Hawkins Pressure Cooker Steel 3 Ltr Wide

Hawkins Stainless Steel 3 Litre Wide Pressure Cooker (HSS3W) – AISI 304 Food-Grade Steel, Wide 158mm Base, Induction Compatible Pan Cooker for Frying, Sautéing & Pressure Cooking

About This Product

Most pressure cookers are built tall. The Hawkins Stainless Steel 3 Litre Wide Pressure Cooker (HSS3W) takes a different shape — and that shape is the very reason it exists. With its wide, low-profile pan-like body and a significantly larger 158 mm base flat diameter, the Wide is designed for a different kind of cooking than a tall cooker handles best. The broader base means more direct contact between your ingredients and the heat source, making it ideal for dishes that need browning, sautéing, shallow frying, or even deep frying before pressure is applied — tasks that a narrow-base tall cooker handles with less surface area and less control. Think of it as a pressure cooker and a pan rolled into one: sear your meat, fry your onions, make a dry sabzi or a bhujia — and then seal the lid and pressure cook. All in one vessel, with one cleanup.

Like the Tall variant, the HSS3W is built entirely from AISI Grade 304 (18/8) food-grade stainless steel for both body and lid — the same 18% chromium, 8% nickel alloy that resists all food acids, never corrodes or tarnishes, and provides a permanently hygienic cooking surface. The extra-thick sandwich base bonds a 4.06 mm aluminium core between two stainless steel layers — the aluminium core spreading heat rapidly and evenly across the entire 158 mm base surface, eliminating hotspots and ensuring every part of your food cooks uniformly. The outer base layer is AISI Grade 430 magnetic stainless steel, giving the cooker full compatibility with induction cooktops, in addition to gas, electric, ceramic, and halogen stoves. And because the sandwich construction is engineered for structural rigidity, the base stays permanently flat — never bulges or warps — even after years of heavy daily use at high heat.

At 2.79 kg — slightly heavier than the Tall owing to its wider base — the HSS3W feels reassuringly solid and well-built in the hand. The inside-fitting pressure-locked lid ensures the cooker cannot be opened while pressure remains inside, and the shielded safety vent weight directs steam safely during release. The cooker is supplied with a pressure cooking grid, cookbook, guarantee card, and service centre directory, and is backed by Hawkins' unique service guarantee: labour charges for all repairs are free not just during the 5-year guarantee period, but throughout the entire working life of the product. The HSS3W also carries the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification — an internationally recognised safety mark that speaks to the global engineering and quality standard this cooker is built to.

Key Features

Wide Body Design – 158mm Base Diameter for Maximum Cooking Surface

The defining characteristic of the HSS3W is its wide, low-profile body with a 158 mm base flat diameter — significantly wider than the Tall variant's 140 mm. This larger cooking surface area means more direct, even contact between your ingredients and the heat source. It is ideal for dishes where surface area matters — frying onions to a proper golden brown, searing meat across a wider surface, making dry vegetables, bhujia-style dishes, or anything that benefits from maximum base coverage and even browning across a wider pan-like vessel.

100% AISI Grade 304 (18/8) Stainless Steel Body & Lid

Both the body and lid are made from AISI Grade 304 (18/8) food-grade stainless steel — the premium standard for stainless steel cookware. The "18/8" designation reflects 18% chromium and 8% nickel content, which together provide exceptional corrosion resistance, excellent tolerance of food acids (tomatoes, tamarind, citrus, meat, and dairy), and the structural strength needed for long-term daily pressure cooking. The surface stays permanently bright, does not pit or corrode, and is among the most hygienic materials available for cooking vessels.

Extra-Thick Sandwich Base – 4.06mm Aluminium Core, Stays Flat Always

The base is a sandwich construction with a 4.06 mm aluminium core between two stainless steel layers. The aluminium layer conducts and distributes heat faster and more evenly than stainless steel alone — ensuring the entire 158 mm base surface heats uniformly without hotspots. The sandwich construction also provides structural rigidity that keeps the base permanently flat throughout the cooker's lifetime — critical for both consistent cooking contact and stable placement on any cooktop.

AISI Grade 430 Magnetic Outer Base – Gas & Induction Compatible

The outer base layer uses AISI Grade 430 magnetic stainless steel — required for induction cooktop compatibility. This makes the HSS3W fully usable on gas, induction, electric, ceramic, and halogen cooktops — every major domestic cooking surface. A cooker that works on all five surfaces is as future-proof a kitchen investment as you can make, adapting to any cooktop you use today or switch to tomorrow.

Safe for Light & Deep Frying – Before and Without Pressure Cooking

The wide, flat, extra-thick base of the HSS3W is specifically suited for light and deep frying directly in the cooker. The generous 158 mm base provides sufficient surface area for proper browning without crowding — whether you're frying onions, sautéing spices, shallow frying fish or vegetable fritters, or searing meat before a pressure-cooked curry. The stable, flat base ensures consistent oil temperature across the cooking surface, just as a dedicated kadhai or frying pan would.

Inside-Fitting Pressure-Locked Safety Lid

The HSS3W uses Hawkins' standard inside-fitting lid — a design where the lid fits from within 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 with no external latches or separate locking mechanisms needed. The stainless steel lid matches the body in quality and durability, and contributes to the highest levels of hygiene and long-term performance.

Shielded Safety Vent Weight – Steam Always Directed Away

The shielded vent weight is positioned to direct all steam release downward and away from the cook during both normal pressure regulation and any pressure venting. This is a passive, always-on safety feature — no user action required — that protects against accidental steam burns during every cooking cycle.

Stay-Cool Handles – Comfortable, Safe Grip

The handles are designed to remain cool enough to grip safely during and after cooking. The sturdy fixed pivot and handle construction ensure that even a fully loaded 3-litre cooker — particularly relevant for this Wide variant, which may often be used for frying with oil — is secure to lift, carry, and pour from without risk of the handles shifting or slipping.

UL Certified – International Safety Standard

The Hawkins Stainless Steel Wide cooker carries the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification (Certificate No. SA5984) — awarded by an independent, internationally recognised safety testing and certification organisation headquartered in Chicago and founded in 1894. The UL mark on the HSS3W confirms that this cooker has been evaluated, tested, and certified to rigorous international safety standards — a mark that is widely recognised and trusted globally.

ISI Certified – Bureau of Indian Standards

In addition to UL certification, the HSS3W is ISI certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), confirming it meets all applicable Indian safety and quality standards for pressure cookers. This dual certification — both Indian and international — reflects the consistently high manufacturing standards applied to all Hawkins Stainless Steel cookers.

Comes with Grid – Multi-Dish Simultaneous Cooking

A pressure cooking grid is included with the HSS3W, allowing you to place separate small containers on top of the grid inside the cooker. With water below the grid and sealed containers above, you can cook different foods — rice in one container, dal in another — simultaneously in a single cooking cycle. This multi-dish capability is particularly useful in a wide cooker where the larger base diameter can accommodate wider containers or more containers side by side.

Product Specifications

Warranty Information

The Hawkins Stainless Steel 3 Litre Wide Pressure Cooker (HSS3W) carries a 5-year guarantee from the date of purchase as provided by Hawkins Cookers Limited. Hawkins' uniquely generous service policy further states that 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, the Service Centre Directory included in the packaging will direct you to the nearest Hawkins authorised centre. Hawkins' Service Department can be reached at (022) 24 440 807 or at service@hawkinscookers.com.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the key difference between the Hawkins HSS3W (Wide) and HSS3T (Tall)?

Both are 3-litre Hawkins Stainless Steel cookers with identical material (AISI 304 body/lid, 4.06mm aluminium sandwich base), safety features, cooktop compatibility, and 5-year guarantee. The difference is entirely in body shape. The HSS3W (Wide) has a 158 mm base diameter, wider and shallower profile — like a pan — making it better for frying, sautéing, and dishes needing a larger cooking surface area. The HSS3T (Tall) has a 140 mm base diameter, taller and narrower — better suited for liquid-heavy dishes like dal, soups, and curries, and more compact for storage.

2. Why would I choose the Wide over the Tall?

Choose the Wide (HSS3W) if your cooking frequently involves: frying or browning before pressure cooking (the wider base provides more surface for even frying); dry vegetable dishes or bhujia-style preparations that benefit from wider surface contact; dishes with thicker gravies where a wider base helps reduce and thicken the sauce; or if you prefer a pan-like form factor that can double as a tadka vessel or a shallow cooking pot when used without pressure. The Tall is better if you primarily make liquid-heavy pressure-cooked dishes like dal and rice.

3. Can I use the Hawkins HSS3W as a regular frying pan or kadhai?

Yes — the wide, flat, extra-thick base and the stainless steel construction make the HSS3W genuinely suitable for light and deep frying without the lid, in addition to its use as a pressure cooker. The stable 158 mm base provides good surface area for browning and frying. It works as a multi-purpose cooking vessel: open kadhai or pan for frying and sautéing, and sealed pressure cooker when you need faster cooking or need to pressure-cook the dish further.

4. Is the HSS3W heavier than the Tall HSS3T?

Yes. The HSS3W weighs 2.79 kg compared to the HSS3T's 2.35 kg. The additional weight comes from the wider base — more material is used for the larger 158 mm diameter sandwich base. This extra weight also contributes to the Wide's stability on the cooktop during frying and high-heat cooking, and is an indication of the substantive, well-built construction that both models share.

5. What does the UL certification on the HSS3W mean?

UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is an independent, internationally recognised safety testing and certification body headquartered in Chicago, USA, founded in 1894. UL certification (Certificate No. SA5984 for the Hawkins Stainless Steel range) means the product has been independently evaluated, tested to rigorous safety standards, and found compliant. The UL mark is widely recognised as a trusted global safety symbol and is typically stamped on the product base and printed on the carton. The HSS3W carries both ISI (Indian) and UL (international) safety certifications.

6. What is the base diameter and why does it matter?

The base flat diameter of the HSS3W is 158 mm — the area of direct metal contact between the cooker and the cooktop. A wider base means more even heat spread across a larger cooking area, better browning and frying results (less crowding of ingredients), more stable placement on the cooktop, and better compatibility with large-diameter gas burners and induction plates. The HSS3W's 158 mm base is notably wider than the Tall's 140 mm — a meaningful practical difference.

7. Does the Wide variant also come with a grid for multi-dish cooking?

Yes. Like the Tall, the HSS3W comes with a pressure cooking grid included in the box. The wide base of the HSS3W actually offers an advantage here — its larger internal diameter can accommodate wider containers or more containers side by side on the grid, allowing more versatile multi-dish simultaneous pressure cooking. Place individual steel containers on the grid, add water below, seal the lid, and cook multiple items at once.

8. Is the gasket long-lasting, and how do I know when to replace it?

The rubber gasket in Hawkins Stainless Steel cookers is designed to be durable and long-lasting with regular use. Signs that a gasket needs replacement include reduced pressure build-up, steam leaking from the sides of the lid during cooking, or visible cracking or hardening of the rubber. Hawkins' repair centres can inspect and replace the gasket — and because labour charges are free throughout the product's lifetime, the cost of maintenance is only the replacement part itself. Genuine Hawkins gaskets for the HSS3W are available at authorised service centres.

9. What is the warranty on the Hawkins HSS3W, and what makes it stand out?

The HSS3W carries a 5-year guarantee from the date of purchase. What distinguishes Hawkins' service commitment further is that labour for all repairs is free not just during the guarantee period, but for the entire working life of the product — you only pay for any replacement parts required, never for the service labour. This long-term service commitment reflects Hawkins' confidence in their cookers' durability and their commitment to standing behind their products beyond the formal guarantee period.

10. How do I clean the Hawkins HSS3W Wide, and can I put it in the dishwasher?

The HSS3W's stainless steel body cleans easily with mild dish soap, warm water, and a soft cloth or sponge after each use. For mineral deposits or water stains (common in areas with hard water), a small amount of white vinegar applied with a cloth works well. The stainless steel surface does not absorb odours or stains and maintains its bright appearance with regular gentle care. Do not use steel wool or harsh abrasive cleaners on the interior. Do not put the cooker in a dishwasher — hand washing is recommended to preserve the gasket, vent weight, and the polished finish of the stainless steel body over the long term.