Crock-Pot Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, 8-Quart

Unless you’ve been hibernating for the past few years, you’ve likely heard of electric pressure cookers. It seems every year, a new crop of friends tries one of these appliances out and has to shout to the world how great it is.

What’s all the hype about? The biggest draw to electric pressure cookers is that it can replace numerous kitchen appliances, including your slow cooker and rice cooker. You can also use pressure cookers to make yogurt, cheesecake, hardboiled eggs and oatmeal. Of course, most pressure cooker owners will tell you all about the soups, beans and delicious meats they make in their electric pressure cookers.

“I use my Instant Pot to sauté and brown proteins and veggies before switching over to pressure cook the stew they will become, as well as to cook hard boil eggs, rice, homemade yogurt, slow-cooked soups, beans, overnight oats and much, much more,” says Julie Chernoff, dining editor of “Better,” a lifestyle website and print magazine. “It can be a godsend for a smaller kitchen since you only need the one appliance.”

But before you invest in an electric pressure cooker, it’s important to know that there’s a steep learning curve with the appliance. If you’ve been making meals using your slow cooker for a while, you’ll love the slow cooker feature included with many pressure cookers. But there’s so much more you can do that you’ll need to research the options before you choose one.

Although you’ll primarily hear the name “Instant Pot” when it comes to modern pressure cookers, there are plenty of other competitors on the market, many from known brands. The Instant Pot has its own unique setup, so you may find another brand is easier to use, particularly if you’re a novice.

• Electric pressure cookers are usually offered in two major sizes: 6 and 8 quarts. The 6-quart version should be enough to cook a meal for a family of six, but if you cook for larger groups, a 10-quart pressure cooker can handle up to 10 servings.
• If you’re worried about safety, it’s important to note that today’s pressure cookers aren’t the same as the appliances your grandparents used for canning.

“There are safety features involved with the pressure-cooking function, including that it won’t start until the lid is safely locked in place, so you can rest easy,” Chernoff says. “Be careful not to fill the pot too full, especially if you are cooking items that expand while cooking, like legumes and grains.”

• If you’re looking for instructions, you’ll probably have to go online. Even if you get a manual with your pressure cooker, the best recipes and tips can be found in the many pressure cooker communities that have emerged on Facebook.
• One major difference from one pressure cooker to the next is the seal. The way your appliance seals while cooking, as well as how the steam is released when your meal is ready, can vary from one cooker to another. Some pressure cookers even have a manual release button to make it easy to manually release steam when it’s time.
• As fun as it is to make delicious meals, someone has to clean everything up after dinner. Many modern pressure cookers have nonstick surfaces to make cleanup easy. Also look for an electric pressure cooker that has accessories that are dishwasher safe.
• Speaking of accessories, those can vary from one pressure cooker to another. A ladle and rice paddle can come in handy, as can cooking mitts and an extra silicone sealing ring in case yours wears out. But as you dive further into different recipes, you’ll probably find yourself longing for a stainless-steel steaming basket that will expand the foods you can make.