If the old blast pot stories have kept you from jumping on the pressure cooker bandwagon, it's time to reconsider.
These days, the best pressure cookers are not only versatile and easy to use, but they're also packed with safety features, and they're capable of making great meals faster and easier than ever before.
Perfect for busy families or feeding guests without spending all night in the kitchen, pressure cookers are ideal for preparing stews, soups, and tough cuts of meat, as well as whole chickens, rice, beans, and more.
To determine which popular and highly-rated models are the best, we put 15 regular and electric pressure cookers to the test, using each one to make a risotto, beans, and a simple meat stew.
This is what we found.
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Best Overall Electric Pressure Cooker: Instant Pot Pro Plus
Buy it on Amazon:
MX$4,241 or
USD$ 169
Cook the rice and it cooks slowly.
With 10 preset functions and app control, the Instant Pot Pro Plus promises to be the holy grail of small kitchen appliances and delivers on much of its promise.
First of all, though, it's a great electric pressure cooker, with a simple interface, solid construction, and helpful pressure-release features that let us easily get great results on all of our test recipes.
The Pro Plus was the best when it came to results in all three of our recipe tests.
The beans cooked consistently throughout to a perfectly soft texture, but not mushy, while other models we tested left some beans hard and others practically macerated.
The risotto was creamy and fluffy, after a cook time of just 5 minutes.
Its touch control panel is so intuitive just take a look at the user manual (and I honestly would have been fine without it).
Unlike most other models tested, the digital panel features super-helpful status messages that ensure you always know what's going on inside the pot: from preheating to cooking to keeping your food warm.
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You can select from 10 program modes (pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steamer, sauté and more) or customize with the option to choose between low, high or maximum pressure, as well as low, high temperatures.
A dial lets you quickly set the time or temperature and a delay start option lets you start cooking at a designated time and doubles as a kitchen timer.
The touch screen also gets bonuses for being easier to clean than a control panel with lots of buttons.
Beyond the touch screen, the ability to control the Pro Plus with an app (which gives you access to over 1,000 recipes) was really helpful.
The Pro Plus doesn't just give you stovetop-like control over pressure release, with quick, pulse or natural release options.
The Pro Plus is constructed of triple-ply stainless steel with silicone handles (making it easy to move it around the kitchen or to the sink or pour its contents into a bowl or container).
An anti-twist feature prevents the pot from moving during the cooking process.
It's also nice and compact at 13.2 inches long by 13 inches wide by 12.7 inches tall, so it doesn't take up too much cabinet or counter space.
The one-year limited warranty could be more generous for the price, because it's certainly more expensive than other models.
But we think the Pro Plus app controls, simple interface, progress status bars, and great cooking results give it the edge over other Instant Pot models and make it the best overall choice among instant pots. electrical pressure we tested.
Best Budget Electric Pressure Cooker: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 8-Quart
Buy it on Amazon:
MX$2,602 or
$99.95 USD
The best-selling model of the Instant Pot comes with seven built-in functions (pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, skillet and food warmer), and it also has 13 customizable programs.
The push-button and digital display is large and easy to read and we appreciate that the lid can be detached for easier cleaning.
The stainless steel inner pot is dishwasher safe and easy to switch between low and high pressure, while a keep-warm option and included steam rack offer added convenience.
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During our recipe tests, we found the beans to be cooked well overall, but we did find some inconsistencies, with some being softer than others.
The risotto needed a bit more time at the end in the sauté function to get it to the correct creamy consistency and the vegetables in the stew were too tender, but it still made for a tasty dish.
If this is your first time buying a pressure cooker, this is a great place to start.
Best Deluxe Electric Pressure Cooker: Breville Fast Slow Pro
Buy it on Amazon:
MX$9,731 or
USD$ 279
With a sleek design and solid performance typical of Breville products, we had high expectations for the Fast Slow Pro in terms of performance and features.
The Breville gives you finer control over pressure (you can adjust them) than the other models we tested.
Dual sensors at the top and bottom of the machine offer even more control when it comes to pressure and temperature, and an auto-heat function kicks in when cooking is done.
The bright, easy-to-read LCD screen and dials let you quickly choose from 11 pressure cooker settings, from low to high, and you can customize the settings, too.
We appreciate that the display changes colors denoting whether it is in pressurizing, cooking or steam release mode.
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The lid is hinged, removable and dishwasher safe and the silicone seal was easy to remove and snap back into place.
It comes with a ceramic-coated inner pot, a stainless steamer basket and rack, and a bound recipe book.
If you intend to use your electric pressure cooker often, love having the ability to really adjust your pressure levels, appreciate the convenience of hands-free steam release, and aren't too concerned about a hefty price tag, we think Breville Fast Slow Pro is a kitchen tool you'll look forward to putting to work again and again.
Best Regular Pressure Cooker: Kuhn Rikon Duromatic
Buy it on Amazon:
MX$5,243 or
USD$ 212
If you prefer a simple pressure cooker, the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic looks lovely on the stovetop and does an impressive job of cooking food.
We found the two-handle design easy to grip, the pressure gauge easy to read, and while the company doesn't recommend cleaning the heavy stainless-steel pot in the dishwasher, washing it by hand wasn't too difficult.
More importantly, we got great tasting, perfectly finished meals in the Duromatic.
The risotto turned out wonderful.
The beans were perfect, as was the tender meat.
Using the Duromatic is very easy: add your ingredients, lock the conical lid in place, heat the pot and when you see a red line, it's on low pressure;
two red lines delineate high pressure, letting you know it's time to turn down the heat.
Yes, you'll need to keep an eye on it and adjust the heat accordingly, but if you get distracted, the steam automatically releases to prevent the pot from over-pressurizing (we had to make a minimal adjustment during our tests).
When your cooking time is up, depending on the recipe, you can either let the pressure drop naturally, or quickly release it by moving the pot to the sink and running cold water over the rim of the lid, or pressing the gauge down to release pressure, with steam release evenly.
If you're willing to spend the money, keep in mind that the Swiss company has been in business since 1926, and has produced the Duromatic since 1949, and offers long-lasting products along with a 10-year warranty, could influence your decision. .
Best Budget Pressure Cooker: Clipso T-fal
Buy it on Amazon:
MX$2,778 or
USD$ 111
The T-fal Clipso is very easy to use.
In our tests, the Clipso pressurized very quickly.
As with all stove models, bring the heat to your desired setting, and once steam begins to release through the valve, it's time to reduce the heat and set your timer.
We quickly found the sweet spot and noticed that the pot held its pressure very well throughout the entire cooking time, with little need to turn the heat up or down.
Like electric pressure cookers, all stovetop models performed well in our recipe tests, though some earned more points for better consistency, texture, and faster cook time.
So while the Kuhn Rikon beat the T-fal when it came to making beans, risotto, and stew, for about $155 less, the T-fal still did an admirable job.
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The model comes with a steamer basket and tripod and is dishwasher safe.
It comes with a 10-year warranty against defects or premature deterioration, and a one-year warranty is included for other parts.
And we appreciate the side handles on the pot that allow for easy maneuvering.
But what sets the T-fal apart from other models is its unique cap.
Once you've finished cooking and the pressure is released, the lid is opened by pressing the top of a large knob.
As a safety feature, the lid will not open until all pressure is released.
The Clipso offers plenty of cooking space for a family of four, while remaining compact for storage.
For convenience and price, we think this is a great pressure cooker for beginners and veterans alike.
How to choose a pressure cooker?
By trapping steam inside a tightly sealed pot, pressure cookers increase the pressure under which food is cooked (usually to about twice atmospheric pressure), thus raising the boiling point of water and significantly speeding up cooking times. cooking.
While conventional wisdom holds that pressure cookers are dangerous, accidents are actually rare (and many of those that have been documented are the result of misuse).
All of the pressure cookers we tested come with multiple safety features and locking lids, and are designed so that all pressure must be released before the lid can be removed.
Some models vent a little moisture as the steam condenses, but many of the electric versions include condensation collectors that catch the water before it drips onto your countertop.
The electric versions are all intuitive to use, even given the many functions they offered, although some required some additional reference to the user manual.
They all let you manually adjust the cooking time, but our favorites were the models that included cooking progress bars and automatic steam release.
Sometimes we were worried if the ones without progress indicators would actually work.
So electric or regular?
Both had similar cooking results, so it really comes down to personal preference: Electrics are for those who want to have a ton of cooking options where they simply add ingredients and let the machine do the work. heavy.
We found stovetop pressure cookers to be easy to use and found that they come to pressure faster than their electric counterparts.
Start on high heat until the desired pressure level is reached, then simply lower the heat to keep the pressure constant throughout the cook time.
Of course, you'll need to keep an eye on it most of the time to make sure the pressure is at the right level.
Cooktop models have an advantage over their electric counterparts in that they can be quickly depressurized by running them under cold water, allowing for recipes and cooking techniques that require more precise timing, or adding ingredients mid-cook, or simply for those who find the release of steam terrifying.
How we test
Our test group included 15 pressure cookers in total, nine electric and six regular.
And while all models performed well in our recipe tests, which included making no-soak pinto beans, pea and mushroom risotto, and a hearty beef stew, details including build, interface, ease, cooking time and versatility resulted in mixed scores.
Since many of the electric models are billed as
multicookers
, we kept versatility in mind, noting how many configurations, functions, and features were available, but we thought of these models as pressure cookers first and foremost.
We paid close attention to ease of setup and use, looked at what accessories were included and their usefulness in the actual kitchen, and looked at the overall quality of the UI elements in each kitchen.
In general, even the electric versions were relatively intuitive to use, but we made sure to note when we needed to refer to the instruction manual (and when we needed technical translation!);
For stovetop cookers, we checked to make sure pressure settings were easy to read, steam valves easy to manipulate, and seals and other moving parts easy to manage.
To test performance, we used three typical pressure cooker recipes on all kitchens, whether electric or stovetop.
In the course of our evaluation, we paid careful attention to the overall design and build quality, examining the materials used, noting any unique features such as the handle, interior pot and lid design, pressure release valves and gauges. pressure and safety improvements.
We checked how much storage and counter space the various models took up, and whether they were heavy or light and easy or difficult to handle.
We also looked at warranty coverage, customer service accessibility, and price, not just paying attention to affordability, but in particular, making sure that any higher-priced models we looked at were worth the extra cost over cheaper models. cheap.
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