The Best Electric Pressure Cookers Help You Get Dinner on the Table in Minutes

For the home cook who wants to get dinner on the table fast, an electric pressure cooker will quickly become your trusted kitchen sidekick. This all-in-one cooking appliance allows for a hands-off approach to cooking, so you spend less time in front of the stove.

Today's electric pressure cookers can more accurately be called multicookers since they can slow cook, steam, saute, and much more. The Instant Pot led the charge in modern-day pressure cooking, but does it stand up against the numerous multicookers released over the years?

I gathered testing insights from the Test Kitchen product tester Melissa Gray and the Allrecipes Allstars—our dedicated team of trusted experts— to find the best electric pressure cookers. During testing, we consider an electric cooker's performance, safety features, functionality, and overall value.

Our Top Pick

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 6-Quart Pressure Cooker

Orig. $170 $130 at Amazon $168 at Walmart $150 at Wayfair

Before getting the Instant Pot Pro, I'd experimented with my friends' Instant Pots and even had a multicooker from another brand. But this has proven its worth time and again, helping me pull together dinner in the dead of winter and on the hottest summer days when I don't even want to turn on the stove.

You might not know all the current improvements if you haven't had an IP in a while. Instant Pot consistently upgraded the safety and functionality of its multicookers over the different generations. The removable stainless-steel inner pot clicks into place and has cool-grip silicone-wrapped handles. The inner pot also heats evenly when you want to sear, brown, and sauté. The steam valve now disperses steam more evenly, is covered to catch droplets, and the "vent" button is safely off to the side.

The control panel on the Pro is overwhelming at first, but very easy to get the hang of. Around it are the eight main cooking functions, with all the cooking programs available via the panel. You simply use the metal dial to customize what you need. While it's cooking, there's a progress bar to let you know where you are in the process.

I will caution that if you don't have enough water in the cooker, it won't achieve enough pressure to trigger the lid lock and begin pressure cooking. And it won't alert you! You'll only figure it out once you realize it's taking too long and you can smell a bit of burning from the vent. This brings me to another possible issue: the stainless-steel inner pot. I personally have never had an issue getting it clean—though I do have to bring out the baking soda occasionally—but you might want a nonstick pot. If so, you'll have to purchase the ceramic inner pot.

The Details: 6-quart and 8-quart; 28 cooking programs; 13 x 12.7 x 12.8 inches and 14.37 x 13.9 x 14.17 inches

Best Foodie Buy

Breville Fast Slow Pro Cooker

$300 at Amazon $245 at Walmart $300 at Wayfair

While this highly-rated model from Breville has a hefty price tag, it scored high marks on every one of Melissa and Allstar Faith Nettles tests. It has 11 presets for pressure cooking, plus eight different options for a custom pressure level (psi). This is great for more experienced cooks since they can tweak the pressure to their liking. This electric pressure cooker also boasts a progress bar, so you know just how much longer you have to wait for your meal.

The technology doesn't stop there. There are two interior sensors so the cooker has accurate temperature and pressure readings, and can adjust accordingly. The hands-free steam release is one of the safest around as the button is on the front panel, nowhere near the steam release. The Breville also has three automatic steam-release settings, so you can truly walk away and come back when your meal is ready.

This sounds like it would be intimidating to novices, but it's not! Faith, a beginner herself, found it the easiest pressure cooker to work with and pretty much foolproof. There's enough instruction to get you started so you'll be an expert in no time.

The Details: 6-quart; 19 cooking programs; 13.5 x 12.5 x 14 inches

Most Versatile

Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 11-in-1 (8 Quart)

Orig. $200 $180 at Amazon Orig. $200 $180 at Target $199 at Walmart

Instant Pot makes the list again, this time with an electric multicooker that truly has all the bells and whistles imaginable. Melissa says, "When it comes to a multicooker this takes the cake (it can make it too!). This is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, dehydrator, broiler, air fryer, sous vide and more."

The base of this is the Instant Pot Duo which can pressure cook, steam, saute, sous vide, and slow cook, all with the regular lid. But once you switch to the air fryer lid, it becomes truly versatile. In addition to air frying (in a multi-level basket no less), you can also roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. The results? "The chicken wings we did in the air fryer were so crispy, I'm still thinking about them," says Melissa.

When the air fryer lid is on, you have a temperature range from 105°F to 400°F (though we'd like to see that get to 450°F). Cleanup should be on the easier side. The air fryer lid has an easy-to-clean nonstick surface, while the inner pot is 18/8 stainless steel and most of the removable parts are dishwasher safe.

The Details: 6-quart and 8-quart; 11 cooking programs; 13.58 x 13.58 x 13.97 inches and 14.76 x 13.58 x 15.28 inches

How to Pick the Right Electric Pressure Cooker

Stovetop vs. Electric Pressure Cookers

Pressure cooking has been around for a long time, with the first known pressure cooker being invented in 1679. It uses a sealed pot with a lot of steam inside to build up high pressure. This simulates the effects of long braising or simmering but in much less time.

Both traditional stovetop pressure cookers and electric ones need heat to produce steam pressure within the cooker. Stovetop pressure cookers are cheaper, but they also require more attention and aren't as customizable. The large appeal of the electric pressure cooker is that it gives you the ability to program your desired pressure and cooking time, with no monitoring required.

According to Instant Pot: "Electric pressure cookers consist of a pressure cooking container (inner pot), temperature & pressure sensors, and an electric heating element. Heating is controlled by a built-in microprocessor based on the readings of the pressure and temperature sensors."

In other words, an electric pressure allows you to put the ingredients in the inner pot, set the pressure cooking duration, and it does all the work.

Capacity

All of our recommendations are available in the most common size: 6 quarts. This is great for both small and big batches, though as a single-person household, I might be able to get away with a 3-quart if I didn't cook as much. Households with four or more people, especially those with older kids, might find an 8-quart pressure cooker better suited. The larger size can also mean making a large enough batch that a few servings can go into the freezer.

Features

Another advantage over stovetop cookers is all the features. First, the safety ones are comforting. Almost all cookers have locking lids, safer steam releases, and overheat protection. The fun features are all the cooking programs. You'll often find a few for meats and soups, plus saute and steam. The more advanced cookers will have allow for more customization in pressure and temperature, along with displays that give you more information on the cooking process. You can also find smart technology and, of course, a lid that turns your pressure cooker into an air fryer.

How We Tested

First, Test Kitchen product tester Melissa Gray put top-rated electric pressure cookers through a series of rigorous tests, including making beef stew and rice. Then, Allstar Faith Nettles tested pressure cookers at home to make black beans, along with other recipes. Here are a few important characteristics both took note of:

• Versatility: How many settings does it offer? How well do those settings perform in terms of speed and ability to cook foods?
• Safety Features: How is the pressure released? Does the steam sputter or release too quickly?
• Functionality: Was the display easy to read and understand?
• Overall Value: Is it worth the investment?

The Leftovers: Other Electric Pressure Cookers We Tested

While these electric pressure cookers didn't make the final cut, we think it's still worth mentioning. Melissa found the control panel on the Zavor LUX LCD Multi-Cooker to be user-friendly and super customizable. However the meat wasn't as tender as some of the competitor brands, and the steam release was fairly messy. This one was just edged out by the competition.

The Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe Pressure Cooker has a lot to offer. It created an incredible brown sear on meats and veggies. Unfortunately, that still doesn't justify the price. The Foodi didn't live up to the competition since it has no rice preset, a dangerous quick release, and its bulky build makes for difficult storage and cleanup.

Common Questions

Are pressure cookers dangerous?

While older models could explode for reasons like overheating, faulty release valves, or if the lid didn't seal correctly, modern electric pressure cookers come with multiple safety features that should prevent any dangerous situations. Even with the safety features, there are steps you should take during your cooking.

First, you will need to change your sealing ring at least every two years. This ring helps keep the pressure and steam inside the pot, but it can get worn and become defective. You should also always make sure to have at least one cup of water in the pot to create enough steam. Third, be careful with foods that sputter or create foam as they can clog the release valve.

Why do you need an electric pressure cooker?

While you don't need a pressure cooker (all of its functions can be achieved through traditional cooking methods), it will certainly make life easier. Electric pressure cookers allow you to significantly cut down on cooking times, taking chili from dry beans to bubbling, warm chili in under an hour. Additionally, today's electric pressure cookers offer more than just pressure cooking.

Is a slow cooker the same as a pressure cooker?

No. In fact, they're almost the opposite. While a pressure cooker uses steam to fast-forward a cooking process at a high temperature, a slow cooker uses a low temperature to gradually simmer food. They both have their place in the kitchen—I love using the slow cooker function on my Instant Pot for chilis and stews.

Why Take Our Word For It?

Siobhan Wallace is the senior commerce editor for Allrecipes. She uses her electric pressure cooker almost as much as she uses her air fryer. It's come in handy for everything from quick dinners to making a batch of steamed eggs for easier breakfasts.