Best pressure cookers

The best pressure cookers are easy to use and quickly produce delicious food, whether they're classic stove-top pressure cookers or modern plug-in electrics.

They work by sealing tightly and allowing high-pressure steam to build up during cooking, raising the temperature inside the pot to above the boiling point of water. This makes food cook more quickly.

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.

We've tested stove-top and electric pressure cookers from bestselling brands, such as Instant-Pot, Ninja, Prestige, Tefal, Tower and more. We've found three Best Buys, one of which also earned our Great Value recommendation. And the overall best pressure cooker from our tests might surprise you.

The best pressure cookers

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The pressure cookers we tested

All the pressure cookers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best pressure cookers from our tests.

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Crock-Pot CSC051 Express Electric Pressure & Multi-Cooker

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Type Electric

Size and weight 34cm x 34.5cm x 31cm (HxWxD); 5.6kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.25 litres; 4 litres

Need to know Pot is dishwasher safe, two pressure levels, keep-warm and timer programs, one-year warranty, detachable power cable, recipes and cooking time suggestions included, plus a spoon and trivet

George Home Metallic Black 5.5L 1000W Pressure Cooker

Available from Asda (£50)

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Type Electric

Size and weight 33cm x 33cm x 31cm (HxWxD); 5.3kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.47 litres; 4.15 litres

Need to know The pot is dishwasher safe, three pressure levels, keep-warm and timer programs, two-year warranty, detachable power cable, cooking time suggestions included, plus a ladle, paddle and measuring cup

Ikea 365+ Pressure cooker

Available from Ikea (£59)

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Type Stove-top

Size and weight 23cm x 46cm x 22cm (HxWxD); 2.9kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 2.95 litres; 3.95 litres

Need to know Works with gas, glass ceramic, induction and cast iron hobs, two pressure levels, five-year warranty, cooking time suggestions included, plus a pressure valve cleaning pin

Instant-Pot Duo 6 7-in-1 Multi-Use Electric Pressure Cooker

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Type Electric

Size and weight 31.7cm x 31cm x 33.5cm (HxWxD); 5.3kg 

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.375 litres; 3.8 litres

Need to know All apart from machine and cable are dishwasher safe, two pressure levels, keep-warm and timer programs, one-year warranty, detachable power cable, trivet included

John Lewis JLPC166 Stainless Steel Electric Pressure Cooker

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Type Electric

Size and weight 33cm x 33cm x 31cm (HxWxD); 5.8kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.9 litres; 4 litres

Need to know Three pressure levels, keep-warm and timer programs, two-year warranty, detachable power cable, recipes and cooking time suggestions included, plus a spoon, soup spoon and measuring cup

Check out our reviews of the best multi cookers and the best slow cookers

Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 Multi Cooker OL750UK

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Type Electric

Size and weight 36cm x 35cm x 36cm (HxWxD); 11.7kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.25 litres; 7.5 litres

Need to know All accessories are dishwasher safe, also has a steam clean program, two pressure levels, keep-warm and timer programs, one-year warranty, recipes and cooking time suggestions included, plus a Cook&Crisp basket and two-tier reversible rack

If you're looking for other Ninja products to buy be sure to compare our reviews of Ninja blenders, air fryers, kettles, soup makers and barbecues

Prestige 4 Litre Smart Plus Small Pressure Cooker

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Type Stove-top

Size and weight 21cm x 40cm x 22cm (HxWxD); 2.15kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.3 litres; 2.7 litres

Need to know Works with electric, gas, ceramic, halogen, induction and solid hotplate hobs, pot is dishwasher safe, two pressure levels, lifetime warranty, recipes and cooking time suggestions included, plus a pressure valve cleaning brush

Sage BPR700BSS The Fast Slow Pro Slow Cooker

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Type Electric

Size and weight 32cm x 30cm x 37cm (HxWxD); 6.25kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.9 litres; 4 litres

Need to know Pot is dishwasher safe, eight pressure levels, keep-warm and timer programs, two-year warranty, detachable power cable, recipes and cooking time suggestions included, plus a steamer basket and trivet

Interested in more reviews of Sage products? See how Sage coffee machines, toastie makers, blenders, juicers, toasters, kettles, and microwaves have fared in our tough tests

Tefal CY505E40 All-in-One Pressure Cooker

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Type Electric

Size and weight 39.7cm x 34cm x 34cm (HxWxD); 5.8kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 0.7 litres; 3.8 litres

Need to know Accessories are dishwasher safe, three pressure levels, keep-warm and timer programs, two-year warranty, detachable power cable, recipes cooking time suggestions included, plus a steamer basket, trivet, measuring cup and spatula

Tower 6 Litre Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

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Type Stove-top

Size and weight 22cm x 43cm x 25cm (HxWxD); 2.5kg

Minimum and maximum usable capacity 2.15 litres; 4 litres

Need to know Works with electric, gas, ceramic, halogen, induction and solid hotplate hobs, pot is dishwasher safe, two pressure levels, lifetime warranty, recipes and cooking time suggestions included, plus a trivet

How we test pressure cookers

We select pressure cookers from retailers UK consumers go to most when shopping for them, including a mixture of stove-top and electric options.

We buy every pressure cooker we test.

Ease of use, instructions and cleaning

• We assess how easily each pressure cooker can be set up and used to cook, taking into account functions such as switches, buttons and digital displays, and how easily lids and cooking pots can be removed.
• We pore over the instructions of each pressure cooker and assess their clarity, usefulness, plus how much guidance you get on cooking times and recipes.
• After cooking, we clean every pressure cooker we test and judge each for how easy the task is.

Cooking quality, speed and steam release

• We cook up beef stew in each pressure cooker following the instructions and using the same ingredients, scaling the amounts up or down depending on the capacity of the pressure cooker. We check how evenly cooked the stew is after cooking and make sure it's cooked through fully.
• We also take note of how speedily each cooks beef stew, although we haven't spotted much difference among pressure cookers of the same type. Electric pressure cookers take around 35 minutes to cook our stew, whereas stove-top pressure cookers take 15 minutes on an induction hob.
• 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.

Scratch resistance, storage and energy use

• 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.
• We also take note of the size of each pressure cooker and consider how easily they could be stored away in a typical kitchen.
• Throughout our tests we use an energy-use monitor to track how much electricity each pressure cooker uses to cook the stew, but we've opted not to factor this into our judgements as the differences are so minimal. At the time of our most recent tests, the difference in yearly cost between the cheapest and most expensive-to-use pressure cookers was only £15 – and that's if you use it every single day.

What is a pressure cooker?

Today’s pressure cookers come in different shapes and sizes, but there are two main types – traditional stove-top pressure cookers and the newer electric pressure cookers. They work in fundamentally the same way, using a build-up of steam pressure to raise the temperature above boiling point and force liquid into food, cooking it more quickly.

Pressure cooker types explained

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.

Stove-top pressure cookers Can initially be a little more daunting to use, as you need to use direct heat from the stove to help the appliance reach and maintain pressure. They’re often cheaper than electric cookers, though, and they can cook food much more quickly. You lower the pressure by either manually turning the pressure valve or by running some cold water over the lid. They can also double up as a saucepan.

Compare our reviews of the best saucepans and saucepan sets

What are pressure cookers best for?

Much like a slow cooker, a pressure cooker can save you money by taking cheap ingredients and transforming them into bulk-cooking tasty meals. Unlike a slow cooker, though, you won’t have to cook for hours to get the food out.

As the food cooks so quickly, there is less time for all the flavours to maximise, so you're unlikely to get food that matches the tastiness of something slow-cooked. That being said, with the right ingredients a pressure cooker curry is highly unlikely to turn out bland.

Are pressure cookers energy efficient?

The key benefit overall is the speed, so pressure cookers are best for cutting down cooking times. Large potatoes, for example, can be perfectly pressure cooked in as little as eight minutes.

This makes them far more energy efficient than other ways of cooking. The least energy-efficient pressure cooker we tested costs around 14p an hour to use, whereas an oven costs roughly 31p an hour.

Are pressure cookers healthy?

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.

Pros: Cooks much faster, retains more nutrients, good for cooking in bulk

Cons: Probably won't hit the flavour heights of slow-cooked meals

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How to use a pressure cooker

1. 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.
2. Ensure that the liquid in the pressure cooker meets the minimum required amount before cooking. This is usually stipulated in the instructions or marked by a minimum fill line in the cooking pot. Make sure not to overfill the cooker, either – there will be a maximum fill line, so ensure that the food sits comfortably below it.
3. Once you're ready to go, secure the lid of the pressure cooker. It should twist into a locking position that should prevent the lid from opening unless you press a release button.
4. Set your stove to a high heat if it's a stove-top pressure cooker, or press start if it's an electric pressure cooker. As pressure builds inside, a safety pin should pop up that prevents you from unlocking the lid.
5. 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.
6. Once the cooker has depressurised enough the safety pin will drop down, allowing you to unlock and open the lid. All being good, your food should be cooked and ready to eat.

Craving a bowl of perfectly fluffy rice? Check out over review of Best rice cookers

Are pressure cookers dangerous?

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.

Modern stove-top pressure cookers are designed with safety in mind: many have safety-locking lids, which mean there's no danger of opening them before it's safe to do so, and pressure valves to release steam if the pressure gets too high.

Electric pressure cookers come with extra safety features beyond those seen on stove-top models. In addition, they take the guesswork out of pressure cooking by monitoring, and adjusting the pressure and temperature automatically.