A pressure cooker is a small electric or stovetop cooker which is used to speed up cooking times. It uses high pressure steam to force liquid into the food you’re preparing, meaning it cooks in far less time than by conventional cooking methods. Because of this, your food also retains its nutrients well, making a pressure cooker a healthier option for most families. Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook? Stovetop pressure cookers are usually made from stainless steel. They tend to work at a higher pressure than electric ones, so they may require a little more liquid to be added. Because they have higher pressure, they are faster than electric cookers and, because of their design, they can make more of a noise and may appear to rattle as they reach their peak. We think that the best pressure cooker for all-round efficiency and quality is the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, a hugely popular gadget with Mumsnetters and found in thousands of kitchens country-wide.

Our tests investigate how effectively they cook, how easy they are to use, how smoothly they release steam and other need-to-knows if you're thinking of buying. Most Instant Pots and multi-cookers don't chart high in the style stakes, but with a brushed stainless steel finish and a neat and streamlined design, the Breville the Fast Slow Pro is certainly one of the better-looking multi-cookers we've tested (we've reviewed the UK model called Sage the Fast Slow Pro). For most people, a 5.7-litre size multi-cooker will prove to be the most useful. Instant say this capacity is enough to feed between three and size people depending upon your appetite, so will be ideal for families or those looking to batch cook meals for a handful of people. Pressure cooking is also excellent for retaining nutrients, making it a great choice for those who want to eat healthily. As it uses less liquid than other methods (such as boiling), fewer nutrients are drawn out of the food and discarded with the water. The shorter cooking times also help to preserve nutrients in your meals.We’ve compared these brands in detail, to find out which came out on top, read our Ninja Foodi vs Instant Pot feature. How we tested these Instant Pots There are some brilliant multi-purpose cookers on the market which allow you to pressure cook and slow cook (not at the same time), eliminating the need for two products. We recommend the Sage Fast Slow Pro which is a great cooker for quality and versatility. How do I choose a good pressure cooker? Save Time And Energy In Busy Lifestyles- Create tasty, healthy meals up to 70% faster than traditional oven or hob recipes. Up to 24-hour delay start and 10-hour keep warm features ensure cooking dinner now fits your schedule, and the dishwasher-safe cooking pot and the lid adds extra convenience after dinner! On top of that, look out for Instant Pots and multi-cookers that have inner pots that can be used on the stove, when browning meat before slow cooking and are dishwasher safe to make sure you have as few utensils to wash up as possible. The best multi cookers and Instant Pots in Australia: FAQ Is a multi cooker really worth it?

Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from a real parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which pressure cookers discerning Mumsnet users had bought for themselves. A pressure cooker's cooking pot is inevitably going to face some wear over repeated uses, so we use a lab-calibrated scratch pen to test how resistant to scratching the cooking pots are. Capacity: 3L, 5.7L or 7.6L | Power: 3 litre - 700W, 5.7 litre - 1000W, 7.6 litre - 1200W | Functions: Seven What we like The fact that you can just set it off and leave it is, IMO, the best thing about it and a total gift to parents. I don't do anything adventurous with mine, just one pot meals, or cooking up rice, polenta etc. Wouldn't want to be without it now though."(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user BessAndCress)

4. Best electric pressure cooker: Crock-Pot 12-in-1 Express Pressure Cooker

After sufficient time has passed that your food should be cooked (either your recipe will say how long it should be or your electric pressure cooker will have finished its countdown), the pressure valve needs to be opened to allow the steam to escape. A 7L capacity provides the perfect amount of portions for a large family, making meal times that much easier It’s important to remember that while Instant Pots offer a multitude of cooking methods, many of which means you no longer need to use an oven or a hob, they can’t cook everything. For example, they’re not an option if you regularly prepare pasta, noodles, or stir frys. And while some do come with lids that can air fry, we found making fries in an Instant Pot wasn’t as good as using one of the best air fryers. Next look at the capacity the Instant Pot can hold and whether it's sufficient for the number of people you have to cook for. Multi-cookers with a 6 quart / 5.7-liter capacity and above are ideal for those with a large family to feed, or those that want to batch-cook, while a smaller Instant Pot can hold around 3.2 quarts / 3 liters should suffice for an individual or couple. Pressure cookers have had negative press in the past, with stories of them exploding and throwing their contents across the kitchen. However, today’s models have built-in safety features to give you peace of mind while you’re cooking.