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Presto 01264 6-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker

Presto 01264 6-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker

By Presto · Pressure Cookers · Kitchen & Cooking · More from Presto

  • 6-quart liquid capacity (5.7 liters)
  • Strong, heavy-gauge aluminum for quick, even heating
  • Works on electric, smooth-top, and gas ranges
  • Fully immersible with sealing ring and over-pressure plug removed
  • Includes cooking rack and complete instruction/recipe book

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Used, refurbished, open-box

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Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

A stovetop pressure cooker with a single 15 psi setting, a rocking regulator and a 12-year warranty, priced under $60 at US stores. It will not work on induction, so check your cooktop before buying.

Strengths

  • A single 15 psi setting and a rocking regulator make it a simple, manual tool you watch rather than program.
  • Exact-model replacement parts are sold by Presto directly, from sealing rings to the cooking rack.
  • A 12-year limited warranty covers defects in material and workmanship.
  • The heavy-gauge aluminum heats quickly and evenly for beans, grains and braises.
  • At about $58–$60 it is one of the least expensive ways to start pressure cooking.
  • Owners report keeping this exact model for 15 years or more.

Weaknesses

  • Aluminum is not magnetic, so it will not work on induction cooktops.
  • The single 15 psi setting and recessed indicator mean you must stand over it and lower the heat once it pressurizes.
  • It does not sear as well or as evenly as tri-ply stainless; constant high-heat searing can blacken the bottom.
  • Aluminum reacts with acidic foods like tomatoes, where a stainless-steel Presto is the better choice.
  • No independent instrumented test of this exact model was found, so performance claims rest on owners and one site’s review.
  • A 2022 federal complaint alleged the lid could open under pressure, though that is an allegation, not a defect rate.

Verified specifications

Model / stock number
Typestovetop pressure cooker; no electrical supply.
Capacity6-quart liquid capacity (5.7 liters).
Pressure settingsingle 15 psi setting; the manual states 250°F (121°C) inside at 15 psi.
Pressure regulatorweight-modified regulator that rocks at operating pressure.
Cover lockair-vent/cover-lock pin shows whether pressure is inside.
Cooktop compatibilityelectric, smooth-top and gas; aluminum will not work on induction.
Cleaningimmersible with the sealing ring and overpressure plug removed; dishwasher use not recommended for aluminum.
Warrantyextended 12-year limited warranty.
Includedcooking rack, instruction/recipe book, helper handle, pressure regulator, sealing ring, overpressure plug.
Dimensions17.25 × 9.75 × 8.50 in; 4.40 lb.
Materialsheavy-gauge aluminum.
Full research notes and sources

What it is and how it works

The 01264 is the plain, old-fashioned kind of pressure cooker: a heavy-gauge aluminum pot with a locking cover, a weight-modified regulator that rocks once it reaches its single 15 psi setting, and a small cover-lock pin that shows whether pressure is inside. It is a stovetop tool, so you set the burner and watch the regulator rather than pressing a program button. At the manufacturer’s $59.99 and $57.59–$59.99 at other US retailers, it is one of the least expensive ways to start pressure cooking.

Maintenance and running costs

Maintenance is the main recurring job. The manual requires replacing the sealing ring and overpressure plug at least every two years, and says leakage between the cover and body usually means a shrunken ring. Reddit and canning-forum threads on Presto gaskets describe leaking and failed seals, with the standard fix being to clean, re-seat and lightly oil the gasket; those reports are mostly about Presto pressure canners and are a maintenance signal, not a measured failure rate for the 01264. Internal discoloration from minerals is normal and harmless, and the manual says a cream-of-tartar solution removes it. Dishwasher use is not recommended for the aluminum body.

The parts channel

Presto sells exact-model replacement parts directly for the 6-quart aluminum cooker: the sealing ring and overpressure plug pack (09936), the air-vent/cover-lock assembly (85610), its gasket (85660), the regulator (09978), the vent pipe (85608), the handles (85637/85638/85639), the cooking rack (85341) and the instruction manual (72856). Independent vendor Pressure Cooker Outlet stocks the same parts with published prices: a genuine 09936 sealing ring is $10.99, an aftermarket one $7.99, an 09915 overpressure plug $3.99, an 85608 vent pipe $6.99, an 09978 regulator $9.99, an 85610 assembly $4.99, an 85660 gasket $3.99, handles $5.99–$6.99, a rack $6.99 and a manual $2.79. Wirecutter cites a new Presto gasket at $11 before tax and shipping. The only recurring cost is the rubber sealing parts.

Is it worth it?

For beans, grains, braises and everyday stovetop pressure cooking under $60, the 01264 is a sensible, repairable choice. At $60–$75 it is still fair, but compare the stainless Presto 01362 (6 qt) and 01370 (8 qt), which add induction compatibility and better searing. Above $75 the value weakens for this specific aluminum model. Presto direct lists it at $59.99 with free shipping; Newegg lists $59.99 (list $64.99), Best Buy $57.59 and Pressure Cooker Outlet $59.99, all checked 2026-10-20.

Which model this is

This page covers the Presto 6-quart aluminum stovetop pressure cooker, stock number 01264. Presto groups revisions under the same name; the current parts page for the 6-quart aluminum cooker is filed under Stock No. 0126407 and lists the same sealing-ring, handle, regulator and rack parts. Do not confuse it with the stainless-steel Presto cookers (01341/01362), the 4-quart 01241, the 8-quart 01282, or the electric 0214/0216-series cookers. The Amazon listing is ASIN B00006ISG3.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Parts and stores:

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