Best Pressure Cooker of 2024
1. BEST OVERALL PRESSURE COOKER
Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo
PROS
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Pressure cooks on low and high for more control
CONS
- Took a long time to release pressure naturally
The Instant Pot has a serious cult following resulting in nearly 155,000 Amazon reviews with a cumulative 4.7 stars on this model alone. In our tests, it earned high scores in nearly every test, and it was one of the few we looked at that made rice that was well-cooked (ahem, not mushy). It also aced our pressure-cooking and slow-cooking beef stew tests. The controls are highly intuitive and include settings for making soup, meat, stew, beans, poultry, rice, yogurt and other Instant Pot recipes. The simple design makes it easy to use and the clearly labeled buttons caused no confusion when testing this model. While it doesn’t feature an LCD screen or tons of functions like more advanced cookers, this model is great for beginners or people who don’t need as many bells and whistles. What we love the most about this model is how reasonably priced it is — under $100.
2. BEST VALUE PRESSURE COOKER
Farberware Programmable Digital Pressure Cooker
PROS
- Nicely priced
- Turned out impressive meals in Lab tests
- Useful programmed settings
CONS
- User manual lacks detail
- Slow to release pressure naturally
Though the Farberware 7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker was one of the most affordable models we tested, it was still a really solid performer. Whether pressure cooked or slow cooked, stew meat came out melt-in-your-mouth tender and vegetables held their shape in our tests. Its presets offer lots of flexibility with settings for soup/stew, rice/risotto, steak/meat, chicken, beans/lentils, steaming fish or vegetables, browning/searing and slow cooking. The model also features keep warm and delay start settings, plus has a quick release valve on the lid that we found released pressure in just shy of 3 minutes. And though it’s a relatively bulky appliance, it’s sleeker than some other models, thanks to a stainless steel exterior, smooth touchpad controls and an easy-to-read LED display.
3. BEST ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER
Breville Fast Slow Pro Multi Function Cooker
PROS
- Offers great control over temperature and pressure levels
- Custom setting option
CONS
- Came up to pressure slower than others we tested
- No delay start setting
The Fast Slow Pro is swankier than most pressure cookers, and it offers tons of customizable cooking settings. You can control the precise temperature and pressure level (from 1.5 to 12 psi), and you can choose between auto quick, auto pulse or natural pressure release. It even has an altitude-adjust feature — just program your current altitude, and it will fine-tune the time and temperature settings to match your boiling point. Settings are included for vegetables, rice, soup, meat, bone-in meat, chili, stew, dessert and more.
During testing, this produced the most tender pressure-cooked stew out of all the machines we tested, leaving the meat and veggies perfectly cooked and the broth rich in color and flavor. And, perhaps best of all, though it’s a relatively sophisticated appliance, testers found the LCD screen and knob controls intuitive and easy to use.
4. BEST STOVETOP PRESSURE COOKER
ZAVOR EZLock Pressure Cooker
PROS
- Easy locking lid
- Clear pressure indicator
CONS
- Pricey
Stovetop pressure cookers require manual adjustment and attention but aren’t as scary as people may think. What sets this particular stainless steel stovetop cooker apart is just how simple it is to operate. During testing, we loved howthe lid’s universal lock system allows you to secure the lid at any position — once you hear the click, you’ll know that it’s properly set.
The EZLock produced the highest score for beef stew in the stovetop pressure cooker category. It produced tender meat and vegetables thanks to its ability to reach 15 PSI, coming to pressure in just under 11 minutes. This model features two PSI levels (8 and 15) and also has a quick-release setting and a clean setting. The red pressure indicator was easy to see during testing and the lid locks closed when the cooker contains pressure, so there is no need to worry about opening the lid prematurely.
5. BEST SMART PRESSURE COOKER
CHEF iQ Smart Pressure Cooker
PROS
- Wireless controls
- Access to recipes and instructions
- Built-in scale
CONS
- App occasionally loses connection
- Outer lid gets very hot
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.
During our test, experts loved how easy the step-by-step instructions were to follow on the LCD screen. The Chef iQ earned one of the top pressure scores during our beef stew testing, pressurizing in 31 minutes. Compared to other machines, it was very easy to clean and assemble — removing and reinstalling the silicon ring was a breeze. The sleek matte black design is one that we wouldn’t mind keeping out on our countertops.
6. BEST PRESSURE COOKER WITH SLOW COOKER
Cuisinart 6 Qt. High Pressure Multi-Cooker
PROS
- Comfortable twist handle
- Easy to read controls
CONS
- Lid is attached
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.
The twist lid makes it easy to open and close so you never have to worry about the lid being properly aligned. Unlike other pressure cookers, the sealing gasket comes off for cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher, once you’re ready to add the gasket just mount it right back into place with a simple push and click. There is no exposed pressure valve, so for those who are afraid of releasing pressure, this model will help relieve some of your pressure cooking anxieties.
7. BEST PRESSURE COOKER WITH AIR FRYER
Ninja Foodi 6.5-qt. Pressure Cooker
PROS
- All parts are dishwasher safe
CONS
- Bulky footprint
- Pricey
The Ninja Foodi combines two popular cooking styles — pressure cooking and air frying in one machine. For those who love both the tenderness that pressure cooking offers and the crispness air frying can bring, this multicooker is for you. Available in both 6.5-qt. and 8-qt. visions, this updated model uses only one lid, unlike the original Ninja Foodi XL 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker. The smart-lid slider enables you to select up to 14 different cooking functions including pressure cooking, air frying and steam frying — which fries and steams simultaneously.
Both the cooking pot and accessories are dishwasher safe and any residue or food splatter on the outside of the machine was easy to clean with a damp cloth during testing. This model also had one of the top scores for performance — during our stew tests, the Foodi came to pressure in just 25 minutes. We found this particular multicooker is best for those with larger kitchens and counter space due to its bulky footprint and attached lid.
8. BEST STAINLESS STEEL PRESSURE COOKER
Instant Pot Pro 6-Quart Multi-Use Electric Pressure Cooker
PROS
- Comes to pressure quickly
- Stainless steel cooking pot has silicone handles for ease transport
- Easy to clean
CONS
- Natural pressure release is slow
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).
The stainless steel base was simple to clean and any stuck-on food came off with ease. The pot also has silicone handles which make picking up a hot or warm pot safe and easy. When testing, the Pro had the second highest score for coming to pressure — it pressurized in just 27 minutes.While it didn’t perform as well during the natural pressure release test, it was able to release pressure in a little over 4 minutes using the quick release button. The push button on the top of the machine allows for a quick and safe pressure release and has a plastic-covered steam valve.
