The most common pressure cooker mistake is buying the wrong size — too small for biryani Sunday, or too big to ever fill. Size is not about the number of people alone; it's about what you cook.
The two-minute rule
A pressure cooker should be filled no more than two-thirds (half for rice and dal, which foam). So judge by what goes in, not by headcount:
| Size | Right for |
|---|---|
| 5L | 2–4 people. Daily dal, curry, quick chicken |
| 7L | 4–6 people. The family standard |
| 9L | 6–10 people. Biryani in quantity, larger families |
| 11L | 10–15 people. Joint families, regular guests |
| 13L | 15+ people. Daig-style cooking, events, restaurants |
If you're between two sizes, take the bigger one. An under-filled cooker works fine; an over-filled one doesn't.
Biryani changes the answer
Rice needs room. For biryani, plan on half capacity. A 7L cooks a comfortable 3–4 kg biryani batch; if biryani is a weekly event in a family of six or more, the 9L is the one you'll stop cursing.
What to check before you buy any cooker
- Safety valve and backup vent. A good cooker has more than one pressure release path. Ours carry a lifetime safety warranty against bursting or structural failure — that's how confident we are in the metal.
- Gasket availability. The rubber ring is a wear part. Buy a brand where spares exist in your city.
- Weight. Heavy base = even heat, no scorching. Light cookers burn dal.
Our full range is here: Pressure Cookers — including the Karahi Pressure Cooker 2-in-1 for people who want karahi shape and cooker speed in one pot.
Still unsure between two sizes? Message us on WhatsApp (0311-1122201) with your family size and what you cook most — we'll tell you honestly, even if it's the smaller one.