Electric pressure cookers have gained a lot of popularity among the masses. Since the electric pressure cooker entered the market, many individuals have said goodbye to their traditional gas-stovetop pressure cookers. Some find them more convenient, and others find them multifunctional. They are energy efficient, portable, easy to use, and much more. They can typically reduce the time taken from hours to minutes to make dishes without effort. They have become an essential part of the kitchen appliance.
Some models are also named ‘multi-cooker’, as they are not only capable of pressure cooking; you can steam, slow cook, or even fry, and many more. There are a lot more features than those mentioned above, such as pre-programmed settings or safety features, or even self-cleaning, perfect for newbies or pros – it’s got you all covered!
Moving onwards, there were stories and myths about the accidental explosion of pressure cookers, but now the case is different; pressure cookers have become a game changer, now they come with locking lids and safety valves to avoid bad scenarios. And the chances of any incident are barely above zero, making it a valuable kitchen partner.
Being a fitness-conscious individual, I am always looking for something that can help me or make my meal preparation easier without compromising nutritional value. Treading the same grindstone, I get to know about electric pressure cookers, a portable alternative to Gas-top pressure cookers and using electricity as their fuel. In addition to this, they offer a digital display and more cooking options than ordinary pressure cookers, like steam, keep warm, slow cooking, etc.
They not only help to save my time but also preserve the nutrition of my meal and ensure that I make every bit count for my nutrition. This pressure cooker had become a part of my every meal preparation, and I am so habituated to it that I might not be able to cook my proper meal without it now.
I can assure you that if you wish to buy any type of electric pressure cooker, it can be a major shift in your kitchen or food preperation. Without a doubt, I can say that I can properly guide you to select an ideal option for your electric pressure cooker.
Table of Contents
Category | Pressure Cooker | Capacity | Buy Now |
Gas Top Vs Electric Pressure Cooker
If you feel that stove-top cookers are useless, then you are wrong; don’t forget that nearly every restaurant still relies heavily on gas-flame cookers. Despite the modern electric pressure cookers offering tons of features, these classic gas-flame cookers continue to remain an essential part of commercial kitchens, helping chefs in crafting their top-notch dishes quickly and efficiently.
Essential Point – Both gas-stovetop pressure cookers and electric pressure cookers are outstanding in their workplace. Some of the major features that separate them are listed below.
| S. no. | Feature | Gas-stovetop Cooker | Electric Cooker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Heating source | Uses gas flames as a heating source | Electricity is used for heating |
| 2. | Pressure control | Needs to be adjusted manually | Automatically sets pressure as per the pre-setting or requirement |
| 3. | Cooking speed | Faster cooking due to higher heat and pressure | It is a slower process but still efficient and more consistent |
| 4. | Ease of use | Requires more skill and expertise with regular monitoring | Do not require special skills or attention because of the automatic settings and safety features. |
Types Of Electric Pressure Cookers
- Basic electric pressure cooker – These are the simplest form of these types of electric pressure cookers, offering basic functions like slow cooking, pressure cooking, steam, etc. Perfect for those who don’t want complexity.
- Multi-functional electric pressure cooker – These types of pressure cookers come with various features such as slow or pressure cooking, rice cooking, Sautéing or even baking, youget making and much more. Ideal for the consumers who want a one-stop solution to all needs.
- Smart pressure cooker – These are the smartest version of these electric cookers as they provide you wireless connectivity through wifi or bluetooth for effortless control and monitoring. Some of them even come with app support, through which you can easily select the recipes or dish type.
- Cooker with Sous Vide Function – If you want to give a water bath to your food without making it wet, then this option is for you. The sous-vide function allows you to cook food in a sealed bag in a water bath with a controlled temperature for a long period for foods like fish or chicken or vegetables.
- Programable pressure cooker – If you are new to cooking, then this option is for you as it offers pre-program settings for various dishes such as rice, soup, beans, and a lot more.
- Electric cooker with air fryer lid – A combination of a pressure cooker and air fryer is the healthiest option. Ideal for fitness enthusiasts and those who love to make dishes in the air fryer.
- Electric pressure cooker with steam & sterilization function – Perfect for large families or those having young childerns as in this category the cooker is capable of making large batches and even sterilizing jars, baby bottles, or other utensils.
- Compact electric cooker – Specially designed for small families, households, and individuals, offering small capacity without compromising the features.
Reason To Get One
- Time Saving – These pressure cookers can typically reduce the cooking time by more than half (30-60 min in place of 2-3 hours). These are faster than the traditional method of cooking.
- Minimal Supervision – You can just forget it after setting it up on the required settings and leave it unattended until the food is prepared. It can automatically adjust the pressure and temperature according to the requirements and handle everything. It is convenient for folks who have less time, making it a convenient and time-efficient option.
- Versatility – They can be denoted as a one-stop solution to various kitchen appliance needs; you can do pressure cooking, slow cooking, baking, soup making, stews, steaming, and much more. (These features are not available with all the models, so please check the product specification before buying.)
- Compact size – There are various compact-size pressure cooker models available, suitable for limited kitchen spaces and people living in apartments or small houses. They can be easily stored in shelves or cabinets when not in use.
- Nutrition Retention – This is my favourite point because these electric pressure cookers can preserve the nutrition in food. It’s because it uses very little water and cooks in a sealed environment, leaving no space for minerals to go.
- Convenience – Features like pre-programed settings for various dishes like soup, rice, etc., or a digital display with a easy to use control panel makes it very much convinent for both beginners and busy individuals.
- Great for meal preperation – You can cook large batches of food and store it for later, these cookers also offer ‘keep warm’ function to keep your meal like fresh cooked. Apart from this, the multifunctionality of its inner pot allows you to prepare a variety of dishes without messing with multiple pans or utensils.
Things To Consider Before Buying
- Safety – It should be your priority to ensure that the cooker has safety features like a locking lid, pressure valve, or overheat protection in order to avoid future damages or accidents.
- Capacity – These electric cookers come with different capacities, typically from 3 quarts to 10 quarts.
- 3 to 4 quarts (small size) – Ideal for individuals or couples. Also, it is the best choice for individuals with limited space.
- 5 to 8 quarts (medium size) – It’s the most popular and versatile option. Optimal for small families with 4- 7 members.
- 8 to 10 quarts (large size) – Suitable for big families (such as those with joint families or having 7-12 members) who have regular guest meetups, or even if you are likely to make large batches of food.
- Material & Duability – Both the inside and outside of the pot should be made up of good quality and durable material. You can seek for a cooker with a stainless steel inner pot or a non-stick one (for easy cleaning).
- Power Requirement – In the case of electrical appliances, it is recommended to check the wattage requirement of the product before making your final choice. It should be compatible with your home’s electrical system.
- Maintenance & Cleaning – Cleaning a pressure cooker is like waking on fire sometimes, so look for a unit that offers a removable lid and inner pot (can be dishwasher safe or manual cleaning, depending on unit), which can make the work easier.
- Additional Features – Electric pressure cookers offer a variety of features and cooking functions such as slow cooking, pressure cooking, steaming, youget making, and much more. This can help you in handling different dishes.
- Brand & review – Always consider a well-known brand when buying any product. It will help you to get a quality and reliable product. Apart from this, customer reviews are as important as the brand value; with the help of reviews, you can get to know the real-world performance of the product.
Our Top Picks
Here are some of our top picks to fasten your work in the kitchen.
Conclusion
To wrap up, electric pressure cookers a versatile tools in the kitchen, that can carry out multiple tasks with ease such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, or even baking (depending on the model). They are more energy-efficient, portable, and easy to use, making them an ideal choice for beginners. Apart from these features like pre-programmed settings, keep warm features or easy cleaning help a busy individual to save their time and focus on other work.
Some basic key points like material, capacity, power requirement, safety, additional features, and brand, can help you to choose the perfect electric pressure cooker that suits your kitchen needs. If you are planning to upgrade your ordinary pressure cooker with something new and convenient or want to streamline your busy life, then an electric pressure cooker might be a product that you should choose.
If you would like more clarification, you can go through this video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to leave an electric pressure cooker unattended?
It’s not recommended to leave it completely unattended because of safety concerns, despite having advanced safety features. Periodic checking is recommended to avoid accidents.
What type of food I should not cook in an electric pressure cooker?
Some major types of food such as dairy products (like milk, cheese, or cream), delicate vegetables (like broccoli or Spinach), rice or grain with too much water, food with high-sugar content, food that expands or foams, etc., should be avoided while cooking in electric pressue cookers.
How to know if my electric pressure cooker is broken?
There can be several signs such as not attaining the required pressure, taking more time to cook than usual, leakage or smoke, not locking properly, unusual sounds, etc.
How can I depressurize my electric pressure cooker?
You can depressurize your cooker by natural release, manual release, or self-regulating release (available in some models).
How do I clean an electric pressure cooker?
You can just follow some basic steps to clean your pressure cooker. Firstly, cool down the cooker then remove the inner pot to clean it. Further, clean the lid, pressure release valve, and float valve (the small valve that pops out when the pressure is created). After that clean the base or the heating element. At last clean the outer body and reassemble all after drying.
What maintenance do pressure cookers require?
Electric pressure cookers require some basic maintenance such as regular cleaning and periodic, checkups of all the parts, replacing parts (if required) and using proper cooking practices. All these can help the pressure cooker to last long, effective, and safe to use.