Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker with Steamer and Extra Silicone Ring, 9 Litre

Product Information

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). 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.

A key factor in our tests is assessing the control of the steam release once the food is ready. Some pressure cookers open their pressure valves automatically once they're finished, but others need to be toggled by hand. While some smoothly let the steam out, others let it fly out rapidly and spit droplets of water all over the kitchen countertop. If both sound appealing but you don’t have the budget or the space for two devices, then this pressure and slow cooker combination from Sage is just what you need.While this is more expensive than some other Instant Pot models, the versatility and near-perfect performance warrant the price tag. You will not find a better pressure cooker than this one right here. Electric pressure cookers Standalone appliances, similar to multicookers or slow cookers. They pretty much automate the cooking process. You simply select the pressure level or cooking function you want and press go, and an integrated timer will let you know when to release the pressure. This makes them a good option for people who are new to pressure cooking, or those who don’t want to watch over their appliance. They take longer to cook than stove-top pressure cookers, though. 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 A built-in air fryer gives the Instant Pot Pro Crisp XL 8 Quart an edge over other models. This powerful, user-friendly multi-cooker lets you broil, bake, roast, toast, sauté, sous vide, dehydrate, steam, slow cook, and more. Swapping its lid transforms it into the air fryer. Its crisper technology and 8-quart capacity are ideal for large meal prep and entertaining. A dual frying function browns and crisps the food's exterior, enhancing its look and taste. Its five programmable settings let you save your special recipe presets. Instructions and recipes make a big difference to your cooking experience Some multi cookers give step-by-step guidance and tables with cooking programs and settings for various ingredients. Others throw you in the deep end, leaving you to guess the best mode to cook your dinner with.

We chose the multi cookers from the most searched-for brands and popular UK retailers, and paid for every product we tested. Cooking and running costs Prepare your ingredients and put them into the cooking pot. If you plan on sautéing first, heat the pot up with the lid off and brown the ingredients before adding in the rest of your ingredients. Most electric pressure cookers have a sauté program for this. 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. 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 recommendationsDonna Currieis a cookbook author, as well as a writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats, specializing in all the latest kitchen gadgets. Danielle Centoni, who personally tested three of the pressure cookers on this list, is a James Beard Award-winning food writer who has authored five cookbooks and contributed recipe testing for even more. Be aware of pre-heat times They are usually not included in the quoted cooking time in recipes, but can be 10 minutes or more if you're pressure cooking or steaming with the multi cooker. We factored preheat times when rating how fast each multi cooker delivered.