Decide whether you want an electric or stovetop pressure cooker. The main difference between an electric and stovetop pressure cooker is the power source. An electric pressure cooker is powered from the mains to create the necessary steam, whereas a stovetop cooker sits on your hob and heats up like a normal pan. This feature provides even heat distribution to ensure your food is cooked thoroughly, and is designed to work with any hob type Mentioned on the Mumsnet forums almost as much as the Instant Pot is the Pressure King Pro, another outstanding performer in the world of pressure cookers. Plus, it's so compact that you can simply pop it away in the cupboard next to your food storage containers when you're done. Electric pressure cookers work automatically. Simply set to your desired programme and your cooker will do the rest. Timers mean that they are a great option if you wish the food to be prepared for when you get home. Which brand of pressure cooker is best?

Cooking hearty and healthy dinners requires little time or energy with the Tower Express 6L pressure cooker. Using the pressure cooker, your food retains more of its nutrients, vitamins and minerals when compared to standard cooking methods, producing significantly healthier meals for the family to enjoy. It uses a bonded steel base to provide rapid results while ensuring heat is distributed evenly to cook vegetables full of flavour and meat which maintains its tender, succulent texture. The energy-efficient appliance cooks food up to 70% faster than conventional cooking techniques to save time and reduce running costs.

One-Touch Ultima Pressure Cooker with Detachable 60-Minute Timer Brown, boil, steam, braise, stew and roast a range of delicious dishes with Tower’s Ultima Pressure Cooker If we’ve piqued your interest in a stovetop pressure cooker but you’re looking for something a little more high-end than the Tower 4L Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker, then take a look at this gem from Lagostina. I have a Kuhn Rikon stovetop pressure cooker and it would be instantly replaced if anything happened to it. Brilliant for soups and cooking pulses - I do a big batch of beans and freeze them. It’s a zillion times better than a slow cooker and makes amazing macaroni cheese."(Recommended by Mumsnetter MoltoAgitato) Our verdict 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.

To answer how does a Pressure Cooker work, we have created our own dedicated Prestige Guide. If you're look for a short answer however, please keep reading! The science behind Pressure Cookers is impressive but simply achieved by the boiling point of water being dependent on air pressure. We love these top-of-the-range stovetop pressure cookers from Swiss brand, Kuhn Rikon, available in a four- and eight-litre capacity.The large 4L pan capacity is perfect for cooking 4-5 portions of food for all the family and can easily accommodate perfect cooking of any large meat joint, whilst the bonded steel base ensures even heat distribution for perfect cooking. Suitable for all hob types, even induction. As Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, Nicole Papant oniou has tested dozens of multicookers, slow cookers, and air fryers. Previously she worked in product development for small kitchen appliances and tools since 2014 as well as in several test kitchens, where she tested and developed recipes and food content starting in 2012. Nicole lent her expertise to the reporting and editing of this story, as well as oversaw the testing process. Like other models, the Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker has a host of cooking capabilities, including pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, searing, sautéing and sous vide. It even has a built-in scale for precisely following a recipe. Unlike other models, this one has a standout feature that’s particularly appealing to budding home chefs: more than 1,000 presets and access to more than 600 guided recipes and culinary how-to videos. Plus, you can control the appliance using your smartphone via WiFi or Bluetooth. Available in three, six or eight-litre capacities, this whizz of a device does all the cooking for you, automatically adjusting temperature, pressure and cooking time to produce a whole host of delicious meals in minutes. We love the variety too - while it may be pricey initially, it's an impressive seven-in-one gadget that acts as a slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté pan, steamer and more. When it comes to getting perfectly cooked rice that’s fluffy and soft but not too soft, it’s one of our dedicated rice cookers that you need in your collection of kitchen gadgets. Our large capacity designs are just the thing for larger households – while a handy keep warm function means you can get on with prepping other parts of the meal without worrying about the rice going cold.

We have crafted several Pressure Cooker Recipes that you can use to make easy Meals, Desserts & even Jams! Discover our selection of Prestige Pressure Cooker Recipes below: I have a 6-litre Kuhn Rikon duromatic stovetop pressure cooker - not the cheapest, but it’s excellent. Very energy efficient and durable, and the perfect size for a family meal with plenty leftover." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user burblish) For a couple, or a small family, a three-litre capacity pressure cooker should be sufficient for most dishes. But if you cook on a larger scale then consider a pressure cooker with a capacity of at least six litres which is enough for a larger family or for batch cooking. It depends on what you're looking for - in terms of budget options you can't beat the Tower 4L Pressure Cooker, but for something a bit more stylish the Lagostina Mia Pressure Cooker is a solid, reliable option. In terms of large-scale cooking, opt for the Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cooker. How we chose our recommendationsEven if you’ve only got a compact kitchen space with which to work, choosing to buy a small pressure cooker could be a fantastic investment. You could transform your cooking experience with a Prestige pressure cooker, taking all the hassle out of your favourite recipes and turning a formerly time-consuming task into a tasteful delight. With six preset settings - including pressure cooking, slow cooking, searing and sautéing - and dual sensors that keep an eye on your ingredients, adjusting temperature and pressure to suit, this multi-cooker is a little more expensive than the average pressure cooker, but more than makes up for the price tag thanks to its huge versatility and space-saving qualities. I like the fact that you can do a whole meal in one pan as you can sauté and then slow cook. I've started to use the pressure cooking setting more and more - it makes excellent rice for example."(Vetted by Mumsnet user QueenofLouisiana) Our verdict In general, though, browning food first is an additional step that’s worth the effort, since it adds depth of flavor to whatever you’re cooking. Then, make sure to add enough liquid like water or broth to allow the pressure cooker to heat, build steam and create pressure. Typically, ​​pressure cookers require somewhere between ½ to 1 cup of water, but be sure to consult your owner’s manual and the recipe. It’s important to note: While you need enough liquid, you don’t want to go overboard. A pressure cooker should never be more than two-thirds full since you need to leave enough room for steam to build.

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? When using a pressure cooker, safety is of the utmost concern — remember, a pressure cooker works due to pent-up steam, which can pose a safety hazard if handled improperly. Always consult and familiarize yourself with the owner’s manual of your particular model before cooking. 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. 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. If you're looking for an Instant Pot upgrade with advanced settings, look no further. The Instant Pot Pro has 10-in-1 functionality, including pressure cook, slow cook, steamer and sous vide, just to name a few. This model also offers five programmable presets for your own recipes. The pro has two pressure levels: high (10.2–11.6 psi) and low (5.8–7.2 psi).This multicooker from Cuisinart goes up to 15 psi and won top scores in our slow cooker test, making the most tender beef stew out of all other multi-cookers. Experts loved how simple it was to use — the large LCD screen makes it easy to read each function and the clearly labeled buttons are lit making everything easy to see. The timer allows you to see exactly how much more cooking time remains before completion and once finished, a new stopwatch will start showing the time that the food has remained in the cooker. When coming to pressure, progress bars appear on the screen to let you know what stage the machine has reached. The same will happen when it is releasing pressure — bars will lessen until all pressure is released. Regular Mumsnet visitors will know that one of the most recommended products on our forums is the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (and has been for years).