Anatomy

Perhaps because of its alluring mix of features, advantages and cost, the PEXA line is ONS’ best-selling and most well-liked. It was the initial series released by ONS and has been updated over time with several innovations. In 2010 a new, improved pressure-regulating mechanism was introduced — easy to insert and remove, it reduces the sprouting of frothy foods (like dal) and limits pressure to a smaller, more efficient range.

The safety valve, situated beneath the lid handle bar, redirects steam downward as it functions. The gasket receives less steam exposure, does not rub every time the cooker is opened and closed, and so lasts longer. Handles are designed to stay cool — the fixed, robust pivot is part of the metal handle itself, so it doesn’t strain the plastic handles. Ideal for gas, electric, ceramic and halogen cooktops.

Induction Base: commercially pure virgin aluminium with an external AISI 430-grade magnetic stainless-steel bottom plate affixed to the double-thick base — safe on gas, electric, halogen, ceramic and induction cooktops. The heavy-gauge, double-thick base is perfect for mild frying before pressure cooking and stays flat; it never swells.

With its distinctive rounded edges, the MEXA makes it simpler to stir, see and remove food. For complex dishes that demand a lot of stirring, the MEXA is the perfect cooker. Stay-cool handles; recommended for use on gas stoves.

Induction Base: an external AISI 430-grade magnetic stainless-steel plate is fixed to the double-thick base of commercially pure virgin aluminium, making it induction compatible — safe on gas, electric, ceramic, halogen and induction cooktops. The heavy-gauge, double-thick base is perfect for light frying before pressure cooking and stays flat; it never swells.

A Matki pressure cooker is a modern hybrid designed to combine the aesthetic and traditional culinary benefits of a curved, clay-pot matki (or handi) with the speed of a pressure cooker. Its wide bottom effectively absorbs heat on gas and induction stoves, while the curved walls make stirring gravies easier and prevent food from sticking.

The Big PEXA line was created specifically to prepare huge amounts of food quickly and affordably. It works well in eateries, lodging facilities and canteens across companies, hospitals, schools and universities; many civil and military government facilities also use the Big PEXA in their canteens.

In actual cooking tests, cooking 10–15 kg of tur dal, chana masala and mutton masala in 15-litre Big PEXA cookers reduced gas usage by 46%–57%. Those quantities feed 50–80 people and cook in 29–48 minutes — the fuel savings alone can pay back the cooker in under a year.

The 8- and 15-litre models have two robust lifting handles affixed to the body to help handle the weight, and all Big PEXA cookers use reinforced-fibreglass plastic handles for added strength. In busy kitchens the vent weight is secured with a chain to prevent loss. Suitable for kerosene or gas burners, and for coal or firewood stoves when an appropriate gap is kept between the fuel and the cooker’s bottom.

With a stainless-steel top and a hard-anodised body, the MEXA Black offers all the features and advantages of the MEXA, with a stunning, long-lasting black finish from 60-micron hard anodising. The finish increases the rate of heat absorption (improving energy efficiency) and keeps the cooker looking brand new for years. For use with gas stoves.

Hard anodising was originally developed by Russian scientists to create a metal surface durable enough for space flight. A 60-micron coating of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) is grown molecule by molecule into the metal — producing a surface tougher than steel with excellent cooking qualities. It is non-toxic, does not discolour or react with food, is thermally efficient, and won’t corrode or tarnish.

Induction Base [M.I.B.]: an AISI 430-grade magnetic stainless-steel plate is permanently bonded to the 4.06 mm-thick base, making it induction compatible. The extra-thick foundation retains heat rapidly and efficiently, and works with all household cooktops — gas, electric, ceramic, halogen and induction.

The MEXA Advocate has all the features of the MEXA in a fully hard-anodised build — both body and lid. The attractive, long-lasting black finish from 60-micron hard anodising lets the cooker absorb heat faster (greater energy efficiency) and keeps its brand-new appearance for years. Recommended for gas burners.

As with all hard-anodised ONS cookware, a 60-micron aluminium-oxide (Al₂O₃) layer is grown into the metal to give a surface with superior cooking properties and durability compared to steel. The surface is non-toxic, doesn’t react with food or change colour, resists high temperatures, heats rapidly and evenly, and won’t tarnish or corrode.

Induction Base [M.A.I.B.]: a plate of AISI 430-grade magnetic stainless steel is permanently fixed to the 4.06 mm-thick base; the extra-thick base warms quickly and holds heat well, on gas, electric, halogen, ceramic and induction. Every ONS Advocate has an inner-fitting lid — pressure-locked like an aeroplane door for safety — with improved pressure control, a stay-cool handle and food-grade gaskets that last longer.

The PEXA Advocate [P.A.] is hard-anodised inside and out, so it is non-toxic, sanitary, healthy and uses less oil when cooking. It looks brand new for years and doesn’t tarnish or pit. It has no non-stick coating; its 4.06 mm extra-thick induction base keeps food from burning or sticking and stays flat at all times. It runs on gas and induction.

Every PEXA Advocate has an inner-fitting lid — intrinsically safer than standard cookers, and pressure-locked like an aeroplane door. A better pressure-controlling mechanism keeps pressure in a tighter, more efficient range, reduces foamy-food sprouting (like dal) and is easy to insert and remove. The safety valve beneath the lid handle bar redirects steam downward; the food-grade gasket lasts longer; and the stay-cool handle’s fixed robust pivot doesn’t strain the plastic. Suitable for gas, electric, halogen, ceramic and induction cooktops.

The Tri-Ply MEXA delivers durability and superior heat dispersion through a 3 mm extra-thick tri-ply of stainless steel with an aluminium sheet sandwiched between two steel sheets. The tri-ply structure heats the base and sides evenly, preventing food and spices from burning or sticking and reducing the need for extra cooking oil.

A wider opening makes it easier to stir and see food as it cooks. It has an 18/8 food-grade stainless-steel interior for strength, durability and hygiene, and a thick heat-diffusing metal core spreads heat through the base and up the sides for more even, efficient cooking. Because the exterior is AISI 430 magnetic stainless steel, it works on both gas burners and induction cooktops. Sturdy, stay-cool plastic handles give a firm, safe grip.