The Best Pressure Cooker - 2021
We looked at the top 15 Pressure Cookers and dug through the reviews from 23 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Pressure Cookers.
Why Trust The DWYM Score?
DWYM is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to.Learn more.
Our Picks For The Top Pressure Cookers
- The Best Pressure Cooker
- 1. Presto 1362 Pressure Cooker, 6-Quart
- 2. Hawkins CB15 Hard Anodised Pressure Cooker
- 3. Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-In-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 3-Quart
- 4. Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker, 8-Quart
- 5. Yedi 9-In-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker Kit, 6-Quart
- 6. Crock-Pot Express Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, 8-Quart
- 7. Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker
- 8. All American 21.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner
- 9. Mueller Austria UltraPot German ThermaV 10-In-1 Pressure Cooker, 6-Quart
- 10. Cuisinart CPC 600 Electric Pressure Cooker
- 11. Presto 23 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner
- 12. Fissler Vitaquick 8.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker
- 13. Presto 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker (Model 1370)
- 14. T-fal 6.3 Qt. Pressure Cooker
- 15. Magefesa Practika Plus 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker
Stovetop CookerIf you're looking for a stovetop option, this pressure cooker has everything you'll need.
Pressure-Locked Safety LidSince this pressure cooker won't pit, tarnish or corrode, you can count on it looking like new for many years to come.
Ideal For Side DishesYou can cook delicious sides or meals for small families with this 3-quart pressure cooker.
Multipurpose CookerWith this 8-quart pressure cooker, you'll be able to broil, air fry, slow cook and dehydrate.
Why we recommend these pressure cookers?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 15 Pressure Cookers and also dug through the reviews from 23 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Pressure Cookers.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Presto 1362 Pressure Cooker, 6-Quart
Our Take
This pressure cooker has everything you need to make delicious meals from the convenience of your stovetop. A cover lock indicator not only lets you see when it's time to lift the lid, but it keeps the lid firmly sealed in place until steam has reduced enough to make it safe to remove. You'll also get a 64-page recipe book to walk you through pressure cooking various items.
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Hawkins CB15 Hard Anodised Pressure Cooker
Our Take
Individuals and couples will fall in love with this lightweight pressure cooker. It's constructed from a durable hard-anodized aluminum that heats up quickly. The new curved-body design also makes it easier for home chefs to stir their food.
Overall Product Rankings
3. Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-In-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 3-Quart
6. Crock-Pot Express Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, 8-Quart
9. Mueller Austria UltraPot German ThermaV 10-In-1 Pressure Cooker, 6-Quart
Our Pressure Cooker Findings
Presto 1362 Pressure Cooker, 6-Quart
What We Liked: This pressure cooker has everything you need to make delicious meals from the convenience of your stovetop. A cover lock indicator not only lets you see when it’s time to lift the lid, but it keeps the lid firmly sealed in place until steam has reduced enough to make it safe to remove. You’ll also get a 64-page recipe book to walk you through pressure cooking various items.
Hawkins CB15 Hard Anodised Pressure Cooker
What We Liked: Individuals and couples will fall in love with this lightweight pressure cooker. It’s constructed from a durable hard-anodized aluminum that heats up quickly. The new curved-body design also makes it easier for home chefs to stir their food.
Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-In-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 3-Quart
What We Liked: This 3-quart pressure cooker is best for feeding small groups of up to three people. You can also make amazing sides like rice, pasta, vegetables and potatoes for bigger families. This model is just right for beginners.
Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker, 8-Quart
What We Liked: This pressure cooker comes with so many possibilities, you may have trouble deciding what to cook first. The unit uses cooking technology for healthy air-fried foods, and includes settings for broiling, baking, steaming and sauteing. Included with your purchase is a cook-and-crisp basket and a reversible rack.
Yedi 9-In-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker Kit, 6-Quart
What We Liked: This 6-quart pressure cooker packs a powerful punch with all its included accessories. The egg racks allow you to make delicious deviled eggs, while the steamer basket produces flavorful veggies. There’s also a steam rack, set of mitts and multiple cooking utensils. Consumers will even have a choice between the stainless steel and the copper finish.
Our Pressure Cooker Buying Guide
Pressure cookers have come a long way in recent years. Although pressure cooking is certainly nothing new, traditional cookware could be dangerous. Today’s pressure cookers use a sealing system that keeps contents safely inside, then release steam gradually. They’re so easy to operate, even a novice can handle them safely.
There are two major types of pressure cookers, though. The electric pressure cookers designed for making meals have become the most popular type. These units operate as slow cookers, pressure cookers and rice cookers in one handy device. You can even make yogurt and cheesecake in this type of cooker.
Another type of pressure cooking is geared specifically toward canning. Although you can cook meals in these units, they aren’t quite as user-friendly as all-in-one units. They also tend to have a much higher capacity, as they’re designed to hold multiple jars of foods.
If you participate in canning, a pressure cooker is the best way to go. The USDA says pressure canning is the only safe method for canning meat, fish, poultry and all vegetables. Traditional water bath canners can only reach temperatures of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which isn’t hot enough to kill off bacteria that grows in foods with low acid levels. Pressure canning takes care of that, keeping you and your loved ones safe.
When your goal is cooking meals, though, you have a different set of considerations. Capacity is an important factor, but most popular pressure cookers can make meals for up to six people. Smaller households may still need that kind of capacity, though, since large items like whole chickens demand plenty of space. You may also like the fact that you can cook for groups on the rare occasions you have visitors to feed. If you plan to make items like cheesecakes in your pressure cooker, you’ll also need a special type of pan, so purchase that along with your pressure cooker.
DWYM Fun Fact
People have been preserving food for more than two centuries. A Frenchman named Nicholas Appert invented the practice in 1809, finding that when he sealed glass jars, he could save various food items for later consumption. In 1926, Hormel used the technology to create the first canned ham, and pressure-sealed food continues to occupy space in grocery stores today. Even soft drinks retain their fizzy taste through the use of pressure-seal technology. But the use of cans instead of glass for pressure sealing can also be traced back to Appert, who patented using coated cans for preserving food. Still, many consumers use glass for at-home food canning.
The Pressure Cooker Tips and Advice
- Your first decision when shopping for a pressure cooker is whether you’ll be using it for canning or meal cooking. If it’s canning, look for a model that will squeeze in the most mason jars, such as one with the ability to hold 24 half-pints, 20 pints or 7 quarts. Some offer the ability to can 19 standard regular mouth pint jars or 7 standard regular mouth quart jars.
- Consider a pressure cooker that goes beyond canning to let you also use it as a meal cooker when you want. For example, there are models that come with a recipe booklet with more than 50 recipes to help you find the perfect meals to make.
- For cooking meals for your family, the Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker is 6 quarts. Depending on what you’re making, this size can serve up to six people. If you plan to cook large meats like whole chickens or ribs, even a smaller household will find this size comes in handy.
- There’s a learning curve with any pressure cooker, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it’s easy. Some models have a simple on-off cover, thanks to a set of clamping wingnuts that hold the lid in place without making it too tough to remove. If you’re left-handed, you’ll love that the Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker comes with lid holders for both right- and left-handed chefs. The Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker also comes with intuitive push-button controls and an easy-to-read digital display.
- The Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker has a 24-hour delay option on the timer and automatic keep-warm feature.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer that is always on the hunt for kitchen gadgets that can help save time and money, especially with two food-loving daughters at home. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared in sites like on leading food and drink publications.