Best Pressure Cooker (2023 UK Review)

The actual design of the pressure cooker has changed little since they were first invented in the 17th century. What has changed is how much safer modern pressure cookers are compared to those old, unregulated appliances. There are two types of pressure cookers on the market today, which are hob top pressure cookers and electric pressure cookers.

With the old pressure cookers there was always the chance that the internal pressure could build up to a point where the vessel could explode. Modern pressure cookers have far more safety features incorporated into their design. However, if you choose to buy a hob top pressure cooker you will still need to supervise it to some level. Whereas electric pressure cookers can be left pretty much to their own devices.

This Months Popular Pressure Cookers

How Does A Pressure Cooker Work?

Pressure cookers work by creating a tight seal between the pan and the lid. As the liquid in the pot boils and turns to a high pressure steam, the temperature within the pot is raised to way above the boiling point of water. This extra heat cooks the food far more quickly than other conventional forms of cooking.

This high pressure cooking method forces moisture into the food which allows you to cook cheaper, tougher types of meat that will become soft, moist and tender in a short time. This rapid cooking and softening is also the case for cooking dried beans and chickpeas quickly as well.

Foods cook far quicker in a pressure cooker than any other conventional way of cooking.

What Are The Benefits Of A Pressure Cooker?

The advantages of the pressure cooker include;

• Faster Cooking Times
  Cooking food in a pressure cooker will take up to 70% less time than cooking similar foods in a saucepan. It takes a far shorter amount of time as the heat that usually escapes from a standard saucepan is trapped in a pressure cooker.
• Energy Saving
  As the pressure cooker uses heat far more efficiently than conventional saucepans, it uses less energy. This means you’ll get lower energy bills and cook in a more environmentally friendly way too.
• Less Nutrient Loss
  Once the pressure cooker has the lid closed, it becomes a sealed unit. This means there is nowhere for nutrients to go but inside the food. The nutrients are locked into the foods cooked in a pressure cooker.
• Minimum Washing Up
  A pressure cooker is the ultimate in single pot cooking. Which means there’s only one pot to wash up, plus the pressure sealed lid means there’s no spills to clean up either.
• All The Flavours Are Locked In
  We all enjoy tasty meals, and using a pressure cooker locks all of the flavours into the food with none escaping during the cooking process.
• Make Cooking Simple
  Using a pressure cooker allows you to put all of the ingredients into the one pot and then just allow it to do all of the cooking itself. You can make stews, soups, curries, cook lentils, potatoes, tough meats, and much more in a fraction of the time they would need on the hob in a regular saucepan.
• They’re Now Very Safe
  Modern pressure cookers are far safer than earlier models. Early pressure cookers were extremely loud and could explode if the pressure built up too much. Modern pressure cookers have many safety features to prevent these problems.

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Pressure Cooker?

The disadvantages of pressure cookers include;

• All Ingredients Cook For The Same Amount Of Time
  In many cases this means you can’t cook the whole meal at the same time. This will mean using extra pots and pans to cook the whole meal.
• There’s No Room For Error
  Once the ingredients are in the pot and the lid is sealed, there’s no chance of adding any extra or forgotten ingredient or flavouring. Most cooks like to taste their food as it’s cooking and adjust the flavours accordingly, this is not possible in a pressure cooker.
• Not Suitable For All Meals
  Pressure cookers are great for cooking certain types of meals, however, there are many others that can’t be cooked using a pressure cooker. They are no good for roasting foods or frying foods for example.
• Takes Time To Learn How To Cook Foods Properly
  After having used a conventional saucepan on a cooker top for many years, using a pressure cooker is a completely new way of cooking. And like all new ways of doing things, it will take time to master correctly.
• Easy To Overcook Foods
  Especially when you first start to use a pressure cooker, it can be very easy to overcook foods. This is because of the short amount of time needed to cook foods in a pressure cooker compared to a regular saucepan on a cooker top. We would strongly recommend using a pressure cooker recipe book for the first few months to ensure you get the most from your pressure cooker.

Stovetop Or Electric Pressure Cooker? Which Is Right For You?

There are a number of notable differences between stovetop and electric pressure cookers namely;

• Stovetop pressure cookers  are better at browning meats than electric models
• Stovetop pressure cookers tend to cook faster than electric models
• Stovetop pressure cookers are also generally louder than electric models due to the way the steam is processed during cooking
• Electric pressure cookers tend to have more functions
• Electric pressure cookers are also easier to use and check whilst cooking

What Are The Benefits Of An Electric Pressure cooker?

The main benefits of an electric pressure cooker include;

• Take Less Monitoring
  With an electric pressure cooker there’s no need to be constantly monitoring the pressure for example. You just set the timer and pressure and allow the appliance to get on with it.
• Many Can Be Used For Different Forms Of Cooking
  Many electric pressure cookers can be used as slow cookers or steamers for example. Plus some can be used to saute, brown or sear as well.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Electric Pressure Cookers?

The main disadvantages of electric pressure cookers include;

• Take Longer To Cook Food
  Compared to stovetop models, electric pressure cookers use lower pressure levels, which means they take longer to cook similar foods.
• Take Up Counter Top Space
  Electric pressure cookers are designed to be used on the counter top. In most kitchens, space is at a premium which means the pressure cooker could be in the way when not in use.
• Heavy
  An electric pressure cooker is far heavier than a stovetop model.
• More Expensive
  Electric pressure cookers cost more than stovetop models.

What Are The Benefits Of A Stovetop Pressure cooker?

The advantages of a stovetop pressure cooker include;

• Inexpensive
  Compared to electric models, the stovetop pressure cooker is far cheaper to purchase.
• Can Cook More Food
  Stovetop pressure cookers can have far larger capacities than electric models, with some models having a capacity of 12 litres.
• Can Get To Higher Pressures
  When it comes to pressure cooking, the higher the pressure the faster the food cooks. And stovetop models can reach higher pressures than electric models.
• Quick Pressure Release
  Some models even have a facility to allow even faster pressure release via cold water.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Stovetop Pressure Cookers?

The disadvantages of the stovetop pressure cooker include;

• Less Functionality
  There are a number of functions available on an electric pressure cooker that are not available when using a stovetop model.
• More Hands On
  With a stovetop pressure cooker, you need to monitor the pressure level and adjust the heat accordingly. Electric models do this automatically.

What About Microwave Pressure Cookers?

If space is at a premium, there is also the option of the microwave pressure cooker. These are generally made from silicon and are easy to clean after use. They can easily be hand washed or washed in a dishwasher.

They reach pressure incredibly quickly which makes them one of the fastest ways to cook. But they are small as they are designed to fit in a standard microwave. Which makes them ideal for cooking meals for two people but would struggle to cook for four.

Pressure Cooker Buyers Guide

If you have decided that a pressure cooker sounds like the kitchen appliance for you, there are a few things to consider before making your mind on which model you would like to buy. Things like;

Multifunctions

If you are looking for a pressure cooker that does more than just cook foods under pressure, we would recommend you look at a multi cooker. Multi cookers can cook food just like a pressure cooker as well as having the ability to function as a slow cooker, rice cooker, cake maker and far more.

Capacity

Electric pressure cookers tend to be smaller than stovetop models. The smallest models are around 3 litres, with the most common sizes being between 4 to 6 litres. However it’s worth remembering that as pressure cookers need space for the pressure to build, a 6 litre pressure cooker can in reality only cook 4 litres of food.

The larger the capacity, the more money the appliance will set you back, but it gives you the ability to cook large batches with the potential to freeze some for a later date.

Different Pressure Settings

Some electric models have only one pressure setting, some have 2 (high and low) but many have multiple pressure settings. The low pressure setting is good for cooking delicate foods like fish or pasta and is more energy efficient as it uses less power.

Timer

The timer function is only available on some electric models and is extremely useful if you like to have a piping hot meal available the moment you walk in the door. Some timers can be set for up to 24 hours.

Keep Warm

This setting is great if you need to delay your meal for any reason after it has finished cooking. The food will stay warm without spoiling until you are ready to eat.

How Much Do Pressure Cookers Cost?

To help you decide which pressure cooker is best for you, here are the average prices you can expect to pay for a pressure cooker:

• Stovetop pressure cookers range in price from around £12 for a 3 litre capacity to around £200 for a top of the range 5 litre model.
• Microwave pressure cookers range in price from around £10 to around £30 depending on the make, size and brand.
• Electric pressure cookers range in price from around £40 to around £250 depending on the capacity, make, model, brand and functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions