When a pressure cooker is made entirely from stainless steel — body, lid, and all — it brings with it a set of qualities that no other material can match: a surface that stays permanently bright and resistant to corrosion, a structure that will not dent or pit with daily use, and a hygiene standard that is simply impossible to compromise. The Hawkins Stainless Steel 3 Litre Tall Pressure Cooker (HSS3T) delivers exactly that — built entirely from AISI Grade 304 (18/8) food-grade stainless steel for both the body and lid, it is a cooker designed to look as good as new years after you first use it, and to cook just as dependably on year five as it did on day one. With a 3-litre tall body sized for 3 to 4 persons, it is a natural fit for the everyday cooking needs of a small Indian family — dal, rice, sabzi, khichdi, and everything in between.
What sets the HSS3T apart technically from single-layer stainless steel cookers is its extra-thick sandwich bottom base — a layered construction where a 4.06 mm thick aluminium core is bonded between two sheets of stainless steel at the base. This base design does two critical things: the aluminium core ensures that heat spreads rapidly and uniformly across the entire cooking surface, eliminating hotspots and delivering consistent results from the centre of the base to its outermost edge; and the base is engineered to stay permanently flat — never bulging, never warping — regardless of how many years of repeated heating cycles it undergoes. The outer base layer is AISI Grade 430 magnetic stainless steel, specifically chosen to make the cooker fully compatible with induction cooktops in addition to gas, electric, ceramic, and halogen stoves. A cooker that works on every cooking surface you will ever own is a genuinely future-proof kitchen investment.
One of the more practical — and often overlooked — advantages of the HSS3T is that its thick, flat base makes it safe for light and deep frying directly in the cooker before pressure cooking begins. Brown your onions, sear your meat, or make a tadka right in the pot — then seal the lid and pressure cook. One vessel, one flame, one cleanup. The inside-fitting pressure-locked safety lid ensures the cooker cannot be opened while pressure remains inside, and the shielded vent weight directs steam safely during pressure release. The cooker comes complete with a grid, cookbook, guarantee card, and service centre directory, and is backed by Hawkins' uniquely generous service policy: labour charges for repair are free not just during the guarantee period, but throughout the entire working life of the product.
Both the cooker body and the lid are made from AISI Grade 304 (18/8) food-grade stainless steel — the grade designation "18/8" reflects its composition of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This precise alloy formulation gives the steel exceptional resistance to corrosion and oxidation, and the ability to withstand the acids naturally present in foods like tomatoes, tamarind, citrus, meat, and milk without any reaction. The result is a cooking surface that is permanently hygienic, non-reactive, and completely free of any metallic taste or transfer. It stays permanently bright without tarnishing, and does not pit or corrode even with years of daily cooking.
The base of the HSS3T is a sandwich construction — a 4.06 mm thick aluminium core bonded between two stainless steel layers. The aluminium core conducts heat several times more efficiently than stainless steel alone, spreading it rapidly and evenly across the full base diameter. This eliminates hotspots that cause burning or uneven cooking at the bottom. Crucially, this base is engineered to remain permanently flat — it does not bulge, warp, or deform with repeated heating cycles. A flat base ensures consistent, stable contact with the cooktop throughout the cooker's lifetime.
The outer layer of the sandwich base uses AISI Grade 430 magnetic stainless steel — a grade specifically chosen for its magnetic properties, which are required for induction cooktop compatibility. This makes the HSS3T fully compatible with induction cooktops while remaining equally at home on gas, electric, ceramic, and halogen stoves. All models of the Hawkins Stainless Steel range supplied in the Indian market since April 2011 are induction-compatible.
The tall body design of the HSS3T gives the cooker a taller, narrower profile compared to the Wide variant of the same capacity. The tall format is well-suited for cooking everyday Indian dishes like dal, rice, sabzi, and khichdi — it handles liquids and semi-liquid dishes naturally, and the taller vessel makes it easy to add a pressure cooking grid and cook multiple items in separate containers simultaneously. The tall shape also stores conveniently in most kitchen cabinets and shelf spaces.
The extra-thick, permanently flat base of the HSS3T makes it uniquely suitable for light and deep frying directly in the cooker before sealing the lid for pressure cooking. Sauté your onions, brown your meat, temper your spices, or even deep fry small quantities — all in the same vessel — before you begin pressure cooking. This one-pot versatility reduces the number of vessels you need to use and clean for a single meal, and means richer, more layered flavours in dishes that benefit from browning before pressure.
The HSS3T uses Hawkins' standard inside-fitting lid design — the lid fits from inside the cooker body and can only be opened by first lowering it slightly, which is physically impossible while steam pressure remains inside. This makes the cooker inherently pressure-locked for safety at all times, with no separate latch or external locking mechanism required. The stainless steel lid is also hygienic, durable, and resistant to corrosion — consistent in quality with the cooker body.
The shielded vent weight is positioned and shielded to direct any steam release downward and away from the cook's hands and face during normal pressure release. This passive safety design works automatically without requiring any action from the user, providing consistent protection during every cooking cycle.
The HSS3T works on all five major domestic cooktop types: gas, induction, electric, ceramic, and halogen. This makes it one of the most universally compatible pressure cookers available — suitable for virtually any kitchen setup in India today, and adaptable to any cooktop changes you make in the future.
Unlike aluminium cookers that can discolour, oxidise, or develop pitting with age, the 304-grade stainless steel body retains its polished silver appearance indefinitely. It does not stain with turmeric, does not absorb food odours, and is easy to clean with mild soap and warm water after every use. The interior remains as hygienic after years of daily cooking as it was on the first day.
The HSS3T comes with a pressure cooking grid — a simple accessory that allows you to place separate containers, bowls, or dishes inside the cooker on top of the grid, enabling multi-dish simultaneous cooking. Cook dal in one container and rice in another — both perfectly done — in a single cooking cycle. This is a practical time and fuel-saving technique particularly useful for daily Indian meal preparation.
The Hawkins Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker HSS3T is ISI certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), confirming it meets all applicable Indian safety and quality standards for pressure cookers — giving you independent assurance of its construction quality and safe operation.
| Brand | Hawkins |
| Model | Hawkins Stainless Steel – Tall |
| Model Number | HSS3T |
| Capacity | 3 Litres |
| Body & Lid Material | AISI Grade 304 (18/8) Food-Grade Stainless Steel |
| Base Construction | Sandwich Bottom – 4.06 mm Aluminium Core between SS Layers |
| Outer Base Material | AISI Grade 430 Magnetic Stainless Steel (Induction Compatible) |
| Body Shape | Tall (Straight) |
| Colour | Silver |
| Lid Type | Inner Lid (Inside-Fitting, Pressure-Locked) |
| Base Flat Diameter | 140 mm |
| Base Thickness (Total) | 5.81 mm |
| Ideal For | 3 to 4 Persons |
| Compatible Cooktops | Gas, Induction, Electric, Ceramic, Halogen |
| Safe for Frying | Yes – Light and Deep Frying |
| Product Weight | 2,350 g |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 33 × 17.6 × 20.6 cm |
| ISI Certified | Yes |
| Country of Origin | India |
| In the Box | 1 Cooker Body (with Grid), 1 Stainless Steel Lid, 1 Rubber Gasket, 1 Vent Weight, 1 Guarantee Card, 1 Cookbook, 1 Service Centre Directory |
The Hawkins Stainless Steel 3 Litre Tall Pressure Cooker (HSS3T) comes with a 5-year guarantee from the date of purchase as provided by Hawkins Cookers Limited. In addition, Hawkins offers a uniquely generous service policy: labour charges for all repairs are free not only during the guarantee period but throughout the entire working life of the product. A Guarantee Card is included in the box and must be retained as proof of purchase. For service, contact the nearest Hawkins authorised service centre using the Service Centre Directory included in the packaging. Hawkins' Service Department can also be reached at (022) 24 440 807 or at service@hawkinscookers.com.
AISI Grade 304 (18/8) is a widely recognised specification for food-grade stainless steel — the "18/8" indicating 18% chromium and 8% nickel content. This specific alloy composition provides exceptional resistance to corrosion and oxidation, and the ability to withstand the natural acids present in everyday cooking ingredients like tomatoes, tamarind, citrus, milk, and meat — without any reaction or leaching. For a pressure cooker, this means a cooking surface that is permanently non-reactive, hygienic, and free of any metallic taste in food. It is one of the best quality grades of stainless steel used in premium cooking utensils.
Both the HSS3T (Tall) and HSS3W (Wide) are 3-litre Hawkins Stainless Steel cookers with identical material construction (AISI 304 body/lid, sandwich base), safety features, and warranty. The difference is shape: the Tall has a narrower base and greater height, making it more suited for liquid-heavy dishes, everyday dal and rice cooking, and compact storage. The Wide has a larger base diameter and lesser height — similar to a pan or the Futura — making it better for dishes that benefit from a wider cooking surface, such as frying, shallow cooking, or dishes with less liquid. Both can use the same grid and accessories.
Yes. The outer base layer is made from AISI Grade 430 magnetic stainless steel, which is required for induction compatibility. The HSS3T works on gas, induction, electric, ceramic, and halogen cooktops — all five major domestic cooking surfaces. All Hawkins Stainless Steel cookers supplied in the Indian market since April 2011 carry induction compatibility.
Yes — this is one of the HSS3T's most practical advantages. The extra-thick, permanently flat sandwich base provides even heat distribution and structural stability that makes it safe for both light frying (sautéing onions, tempering spices) and deep frying before you seal the lid for pressure cooking. This one-pot approach saves time, reduces the number of vessels to wash, and results in richer flavours in dishes that benefit from browning before pressure is applied.
The extra-thick sandwich construction — a 4.06 mm aluminium core bonded between two stainless steel sheets — creates a structurally rigid base that distributes thermal stress evenly across its surface rather than concentrating it at a single point. This prevents the warping or bulging that can occur in thinner, single-layer bases when subjected to repeated rapid heating and cooling cycles. A permanently flat base maintains consistent contact with the cooktop, ensuring efficient, even heat transfer throughout the cooker's lifetime.
The box includes: 1 Cooker Body (with Grid), 1 Stainless Steel Lid, 1 Rubber Gasket, 1 Vent Weight, 1 Guarantee Card, 1 Cookbook, and 1 Service Centre Directory. The grid allows you to place separate containers inside the cooker for multi-dish pressure cooking — cooking rice and dal simultaneously in individual vessels, for example.
The pressure cooking grid (a flat perforated rack) sits inside the cooker body. You place individual containers — small steel bowls or tiffin containers — on top of the grid, add water below the grid level, and seal the lid. When pressure builds, steam cooks the contents of all containers simultaneously. This allows you to cook multiple different dishes — rice in one bowl, dal in another, vegetables in a third — in a single cooking cycle, saving fuel and time significantly.
The HSS3T carries a 5-year guarantee from the date of purchase. What makes Hawkins' service policy stand out is that labour charges for all repairs are free not only during the guarantee period, but throughout the entire working life of the product — an exceptionally generous policy that reflects Hawkins' confidence in the longevity of their cookers. For service, contact the nearest Hawkins authorised service centre (directory included in the box) or reach Hawkins' Service Department at (022) 24 440 807 or service@hawkinscookers.com.
The stainless steel body and lid clean easily with mild dish soap and warm water after each use. A soft cloth or sponge is sufficient for regular cleaning. For stubborn stains or discolouration from minerals in hard water, a small amount of white vinegar or a stainless steel cleaner can be used. Avoid steel wool or abrasive pads on the interior surface. Dry thoroughly before storing to maintain the polished finish. Do not put in a dishwasher.
The Hawkins Stainless Steel range is available in a wide variety of sizes in both Tall and Wide body formats, including 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 litres. All sizes share the same AISI 304 body and lid, sandwich base construction, induction compatibility, and 5-year guarantee with lifetime free labour. The right size depends on your household's daily cooking quantity — the 3L Tall is ideal for 3 to 4 persons.