GSI Haulilite Pressure Cooker Demise

GSI discontinued selling their anodized aluminum pressure cookers. I suspect it was due to it being an inferior product. For starters it’s important to understand that the GSI pressure cooker was a single ply anodized aluminum pressure cooker that was manufactured overseas and stamped with the GSI logo to be sold in the US under the GSI name. Other names the pressure cooker has gone by in the past are Phillip Richards, and Denmark Cooking.

My own 2.7L GSI pressure cooker had constant issues with the safety release valves sticking closed. The pressure cooker finally kicked the bucket recently when the base of the pot bulged outward. At which point I reached out to GSI for remedy in regards to the product lifetime warranty claim. I was informed that no remedy was available due to discontinuing the sale of the item.

So why did the bottom of my pressure cooker bulge? Possibly because it was not made with a reinforced base. The high heat required to bring the pressure cooker to pressure may have lead to weakening the aluminum base and the interior pressure build up from faulty defective pressure release valves lead to excess interior pressure at high heat temps. Overall the pressure cooker was a horrific failure due to poor design and craftsmanship.

http://www.discoverpressurecooking.com/buy.html

Ironically I also discovered at this exact timing that my home use older vintage 100% stainless steel 6liter pressure cooker base had also developed a base bulge when I attempted to use it on an induction stove. It is very likely that the bulge had been there since I bought it from a thrift store and I just didn’t notice it before using it on an induction stove.

Travel Pressure cooker

When looking to purchase a pressure cooker to use with a gas burner it is important to purchase one with a

• reinforced base
  • Such as a stainless steel pot with reinforced base or a multiple layered anodized aluminum pot that uses a reinforced bottom base. An example is an anodized aluminum pot with a stainless steel bottom or Vice versa.

I did not find any compact pressure cookers utilizing the modern spring pressure regulator system. These style pressure cookers all appear to have the extended single handle that protrude away from the pot.

Size matters and For traveling a compact pressure cooker is best. Short handles are favorable. Another great feature to look for is internal measuring markings. Unfortunately Neither of the two pressure cookers I have interest in have internal minimum 1/3 and maximum 2/3 fill line marks.

If size does not matter and a steep learning curve do not matter then the Hawkins anodized aluminum and stainless steel pressure cookers are a decent alternative. I suggest staying away from the futura model due to its lack of immediate manual steam release function.

Pressure Regulator and Gasket

Something to keep in mind is that the pressure regulator on a travel pressure cooker should be threaded or secured. This is to ensure that the regulator does not fall off and get lost.

The gaskets for sealing the lid to the pot are a high wear item and require replacing every year for high usage owners. The gaskets are not universal between stainless steel pots and aluminum pots.

Where do I get replacement parts?

Certain parts on a pressure cooker are going to need replacing like the lid gasket and the float gasket. These parts are generally all manufactured by the same company overseas and sold under different company names in the US. Therefore parts can generally be purchased from stores like ace hardware or online from Amazon. Keep in mind the gaskets used in an aluminum pressure cooker are not universal to being used in a stainless steel pressure cooker.

My new to me second hand Fagor 6 liter stainless steel pressure cooker has a 9” gasket which translates to a 22cm gasket size. I need to avoid buying a transparent colored gasket as they are for use with aluminum pressure cookers.

3L Stainless Steel aluminum Clad Bottom Travel Pressure Cooker

This pressure cooker costs $77.12. It measures internal width of 7 inches and height of 5 inches. This is a true 3L pressure cooker with collapsible handles. It gives just a tad more cooking head space than the GSI Haulilite.

It also comes with a nifty storage bag not pictured here.

My first impressions are that I am not 100% happy because the lid handle is the weak spot of this pressure cooker. The water test was decent with the overall pot heating up very quickly, much faster than an older stainless steel without aluminum clad bottom and the GSI Haulilite. That being said this pressure cooker also requires a higher heat setting to maintain cooking pressure vs the GSI aluminum.

There is nothing locking the handle into position. So as soon as the lid is inverted upside down it collapses in on its self. I can see this being a potential safety hazard causing third degree burns if this were to drip the steaming water onto any body part. I often turn my lids upside down to contain any excess liquid or food mess from dripping to the ground when removing the lid.

First time use 6/14/24: I just got home from a camping trip around the Grand Canyon National park. I used this pressure cooker twice and despite the handle collapsing issue I love hate this pressure cooker. So the hate part is because the weighted regulator does not jiggle as readily as the GSI and it takes a bit of guess work for starting the timer. The ❤️ love part has to do with how easy it is to clean! It’s a dream to clean and this is essential when out at camp and water is a premium. I burnt chili in the pot and had some chicken stuck to the pot from steaming and they both came off with nothing more than wiping with a sponge. The old GSI aluminum pressure cooker requires multiple rough but non abrasive sponges and the use of special cleaning powders to remove burnt on foods.