Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker, 4 Litre, Silver

Product Information

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.

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. Perfect for couples or small families, this little 3L device is not only a pressure cooker, but also doubles up as a slow cooker as well. It has eight preset programmes, each perfect for a specific food type, be it rice or meat or soup, as well as a handy timer so you can set it to finish cooking just as you arrive home. We also love that it comes in larger sizes, so you can choose the right capacity for your family. A Pressure Cooker is a fantastic time-saving device, meaning that you’ll never have to prepare and cook in a hurry to enjoy a nutritious meal. From flavoursome casseroles to tender, succulent meat and creamy, rich risottos, a top-of-the-range Prestige Pressure Cooker yields endless possibilities.

If you grew up in the seventies or eighties then chances are you have slightly terrifying memories of a pressure cooker ominously rattling away on the stove, making all manner of strange noises. 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. I've got a Lagostina stovetop pressure cooker. Very easy to use and good safety features.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user HardasSnails) 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.

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 Size: Most pressure cookers have a 6-quart capacity — a suitable size for most families — but some are as large as 12 quarts. You can also find some smaller models if cooking for an individual or a couple. Just remember: You can’t fill a pressure cooker to its full capacity (only ⅔ full), so a 6-quart model won’t actually yield 6 quarts of food. 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.Electric vs. stovetop: There are two overarching types of pressure cookers: electric and stovetop. Stovetop models are more traditional, but they’re manual and typically require more attention from the user. They need occasional heat adjustments to maintain the right temperature and pressure. Some pros opt for them because they can get a good sear on meats, reach high pressure levels and be used as a regular cooking pot. 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. I use mine every day. It does everything!” (Recommended by Mumsnetter Fairydustandpixies) Our verdict

Capacity: 3L, 5.7L or 7.6L | Power: 3 litre - 700W, 5.7 litre - 1000W, 7.6 litre - 1200W | Functions: Seven What we like 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.

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.