Besides the click and color-coded handle mentioned above, the cooker has a pressure valve which will only engage if the handle is properly locked, allowing the pressure to safely build and preventing the lid from being accidentally opened. The handle will not unlock until the pot has properly depressurized.
Pressure control
The pressure valve will automatically release excess pressure in order to maintain a safe level at all times, but you can depressurize the cooker manually by pressing on valves located on the sides of the handle. Finally, the pot is marked on the inside with minimum and maximum fill marks to prevent under or overfilling
Cleaning
Cleanup is easy, too, and if you happen to have a dishwasher, the Vitaquick is dishwasher safe. The only maintenance is to replace the rubber gasket on occasion, which is standard with any pressure cooker. The cooker comes with a steamer insert and tripod for steaming (I haven’t tried this feature yet) as well as a comprehensive users manual and a spiral-bound cookbook. You can purchase a clear glass lid, which simply turns the pressure cooker into a regular pot, increasing its utility.
Using the Fissler Vitaquick has made a pressure cooker convert out of me! I love having a freezer full of delicious chicken stock that was made in less than an hour (and not to mention superior to my usual back-of-the stove method stock due to the fact that the higher temperature really sucks the flavor and gelatin from the bones). And I love quickly cooking dried beans (without soaking!) and grains like farro in less than 1/2 hour. Think of it: quick cooking, healthy ingredients for less money and no excess packaging. Win-win-win!
Fissler 8.5Qt vitaquick pressure cooker customer review
Best of 4 pressure cookers that I’ve owned – better than Kuhn Rikon
30 years ago I was gifted a Hawkins aluminum wiggle-top pressure cooker. After using it for about 10 years, until it warped, and until I became worried about cooking in aluminum, I upgraded to a Kuhn Rikon Duromatic 7L cooker. The Duromatic has served us well for some 20 years, though I have always had issues with scorching at the edges, and it’s a bit narrow for the amount of food that it can fit. I was given an Instant Pot for my birthday.
After using the Kuhn Rikon, the Instant Pot was painfully slow to come up to pressure (30 minutes vs maybe 5 or 6 for the Kuhn Rikon), and scorched foods even more than the Kuhn Rikon. It also decided that food was being burnt and turned off, so I ended up “finishing” the food in the Kuhn Rikon. I don’t understand all the fuss about Instant Pots, but on the bright side it means that there are a lot more pressure cooker recipes available (though I still rely on Lorna Sass for most methods).
I returned the Instant Pot to the store, and renewed my interest in stovetop pressure cookers. After reading the reviews of the Fissler by America’s Test Kitchen, I decided to give it a try. Why did I wait so long?! I did a pressure test first thing (about 2L of water brought to high pressure for 5 minutes), and it worked like a dream. Quite a bit of machine oil came off with that first trial, so I definitely recommend doing this as well as washing it before first use. It’s much wider than the Kuhn Rikon (about 10 inches versus about 8), and so it’s easier to saute before starting to pressure cook.
The bottom is super-heavy and goes all the way to the edge. Sauteeing is dream, as the heat is constant – more like a nice dutch oven than a regular pan. It seemed to take slightly longer to reach high pressure than the Kunh Rikon (6 or 7 minutes for 2 cups of rice and 6 cups of liquid vs. maybe 5 for the Kuhn Rikon), which makes sense because it’s a lot heavier. Once it reached pressure, I turned the heat very low, and the pressure remained high – much less fiddling with the heat on my gas stove to keep the pressure even than with the Kuhn Rikon.
The first dish I made was a paella-flavored risotto – no scorching and it was completely perfect in exactly the time noted in Lorna Sass’s recipes for risotto. My husband then made a Korean stew with tofu and beef short ribs – the meat was falling off the bone after 20 minutes at pressure and a natural release. Amazing! I like the pressure release button – no more having to waste water cooling the cooker for a quick release, and no more mess. The little “hat” that covers the well surrounding the pressure valve on the Kuhn Rikon fell off years ago, and so water collects in that well when cooling it with water, and then that water spills when taking the lid off.
There is no well on the top of the Fissler, so this would not be an issue, though I don’t know why one would use water when the button works so well. I wear steamproof oven mitts and put a dish towel over the pot to contain the steam when using the pressure-release button. The pressure indicator is easy to see. It’s easy to clean, though it is really heavy so definitely use 2 hands to move it around. I expect that it will serve well for another 20 years. It appears that replacement parts are available, so I will replace the gasket and other rubber/plastic bits regularly. I waited too long to do this with the Kuhn Rikon, and when I finally did, it made a large difference in performance of the pot. The Fissler is a functional thing of beauty! I highly recommend this pressure cooker.
By Amazon reviewer
The Pressure Cooker Buying Guide
Safety mechanisms are built into every modern pressure cooker, but you may like some better than others. One model has a locking mechanism on the cooker that includes a mechanism light that goes from red to green once it’s locked. That takes all the guesswork out of using one of these devices. Some models use a metal-to-metal seal to make sure no steam can escape. Lastly, other units have built-in safety features, including a cover that will not open unless pressure has been fully released.
Pressure cookers come in a variety of sizes, so it’s important for you to know what you’ll be doing. If you simply want to try canning a few items, for instance, the smaller-capacity pressure cookers will do. However, unless you have a large family, a 21.5-quart cooker may have far more room than you’ll ever need. A 10.5 quart will hold seven standard mouth regular pint jars or four standard regular mouth quart jars.
Ease of use is also an important factor when you’re choosing a stovetop pressure cooker. Look for pressure settings that are extremely easy to read, and lids that slide onto the pot without much effort.
The size of larger units, like the 21.5-quart pressure cookers, can bring a couple of issues. First, its size means it doesn’t fit snugly on just one burner, making it difficult to place. You’ll also find its heaviness may make it a bad fit for a ceramic or glass range. Lastly, the size signifies it will also take longer than average to heat up and cool down.
Cleanup is an understandable concern with any appliance. If you’re used to tossing your pots and pans in the dishwasher, you may want a unit that provides that level of no-fuss cleaning. Look for a model that is labeled as dishwasher safe. Models that have a satin finish also tend to be easier to clean by hand, in the event that they aren’t dishwasher safe.
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