I never knew the joys of cooking in a pressure cooker until I bought one and used it. If you're a first timer to the pressure cooker world like I was, it's a little intimidating, and rightfully so. You basically spend the entirety of your first time using this thing thinking it's going to explode on your stove. Read the instructions and make sure you use the lowest possible heat to keep it pressurized and you'll be good. Wash well before use as well, it comes with some kind of lubricant in the lid that the instructions tell you to wash off first.