The Best Electric Pressure Cookers on Amazon

Here, we look at the best electric pressure cooker models on Amazon by popularity (that is, number of reviews) and discuss their pros and cons. Then we take a detailed look at their ratings. While all of these models have 4-star and higher ratings, those ratings are not created equally. For example, some highly rated products have 90% 5-star ratings, while others have only 60% (or less) 5-star ratings: This is important stuff to know before buying.

If you're not sure which is the best electric pressure cooker to buy, you should by the end of this article.

The Best Sellers at a Glance

Here are the best electric pressure cooker models on Amazon (by popularity), their ratings, and my recommendation based on the ratings distribution:

Pros and Cons of an Electric Pressure Cooker

People hail electric pressure cookers as revolutionary. But they're really just a new take on a very old technology: stovetop pressure cookers. best electric pressure cooker

In addition to pressure cooking, an electric pressure cooker can perform other functions. (This is why you often hear it called a "multi-cooker.") Functions vary by brand, but most have the ability to pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, and steam. All of the pre-set, programmed functions are some variation of one of these. (The pressure cooking function is what makes it cook so fast.)

Having all of this capability means a lot of really good things for the home cook, including these pros:

• Cooks food up to 70% faster (not including the coming-up-to-pressure time)
• Retains more nutrients than any other cooking method; up to 90%
• Set-and-forget: once programmed, an electric pressure cooker monitors the entire cooking process and most even switch to Keep Warm or Off once the process is finished
• Easy to clean--because you can sear and cook in one pot, there's usually only one pot and a lid to wash
• Multi-functionality means you can try new cooking methods and recipes without investing in a lot of appliances (e.g., yogurt-making, steaming, and in some cases sous vide, sterilization, canning, cake-making, and more).

By the way, you can do all of these things with a stovetop pressure cooker except the slow cooking. The only difference is that you can't program it and walk away. (Although if you have a range top with timers on the burners, you can have it turn off when done, so it's almost like a programmable feature.)

Like all multi-taskers, electric pressure cookers also have some cons, including these:

• Generally not as powerful as stovetop pressure cookers, with most reaching a high pressure of around 11 or 12 psi. Most stovetop pressure cookers go up to 15 psi. This means that an electric pressure cooker is going to take longer than a stovetop pressure cooker.
• "Instant" does not actually mean instant. Yes, once up to pressure, electric pressure cookers cook a lot faster than conventional braising/liquid cooking methods--up to 70% faster. This is fabulous. However, it can take an electric pressure cooker quite awhile to reach full pressure--up to half an hour. Most cooking times given in recipes DO NOT include this come-to-pressure time, so you may be disappointed in how long it actually takes to pressure cook something when you include the come-to-pressure time. There is also a cool-down period when cooking is complete; you can manually release steam so you can open the cooker (it has to de-pressurize before you can open it), but sometimes cooking continues during this period, and you have to wait for pressure to come down naturally. The recipe will usually state whether you can de-pressurize or you have to wait, but the wait time may not be included in the cooking time. In any case, the come-to-pressure and the cool-down times add significantly to actual cooking time, and are often not included in a recipe.
• An electric pressure cooker rarely performs all of its many tasks superbly. Most pressure cook well, but some don't sear well (instead, they do more of a steam because they don't get hot enough to sear); some don't slow cook well (the metal cooking pot can scorches more easily than the ceramic pot found in dedicated slow cookers), etc. Instant Pots are notorious for gummy rice (although you can fiddle with the manual settings to produce satisfactory results). So before you toss out some of your old appliances, make sure your electric pressure cooker gives satisfactory results. Like any other multi-tasking tool, they're not good at everything.

What an Electric Pressure Cooker Really Does (and What It Really Doesn't Do)

The numbers given, e.g., "6-in-1," "8-in-1," "10-in-1," are somewhat arbitrary, based on how many "smart" functions the cooker has. The truth is that multicookers do four basic things: pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, and steam. These four functions enable them to do the work of several different appliances, including a rice cooker, a slow cooker, a steamer, a pressure cooker, and even a frying pan.

Smart programs are merely "shortcuts" that allow you to choose pre-set programs for certain foods (e.g., beans, rice, meat). Just because a multi-cooker doesn't have a "Brown Rice" function doesn't mean you can't cook brown rice in it. It just means you'll have to figure out the settings manually rather than use a pre-set key. (Which you'll probably have to do anyway because you'll find you want more control over most processes than the preset functions allow.) 

Examples of true added functionality are yogurt maker and sous vide capability, which can only be done with an upgraded microprocessor. Otherwise, most of the pre-sets are just modes of one of the existing functions (pressure cooking, slow cooking, sauteeing, or steaming--but mostly pressure cooking). This means that even if the cooker you buy doesn't have, for example, a "Cake" function, you can make cake using the steamer or pressure cooking function.

When you shop for an electric pressure cooker, rather than seeing that "x-in-1" number as how many appliances you can replace, you should instead just make sure the cooker does everything you want it to do.

On that note, keep in mind that no multi-cooker is going to do everything as well as a dedicated device. It may or may not make great rice; it may or may not do satisfactory slow cooking; and it almost certainly won't sear meat as well as a frying pan on a stove because it just doesn't have the power of a stove burner. 

However, most functions are satisfactory, and people are happy with the compromise that results in one-pot meals and set-and-forget ease of use.  

The upshot:

1) Make sure the electric pressure cooker you buy has the features you want.

2) Make sure the cooker performs satisfactorily before you donate your old appliances. 

Duo 60: See it on Amazon

Duo 80: See it on Amazon

Duo Mini: See it on Amazon

Duo Plus: See it on Amazon

With more than 70 thousand reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars, the Instant Pot Duo line is the runaway most-popular electric pressure cooker on Amazon. 

All the Duo IP models--the Duo 60, Duo 80, and Duo Mini--have the same electronics and functionality, so the only difference is the size: 6 quart, 8 quart, and 3 quart, respectively.

The Duo 60 Plus is the latest version of the Duo series, released early in 2017, with a new control panel and new electronics. It's grouped with the other Duo models on Amazon, even though it has quite a few different features: new control panel, a blue display, and more functions (9-in-1 rather than 7-in-1). It also costs a little more than the comparably-sized Duo 60 (that is, 6 quarts), too.

Features

• Duo 60, 80, and Mini: 7 kitchen appliances in 1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer
• Duo Plus: 9 kitchen appliances in 1: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, egg cooker, sauté, steamer, warmer, sterilizer and it makes cake too (Note: You can make eggs and sterilize with the Duo models as well, there just isn't aren't Smart Programs for those functions)
• Duo 60, 80, Mini, and Duo Plus: 14 Smart Programs: Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Sauté/Simmer, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Slow Cook, Keep Warm, Yogurt, Manual, and Pressure Cook.
• Adjustable Saute and Slow Cook temperatures
• Completely manual settings if desired
• 18/8 stainless steel inner cooking pot 
• 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution
• Microprocessor that monitors pressure, temperature, keeps time, and adjusts heat and duration (this is upgraded on the Duo Plus)
• 10 safety mechanisms
• UL and ULC certified for safety
• Designed in Canada, made in China.

User Interface and Performance

Duo 60, 80, and Mini: The control panel is kind of a mish-mash of appliances (e.g., "Rice" and "Slow Cook" and programs (e.g., Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili). The smart programs are on the bottom with colored outlines (not sure what the color adds to functionality, if anything), while the "appliances" are on the top, around the display. It's confusing because, for example, the Soup and Multigrain are in the top area (appliances), while Yogurt is in the bottom area (Smart Program). 

There's no other apparent hierarchy. However, this doesn't really matter to the average user. You'll simply select the function you want and adjust the settings within that function with the Plus/Minus keys just below the LED display (and not think too much about why a button is where it is on the panel):

Duo Plus: Instant Pot apparently knew the old display wasn't terribly intuitive, so they upgraded the display on the Duo Plus; whether it's for the better or not is up to each individual user. There's now a blue LED display, and the control panel is a little bit more logical and easier to use. Instead of the mish-mash of appliances and smart programs, the panel has only the smart programs, with the adjustment buttons (Pressure Level, Keep Warm, Delay Start, and Cancel, with the Plus/Minus adjustment keys) set apart in a box just below the display:

Still color-coded, although the colors don't all match the old panel.

The blue display is easier to read, with the selected function and settings lit up on the panel.

You can also turn the sound off, so no beeping if you don't want it.   best electric pressure cooke

The Instant Pot people were smart to try and make the control panel more user-friendly; it needed some work. But the truth is that you will get accustomed to what you have, and won't really care which is a smart program and which is a manual setting (or whatever).

Both models have a neat feature in that they anticipate your needs. For example, when you select the Manual pressure cooking mode, the timer defaults to 30 minutes, and you can adjust it with the Plus/Minus keys from there. Since 30 minutes is a common time for pressure cooking, this reduces the amount of key pressing required to set the time. Nice. 

You can also adjust both cooking time and cooking temperature for Smart Programs and manual modes alike. Also nice.

Pressure Cooking: To begin any pressure cooking endeavor, you have to manually close the steam valve to the "Sealing" position. While not a huge negative, an automatic close feature would be nice. 

Steam Release: This is done manually by moving the steam release valve to "Venting," or by letting it release naturally by turning the unit off and letting it decompress as it cools. 

NOTE: Attempting to remove the lid before pressure has fully released could result in steam burns. Be careful! 

Other Performance Notes: With 1000W of power, the Instant Pot Duo has plenty of power to saute nicely. In fact, it can sometimes scorch on the bottom, so be careful when using the Saute function. You may also notice some scorching during pressure cooking or slow cooking, especially if the pot is very full.

Other settings will be satisfactory or not depending on your expectations. Some people love the results for rice, for example, while others find Instant Pot rice to be gummy and heavy. People also love the yogurt maker. Sterilizing is a new feature and the jury is still largely out on that; for this reason, be careful when using this for any process where sterilization is critical (such as low acid canning--consult government guidelines for more info--here's a good place to start).

Specifications

• Dimensions and Weight:
  • Duo 60/Duo Plus: 12.2 x 13.4 x 12.5 inches, 9 lbs, 6 qt. capacity
  • Duo 80: 14.8 x 13.2 x 14 inches, 15.8 lbs, 8 qt. capacity
  • Duo Mini: 11.8 x 10.5 x 11 inches, 8.7 lbs, 3 qt. capacity
• Power:
  • 8 Quart: 1200 Watts
  • 6 Quart: 1000 Watts
  • 3 Quart: 700 Watts
• Standard US 120V/60Hz power supply
• Pressure: 10.1 - 11.6 psi
• Max Cooking temp at pressure: 222F (105.6C)
• 3 Saute, Slow Cook, and Keep Warm settings (Low, Medium, and High)
• Stainless cooking pot with 3-ply aluminum/steel base.

Included

Instant Pot recommends that you use only genuine Instant Pot accessories with your IP multicooker.

• Stainless steel steam rack (with handles)
• Rice paddle
• Soup spoon
• Measuring cup
• Condensation collector
• Recipe booklet.

Warranty

1 year limited manufacturer warranty.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Most popular multi-cooker on Amazon by far
• Lots of Smart Programs and the ability to use manual settings
• Comes with lots of extras.

Cons:

• Only one pressure setting
• If you have problems, Instant Pot is not known for their customer service.

Recommendation

Should I buy it?

5-star: 82 %

With more than 70,000 reviews as of this writing, the Instant Pot Duo has overwhelmingly positive reviews, with 83% of them 5 star and only 9% of them 3 star or less. Because of this, we enthusiastically recommend it this cooker.

The Instant Pot is the most popular electric pressure cooker on Amazon, and it has a pretty good track record of quality and performance. Popularity doesn't always equal best, but in this case, it does. The Instant Pot Duo has impressive performance stats and will probably serve you very well for a number of years to come.

The Bad: On the other hand, people who have had issues have complaints about units failing after just a few uses--and bad customer service. If this is a concern for you, you may want to consider a more respected brand name such as Breville Fast Slow Pro or even the Cuckoo ICook Q5 Multicooker, which is not a well-known brand in the US but is an extremely high-quality product nevertheless. best electric pressure cooker

Alternatively, you might consider a stovetop pressure cooker. You don't get the set-and-forget functionality, but there is no second-guessing the quality. Fissler and Kuhn Rikon are both top quality brands designed to last a lifetime.

To Purchase on Amazon

Duo 60, 80, Mini, and Duo:

Click here To purchase the Instant Pot Duo 60, 80, or Mini on Amazon:

Cuisinart CPC-600 6 Qt.

See it on Amazo

The Cuisinart 5PC-600 electric pressure cooker has more than 1600 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars. That may not be IP Duo territory, but it's pretty impressive, anyway.

It's also got a nice minimalist look: best electric pressure cooker

But is the Cuisinart CPC-600 as great as all those positive reviews would have us believe? 

Let's find out.

Features

• 6-quart capacity
• Settings: Pressure (Low and High), Browning, Simmer, Saute, Keep Warm
• Automatic Keep Warm when cooking is complete
• Lid locks automatically and stays locked until pressure is completely released
• Fingerprint-proof brushed stainless steel housing
• Digital thermostat
• Push button control for cooking options 
• 99-minute time and LED countdown display
• Cool-touch side handles
• Nonstick cooking pot, dishwasher safe
• 1000 watts
• Limited 3-year warranty
• Made in China.

User Interface and Performance

The control panel on the Cuisinart is probably the simplest one in the EPC market:

As such, it's a pretty easy electric cooker to operate. Here's an example of how you would set it for pressure cooking:

1. Turn the unit on, then press the MENU button to select the desired cooking function. The function light will flash for each option as you scroll through the functions.
2. Select Low or High Pressure setting.
3. Press the TIME button to select number of minutes for pressure cooking. (NOTE: Time increases in 1-minute increments up to 40 minutes, then increases in 5-minute increments from 40 to 99 minutes.)
4. Press START/CANCEL to begin cooking. As the pressure heats and builds pressure, the red float will rise. When it reaches the set pressure level, the light in lower right-hand corner of the display will stop flashing and stay lit. (The solid light is how you know pressure is reached and the unit has begun cooking.)
5. As soon as pressure is attained, the timer begins to count down. 
6. You can cancel cooking at any time by pressing START/CANCEL during operation.

Here's a quick description of the other functions:

Browning: Preset temperature for browning food over high heat, usually prior to pressure cooking. Allows you to cook over high heat without the lid.

Saute: Preset temperature, lower than browning. Also usually done prior to pressure cooking to quickly soften vegetables without adding too much color to them, or to add flavor to rice for pilafs and risottos.

Simmer: Preset for cooking liquids at a lower temperature, used mainly to finish items like risotto or stew to the desired consistency. A very handy function that you will probably use a lot more than you think you will.

Keep Warm: This keeps cooked food warm up to 12 hours. The cooker automatically switches to Keep Warm after a cooking cycle is complete. You can also put the cooker in Keep Warm mode manually.

Specifications

• 12.20 in. (L) x 12.20 in. (W) x 13.19 in. (H)
• Capacity: 6 qt
• Weight: 12.57 lb (Shipping Weight 14.2 lb)
• Power: 1000 Watts
• Standard US 120V/60 Hz power supply
• Made in China.

Included

• Trivet
• Recipe book
• User Manual.

Warranty

Limited 3 year manufacturer warranty.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Simple control panel
• Great price
• Great recipe booklet included with product.

Cons:

• Several quality and safety issues (read the 1-star reviews on Amazon!)
• Although the panel is simple, many people find it hard to use, perhaps because of the---
• Poor instruction manual.

Recommendation

Should I buy it?

With a high percentage of 4- and 5-star reviews and low percentage of 3-stars or less, you have better than a great chance of getting a dependable cooker. It's probably a safe buy--but there are definitely better products out there.

After reading the negative reviews, we've concluded that the Cuisinart CPC-600 seems to be an example of a reputable, well-known company having a product made in China but possibly not to American manufacturing standards. This is not always the case, as many American manufacturing sites in China adhere to American quality standards (including Cuisinart cookware). But sometimes, it is, even with reputable, well-known companies.  best electric pressure cooker

(NOTE: See this article on induction cookware for another discussion of the Chinese manufacturing issues and which cookware brands to avoid.)

Sometimes when companies purchase already-manufactured products, they don't do the due diligence required to make sure the products meet American quality--and safety--standards. We're not certain that's the case with this Cuisinart CPC-600 electric pressure cooker, but from some of the horror stories in the reviews, and also the low price, we suspect that it might be. 

Yes, you could buy this unit and be perfectly happy with it. Most people are. But if you're one of the buyers who have had a negative experience, you'll wish you'd gone with a different brand. 

What to get instead? An Instant Pot is definitely a good option. Or, if you want a brand name and the excellent customer service that goes along with it, get the Breville Fast Slow Pro electric pressure cooker, which is one of the best of the made-in-China electric pressure cookers. Or, if you're really adventurous and willing to throw down about the same amount as for the Breville (around $200), take a look at the Cuckoo (a very different direction than most of the multi-cookers on the American market, but still a really excellent product).

Alternatively, you might consider a stovetop pressure cooker. You don't get the set-and-forget functionality, but there is no second-guessing the quality. Fissler and Kuhn Rikon are both top quality brands designed to last a lifetime. best electric pressure cooker

To Purchase on Amazon

Click here to purchase the Cuisinart CPC-600 Electric pressure Cooker on amazon:

See it on Amazon (all sizes)

Features

• Functions: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, and Warmer, plus cake and egg cookers
• 10 Smart Built-In Programs: Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew, Cake, Egg, Sauté, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam and Slow Cook
• Latest 3rd generation microprocessor technology for precision temperature and pressure control
• 240 minutes pressure-cooking max
• Delay start (up to 24 hours)
• Switches to Automatic Keep Warm (up to 10 hours) after cooking cycle is complete
• 3 temperatures in Sauté & Slow Cook (low, medium, high)
• Stainless steel (18/8) inner cooking pot, dishwasher safe
• 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution
• Includes 10 safety mechanisms to provide maximum safety
• UL and ULC certified.

User Interface and Performance

The IP Lux has a simpler interface than the more popular Duo. This is primarily because it has fewer functions:

You simply pick a function, then select your settings: for saute and slow cook, you can choose from 3 heat settings (using the Plus/Minus keys). You can also select Delay Start with any program, or just use Manual and choose all the settings yourself.

Example: If you want to use a pressure cook function, follow these steps:

1. Add food and liquid to inner pot (make sure not to fill above the 2/3 fill line, or half-full line for expanding foods such as rice and beans).
2. Close the lid and turn valve to Sealing position.
3. Plug in the power cord.
4. Select a pressure cooking program: Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew, Cake, Egg, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, or Manual. (If you select Manual, you have to set temperature and time as shown in steps 5 and 6.)
5. Optionally, use the Adjust button to change the temperature setting (Less, Normal, More).
6. Optionally, use the Plus/Minus keys to adjust the time.
7. Optionally, press Delay Start, use the Plus/Minus keys to set the delay time, then press Delay Start again to begin the delay start mode.
8. That's it! 10 seconds after setting, the cooker will beep 3 times and display "On" to let you know it's heating (or the Delay Start will be lit up to let you know that function is in operation). When pressure is reached, the display switches to the time countdown to let you know cooking has begun.

Other Performance Notes:

• Keep Warm/Cancel is also the Off button.
• Steam can be released naturally as the pot cools down, or you can release it quickly by turning the Steam Valve to the Venting position.
• To use non-pressure cooking modes (Saute and Slow Cook), select the function and adjust the temperature with the Adjust key and time with the Plus/Minus keys as described above. NOTE: Be sure the steam release valve is in the Venting position for non-pressure cooking modes.
• Like the Duo models, the lid is removable.

Ease of Cleaning

The inner pot and all included accessories are dishwasher safe.

The sealing ring should be washed by hand after every use (as with all pressure cookers).

The outside of the pot can be wiped down with a damp sponge.

Specifications

• All 18/8 Stainless steel construction
• Stainless/aluminum base for even heating
• Dimensions and Weight:
  • 8 Quart: 13.18 x 14.5 x 13.5 in., 15.4 lb (20.4 lb shipping wt.)
  • 6 Quart: 12.2 x 13.18 x 12.5 in., 11.5 lb (15.5 lb shipping wt.)
  • 3 Quart: 10.51 x 11.5 x 10.5 in., 8.5 lb (11.2 lb shipping wt.)
• Operating Pressure: 10.2 psi 
• Pressure Release Limit: 15.2 psi
• Temperature range at pressure: 235 - 244F (113 - 118C)
• Keep Warm temp range: 145 - 172F (63 - 78C)
• Slow Cook temp range:
  • Less mode: 180 - 190F (82 - 87.8 C)
  • Normal mode: 190 - 200F (87.8 - 93C)
  • More mode: 200 - 210F (93 - 99C)
• Saute temp range:
  • Less mode: app. 221F (105C)
  • Normal mode: app. 336F (169C)
  • More mode: app. 345F (174C)
• Power:
  • 8 Quart: 1200 Watts
  • 6 Quart: 1000 Watts
  • 3 Quart: 700 Watts
• Standard US 120v/60 Hz power supply
• UL and ULC certified for safety
• Made in China.

Included

• Stainless steel steam rack without handles
• Rice paddle
• Soup spoon
• Measuring cup
• Recipe booklet
• User manual
• Timetables.

Warranty

1 year limited manufacturer warranty.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Good quality record like other Instant Pot products
• Fairly easy to operate and read display panel (although it can be hard to tell what mode it's in).

Cons:

• Only one pressure setting
• Fewer cooking modes than the IP Duo, Duo Plus, Ultra, and Smart IP lines.

Recommendation

With over 90% of 4- and 5-star reviews and very few 1-star, this is a solid electric pressure cooker. You have more than a 90% chance of getting a reliable multi-cooker if you buy this model.

It doesn't have as many features as the other Instant Pot models (no yogurt maker), but if you're interested mainly in a pressure cooker with a few nice features, this one costs quite a bit less than the comparable Duo models. It's definitely a better choice than comparably priced competitors like the Cuisinart, the Elite, or the Power Pressure Cooker XL.

To Purchase on Amazon

click here to purchase the Instant pot lux 6 Qt, 8 qt, or 3 qt on amazon: