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About Hawkins Pressure Cooker
Everyone cooks in different ways for different reasons. Some might love the low and slow approach, while others turn to the convenience and speed of popping dinner in the microwave.
But there’s one style that allows you to have the best of both worlds, fusing fast prep time with great flavor: pressure cooking.
Whether you’re a kitchen pro interested in a new pressure cooker of great quality that will hold up to your experience and carefully developed recipes, or you just want the best equipment to try this method out for the first time, then you’ll want to check out my Hawkins Pressure Cooker review.
Hawkins is a well-established brand of classic pressure cookers recognized for their quality.
While the brand may not be widely known here in North America, it has still garnered some recognition on Facebook with 2.2k followers and has been featured in news outlets such as NDTV, Times of India, and Popular Mechanics.
Want to learn more about this time-saving kitchen helper? I’ll check out the brand’s history, products, policies, and customer feedback, to help you decide if you’re ready to start cooking with pressure.
Overview of Hawkins Pressure Cooker
The story of Hawkins Cookers Inc. begins way back before the brand even acquired their name. An entrepreneur by the name of H. D. Vasudeva had to start his career back at square one at the age of 54, after the partition of India.
To get back on his feet, he set about bringing a safer, more user-friendly pressure cooker to kitchens across the country, and founded the company Pressure Cookers and Appliances Limited in 1959.
He collaborated with an English businessman by the name of L. G. Hawkins, who, having already established his own cooking appliance company, L. G. Hawkins and Co. Ltd., was able to help Vasudeva design his first line of pressure cookers for household use. Vasudeva then set up his headquarters in Mumbai, India, and got to work.
Right from the start, he imbued his growing company with the strong ideals of:
- Hard work
- Integrity
- Making customers happy
These principles, along with Vasudeva’s careful selection of products and employees, allowed the brand to flourish in its first two-and-a-half decades.
In 1984, Vasudeva stepped down to let his son, Brahm, take over. Under his leadership, Hawkins would become one of the biggest names in the Indian pressure cooker industry, and the business expanded to an international scale.
Using his knowledge of business and marketing, Brahm accomplished much in his time at the brand. Under his leadership, Hawkins was able to start selling internationally in 1974 and the brand became known as Hawkins Cookers Inc. in 1986.
Brahm stepped down in 2020 and Subhadip Dutta Choudhury, an employee who started out at Hawkins as a management trainee, become the latest CEO.
Hawkins now produces an extensive range of pressure cookers in different materials and styles – 88 models in 13 different styles at the time of this Hawkins review – and has expanded into cookware.
The brand has also won a bevy of awards over the decades, receiving recognition from the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the India Star, and multiple honors from consumer welfare and customer service organizations.
Want to learn more about shopping with Hawkins? Check out the highlights of this Hawkins Pressure Cooker review below:
Highlights
- Durable cookers made using hard anodising (the same process used to make materials for space shuttles)
- Added safety features to reduce risk of injury
- Each cooker comes with a recipe book
- Can buy in bulk
- Good customer reviews
This brand’s catalog of cookers and kitchen tools is quite vast, so I’ll be focusing on their best-selling basic cookers. Let’s get cooking!
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Review
Hawkins Pressure Cookers come in all manner of styles, sizes, and materials, and are made for different heat sources. The best-sellers featured here reflect a small sample of what the brand has to offer.
My Hawkins Pressure Cooker review will be taking a closer look at the Classic 2 Litre, Contura 3 Litre, Hevibase 2 Litre, Bigboy 14 Litre, Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre, and Stainless Steel 1.5 Litre pressure cookers.
And, not to worry, I’ve converted the currencies so you get the price in US dollars instead of Rupees.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Classic 2 Litre Review
Every brand has that one product that helped put them on the map. For Hawkins, it’s their Hawkins Pressure Cooker Classic range – a favorite among customers since the 1960s.
The Hawkins Pressure Cooker Classic 2 Litre is an ideal size for a small household or small stovetop. It weighs about 1.5 kilos and can cook enough food for up to three people.
This compact cooker’s dimensions are as follows:
- 33.5 cm wide
- 18.5 cm deep
- 14.5 cm high
The Hawkins Pressure Cooker Classic 2 Litre has all of the brand’s signature design features, which make the Hawkins cooker safe and reliable.
The lid is designed to sit on the inside instead of on top of the cartridge. This allows for a secure lock on the lid with the cooker’s own steam pressure, and by extension, ensures that the rubber gasket is clear of steam and food debris so it can last longer.
Like all Hawkins cookers, the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Classic 2 Litre includes a pressure weight that allows for more precise pressure regulation.
The pressure valve is also designed to reduce injury by being located under the handlebar and directing hot steam downwards, instead of other cookers that set the valve on top to let the steam come outwards.
The models in Hawkins’ Classic Line are primarily recommended to be used over a gas stove but are just as capable if you heat the aluminum body over electric, ceramic, or halogen cooktops.
Converted, the price of the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Classic 2 Litre is $18, though local sellers retail it for anywhere from $34 to $40.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Contura 3 Litre Review
There’s plenty you can cook in a pressure cooker – be it vegetables, fish and poultry – that’s totally hands off.
But, if you happen to be in the mood for a soup or sauce that needs to be served with a ladle or stirred before or after cooking, the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Contura 3 Litre is your go-to.
Its 100% aluminum body has wide rounded corners to not only allow you to stir well and scoop easily but also lets in enough light in the cooker so you can easily see the state of your meal.
This series is best left on a gas stove according to the brand and features all the standard Hawkins safety features.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Contura 3 Litre weighs 1.85 kg and can serve up enough food for a group of 4. Its dimensions are:
- 34.2 cm wide
- 20.3 cm deep
- 17.7 cm high
The Hawkins Pressure Cooker Contura 3 Litre sells for $22 on the brand’s website, and international retailers price it at around $39 and $48.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Hevibase 2 Litre Review
Induction cooktops are quite handy. Directly heating the cookware decreases the amount of time you need to wait for things to heat up and has much more control compared to gas stoves. But induction cooking fans know that not all kitchen equipment is made to handle the heat.
If you want a Hawkins cooker that’s made for induction cooking, check out the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Hevibase 2 Litre.
These models in the Hawkins Hevibase line have similar aluminum bodies and built-in safety features as their Classic cookers, but with an added accessory – their Double Thick Base.
On the bottom, you’ll find an external stainless steel plate that helps protect the aluminum bottom from damage from induction cooking. It can also be used to lightly fry food before pressure cooking it.
The Hawkins Pressure Cooker Hevibase 2 Litre can also be used on gas, ceramic, halogen, and electric stovetops.
The Hevibase 2 Litre weighs about 1.9 kg and prepares enough food for 3. Its dimensions are:
- 33.2 cm wide
- 18.1 cm deep
- 14.7 cm high
The Hawkins Pressure Cooker Hevibase 2 Litre sells for $22 from Hawkins. International customers can pick one up from various retailers for $55–$70.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Bigboy 14 Litre Review
If you’re running a restaurant, cooking for a meal program, or hosting a neighborhood cookout and need large quantities of soups, stews, or meats cooked quickly, you’re going to need a pretty large pressure cooker to get the job done.
That’s where the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Bigboy 14 Litre can help.
Hawkins’ Bigboy line has all of the brand’s hallmark safety features, in cookers that are sized up so you can cook way more in less time, and carry it all wherever you go with a set of tough fiberglass handles.
While suitable stovetops are limited to gas and kerosine for this model, you can also use them for cooking over an open wood or coal fire, so long as you keep the cooker well above the fuel source.
The Hawkins Pressure Cooker Bigboy 14 Litre weighs just over 5 kg and serves enough for up to 18 people. The dimensions are:
- 44.5 cm wide
- 29 cm deep
- 36 cm height
When converted, the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Bigboy 14 Litre model comes out to $52, with a North American retail price of $70-$76.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre Review
Some of us want to cook a meal in a rush, while others might prep a meal well in advance but need to keep it warm before actually plating it.
If either describes your approach in the kitchen, then the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre is for you.
Not only is the outside of this cooker a cheerful bright red, but this cooker’s ceramic exterior also transfers heat to cook the food inside faster and insulates to keep that heat in longer after you’re done cooking.
You also won’t have to worry too much about external damage to the cooker, as the ceramic layer is stain and scratch-proof, and it’s topped with a durable stainless steel lid.
Part of the brand’s Contura line, this cooker also has a rounded body perfect for stirring and scooping and has all of the standard Hawkins safety elements. It works best on a gas stove.
The Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre weighs 2 kg, feeds up to 4 people and is has the following dimensions:
- 34.2 cm wide
- 20.3 cm deep
- 18cm high
After price conversion, the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre comes to about $31 and can be purchased in North America for about $64-$70.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Stainless Steel 1.5 Litre Review
If you’re looking for a pressure cooker that’s lighter weight, easy to clean, incredibly durable, and can be used for frying, the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Stainless Steel 1.5 Litre is the way to go.
This piece from the brand’s Stainless Steel line not only provides uniform heat but is exceptionally easy to clean up and take care of.
The Hawkins stainless steel pressure cooker exterior can also handle a considerable amount of wear and tear, making this perfect for anyone who’ll be using their pressure cooker on the regular.
Hawkins Stainless Steel cookers can be heated on virtually any stovetop and can also be used for light and heavy frying, in addition to pressure cooking.
The compact nature of the Stainless Steel 1.5 Litre model makes this cooker particularly suitable for one or two people, and those in a small living space. It weighs 1.75 kg and has the following dimensions:
- 32.3 cm wide
- 17.6 cm deep
- 14.5 cm high
The Hawkins Pressure Cooker Stainless Steel 1.5 Litre converts to $31. While researching for this Hawkins Pressure Cooker review, I found that this model available for anywhere from $52 to $134.
Who Is Hawkins Pressure Cooker For?
Hawkins Pressure Cookers have been a household staple in India for decades, with their primary demographic being the Indian home cook who can use their pressure cookers to speed up daily meal-making.
But you don’t have to be experienced in the kitchen or even use a pressure cooker all the time, in order to enjoy the benefits.
Regardless of how you like to cook, or what foods you prefer, the Hawkins pressure cooker lets you coax out flavor, achieve great texture, and help flavors meld in a fraction of the time you’d usually need.
Given the speed at which meals can be cooked in a Hawkins, the range of sizes they come in, and the variety of stovetops they can be used on, these appliances are beneficial to anyone who requires a meal cooked quickly or wishes for more flavor to be retained.
Whether it’s just you living in a small space or you’re adding a substantial dish to a potluck, this appliance can be useful to you.
They’re easy to use, durable, and loaded with safety features, so even if you’re new to pressure cooking, you can cook confidently with Hawkins.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
While writing this Hawkins Pressure Cooker review, I found that there aren’t a huge number of customer reviews online for these pressure cookers, but the reviews that are out there for this Indian brand appear to be pretty positive.
In the past, there have been past complaints referring to difficulty with cleaning, handling the inner-fitting lid, and some quality control issues; however, these seem to have petered out for the most part over the years as designs have improved, especially post-2015.
On India-based customer review site Mishry.com, I found the brand rating at 4/5 stars. One customer’s Hawkins Pressure Cooker review said the time-saving convenience of these cookers makes them ideal for busy people:
“the quick cooking of multiple foods makes it an ideal utensil in the kitchen. During that peak morning rush, when you’re juggling a lot of household chores, gaining a few extra minutes can make a lot of difference.”
Hawkins’ durability and safety features are also a big draw for people.
On Amazon, where the brand sells a wide range of their products, a reviewer looking at the Hawkins Pressure Cooker Bigboy 14 Litre cooker says: “Built like a tank, functions consistently and without problems for several months now and many many uses. […] eliminates any chance that the lid will blow off upon release.”
To really round out this Hawkins Pressure Cooker review, I also checked out the Amazon star ratings for their best-selling items. Here’s what I found:
- Classic 2 Litre – 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 8,235 reviews
- Contura 3 Litre – 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 7,772 reviews
- Hevibase 2 Litre – 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 1,661 reviews
- Bigboy 14 Litre – 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 416 reviews
- Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre – 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 691 reviews
- Stainless Steel 1.5 Litre – 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 806 reviews
In this Hawkins Pressure Cooker review, I should also note that customers seem to appreciate what these cookers can bring to the kitchen in terms of aesthetics and ease of use.
At Walmart.com, which sells a limited selection of Hawkins products, a reviewer of the Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre says: “…cooks so fast, great instruction manual, [and a] beautiful object.” Enough said.
Hawkins’ Walmart star ratings are as follows:
- Contura 3 Litre – 4 out of 5 stars based on 2 reviews
- Ceramic-Coated Contura Tomato Red 3 Litre – 5 out of 5 stars based on 1 review
With all of that in mind, it’s especially nice to see that in more recent years, the brand is absolutely surrounded with praise for their aesthetically pleasing and quite efficient cookwear.
Is Hawkins Pressure Cooker Worth It?
Based on the solid review scores, the extensive safety features, and the longevity and versatility of these appliances, the verdict in this Hawkins Pressure Cooker review is that a purchase from this brand is well worth it.
Hawkins pressure cookers can be used on varying heat sources, pressure cook – and in some instances, even fry – a great selection of foods, are easy to use and clean, and come with an instruction manual to help you make the most of your new kitchen gear.
Whether you’re cooking for yourself or a large group, and whether you’re a kitchen pro or a novice who wants good food that’s easy to prepare, there’s a pressure cooker for you in the Hawkins line of products.
Hawkins Pressure Cooker Promotions & Discounts
At the time of writing this Hawkins Pressure Cooker review, there were no online discounts or promotions on Hawkins products, aside from some free shipping within India.
Hawkins is sold at a number of retailers around the world, and each store may have independent promotions.
Where to Buy Hawkins Pressure Cooker
Within India, you can buy Hawkins products from their official website. While writing this Hawkins Pressure Cooker Review, I found their best-selling items available in the US through Walmart, Amazon, and Gandhi Appliances.
You can find a full list of retailers, organized by country, on the brand’s location page.
FAQ
Who owns Hawkins Pressure Cooker?
The company is publicly owned by shareholders, though founder Vasudeva’s estate and members of his family retain a large share of the company.
Does Hawkins Pressure Cooker ship internationally?
No. Hawkins Pressure Cooker’s online store only ships to destinations in India. However, international customers can buy their products online from Amazon and Walmart.
What is Hawkins Pressure Cooker’s Shipping Policy?
Orders placed on the Hawkins Pressure Cooker promised to arrive within 3 business days. Shipping is free on some items and shipping rates will be calculated at checkout.
What is Hawkins Pressure Cooker’s Return Policy?
Hawkins will take back any new items that are either unopened or have a defect. The refund will cover the item price, initial shipping, and return shipping.
If you’re buying from another distributor, your purchase will be subject to the individual store’s policies.
How to Contact Hawkins Pressure Cooker
If you have any more questions about this brand, you can reach out to their customer service team through the following methods of contact:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 91-22-2218-6607
- Address: Hawkins Cookers Limited, F 101, Maker Tower, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai (Bombay) 400 005, India
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