Cadco PCR-1S Professional Cast Iron Range Stainless
This single-burner range is wider set than most ranges, thus
offering much more stability to larger pots such as pressure cooker/canners. It
is also all-metal, unlike other (cheaper) ranges having plastic sides which
soon melt away when in proximity to the overhang of larger pots and pans.
Cadco states this range can handle up to 12 quart pots. My All-American model
910 pressure cooker/canner is 10 1/2 quarts and sits within the confines of
this range all around. The stability is excellent, and the 1500 watts of
cooking power of this range has no trouble bringing water to a quick, vigorous
boil for canning jams and jellies (which I did just yesterday with this).
Pressure cooking is also made easy due to the infinitely adjustable temperature
control. This is different from some other ranges which click through heat
levels, such as 1 (low) through 5 (high), making fine-tuning impossible. On
this range its easy.
Another reviewer commented about the solid, cast iron cooking element taking
awhile to cool down. Well, use a cheaper range! There was a complaint also about
the finish on the cast iron cooking element being rough, and I was concerned
that it was like a raw piece of crude iron. Its absolutely not, thankfully, and
it is quite apparent from the design and texturing machined into the cooking
surface that it is meant to afford greater stability to the heavier loads this
range is designed to deal with. Im sure that cheaper ranges won't have this
'problem' and will happily sail your boiling water bath on to your lap.
Note there is no 'power on' light, only a light that clicks on when the range
is heating the cooking element, otherwise its off. So, a hot range can look
exactly like a cold range. Even units with a power indicator can masquerade as
a cold unit when unplugged. Make sure everybody knows this, especially your
little helpers, if this is your first hot plate.
And by the way, this unit is made in Germany, and I am happy to have it even
more.
The less products of exploited-labor I buy, the better.
UPDATE: I filled my All-American model 910 pressure cooker/canner to within 2
inches of the top with cold water to see if this hot plate could boil that much
water so that I can use it to make 1-pint jam jars with the hot water bath
procedure. The hot plate boiled the water with no problem, and a hard boil, too;
one that you have to stay on top of with the temperature knob. I did not have
jars inside, just a lot of water. Very stable, too. Loaded with jars (peach
jam!) made no difference: it boiled them without issue. A very strong, capable,
and stable range. I'm very happy to have it.
