Best Assistant In The Kitchen
In the pressure cooker VS instant pot duel, I give my vote to the latter one. I find it more useful in the kitchen and an excellent space-saving option. Instead of keeping a crock pot, pressure cooker, air-fryer, rice cooker, I only need to get one device to replace them all.
Cooking food for half an hour longer in an instant pot, compared to a pressure cooker doesnt bother me.
If short cooking time and simple maintenance are your top priorities, you might be better off with a pressure cooker. Whichever one you chose, you will save time and improve your cooking skills.
Which one do you prefer electric or stovetop pressure cooker?
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Which One Should I Buy
After youve seen the reviews and pros & cons, its time to draw the line and see which brand managed to make pressure cooking more interesting.
Choose the Instant Pot DUO if
- You want a reliable and well-liked product
- The yogurt function is important to your kitchen routine
- You want a multicooker with impressive safety mechanisms
- You want a pot thats easy to clean and use
- You are open to learning how to use the interface
Choose the Power Pressure Cooker XL if
- You really need the extra space offered by the 10qt size
- The home-canning feature is mandatory for you
- You like the over-simplified interface
- You want a pressure cooker with a detachable lid
- Youre OK with Teflon coating
Overall, the Instant Pot DUO series offers everything you would need in a small appliance, and it comes with the added option of making yogurt. The added focus of safety in the construction of this pressure cooker is a bonus as well. Besides the fact that the interface has a bit of a learning curve, the Instant Pot DUO series leaves little more to be desired in a standard pressure cooker.
On the other hand, the Power Pressure Cooker XL fails to surpass the Instant Pot DUO in both form and function. While they attempt to include additional features to appeal to consumers , the product lacks the extent of safety features seen with Instant Pot and features a non-stick coated pot that is prone to peeling after several uses.
Are Electric Multicookers Safe
For the most part, today’s electric pressure cookers are safe. However, you still need to be careful.
Many people are afraid to use electric pressure cookers because they have heard stories of them exploding on the stove. That was a problem with the old stovetop models, but several safety mechanisms minimize the chance of this happening with modern electric cookers.
“I was never concerned about a multicooker exploding on the countertops,” said chef and chocolatier Anne Wolf.
Jeffrey Eisner, the author of “The Step-by-Step Instant Pot Cookbook,” agreed. “If you’re going to compare pressure cookers from back in the day when they were on stovetops to today’s that are electric and lock in place, a big difference is today’s lids will stay securely on top,” said Eisner. “I feel comfortable using them, and I’ve never been afraid. I’ve never had any issues personally.”
However, today’s electric pressure cookers are not without their risks. “I did find that it’s easy to burn yourself on the steam when you’re doing a quick release,” said Wolf. “So, there’s some burn risk.”
The best way to minimize the burn risk when releasing the pressure is to use a wooden spoon or another long utensil to engage the steam release valve. The steam always comes from the top, so make sure you are not standing over the cooker when releasing the steam.
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Here Are The Main Attributes We Looked For And How We Tested Them:
Setup: I timed how quickly I could get the cooker set up and building pressure from the moment I opened the box. I also noted whether I could do this without looking at the instructions or if the controls were confusing. Most units took five minutes or less to set up.
Pressurizing: Many pressure cooker recipes look like they won’t take long, but few recipes factor in the time it takes for the unit to build pressure. A cooker that builds pressure quickly is a real timesaver. I tested how long it took each model to get up to pressure with just four cups of water inside. I also tracked how long the pressure build took during the cooking tests. I gave more favorable scores to cookers that built pressure quickly.
Performance: I put each multicooker through five cooking tests:
Additional cooking functions: Three of the units I tested featured sous vide cooking, and two had air frying capabilities. I cooked a NY Strip at 129 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours to test the sous vide and assessed how tender and flavorful it was. All sous vide cookers performed well. For air frying, I cooked a pound of Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Fast Food French Fries at 400 degrees for eight minutes shaking the basket halfway through and judged the doneness.
I donated most of the pulled pork my family didn’t eat to a local restaurant to keep waste to a minimum. And, extra rice and beans went to feed the pigs at a local farm.
The Best Pressure Cookers In 2022
If old tales of exploding pots have kept you from jumping on the pressure cooker bandwagon, its time to reconsider. These days, the best pressure cookers are not only versatile and easy to use, but theyre brimming with safety features and theyre capable of making great meals faster and easier than ever.
Perfect for busy families or feeding guests without having to spend the whole night in the kitchen, pressure cookers are great for whipping up stews, soups and tough meat cuts as well as whole chickens, rice, beans and more. To determine which popular and highly rated models are best, we put 15 electric and stovetop cookers to the test, using each to make a no-stir risotto, unsoaked beans and a simple beef stew. Heres what we found.
It cooks rice and slow cooks. It can make yogurt and cook sous vide. 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 a lot of its promise. First and foremost, though, its a great electric pressure cooker, with a simple interface, solid build and useful pressure-release functions that let us easily get great results on all of our test recipes.
The Pro Plus upgrade performed better on all three recipes, and has the added benefit of a more streamlined interface, auto steam release and progress indicator. But if youre just testing out the pressure cooker waters, this is a great option for wading in.
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Best Multitasking Electric Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, air fryer, and sous vide machine all in one, making it one of the most useful and economical small appliances we tested.
- Capacity: 8 quarts
- Inner pot material: Stainless steel
- Settings: pressure cook, saute, slow cooker, steam, sous vide, air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, keep warm
- Number of included recipes: 100s in the free Instant Brands Connect app
- Extras: Air fryer lid, air fryer basket, heat-resistant pad for the lid, broil/dehydrate tray, steam rack
Pros: Features air frying and sous vide cooking options, comes with an app with 100s of recipes, easy to set up and use, cooks rice in under 20 minutes
Cons: Tended to build pressure and heat up slowly, didn’t sear well
We tested three units that could air fry or sous vide, but only the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker could do both. The Duo Crisp comes with two lids: one for the usual multi-cooker activities and another with a built-in fan for air frying. And, an air fryer basket fits in the inner pot to allow for better airflow and flavorful browning. We air-fried frozen French fries and were impressed with how quickly they were ready and how crispy they tasted.
Other Stovetop Pressure Cookers We Tested
$259.95 at
With a strong and sturdy stainless steel pot and a lid that easily locks into place, we were big fans of the Vitaquick. For one, its large blue pressure indicator is easy to see, with two white ring markings: one ring means its at low pressure, two means its at high pressure. Other great features: a removable handle that makes cleaning a snap , clear measuring markings on the inside of the pot that mean you dont need to dirty extra dishes, and a handy helper handle to carry it without fear of dropping the thing. The materials are high quality and we appreciated the added safety feature of a lid with a button that turns green and clicks when its locked into place. We also really liked the steam release function in the handle that requires just the push of a button to begin rapid release, and that it comes with a lifetime warranty. So what kept it from winning? The Kuhn Rikon did just a bit better job on the risotto and costs a little less. But the Vitaquick was a very close runner-up.
$299.95 at
$69.84 at
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Oxo Silicone Pressure Cooker Lifter
Barbone said a silicone rack with handles is helpful when cooking anything youll need to lift out of the Instant Pot, like a small chicken, meatloaf or cheesecake. Instant Pots come with a metal steam rack, but she said the silicone one is easier to maneuver. This dishwasher-safe option from OXO fits 6- and 8-quart Instant Pots, the brand says. It has two large loop handles that connect to fit under the appliances lid while youre cooking, and you can detach them while moving it in and out of the pot. The lifters flat base allows you to pile food directly on top, or you can place it under a pan.
The First Question Is Generally Which Button Should I Use
All the pressure cooker buttons cook the same except the canning button. So it doesnt matter which button you use, chose the button with the closest cook time to the time in the recipe.
The Power Pressure Cooker XL pressure buttons:
- Fish/Veg/Steam 2 minute cook time, use the cook time selector to adjust to 4 or 10 minutes. This is the shortest cook time available on the Power Pressure Cooker XL
- Beans/Lentils 5 minute cook time, use the cook time selector to adjust to 15 or 30 minutes.
- Rice/Risotto 6 minute cook time, use the cook time selector to adjust to 18 or 25 minutes. The manual suggests using 6 minutes for white rice, 18 minutes for brown rice, and 25 minutes for wild rice.
- Soup/Stew 10 minute cook time, use the cook time selector to adjust to 30 or 60 minutes.
- Meat/Chicken 15 minute cook time, use the cook time selector to adjust to 40 or 60 minutes.
To adjust the preset times listed above, use the time adjust button to add time. You cannot reduce the time. If you need less time, use one of the buttons with less time Fish is the shortest cook time. You have to press the time adjust button immediately after pressing the pressure cook button you want to use.
All of these pressure cooking buttons cook at 7.2 psi, which is considered the high end of low pressure on the Instant Pot. However, Power Pressure Cooker XL users report that they do not have to increase the cook time when cooking Pressure Cooking Today recipes that are cooked on high pressure.
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Who Invented The Instant Pot
After being forced out of a startup he had co-founded, entrepreneur and doctor Robert J. Wang teamed up with two tech-savvy friends in 2008 to simplify the process of pressure cooking. Putting in more than $300,000 of his own money, Dr. Wang and his team spent 18 months perfecting a device with the same “set it and forget it” attributes of a Crock-Pot. The first iteration of the Instant Pot was released on Amazon in October 2010.
As of 2018, the Instant Pot has made more than $400 million, while inspiring hundreds of cookbooks and . So, how does this miracle machine differ from a standard pressure cooker and why has it achieved cultlike status throughout North America? To get to the bottom of these questions, one must go back almost 400 years to the year 1679.
Instant Pot Vs Pressure Cooker Whats The Difference
I have been looking for cooking appliances that can reduce my kitchen time without compromising the taste.
While I own a pressure cooker , instant pots have recently caught my attention.
They are hyped as an advanced time-saving technology. I wonder if they work the same way as a pressure cooker.
Let us find out the differences between an instant pot and a pressure cooker.
Hopefully, by the end of my article, you will be able to decide which appliance is the one for you.
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How Electric Pressure Cookers Work
Electric pressure cookers are comprised of three main components:
- The inner pot
- The lid
The Inner Pot
A removable vessel for cooking. When heated, the liquid inside the inner pot boils and turns into steam. Without an escape route, the build-up of steam creates pressure.
The official Instant Pot inner pot is made using high quality 304 food grade stainless steel, and features a sturdy three-ply base with an aluminum core for even heat distribution.
The Cooker Base
The cooker base houses the microprocessor, pressure and temperature sensors, a heating element, and the control panel.
The microprocessor is the heart of the 3rd generation electric pressure cooker, and works with the built-in sensors to monitor and automatically regulate the cookers pressure & temperature based on the smart program selected.
Periodically engaging the heating element to maintain a stable temperature and level of pressure creates a positive feedback loop, and results in precise cooking conditions. If any unsafe conditions are detected, the cooker will signal the error with a beep and cut off power to the heating element.
The Lid
Instant Pot lids are made of strong 201 food grade stainless steel, and use steel braces as well as a lid locking mechanism to prevent the lid from being opened while the cooker is pressurized. If the lid is not fully closed, the microprocessor detects this and will cut power to the heating element.
Which One You Should Buy
After doing all analysis, we would suggest you go with an Instant Pot. You may have a question, why? The reason is, the Instapot is best suited for most of the families. Also, Instapot DUO series is most popular across the world. Hence, we would suggest going an Instant Pot.
A 6Quart model works well for a family for 4-6 members. However, an 8Quart model is best suited for a family of 6-8 members. Also, we would suggest that 8Quart model is suited for everyone. If you have a big family, then you can also go with 10quart power pressure cooker also.
The PPC XL cookers are meant to improve your cooking experience. You are not required to do anything manually, simply select the preset cooking program and then leave it aside. It supports various popular options such as slow cooking but you cant make yogurt in it.
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Who This Is For
If youre a set-it-and-forget-it type of cook who needs to get dinner on the table with minimal effort, an electric pressure cooker may become your new favorite cooking tool. Making meals can be stressful and time-consuming, but an electric pressure cooker can do a lot of the work for you. As with a slow cooker, you add your ingredients to a pressure cooker, seal the lid, turn it on, and walk away. But instead of leaving it to simmer all day, you can cook dinner in an electric pressure cooker in under an hour . Pressure cookers speed up traditional braising, stewing, boiling, and steaming methods by trapping steam inside the pot. As pressure increases, it heats the moisture in the pot beyond the boiling temperature , so it can cook foods more quickly.
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After cooking many pounds of brisket, rice, and beans in six pressure cookers, we think the Fissler Vitaquick 8.5-Quart Pressure Cooker is the best you can get.
What Size Electric Pressure Cooker Should You Get
Eisner recommends getting the 6-quart size pressure cooker. “Start with a six-quart see how much you love your pot,” he said. “And then, from there, people typically start to get addicted to it, and they’ll get a larger size, like an eight-quart.”
“The sizes that I’ve seen are three quarts, six quarts, eight quarts, and now 10 quarts, which is enormous,” added Eisner. “The three-quart is good for maybe a single person, but it’s limited. One of the best things you can make in an Instant Pot is a roast. But, you’re going to have trouble in a three-quart model because it’s so tiny.”
Many of the models in our guide come in several sizes. All except one of the models we tested were either six or eight quarts, the two most popular sizes. We didn’t notice any significant differences in cooking time or food quality between the sizes.
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Nd Generation: Digital Controls
The next series of instant pots improved the safety mechanism and introduced a digital controller. These pots had sensors that tracked how well the lid is closed and worked separately to ensure perfect lid placement. For example, if the lid wasnt sealed correctly, an instant pot of second-generation wouldnt heat.
With a digital controller, preheating and cooking countdown timer were introduced. Therefore, owners were allowed with delayed cooking.
These are still available in many shops across the country.
I owned one of them. The ability to schedule the cooking process, so the food waits freshly cooked for me after work, was a real game-changer.
