For decades, a Mirro pressure cooker has been a workhorse in many home kitchens. They’re not fancy with all of the latest bells and whistles, but Mirro cookers get the job done and are built like tanks. For someone who is looking for an economical and practical option, you can’t go wrong with these pressure cookers.

Like all other pressure cookers, the Mirro line of pots cut cooking time by up to two-thirds. Imagine having a roast that’s just falling apart in less than an hour. It also helps retain nutrients typically lost by boiling. Vegetables cooked in a pressure cooker are much more healthy.

Most of the new Mirro cookers have a concave bottom, so they are not recommended for use on a glass-top stove. I’m not sure if the uneven heating will damage the pot or the stove, but since it’s not recommended, if you have a glass-top stove, I’d choose a different pressure cooker that is rated to work with them.

The Mirro pots are aluminum, but they are polished to a high shine. In fact the finish is shiny enough that the pots are often mistaken for stainless steel. The aluminum helps provide even cooking, but at a cost. Aluminum pots aren’t recommended for cooking acidic foods, such as tomato-based dishes. This isn’t too much of a problem with pressure cookers because of their typical use, however it is something to be aware of.

Most of these pressure cookers are made with three overpressure safety features. First, the handle locks while the pot is under pressure. This prevents someone from opening the pot while it’s under positive pressure. Next the lid has a built-in safety release plug. This plug is a fail-safe in case of extreme overpressure. Finally there is a side-gasket pressure release system that will release in the case of the failure of the primary vent and the safety plug.

The Mirro pots are built around the “rocker” style of Mirro pressure regulator. Most of the standard cooking pots are “set” at 10 pounds of pressure. This has been pretty standard for many years, so unless you have specific need, this should be fine.

While the cookbook that’s included with these cookers does include things such as rice, since the only overpressure devices are “blow-out” devices, I don’t recommend cooking anything in these cookers that might have a tendency to boil over. This could cause the regulator to clog during cooking leading to a blow out of the plug and a big mess.

As long as the Mirro gasket is properly cleaned and maintained, one of the Mirro cookers will provide many years of reliable service. In fact, the new models are covered by a 10-year warranty. Gasket cleaning and oiling are always a must, but I also recommend visual inspection of the safety plug at each washing. If the rubber seems old or dry, it would be a good idea to replace the plug. The gasket should be replaced if there are any cuts, signs of wear, or if it’s dry and brittle. Mirro pressure cooker parts are widely available, so there’s no reason to push your luck with a bad gasket.