Top 4 Best Pressure Cookers of 2023 (Electric and Stovetop) – Broadway Panhandler

Most pressure cookers are good enough to make you pretty delicious meals, but the best pressure cooker will do it quickly, reliably, and in a hassle-free manner.

We tested ten pressure cookers — six stovetop pressure cookers and four electric multi cookers — to find the ones that are safest and easiest to use. After hours of testing over 10 different brands and models of electric and stovetop pressure cookers, the best pressure cooker is the Instant Pot Pro Pressure Cooker. This is because it is suitable for most types of cooking, includes apps with over 700 recipes, easy to use and has great support.

Our Top Rated Pressure Cooker Picks

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

The best instant pot, electric pressure cooker and multicooker

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Our Rating: 4.7

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Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker is the best Instant Pot and Multi Cooker in 2023.

The Instant Pot Pro is the best Instant Pot in the Markert right now. Although it’s not as cheap as the Duo model, it features more advanced multi cooking modes for preparing different dishes including pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer.

TypeElectric pressure and multi cookerUse caseBest instant pot and multi cookerSizes6Qt, 8Qt, Where to buyAmazon US, UK | Walmart | Sur La Table
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Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Bestselling electric pressure cooker

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Our Rating: 4.5

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Instant Pot Duo is the best affordable all-in one electric pressure cooker.

This Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker is a winner when it comes to functionality and affordability. It’s the most popular instant pot on the market, and impressed us with its built-in smart programs. You can use it to cook food, make yogurt, cook rice, for sautéing, serve as a steamer and as a warmer.

MaterialStainless steelBest forAll-in one pressure cookerCapacity/Size5.68 Liters / 6-quartWhere to buyAmazon US, UK | Walmart | Macy’s
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Here then is a reviewed list of the best electric and stovetop pressure cookers:

Best instant pot/overall electric pressure cooker and multi-cooker: Instant Pot Pro Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Pro Smart Electric Pressure Cooker review

Type: Electric pressure and Multi cooker | Material: Stainless steel | Wattage: 1,200 watts | Capacity: 6 Quarts | Dimension (LxWxH): 13 x 12.7 x 12.8 inches

Why we picked it

A step-up electric pressure cooker for the experienced.

If you’re already an experienced pressure cooker user, it might be worth upgrading to the Instant Pot Pro smart pressure cooker. The Smart’s Bluetooth capability means you have nearly unlimited cooking options at your fingertips. It’s a great electric pressure cooker perfect for someone who’s familiar with pressure cookers and looking for more control.

Impressive control.

The Smart’s functionality of the Instant Pot smart electric pressure cooker is extremely impressive. Once you download the app and pair it with the cooker, you can control it from your phone or any other Bluetooth enabled mobile device.

We really liked being able to check how much time was left from the other room. And the Smart’s range was excellent. We found that we could still operate it from 45 feet away.

By writing recipe scripts on the app, you can have the Smart cook at high pressure for a period of time, then switch to low for a while, then keep it warm until you’re ready to eat. You can even control the temperature at every step within five degrees.

Instant Pot user app interface

What we don’t like and points to consider

Overwhelming options

To be honest, we found the Smart’s capabilities a little overwhelming. The app isn’t very user-friendly, and we missed how little thinking the Duo required.

Because the app only comes stocked with 25 recipes, it’s more of a vehicle for writing your own recipe scripts than a place for finding existing ones. But if you’re ready for more customization, this programmable pressure cooker has more potential than anything else on the market.

Best budget instant pot and multi-cooker: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Duo pressure cooker review

Type: Electric pressure and multi cooker | Material: Stainless steel | Wattage: 1,000 watts | Capacity: 6qt/ 8qt | Multi Cooking modes: Pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer.

Why we picked it

Solid construction.

If you’re looking for convenience, it’s hard to beat electric pressure cookers. To use an electric cooker, just plug them in, choose one of the many preset cooking options available, and they’ll handle the rest.

The Instant Pot Duo 60 had everything we were looking for at a reasonable price. It’s built from quality materials, with a hefty non-stick, stainless steel inner pot and tri-ply bottom, which lend to durability and longevity.

Simple functionality.

While pressure cookers generally do not feel very intuitive to use, the Instant Pot Duo was by far the easiest to learn: there’s a preset for just about everything, so button-pressing is kept to a minimum.

We also appreciated the separate settings for high and low pressure and the usable spread of cooking programs. It has all of the “7-in-1 multi-cooker” functionality that Instant Pot is famous for – pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker and warmer – while still keeping its operation simple every time you use it.

Brand reputation and quality customer service.

There’s a reason Instant Pot has grown such a passionate and loyal fanbase since it first launched in 2009. Making really good quality pressure cookers is all the company does, and it is evident in our Instant Pot review.

Should in case you want to order a replacement part, the experience is pleasant (you don’t have to weed through pages of appliances on their website to get to the part you need, plus they’re readily available on Amazon).

As an Instant Pot pressure cooker owner, you can tap into the pooled knowledge of an enthusiastic community of Instant Pot owners who love to share their recipes.

Best stovetop pressure cooker: T-fal Clipso Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

T-fal Clipso Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker review

Type: Stovetop | Material: Stainless steel | Operation mode: Manual | Capacity: 5.9 Liters

Why we picked it

Exceptional design for faster cooking

If you want to cook faster, or if you want a better sear or sauté on your food, you’ll want a stovetop pressure cooker. They require a little more finessing than electrics, but you also get more speed and power since you’re cooking over a direct heat source.

We liked the T-Fal Ultimate best out of all the stovetop models we tested. It has a thick base, handy settings, and modern safety features. We particularly liked how it used a modern spring valve mechanism, which rises and falls with the pressure inside so you can clearly see what’s going on in the pot.

Excellent features

All stovetop pressure cookers are pretty similar to use, but the T-Fal was almost a pound heavier than the other stovetop cookers in its price range. And that’s purposeful weight — its base, twice as thick as the competition, helps distribute heat evenly under pressure.

Close up image of T-fal pressure cooker settings during testing – From left to right: Closed, steam release, low pressure, high pressure.

With separate settings for high and low pressure (perfect for delicate foods like eggs or fish) and that thick multi-layer base (great for even searing), the T-Fal resembled stovetop cookers three times its price. And it had more safety mechanisms than any other stovetop we looked at, giving us additional peace of mind.

What you should know and points to consider

Pressure settings can be tricky

Even with T-Fal’s separate settings for high and low pressure, you’ll have to manually turn down and monitor the heat once it comes to pressure and steam starts to escape.

It’s possible to estimate lower pressure by simply reducing your stove’s heat, but the settings are intended take the guesswork out of it. Still, a certain amount of tinkering is inevitable with stovetop cookers.

Best-buy stovetop pressure cooker: Fissler Vitaquick Pressure Cooker

Fissler Vitaquick Pressure Cooker Stainless Steel review

Why we picked it

Excellent cooking ability and performance.

If you are looking for the very best pressure cooker, the Fissler Vitaquick pressure cooker is hard to beat. It had the thickest tri-ply base of any stovetop cooker we tested, and all of its parts locked into place more tightly than cheaper models.

Everything about it feels well-constructed. And that makes a difference in cooking — both America’s Test Kitchen and Consumer Reports picked the Vitaquick as their top-performing stovetop cooker.

Notable improvements.

Where all of our other stovetops took some finessing to get the lid on, the Vitaquick made it easy to find the groove on the first try. And once it was on, it locked securely into place without any of the wiggling we found in some of the others.

We also liked Fissler’s solution for multiple pressure settings.

Instead of choosing one or two on a dial like the T-Fal, the Vitaquick uses a marked plastic indicator that rises as pressure builds up. The first line means low pressure, while the second one means you’re at high. Both methods worked fine, but the Vitaquick makes it a little more obvious when you’ve reached the right heat setting on your stove.

What we didn’t like

Steep price

The Vitaquick is an undeniably impressive piece of kitchenware for cooking, but we ultimately didn’t think the improvements justify the extra $200 over the T-Fal for most people.

That said, if you plan on making most of your meals with your stovetop cooker over the long haul, it’s worth considering the Vitaquick. The price is steep, but it’s undeniably efficient, well-built, and high-performing.

Buying Guide: How to Choose and Make Your Pressure Cooker Work for You

Decide between electric vs stove top pressure cookers

If you’re looking for convenience, you should go with an electric pressure cooker. Like a slow cooker, it takes all of the mental energy out of the cooking process. All you have to do to use it is to add the ingredients, press a button, and wait for it to finish.

Electric pressure cookers have timers and sensors inside that adjust automatically depending on what you’re cooking, so you’re almost guaranteed a quality meal every time. They’re truly all-in-one machines.

Almost all of the electric pressure cookers models we tested had settings for slow cook, steaming, rice, and some even included a yogurt making setting.

Where stovetop cookers have the edge is mainly in control. Since you’re cooking over an intense heat source, you can get the pot hot enough for a nice sear — something electric cookers struggle with.

The direct heat also gives them superior speed and power: Stovetop cookers can reach higher pressures than electrics, and they get there faster. The downside is that you’ll have to manually adjust the stove to get the right pressure on most models, which can get tedious.

What you consider before you buy a multi cooker

Know that recipes can be misleading

You’ll see a lot of claims about how much time pressure cookers will save you (potatoes in five minutes!), and it’s partly true — they’re about 70% faster than slow cookers. But it’s important to remember that it takes about 10 to 15 minutes for electric cookers to come to pressure. So, while your potatoes may only take five minutes to cook, the whole process would be closer to 20 minutes.

Adjust your recipe

Stovetop cookers can generally reach 15 psi, or 250°F, while most electrics top out between 9 psi and 12 psi. (Instant Pot gauges its high setting as 11.6 psi, or 242°F.) That means you’ll need to translate your recipe depending on which type it was written for.

In general, stovetop cookers only need about three-quarters of the time that electrics do, and it’s a good idea to add a little more liquid to stovetops, as there’s bound to be some evaporation during the process. Laura Pazzaglia at Hip Pressure Cooking has a great resource for translating recipes.

Pressure Cookers FAQ

What can you cook in a pressure cooker?

Everything from mashed potatoes to bean soup to braised chicken. But while pressure cooker brands and enthusiasts love telling you that it’s the only appliance, you’ll ever need in your kitchen again, it has a few blind spots.

It’s a method of cooking based off moisture, so there are certain things they’ll never be able to do well. Crispy is a texture you’re just never going to get out of your pressure cooker, so leave those dishes to your traditional oven.

Where pressure cookers really excel is in tender, juicy meals that would usually take hours in the oven. (This also lets you get away with buying tougher cuts of meat, as it turns everything into a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.) As pressure cookbook author Lorna Sass told The New York Times, “People want to use their pressure cookers for everything, but they’re better for some things than others…Stick to soups, stews, beans and risotto. It makes fabulous risotto.”

Is Instant Pot the best pressure cooker?

Instant Pot is the gold standard for electric cookers and we were able to verify this in our research. From best-of lists to retailer top sellers to buzz from media outlets, the Instant Pot is synonymous with electric pressure cookers.

We wanted to find out if they were really better than everything else on the market, and how they had become so popular. From the outside looking in, they appeared to be pretty similar to other electric pressure cookers. But as we dug in, it became clear why they inspire such adoration from their users.

They use all the best materials, have a reputation for great customer service, and are backed by an enormous online community eager to share recipes and tips.

4.4/5 – (21 votes)