A pressure cooker is a kitchen appliance that uses steam and pressure to cook food faster than conventional methods. It works by heating up quickly, creating a sealed chamber of steam and intense pressure, which forces liquid and moisture into the food, softening it as it cooks. Pressure cookers also help to preserve nutrients in food better than traditional methods.
Size is an important consideration when selecting a pressure cooker because larger pots can cook larger amounts of food at once. When it comes to materials, stainless steel is often considered one of the best choices as it's durable and easy to clean. Some stainless steel models come with additional features such as ceramic-coated interiors that make them even more non-stick and easier to clean up after use.
Safety should also be a top priority when using a pressure cooker, so look out for models with multiple safety features such as auto shut-off or release valves that open when necessary to prevent overpressure build-up inside the pot. Programmability is another feature worth considering if you want more control over your cooking; some electric models let you choose from preset cooking programs based on the type of dish or desired texture.
To help you find the best pressure cookers for your needs, we evaluated options from brands like Breville, Cuisinart, Tefal and more. We picked options based on customer ratings and reviews as well as their product features.
We picked the Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker as the best overall pressure cooker to get right now in Australia. This model has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
This multi-cooker not only lets you pressure cook but it allows you to slow cook, steam, brown and sauté, thanks to its easy-to-use 1-touch control. It offers 7 programs to help you create mealtime favourites in an instant. According to the brand, it's also 70% faster than your traditional oven or cooktop.
When it comes to convenience, this features an optional manual function and delay timer for full control. There is also an auto keep-warm function to keep your dish nice and hot until you're ready. The non-stick removable bowl offers a 5.7L capacity, which is enough for up to 4 people. But larger households may want something bigger like the Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L, which is also part of this list.
With a rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Myer, we recommend the Healthy Choice 6L Pressure Cooker Air Fryer Combo if you're looking for a budget pressure cooker.
This appliance is a great option if you're looking for a versatile pressure cooker and air fryer in one. Not only does it have a smaller footprint compared to other pressure cookers, but it also offers 7 pre-set programs to make meal prep a whole lot easier. It has a digital control and uses advanced turbo air technology so you can air fry your favourite food to perfection.
The air fryer function offers 1500W of power while its pressure cooker function offers 1000W. It also has an air frying cooking range of 80°–200°C, a delay timer, a high/low pressure level setting and a keep-warm mode. The 6L bowl also has plenty of room to fit a whole chicken. However, this doesn't have a slow cook function.
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For the best mid-range option, we picked the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker Plus, which has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Myer.
Offering 1000W of power to fit all your cooking requirements, the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker Plus has a 6L non-stick cooking pot, LED countdown display and push-button controls. It also features 8 programmable temperature settings, including low and high pressure, low and high slow cook, browning and sauté. Additionally, it has a keep-warm mode to keep food hot when you're ready.
Many customers were impressed by this model's quick cooking, ease of use and tasty results. It can help you create delicious dishes with minimal effort, saving up to 70% of the cooking time compared to traditional methods. It also comes with a stainless steamer basket and trivet to accommodate various dishes.
The Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L HD2238/72 is our choice for the best pressure cooker from the brand. It earned a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon. This versatile appliance is also one of our picks for the best breadmakers available online.
This Philips cooker has 20 cooking programs, including baking, slow cooking and sautéing. It also features an LED screen, preset functions and an 8L capacity for the entire family. Apart from customisable settings, it has 9 safety protection systems. According to the company, this cooker also cooks 35% faster than traditional methods.
A sturdy and versatile cooker, this option is suitable for large families or groups of up to 6 people, It has a 12-hour keep-warm function, allowing you to enjoy your favourite hot meals for longer. You can even use this appliance to make loaves and cakes or prepare low-lectin dishes. Some customers found it a bit difficult to use but added that once you get the hang of it, the pressure cooker becomes a convenient kitchen companion.
How do Australians rate Philips's pressure cookers?
96% of surveyed Australians recommend Philips
4.5
Value for money
4.6
Overall
4.8
Performance
4.6
Ease of use
4.2
Cleaning and maintenance
4.5
Product features
How Philips compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For pressure cookers, Philips was ranked 3rd for value for money, 1st for performance, 1st for ease of use, 1st for cleaning and maintenance and 1st for product features.
8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
For beginners, we recommend the Tefal Cook4Me Multi Cooker as the best option to get. On Amazon, this has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
This compact pressure cooker has a 6L bowl capacity so you can create tasty dishes for up to 4 people. It also offers a step-by-step guide to creating quick and easy cooked meals, making it a great choice for beginners.
When it comes to cooking modes, this offers 4: ingredients, recipes, manual and favourites. It also features 5 settings: pressure cooking, steaming, browning, simmering and reheating. Customers also loved that it's small enough to fit in not-so-spacious kitchen counters but offers a decent 6L bowl for creating large batches of food.
How do Australians rate Tefal's pressure cookers?
88% of surveyed Australians recommend Tefal
4.1
Value for money
4.3
Overall
4.5
Performance
4.3
Ease of use
4.1
Cleaning and maintenance
4.1
Product features
How Tefal compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For pressure cookers, Tefal was ranked 7th for value for money, 3rd for performance, 4th for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 6th for product features.
8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Our pick for the best versatile pressure cooker is the Nutri Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker OP300. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from reviews on Amazon and Myer.
Nutri Ninja's Foodi pressure cooker is an all-in-one appliance that allows you to slow cook, air fry, steam, sauté and brown any ingredients for easier meal prep. It features the brand's TenderCrisp technology, making pressure-cooked meals crispy and delicious. Apart from an airflow design, it has a 4L capacity.
Customers were impressed by this cooker's ease of use, versatility and quick cook time. It offers tons of cooking functions and a 40-minute cook time, helping take out the stress of meal prep during busy nights. It's also pretty fuss-free and easy to clean, thanks to its dishwasher-safe bowl.
When it comes to the best stovetop option, we picked the Hawkins Contura 5L Pressure Cooker, which has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
An easy-to-use stovetop option, this pressure cooker has a 5L capacity so you can cook food for up to 4 people. It is made of high-quality aluminium material and has a curved body for an easy stirring of food. Additionally, it comes with a stainless steel lid that is pressure-locked when cooking, ensuring the pressure stays inside the cooker. According to the brand, the lid can't be opened until the pressure has fallen to a safe level.
At $90, this is an affordable stovetop option for beginners and pro home cooks alike. It's easy to use and is made of sturdy material to last you a long time. Users said it lets time create tasty dishes faster than traditional methods. But because it's just a stovetop option, it doesn't offer the fancy features that standalone pressure cookers have.
With a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Myer, we selected Breville's The Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker as the best slow pressure cooker.
The Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker features a large, interactive LCD for easy operation. It also comes with an easy-to-clean 6L pot and a removable lid that is dishwasher safe. Apart from a hand-free steam release feature, there are 11 pre-set modes and a 3-way safety system. This appliance comes with a stainless steam rack and a recipe book as well.
The Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker is an easy-to-use option that offers heaps of handy functions to make cooking faster and easier. Users said it produces consistently delicious meals each time, allowing them to create various dishes for the whole family. It also automatically adjusts the temperature and pressure between fast and slow cooking for the optimal condition for each meal.
How do Australians rate Breville's pressure cookers?
98% of surveyed Australians recommend Breville
4.3
Value for money
4.5
Overall
4.6
Performance
4.6
Ease of use
4.1
Cleaning and maintenance
4.2
Product features
How Breville compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For pressure cookers, Breville was ranked 6th for value for money, 2nd for performance, 1st for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 5th for product features.
8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Amazon prices last updated on 27 April, 2024 at 08:41 ameBay prices last updated on 26 April, 2024 at 09:25 pm
Methodology
22 Brands considered
80+ Products compared
8 Best products chosen
Why you can trust our picks
We considered the following brands of pressure cookers:
Barton
Breville
Crock-Pot
Cuisinart
Culina
Fissler
Futura
Hawkins
Healthy Choice
Instant Pot
MasterPro
Midea
Nutri Ninja
Panasonic
Phillips
Pigeon
Prestige
Presto
Russell Hobbs
Sunbeam
Tefal
Vinod
We narrowed down our choices based on customer ratings and reviews (as of December 2023). We also considered each model's key product features, value for money, capacity, ease of use and functions. For the best cheap option, we examined pressure cookers priced at $150 and under.
Best Rated Pressure Cooker Brand: Tefal
Not only does it have the easiest pressure cookers to use, but Tefal is also great value for money.
A pressure cooker is a kitchen appliance designed to cook food quickly. It features a sealed pot with a lockable lid and a valve that controls the pressure inside that pot.
When the pot is heated, the liquid inside boils and produces steam, which in turn causes the level of pressure inside the pot to rise. This raises the temperature inside the pot, resulting in drastically reduced cooking times and moist, tender food.
You can use a pressure cooker to make just about anything from roasts to cheesecake.
What are my main options?
You have 2 options to choose from when buying a pressure cooker:
Stovetop pressure cookers. Traditional pressure cookers are designed to be heated up on the stovetop just like a regular saucepan. Their main advantages are that they make it easy to achieve the optimum heat for your meal (handy if you need to brown meat before pressure cooking it) and that they reach your desired pressure quickly. They can also achieve higher heat and pressure levels than electric models. However, they're nowhere near as easy or convenient to use as electric pressure cookers.
Electric pressure cookers. Electric pressure cookers come with their own heating mechanism built in and regulate the heat and pressure inside the pot. They offer a range of cooking modes, such as browning, sautéing and simmering as well as feature timers so you can follow recipes precisely. While they don't offer the same hands-on control as stovetop cookers, they're simple to use and very convenient.
How to compare pressure cookers
Make sure you consider the following factors when you compare pressure cookers:
Size
Pressure cookers range in size from 2 to around 22 litres, but the most common size is 6–8 litres. Considering how much space the cooker will take up in your kitchen cupboards or on the benchtop and check the specifications sheet for its dimensions.
Price
Most electric pressure cookers are priced in the $80–$300 range, while stovetop cookers can cost anywhere from $50 up to more than $600. Some multi-cookers that feature pressure cooking functions exceed this price range.
Ease of use
Check if the pressure cooker will be practical to use. Are the controls clearly labelled and easy to operate? Will the handles stay cool to the touch? If it's an electric pressure cooker, does it have a wide range of cooking settings that will suit your needs?
Other features and accessories
Depending on your cooking needs, you may also want to consider the accessories that may come with a pressure cooker. These can include a steaming rack or basket, a serving spoon, a cookbook and perhaps even preprogrammed recipes.
Preset cooking functions
If you're buying an electric pressure cooker, check what preset cooking functions are available. Many models can sear, sauté, steam, simmer and boil, with settings for specific ingredients. Some models also feature a keep-warm function to ensure that your meal stays at a ready-to-eat temperature once you've finished cooking.
Safety
Most of us have heard scary stories about exploding pressure cookers, so make sure the locking mechanism is secure. Electric pressure cookers release pressure themselves and feature a countdown timer so you know how long you have to wait until all pressure has been released and some models also have an auto shut-off feature.
Cleaning
Check how easy the cooker will be to keep clean. Are there any crevices where food spills and other muck might accumulate? Is the pot dishwasher-safe?
Timer
Electric pressure cookers feature a timer to help you set cooking times and work out how long until your meal is ready. Many models also offer a delayed start feature so you can program the cooker to prepare your meal at a certain time.
Warranty
Read the fine print closely to find out how long the manufacturer's warranty lasts and exactly what it covers.
Pressure cookers versus slow cookers, multi-cookers and all-in-one kitchen appliances
Before you buy a pressure cooker, consider whether one of the following appliances might be a better fit for your cooking needs:
Slow cookers. Slow cookers use low temperatures to cook stews, soups, casseroles, roasts and more. You can switch a slow cooker on in the morning and then set and forget while it cooks your dinner throughout the day. Learn more in our guide to slow cookers vs pressure cookers.
Multi-cookers. As the name suggests, multi-cookers are designed to perform the jobs of several other kitchen appliances. They can be used for pressure and slow cooking, cooking rice, steaming, frying, baking and more. Check out our multi-cooker buying guide for more information.
3 things to watch out for
Don't forget to read the instructions. Each pressure cooker has its own procedures for safe use, so read the instructions carefully before you start cooking.
There's a learning curve. Understanding how to properly use a pressure cooker and produce the best results can take a little while. Remember, you can't dip a spoon in to sample your dish while it's cooking, so you might need to experiment with a few recipes until you get the hang of pressure cooking.
Older models don't have as many safety features. Modern pressure cookers have come a long way since the days of your grandma's rickety old stovetop model, and they include a number of safety measures to prevent explosions and other accidents. So, if you've inherited an old second-hand pressure cooker, investing in a new model instead is a much safer option.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2020, Kantar. Metric out of 5 stars unless indicated. Methodology and more info.
Best Rated Pressure Cooker Brand: Sunbeam
American manufacturer Sunbeam has been making appliances since 1910. Surveyed customers have chosen the company as the best brand for pressure cookers with the highest overall score and high ratings for value for money and ease of use. 95% of surveyed users recommend Sunbeam pressure cookers.
Overall rating
Recommended
Build Quality
Value for Money
Design
Ease of use
Cleaning & maintenance
Sunbeam
3.93
95%
3.93
4.26
4
4.17
3.93
Breville
3.9
96%
4.03
3.95
3.93
3.93
3.87
Philips
3.86
97%
3.94
3.82
3.85
3.99
3.9
Tefal
3.8
90%
4.23
4.05
3.91
4
3.7
Kambrook
3.71
94%
3.58
3.59
3.65
3.89
3.71
Kogan
3.68
93%
3.74
3.88
3.79
3.91
3.82
Kmart
3.54
82%
3.43
3.53
3.35
3.43
3.55
Baccarat*
3.83
100%
4
3.75
3.75
3.5
3.42
Cuckoo*
4
100%
4.5
4.17
4.5
4.5
3.83
Cuisinart*
3.88
100%
3.38
4.38
4
4
4.13
Fissler*
3.88
75%
4.3
3.2
4.3
4.3
4.3
Healthy Choice*
3.67
100%
2.5
3
3.17
3.33
3.83
Heller*
3.75
100%
2.75
3.75
3.5
3.5
3.25
Homemaker (Kmart)*
4.38
86%
3.94
4.21
4
3.81
4
Optimum Appliances*
4.3
100%
4.1
3.7
4.5
4.2
3.8
Scanpan*
3
100%
4.5
2.5
4
2.5
3.5
*Brand did not meet the sample threshold to qualify for the award
Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2019, Roy Morgan. Metric out of 5 stars unless otherwise indicated. Methodology and more info.
Frequently Asked Questions
We picked the Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker as the best option you can get online.
A pressure cooker is different from an air fryer. Pressure cookers trap steam in a sealed chamber to cook your food, while air fryers circulate hot air to fry food using little to no oil at all.
To keep your pressure cooker from exploding, make sure to clean its interior and valve regularly. Food build-up might cause blockage on the valve, leading to an explosion.
Vent and open your pressure cooker slowly and carefully. Ensure that you properly vent the steam and follow the manufacturer's instructions to reduce the chance of explosion.
Never use oil when cooking with this appliance. Cooking oils like canola and olive oils can increase the temperature inside the cooker, leading to more risks of exploding.
Because it's easy to use and produces tasty meals consistently, it can be tempting to make any meal using a pressure cooker. But you shouldn't!
Unless specifically stated, most pressure cookers can't be used to make crunchy or crispy dishes. You also can't use this appliance with dairy products such as cheese and milk as it can cause curdling.
A pressure cooker isn't ideal for making pasta unless you want a gummy texture. Barbecues are also a no-go. A pressure cooker can toughen any meat very quickly. Seafood may be too delicate for this nifty device to handle as well.
Because you're only using a single pot to create a meal, you'd be consuming less energy than a standard electric stove with multiple burners. On average, a pressure cooker uses about 900 watts. However, the specific energy consumption still depends on the type of pressure cooker you have.
To remove burnt food and stains on a pressure cooker, boil water on your cooker for about 10 minutes to loosen the particles. Let the cooker cool down and pour dishwashing liquid in it and start gently scrubbing. This will help remove any stains and burnt food before washing the cooker as you normally would.
You can also add 3 tablespoons of baking soda during the boil to loosen up really tough build-ups.
Pressure cookers utilise hot steam and pressure to cook meals quickly. Slow cookers use a lower temperature and have longer cooking times. While they are equally helpful in preparing tasty dishes, you can replace your slow cooker with a pressure cooker that has slow cooking functions. Most pressure cooker brands in the market offer these options, although they may be pricier than basic models.
Why you can trust Finder Shopping best guides
We're knowledgeable
Our editorial team has decades of experience testing and comparing products. We only use experienced journalists with proven track records.
We're comprehensive
We assess hundreds of products for each guide to ensure you're getting a full overview of the market. All guides are regularly reviewed and fact-checked.
We don't cut corners
Selections are based on our own research, comparisons and testing. We do not use automation software or AI. Every best guide follows a stringent methodology.
Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in reviews. She has previously written articles about property investment, finances, and health. She’s a huge fan of Tina Fey, bubble teas and dogs. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila and is currently writing her thesis for a Master’s degree in Communication
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