Once you've added a pressure cooker to your range of small kitchen gadgets, you'll wonder how you ever lived without the powerful and compact machine. It can whip up huge feasts of food in about a third of the time a traditional cooker takes, making pressure cookers ideal for large gatherings or large weekly meal preps. There are many types of pressure cookers, including the well-known Instant Pot. There are also versatile units that function as deep fryers and other pieces of equipment. We'll show you the best on the market so you're sure to choose the right stove for you.
Instant Pot Duo Plus
Many have tried, but few can compete with the Instant Pot. The best words to describe this stove are "user-friendly". The features make it difficult to mess up your pressure cooked meals. You have low and high pressure options that allow you to control the pressure without much guesswork. The lid has an alarm that notifies you that it is in the correct position. The steam valve is designed so that you cannot position it incorrectly. You can only put it in one vent or seal position.
In addition to all the user-friendly functions, this pot also offers you options. With the roasting function, you can brown your meat in the instant pot before or after pressure cooking. The Duo Plus also has cake, egg and sterilize programming modes so you can cook almost anything. This Instant Pot Multi-Cooker is a great little piece of equipment, but it certainly isn't perfect. The inner pot (especially on 6-liter and smaller versions) is a bit narrow, which can be a challenge when cooking roasts or a whole chicken. Foods like rice and potatoes are also more likely to adhere to the bottom and bottom of this pot than other non-stick pressure cookers. All in all, the Instant Pot Plus appears to be primarily a pressure cooker, and the other functions (slow cooking, etc.) are secondary.
A bonus for all gourmets
Instant Pot also makes an additional air fryer lid that can be used on certain 6 liter models such as the Duo Plus. Simply attach, switch on and enjoy perfect fish fillets and other fried favorites. The lid uses Instant Pot's EvenCrisp technology to ensure your food always has a moist and tender inside and a crispy, golden outer shell. The fryer has an auto-off function that activates when the lid gets too hot so you don't have to worry about keeping an eye on your maggots. The fryer also comes with a recipe table, with options for when to put together a quick meal or prepare a large family dinner.
Mealthy 9-in-1 programmable pressure cooker
The Mealthy 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker is your one-stop-shop for anything under pressure. Let's start with the fact that this monster of a machine has up to 33 different presets for all of your favorite recipes, from soups and rice to yogurt and porridge. There is even a special multi-grain option. Mealthy has everything you need to get started right out of the box, including a 6-liter stainless steel pot, steamer basket, 4-centimeter trivet, two silicone gloves, a ladle, rice paddle, and an 8-ounce measuring cup.
At a loss for recipes? Download the Mealthy app for articles and recommendations from Mealthy's top chefs. Forgot the correct pressure setting for crab meat? The stove also comes with a cheat sheet with heights and cooking times for some of the most popular recipes.
Using a pressure cooker can often mean scorching your hands from all the steam that can escape these machines, but Mealthy has that factored in too! All control options are carried out exclusively via the touch panel. This means that your hands will never get near the steam release valve when you need to make an adjustment.
Fissler Vitaquick pressure cooker with glass lid set
This pressure cooker is incredibly durable and is made of 18/10 stainless steel. It is very difficult to dent or damage this pot. and when you pick it up you can feel the quality of the material. With pressure cookers, size matters. Both the 8.5 liter and 10.6 liter models offer plenty of space for cooking large dishes such as roasts. You can also use this pressure cooker for any heat source - gas, electricity, or even induction. If you want a smaller model, the stove is also available in sizes 2.7, 4.8 and 6.4.
It has an easy to open and close lid, secure locking mechanism, smooth and speed settings, and quick pressure release. It can be taken apart for easy cleaning and even has a separate glass lid. If you compare the Fissler Vitaquick to some other pressure cookers, this stove is quite expensive. It's built to last, and you pay for that quality.
T-fal Clipso 8-quart stainless steel pressure cooker
This 8 liter stove from T-fal is coated with a sturdy stainless steel which ensures that your stove will cook evenly throughout the life of your pot. You can also look forward to the encapsulated base of this stove - a deliberate product design that evenly distributes heat across your food regardless of your cooking surface or heating method.
T-fal also knows how tough a pressure cooker can be on your hands. The Clipso lid is therefore designed for quick and easy one-handed operation. Simply press in the locking tabs on the side of the lid handle and pull up to remove. To close it again, simply push the handle down. The bottom of the Clipso cooker is also encapsulated, which means that your food will be cooked evenly on every cooking surface. The pot itself is dishwasher safe when the seal and pressure valve are removed.
Mueller UltraPot 6 Quart Pressure Cooker
This 6-liter Titan from the people at Müller has it all. We're talking 15 cooking presets (including poultry, oatmeal, yogurt, meat / stew and cake), a PTFE- and PFOA-free non-stick coating that locks in flavors and nutrients, plus durable rubber seals and temperature-resistant handles to protect you and your stove from high Heat.
The UltraPro uses a number of microprocessors that constantly monitor pressure, temperature and time and automatically adjust the stove at various points in the cooking cycle. You can manually enter your own timer settings for both your main cooking cycle (adjustable between 1 and 99 minutes) and for the pot delay timer (up to 24 hours).
Best of all, you can even use the UltraPro to easily canning various types of fruit and vegetables. One of the only drawbacks that we found is the weight of the device. The stove itself is a little clumsy which can make storing and pulling out the pot a little difficult.
Ninja Foodi pressure cooker, steamer, and air fryer
The Foodi is a fixed cooking appliance that you can use to make a great braised pot roast, roast chicken or even a cheesecake. The 6.5 liter non-stick ceramic pot is wide enough to hold large pieces of meat or multiple ingredients (think meat and potatoes). The grate is ideal for steaming vegetables and the accessories are well made.
However, the Foodi is more than just a pressure cooker and steamer. It has two separate lids - one for pressure cooking and one for air frying. You get a 4 liter air frying basket that can hold up to three pounds of french fries. Do you want to get your chicken skin crispy after pressure cooking? No problem. Instead of putting your chicken in the oven from a pressure cooker, you can do it all in the Foodi. Simply cook under pressure, drain the excess liquid, then air-fry for chicken that falls apart on the inside but has a perfectly crispy skin. You can even bake or fry your groceries in the Foodi, and some of the more expensive models (like the OP 302) have a dehydration function.
What is there not to love? The Foodi is a bit heavy and cumbersome, and the air frying lid is not removable, so it can be difficult to stow the Foodi in a cupboard. But if you have space somewhere or it's okay to leave it on your counter, the Foodi is a great addition to your kitchen. Check out our full Ninja Foodi review.
Sistema microwave multicooker
When looking for microwave pressure cookers, you will find that many products don't have good reviews. There are usually quality issues, some buyers feel overpaid for the product, or have issues with food cooking evenly. Sistema has built an international business by developing products that can handle microwaves and other common kitchen appliances. Therefore, it is not surprising that the stove is one of the most reliable and affordable.
System Rice cooker and multicookers get good reviews from users who say they are super easy to use and the food comes out consistently every time. Sistema uses BPA and phthalate-free plastics in its microwave products. The company offers a wide range of microwave products, from soup cups to egg poachers to rice cookers.
How we test pressure cookers
We compared and tested nine different pressure cookers and electric multicookers with some of the highest overall user ratings in their individual categories. We cooked the same two recipes - gluten-free cheesecake and a whole roast chicken - in each of the multicookers and pressure cookers. We compared the tastes of each recipe, how quickly the device got to full pressure, how easy it is to use, how easy it is to clean, how easy it is to set up, and how many instructions the user manual has to understand and follow. Best. "Overall, quality and value play a role.
There are situations in which we cannot test all of the products we recommend. We didn't get the chance to try some of the microwave pressure cookers and pressure cookers recommended above. Based on customer reviews, user interviews, manufacturer manuals and product descriptions, we determined which device is the "best" in terms of functionality, value and quality.
Editor's recommendations
