Nowadays, most people, especially students, the elderly and busy parents, still have little time to prepare a good meal. Some of them even go so far as to skip meals, especially when they are in a hurry.
However, it does not always have to be this way. Not when you have the best electric pressure cookers. These cooking utensils are quick, easy to use and can be used to prepare healthy homemade meals at your convenience. Investing in a project would save a lot of time.
Finding the best electric pressure cooker to reduce your cooking time is not as easy as you think. There are many options that make the choice really difficult. Fortunately, we’ve put together a comprehensive buying guide and an overview of 6 of the best products for you.
What is A Pressure Cooker?
For the simple definition, a pressure cooker is any container or pot used to cook food at a temperature higher than the boiling temperature of water. The pressure cooker is characterized by a fairly low cooking time thanks to the principle of pressure cooking and the fact that the pot is hermetically closed, not letting the heat escape.
There are also different sizes of pressure cookers , for all sizes and for all tastes. It will all depend on the number of people you cook for. The capacities of a pressure cooker can vary between 4 and 10 liters.
Why Should You Buy An Electric Pressure Cooker?
For a cooking lover, the acquisition of a pressure cooker is essential for the cooking of a good number of dishes. For those just starting out, here are some benefits of using a pressure cooker.
Time saving
Thanks to its steam cooking system , a pressure cooker takes less time to cook food (up to 3 times less time than a traditional utensil). In addition, it saves you from buying ready-made meals and will encourage many of you to make your own dishes. Be careful though because it differs from the steamer.
Save energy
Indeed, since the pressure cooker takes less time to prepare your dishes, it saves you energy. A boon for the ecologists of heart.
Cooking in a pressure cooker is better
The pressure cooker ensures a tailor-made kitchen , that is to say that the dishes are prepared so that they are neither overcooked, nor undercooked. This is one of the main advantages of using the pressure cooker .
For those looking for the real flavors , they will be served. In fact, by cooking your food well, it will be preserved from oxidation and other negative factors. They can then keep their nutritional values.
A tip not to deal with oxidation (enemy of vitamins and minerals): it is possible to choose a pressure cooker which has the option “vacuum of air” and which allows to cook under vacuum by evacuating the air as soon as you close your cover.
List of 6 Best Electric Pressure Cookers
1. Moulinex Cookeo+ CE851500 Intelligent Multicooker 6L 1600W
The intelligent Cookeo is also part of the Moulinex brand. It is a smart electric pressure cooker that stands out with a beautiful chrome finish. Furthermore, its user can try a total of 100 different recipes to visit all the gastronomic flavors of the world.
With a capacity of 6 liters, this cooker can cook for a total of 6 people. The user just has to choose their meal and the Cookeo multicooker will take care of the rest. It will be easy to adapt the quantity of ingredients to the number of guests. In addition, the device will take care of the time and the cooking mode itself. The 4 menus available allow a simplified use of this model of cooker.
With its manual menu, the user of this multicooker can choose the cooking mode. Therefore, he can brown the meat or opt for quick cooking. And with the ingredient menu, just click on the ingredient in question and the Cookeo will cook it. With a total weight of 6.4 kg, this electric pressure cooker measures 37.3 x 36 x 35.5 cm. Note that it also offers 75 recipes that can be cooked in 11 minutes. Cookeo has a cooking speed which is 5 times faster than ordinary multicookers.
2. Instant Pot Lux 6-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot IP-LUX60 is a 6 in 1 device. Indeed, it is able to play the role of an electric pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a cooker steam and be hotter. This product is accompanied by a control panel of which the size is considerable.
This characteristic guarantees the simplicity of its control. This component allows access to up to 10 intelligent programs. Even if you are not a great cook, you can easily make preparations with this equipment.
This model has a keep warm function so you can make other preparations and not be afraid of having a cold meal. This product is made available to you with 10 safety devices ensuring that you can use it without the constant fear of an accident.
In addition, this equipment is energy efficient so as not to increase the amount of your electricity bill significantly.
3. Crock-Pot 2100467 Express Easy Release
The Crock-Pot slow cooker, pressure cooker, stir fry and steamer is a versatile, medium-sized electric pressure cooker with full-size ambitions. He’ll do almost everything his big cousins will do, including producing some of the most succulent pot roasts and roast chicken you’ve ever eaten.
The eight preset tap meals include stews, chillies, rice dishes, poultry and more. When you are ready to cook, the simple icons on the cover clearly indicate if the appliance is properly locked. You can also program your start-up time up to 24 hours and when you’re done, you can sauté the pan in the dishwasher to speed up cleaning.
The 6 quart stainless steel pan is lined with a chemical-free non-stick surface that won’t be in your food. Accessory elements include a stainless steel steam grate, a rice paddle (so a kind of rice cooker) and a complete cookbook so you never run out of things to do.
4. Mealthy Multipot 2.0 9-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker 6 Quarts with Auto-seal lid, Hands-free auto pressure release, stainless steel pot
The Mealthy 6 Quart Programmable Pressure Cooker helps you prepare healthy, high-quality meals for you and your loved ones. There are 14 presets that allow you to sauté cakes, porridge, 5-alarm chili, beef, chicken or vegetable stew, rice and much more. The stainless steel pot can hold up to 6 pints, which is enough to cook a large roast or a small chicken.
Despite its unfortunate name, this programmable electric pressure cooker delivers where it counts. It cooks quickly, seals tightly to retain flavor, juices and essential nutrients and cleans up in the blink of an eye. There is also a Mealthy app for Android and iOS that gives you access to thousands of recipes and dozens of comprehensive practical videos that will get you cooking like a pro in no time.
This kitchen gadget also comes with a range of accessories to make your life easier, including silicone mittens to protect your hands, a stainless steel basket, a rice palette, a measuring cup and more. And for good measure, add a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty on parts and labor.
5. COSORI CP016-PC Electric 6 Qt 8-in-1 Instant Stainless Steel Pot Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart
With 16 preset meals at your fingertips, you are never short of ideas to prepare something memorable with the Cosori electric pressure cooker. It cooks faster and better than any slow cooker, whether electric or on top of the stove, it is equipped with the best rice cookers on the market and NextGen electric cooking technology which has no sound the same in a stove of comparable price.
The control panel is clear and logically organized. The handles are sturdy and heat resistant. The lid locks like a submarine hatch to seal juice, flavor, and nutrients, and the 3-ply stainless steel pot distributes heat evenly, avoiding potentially problematic hot spots. But the Cosori cooker does not stop there.
There are also a host of built-in safety features, including a self-checking protection device to keep the pressure within optimal limits, an anti-blocking protection, a finely adjusted temperature regulator to prevent your food from burning (and to avoid to burn energy), a current monitor and much more.
6. Breville BPR700BSS Fast Slow Pro Multi Function Cooker, Brushed Stainless Steel
The Breville Multifunction Electric Range is built to last and does a remarkable job of producing delicious, high-value meals in a short time and with minimal waste of energy. There are 11 cooking presets covering all the usual suspects, including rice, stews and chili. The 18/8 stainless steel pot has a 3-ply bottom that distributes heat evenly to avoid hot spots and there are high and low cooking settings that range from 2 to 12 hours.
The interactive screen is large and very modern. Unfortunately, like many advanced digital devices today, the screen may be too full of functions to reveal its secrets easily or intuitively. Chances are you’re going to be spending a lot of time negotiating the learning curve with this one. But once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be in control of a first-class, versatile 21st century kitchen appliance that will make your life easier and much tastier.
The pot is covered with a chemical-free ceramic coating which prevents sticking and there is a basket and a stainless steel grid for the steamer. Which brings us to our only bone of contention. At more than twice the cost of most other electric ranges, the limited supply of accessories is difficult to understand, including the lack of an app and only a relative handful of recipes.
How To Choose An Electric Pressure Cooker?
Programs – The best electric pressure cookers all have 10 to 16 presets that will allow you to prepare soups, stews, rice dishes, breakfasts, roast chickens, roast casseroles and more with just the touch of a button. Some, like porridge for example (which seems to appear on the pre-established list of all electric pressure cookers ever manufactured), are more or less superfluous while others will be widely used.
Accessories – Any electric pressure cooker worthy of the name comes with an assortment of useful accessories that make using the appliance easier and more successful. Normally, these accessories include things like a stainless steel steamer insert, a rice paddle, a tablespoon and maybe some silicone mittens and / or a spare silicone gasket in case the original would begin to take less than favorable odors following repeated use. But the more we are crazy, the more we laugh when it comes to accessories. So if your cooker also comes with an app that gives you access to hundreds of recipes and instructional videos, that’s great.
Quick Release – With Quick Release, you literally vent the steam that has accumulated inside the range during food preparation. To activate this function, you turn the pressure release value on the cover. The alternative is called “natural release”. Natural relaxation occurs when you let the internal pressure release naturally. It takes longer, but it is sometimes recommended for dishes that require a little more cooking at the end of the recipe. Never open the range until the pressure between inside and outside has been more or less equalized.
PSI – PSI stands for pounds per square inch and is the measure of the pressure inside the pressure cooker. Some ranges have gauges that allow you to monitor internal pressure or PSI , while others do not. Those who fail to do so will sometimes (not always) have a pressure warning light instead. When the pressure becomes too high and the warning light goes out, it is time to stop the pressure release value and release some steam.
Indicator – The indicator pin is usually located on the cover of the range. It is a very simple device which arises when the pressure inside has reached the desired level and goes down again when the internal pressure decreases. When this appliance is switched on, it is also an indication that the cover is correctly locked and cannot be opened accidentally.
Steam collector – Often called a “condensation collector”, this appliance is usually hung on the side of the pressure cooker and collects excess condensation. This is to prevent food from becoming too soggy during cooking.
Safety tips for pressure cookers – Electric pressure cookers are incredible time savers, capable of producing exceptional traditional dishes and dishes on the cutting edge of technology. However, since they deal with high pressure steam, they are also potentially very dangerous if handled improperly. Children should never be allowed to use a pressure cooker, however automated it may be. In addition, any pressure cooker that you bring home should have a long menu of safety features, including a pressure gauge and a release valve, a rock-solid lid locking mechanism and handles, touch cold.
Some Tips For Better Use Of Your Electric Pressure Cooker
Starting with an electric pressure cooker can be daunting, but these tips will help you cook quickly. Do not hesitate to consult our page of recipes adapted to the multicooker .
- When using your multicooker for sautéing, be sure to preheat the appliance before adding the oil and ingredients.
- In slow cooker mode, you may need to add more herbs and seasoning than usual, as the seasoning loses flavor over a long period of cooking.
- Check the pressure valve regularly to make sure it is not blocked by food residue. A blocked valve will cause too much pressure inside the pressure cooker. And so when it is in pressure cooker mode, and it could break.
- To prevent your food from boiling on top of the appliance, do not add ingredients over the maximum fill line. And when using the pressure cooker mode, do not fill your multi-cooker more than two-thirds, because it takes empty space to create pressure.
- With the exception of stir-fry, you still need a liquid in your recipe when cooking in a multi-range cooker. Otherwise the ingredients may burn.
