There are pressure cookers that cook food and pressure cookers that make cooking genuinely easier — and the Hawkins Contura SSC15 sits firmly in the second category. At 1.5 litres, it is the smallest cooker in the Hawkins Contura stainless steel range, designed for 1 to 2 persons, but it brings the full Contura advantage to even the most compact cooking setup. The curved, rounded body is the defining feature — wider in the middle, narrowing at the top — making it significantly easier to stir food, reach every corner with a spoon, and remove cooked food cleanly. For dishes that require frequent stirring — like khichdi, halwa, porridge, or thick dal — the Contura shape makes a noticeable practical difference compared to a straight-sided cooker of the same capacity.
The construction is built for long-term, daily performance. The body and lid are made from superior grade AISI 304 non-magnetic stainless steel — food-safe, non-reactive, rust-proof, and permanently bright with regular washing. The 6.6mm thick sandwich bottom — the thickest sandwich base in the 1.5-litre Hawkins range — bonds a heat-diffusing aluminium core between two layers of stainless steel for even, hot-spot-free heating across the full base. The base is engineered to stay permanently flat and never bulge under repeated high-heat use. The AISI 430 magnetic stainless steel external base makes the SSC15 fully compatible with all cooktops including induction — gas, electric, ceramic, halogen, and induction — without any adapter.
All of Hawkins' trusted safety engineering is present in full. The pressure-locked inner lid cannot be opened while the cooker is under pressure — it is held sealed by internal pressure and releases only when safe. The improved pressure regulator saves fuel and prevents frothy foods from sprouting. The shielded safety valve deflects steam safely downward. The long-lasting gasket does not rub sideways and lasts longer. Stay-cool handles with a non-corroding fixed metal pivot stay firm and comfortable for years. Made in India and backed by Hawkins' 5-year guarantee with free lifetime labour for repairs.
The signature Contura shape has rounded, curved sides that are wider in the middle and narrow at the top. This allows your spoon to reach every corner of the cooker naturally, makes stirring smooth and unobstructed, and gives you better visibility of the food as it cooks. It is especially suited for dishes that need frequent stirring — khichdi, halwa, thick dal, porridge, and similar preparations — where a straight-sided cooker creates friction and blind corners.
Both the body and the lid are made from superior grade AISI 304, 18/8 non-magnetic stainless steel — the same food-safe surgical grade used in professional kitchen equipment. It is completely non-reactive to acidic and alkaline foods, does not pit or corrode, and stays bright and hygienic for years of daily cooking without any special care.
The 6.6mm thick sandwich bottom is the thickest base in the 1.5-litre Hawkins pressure cooker range — thicker than the HSS15's 5.81mm sandwich. A heat-diffusing aluminium core is bonded between two layers of stainless steel, spreading heat rapidly and evenly across the entire 125mm base with no hot spots. The base is designed to stay permanently flat and never bulge under repeated high-heat use.
The external base is made from AISI 430 grade magnetic stainless steel, making the SSC15 fully induction compatible. It works on gas, electric, ceramic, halogen, and induction stovetops without any adapter — one cooker for any current or future kitchen setup.
The 1.5-litre capacity is designed for cooking single or double portions — perfect for individuals, couples, students, and bachelors cooking for 1 to 2 people daily. It comes to pressure faster than larger cookers, uses less energy per cycle, and is compact enough for small kitchens, hostel rooms, and studio apartments.
The inner lid fits inside the cooker body and is held sealed by internal pressure during cooking — it cannot be opened or removed while there is pressure inside the cooker. Hawkins describes it as a goof-proof lid that works like a jetliner door: the pressure inside holds it shut. It releases only after pressure has safely dropped to atmospheric level.
The improved pressure regulator controls cooking pressure within a narrower, more efficient range — saving fuel during every cooking session and significantly reducing the sprouting of frothy foods like dal through the vent weight. Easy to insert and remove for routine cleaning.
The safety valve is positioned under the lid handle bar, so when it activates, steam is deflected safely downward. On a compact 1.5-litre cooker where hands are naturally close to the vessel, downward steam deflection is an important day-to-day safety feature.
The gasket does not rub sideways against the cooker body when the lid is opened and closed, significantly extending its service life compared to standard pressure cooker gasket designs. Less friction means a longer-lasting seal and less frequent replacement.
The stay-cool handles remain safe and comfortable to grip even at full cooking pressure. The pivot is integral to the metal handle itself — not a separate fastener — so it never loosens or puts stress on the plastic over time, ensuring long-term handle reliability.
The Hawkins Contura SSC15 is guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for 5 years from the date of first purchase, with free labour for repairs throughout the entire working life of the product. Normal consumable replacement parts — safety valve, gasket, and plastic handles — are not covered under the guarantee.
Both are 1.5-litre stainless steel induction-compatible Hawkins pressure cookers with AISI 304 bodies and 5-year guarantees. The key differences are: the SSC15 (Contura) has a curved, rounded handi-shaped body for easier stirring and a thicker 6.6mm sandwich bottom. The HSS15 has a straight cylindrical body and a 5.81mm sandwich bottom, and is explicitly rated for frying. Choose the SSC15 for the Contura shape and thicker base; choose the HSS15 if you also need the frying functionality.
The curved sides of the Contura allow a spoon or ladle to reach every part of the cooker's interior without resistance from sharp corners. This makes stirring more natural and thorough, gives you better visibility of the food level, and makes removing cooked food — especially thick dal or semi-solid preparations — significantly easier and cleaner than a straight-sided vessel.
Yes. The AISI 430 magnetic stainless steel external base makes it fully induction compatible. It also works on all gas, electric, ceramic, and halogen cooktops without any adapter.
The 6.6mm sandwich bottom on the Contura range reflects the premium positioning of the Contura series within the Hawkins stainless steel lineup. The thicker sandwich provides a more robust heat-diffusing base that further reduces the risk of hot spots and warping under daily heavy-use conditions. Both bases are engineered to stay flat permanently, but the SSC15's thicker base offers an additional margin of thermal stability.
The guarantee covers defects in material and workmanship for 5 years from the date of first purchase. Normal consumable parts — safety valve, gasket, and plastic handles — are not covered. Hawkins provides free labour for repairs throughout the entire working life of the product beyond the guarantee period.
Yes. A 1.5-litre cooker is well-proportioned for a single person's daily cooking — a full serving of dal, a portion of rice, or a side dish of sabzi all cook comfortably. The included grid also allows simultaneous cooking of two items in separate containers for a complete single-serve meal in one cooking cycle.
The inner lid drops inside the cooker body and is held in place by the pressure that builds up during cooking. The greater the internal pressure, the more firmly it is held sealed. It cannot be opened until pressure safely falls — a mechanism Hawkins compares to a jetliner door. This eliminates the risk of accidental opening under pressure.
Wash the stainless steel body and lid with warm soapy water and a soft sponge after each use. The AISI 304 surface does not require any special treatment — it stays bright with regular washing. Remove and clean the gasket and vent weight separately after every use. Inspect the gasket periodically and replace when signs of wear appear.
The Hawkins Contura SSC15 comes with: 1 pressure cooker body with grid, 1 stainless steel lid, 1 rubber gasket, 1 vent weight, 1 guarantee card, 1 Hawkins cookbook, and 1 service centre directory.
Yes. The Hawkins Contura stainless steel range is available in multiple capacities — 1.5L, 2L, 3L, 4L, 5L, and larger. All sizes in the Contura range share the same curved body design, AISI 304 construction, 6.6mm sandwich bottom, induction compatibility, and 5-year guarantee. The SSC15 is the smallest and most compact in the range.