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Do you wish to reduce time spent in your kitchen, yet not on quality or flavor? If so, you are better off counting on the best pressure cookers. While they tend to be in the same category as slow cookers, these devices, along with multi-cookers whose functions include pressure cooking are superior by themselves.
Slow cookers are slow and steady, which is their favorable point. Meanwhile, pressure cookers are impressive when it comes to speed. It functions by keeping steam in the sealed pot, enabling ingredients to cook way more quickly compared to other cooking techniques. With this appliance, you will appreciate delicious, warm batches of rice, vegetables, stew, soup, among others, legit fast.
To narrow down your options, below we curate a list of the most impressive models out there these days to fit your needs and wants seamlessly.
Your 5 best picks
1. Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker – by Instant Pot
Key specs:
- Programs: 11
- Weight: 8.6 pounds
- Dimensions: 11.81 inches (long) x 10.51 inches (wide) x 10.98 inches (high)
- Capacity: 3 quarts (about 2.8 liters)
As one of the best pressure cookers today, this mini Instant Pot manages to contain around half as many ingredients as more sizable Instant Pot units. At the same time, it occupies reduced space, which makes the model most fantastic for modestly-sized kitchens. Place it on any countertop. Else, move it anywhere for effortless storage.
Similar to the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker (with standard size), this smaller version boasts the inclusion of seven functions (namely, steamer, warmer, yogurt maker, saute pan, rice cooker, slow cooker, and electric pressure cooker). Plus, eleven one-touch customizable programs are accessible for pressure cooking beans, rice, to name a few.
As it shares a lot of attributes in common with the bigger Instant Pot units and has an edge related to space-saving and affordability, this multi-cooker is the ideal choice for beginners to pressure cooking.
What you may like:
- A breeze to use
- Does not occupy plenty of counter space
What you may not like:
- It would be more fantastic if the product warranty were longer.
2. T-fal Stovetop Pressure Cooker – by T-fal
Key specs:
- Weight: 8 pounds
- Dimensions: 18.1 inches (long) x 11.5 inches (wide) x 10.5 inches (high)
- Capacity: 6 quarts (about 5.7 liters)
Before the best pressure cookers of electric type show up, stovetop ones made their appearance. Stovetop models often need less space compared to electric ones. That is why their compact builds are remarkable for kitchens with limited space. You may like that they are friendly priced as well.
Speaking of the T-fal, it is safe for being cared for by your typical dishwasher and can handle the contents of six quarts. Notably, there are safety attributes such as safe closing and opening mechanism, pressure indicator, as well as a safety valve. This model’s multi-layer base has a conventional pot’s look more or less and you have zero difficulties leveraging it on any cooktop including induction.
When you use the T-fal to pressure cook, you can select between ten and fifteen pounds per square inch (PSI). One of stovetop pressure cookers’ perks is, they work to get to a higher PSI in comparison with electric models.
What you may like:
- Compact
- Reasonably priced
- Lid with a secure locking system to minimize accidents
What you may not like:
- The gasket is likely to retain odors.
3. HAWKIN Classic CL3T 3-Liter Upgraded Aluminum Pressure Cooker – by HAWKIN
Key specs:
- Weight: 3.8 pounds
- Dimensions: 14 inches (long) x 7.9 inches (wide) x 6.5 inches (high)
- Capacity: 3 liters (about 3.2 quarts)
These best pressure cookers are accessible in different sizes, allowing you to discover your best fit with ease. They are a great choice for ceramic, electric, gas, and halogen cooktops.
The product unit is budget-friendly and can hold more than three quarts of food. Where the compact build is not most suitable for meal prepping, small families cannot go wrong with it to prepare meals.
What is more? This HAWKIN comes with a stay-cool handle, a safety feature that you will appreciate. Since novices often worry about safety, the brand has taken that into consideration. As you may notice, the safety valve is cleverly positioned under the lid handle bar, which enables steam to become smoothly deflected downwards during your use.
What you may like:
- Trustworthy safety mechanism
- Durable
What you may not like:
- The pot may get stained after cooking black beans, for example.
4. GoWISE USA GW22637 4th-Generation Electric Pressure Cooker – by GoWISE USA
Key specs:
- Cooking Presets: 12
- Weight: 18 pounds
- Dimensions: 13 inches (wide) x 16 inches (long) x 15 inches (high)
- Power rating: 1600 watts
- Capacity: 14 quarts (about 13 liters)
Are you in the market for the best pressure cookers for your large family? Look no further but this 14-quart model of the electric type. Its capacity is enough to cook sizable batches of food daily.
But that is not all. To boost convenience, the model offers twelve cooking presets which set time and pressure for optimal results. These include eggs, slow cooking, yogurt, poultry, saute, chill/ bean, stew/ meat, soup, porridge, as well as multi-grain. Plus, a measuring cup, rice scooper, steam basket, and steam rack are available to make the cooking process more convenient.
You may also like that pressure, temperature, and time for cooking are clearly shown on the LED displays. You have the option to begin the cooking time later by using this GoWISE USA GW22637’s delay timer as well. Both the pressure and cooking time are customizable, allowing you to get the desirable results. For effortless cleanup, there is a ceramic coating over the cooking pot.
Please keep in mind that, because this gadget is large, it will occupy more counter space compared to a cooker whose size is average. Moreover, its weight is heavier (being at eighteen pounds before ingredients are added.
What you may like:
- Twelve cooking presets
- A breeze to clean
- Most fantastic for crowds or large families
What you may not like:
- Concerns with durability following a long time of use
- Saute capability is not the most excellent
5. Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11 in 1, Electric Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer – by Instant Pot
- Programs: 11
- Weight: 22.7 pounds
- Dimensions: 15.3 inches (long) x 14.8 inches (wide) x 13.6 inches (high)
- Capacity: 8 quarts (about 7.6 liters)
The increasing recognition of the best pressure cookers has made Instant Pot product units more popular than ever. This Duo Crisp 11 in 1 model from the brand is known as a capable electric multi-cooker which brings eleven functions to the table. These are air frying, dehydrating, broiling, baking, roasting, warming, sous viding, slow cooking, steaming, sauteing, as well as pressure cooking.
Are you wondering whether to choose between an air fryer and a pressure cooker? Then, why do not you get the best of both worlds by bringing home this multi-cooker from Instant Pot? Just change the lid to leverage the desirable function. Indeed, thanks to the eleven smart programs and separable lids, you will adjust between functions with ease.
What is even more? Over ten safety attributes make the cooker remarkable. On the one hand, making dishes under high pressure may not be beginner-friendly. Yet, on the other hand, the model makes it more effortless than ever.
What you may like:
- Simple to clean
- Heats up fast
- Many different cooking options
What you may not like:
- For several users, the air fryer might be not large enough.
Some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the best pressure cookers
1. What can I cook in this kitchen appliance?
Whether you are planning to make a nutritious soup stock quickly or cook beef stew, you cannot go wrong with the pressure cooker. Aside from the benefits related to speed, this gadget makes some dishes more excellently.
For example, you will enjoy higher tenderness of tough cuts of meat such as corned beef. At the same time, they stay juicy. How about cheesecakes? Their creaminess and smoothness without too much browning are hardly doubtful.
Speaking of grains, chicken thighs, and whatnot, they will be timely ready for your meal, even when you did not remember to thaw the chicken prior to cooking. Yea! Using the pressure cooker to cook frozen meat is alright.
“Which food should not I make in pressure cookers?” sounds a better question. Some people do not suggest cooking delicate cuts of meat breaded meats (to avoid their being soggy), or lentils and something (to prevent them from becoming mushy) in this device. Oi frying is a big no as pressure cookers are not made for that purpose.
Cooking dairy there is not recommendable, either. That is because it tends to curdle. Still, on the other hand. A couple of cheesecake and yogurt recipes are particularly created for the type of appliance with the proper settings.
2. Can I leverage this device for canning?
Where you can utilize pressure canners for usual pressure cooking, do not use your best pressure cookers for pressure canning. Bring home a pressure canner in case you intend to can low-acid foods such as broth and meats often. Thus far, none of the electric pressure cookers have been rated for canning.
3. The warranty of a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot?
More often than not, there is a warranty on pressure cookers. Stovetop units’ warranty tends to be longer. This is reasonable since these cannot have problems soon. Talking about electric models, you can notice their warranty is about a year (the Instant Pot cookers, for instance), although the coverage and length will differ based on the brand and model.
Please bear in mind manufacturing defects are usually part of warranties’ coverage, but you are better off replacing components – say valves at your expense during the gadget’s lifetime because of regular wear-and-tear not handled by a product warranty.
All in all
If you are looking for the best pressure cookers with multiple valuable functions, large capacity, and ultimate safety attributes, you cannot go wrong with the Duo Crisp 11-in-1 from Instant Pot. As a bonus, it works as an air fryer as well, enabling you to save some counter space.
Searching for a stovetop model? The T-fal may be one of your best bets. It is a breeze to store and safe for being cared for by your standard household dishwasher.
