Shop the best pressure cookers for fast, convenient cooking

With a pressure cooker, you can introduce lots of new of possibilities into your kitchen. Pressure cookers boil liquid at a higher temperature than regular stovetop pots. As a result, you can braise whole chickens, cook beans without soaking and create delicious soups in much less time than it would take to cook in a normal pot.

Many pressure cookers also have additional functions, such as an air fryer, rice cooker or slow cooker. This means the best pressure cookers worth buying are highly versatile, allowing you to drastically expand the range of recipes you create — without taking up too much space in your kitchen.

Still, there are so many models available, which can make it difficult to choose the best pressure cooker for you and your family. Let’s get into our top picks and discuss which pressure cooker may be right for your unique needs.

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The best pressure cookers, at a glance

Best for a variety of cooking options

ZAVOR LUX Multi-Cooker 6-Quart

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$129.95 at Lowe's

Best energy-saving pressure cooker

Instant Pot 6qt Duo Pressure Cooker

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$129.99 at Target

Best smart pressure cooker

CHEF iQ Black 6 Qt Multi-Functional WIFI Smart Pressure Cooker

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$149.99 at Walmart

Best budget stovetop model

IMUSA 7qt Stovetop Basic Pressure Cooker

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$39.99 at Target

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Best for a variety of cooking options

ZAVOR LUX Multi-Cooker 6-Quart

$129.95

$129.95 at Lowe's

• Dimensions: 13.78 H x 12.20 W x 11.42 D in

• Capacity: 6 quart

Pros & Cons

• Self-locking lid with automatic pressure release

• Keep Warm and Time Delay functions for convenience

• Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup

• Not as customizable as some other pressure cookers

• Lacks a pressure release notification alarm

If you have a small kitchen and not many cooking appliances then this pressure cooker from ZAVOR LUX is a must-have. This specific product works as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, saute pan and more so you never have to settle for the same cooking method.

Despite offering lots of cooking functions, this slow cooker is easy to use. Just press the button for the feature you want, then set the timer. This means it has a much lower learning curve than pressure cookers from some other brands. The 6-quart pot is big enough for six servings of most meals, making it suitable for families.

Best energy-saving pressure cooker

Instant Pot 6qt Duo Pressure Cooker

$129.99

$129.99 at Target

• Dimensions: 13 H x 12 W x 12 D in

• Capacity: 6 quart

Pros & Cons

• Durable 6-quart pot

• Nine customizable programs

• Dishwasher-safe pot and lid

• A bit small for large families

• Operating device may require learning curve

Instant Pot is well known as one of the best pressure cooker brands and is synonymous with pressure cooking among home cooks. This 6-quart model doesn’t disappoint. Along with the pressure cooking mode, it has six other cooking modes including steamer, saute pan, yogurt maker and more. It features a 6-quart stainless steel inner pot that will hold up well to years of use.

It’s also super easy to use, with easily adjustable pressure levels and an automatic timer setting. All you need to do is prep your ingredients, put them in, set the timer and get back to your routine. It also has more than 10 safety features that help maintain the proper cooking pressure and temperature.

Cleaning up is a snap, too. The inner pot and lid are both dishwasher safe, so you can toss them right into the dishwasher after you cook dinner. This all adds up to a versatile, convenient pressure cooking experience.

Best smart pressure cooker

CHEF iQ Black 6 Qt Multi-Functional WIFI Smart Pressure Cooker

You save $49.99 (25%)

$149.99$199.98

$149.99 at Walmart

• Dimensions: 13 H x 13 W x 13 D in

• Capacity: 6 quart

Pros & Cons

• Features a built-in kitchen scale

• Safe, automatic pressure release system

• Remotely control through app

• Pricey compared to other 6-quart pressure cookers

• CHEF iQ app can be a bit finicky

If you’re a big fan of smart connectivity, this product from CHEF iQ is the best pressure cooker for you. It features a companion app that provides you with hundreds of healthy recipe ideas, as well as step-by-step instructions. More importantly, though, this app also allows you to remotely access your pressure cooker.

This means that you can check the timer, adjust the pressure and temperature of your pressure cooker, and tweak tons of other settings from your phone. If you’re often busy around the house while cooking, this can be a real game-changer. Along with the pressure cooking function, this appliance from CHEF iQ also has a built-in kitchen scale. It also features slow cook, saute and steam functions, so it’s pretty versatile.

Best budget stovetop model

IMUSA 7qt Stovetop Basic Pressure Cooker

$39.99

$39.99 at Target

• Dimensions: 10.31 H x 16.02 W x 9.84 D in

• Capacity: 7 quart

Pros & Cons

• Durable aluminum design

• Lightweight

• Heats up faster than electric pressure cookers

• Not dishwasher safe

• “Uni-tasker” design means it’s only useful for pressure cooking

If you’re on a budget or just want to keep things simple, this 7-quart pressure cooker from IMUSA is a good choice. It has a generous capacity for larger meals and the aluminum body heats up quickly and evenly on the stovetop. On top of that, the cool-touch handle and locking lid keep you safe while cooking.

Because it’s a stovetop pressure cooker, it heats up a lot faster and can cook food more quickly than an electric model. However, it’s not dishwasher safe, so keep this in mind when cleaning up. Naturally, it also doesn’t have any other cooking modes, unlike electric pressure cookers.

Best for large family meals

Ninja 8-Quart Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker

$242

$242 at Walmart

• Dimensions: 14.2 H x 16.1 W x 14.57 D in

• Capacity: 8 quart

Pros & Cons

• Comes with a steamer basket and air frying rack

• Generous 8-quart capacity 

• Simple knob-based controls are easy to use

• Draws up to 1760 watts, which may be too much for some kitchens

• May be too large and bulky for smaller spaces

If you’ve got a bigger family or you love meal-prepping, this pressure cooker from Ninja is a solid choice. You may have to splurge more but it does have an 8-quart pot. You can whip up big batches of chili, whole chickens or turkeys, enormous pots of beans and other family-sized meals in this pressure cooker.

Of course, it also features lots of other cooking modes for enhanced kitchen versatility. The standout is the “Air Crisp” feature. This is essentially an air frying function that lets you pressure cook a dish, then finish it off with an air fryer for a crispy and delicious finish. 

Overall, this pressure cooker from Ninja is versatile and big enough for any family. It’s built to last and is also dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. It is on the pricey side, but it’s a good investment if you love cooking in big batches.

Best for canning

Presto 23 Quart Aluminum Pressure Canner and Cooker

$139.56

$139.56 at Walmart

• Dimensions: 14.88 H x 14.88 W x 15.50 D in

• Capacity: 23 quart

Pros & Cons

• Enormous 23-quart capacity for canning

• Lightweight and easy to handle 

• Works on all stove types

• Too large to be practical for preparing meals

• Aluminum body is a bit thin and could warp with heavy use

Pressure cookers are an essential tool if you like canning and preserving vegetables, fruit and other foods as they cut down the time it takes to sterilize both jars and food. With the Presto Pressure Canner and Cooker, your next canning project no longer has to be a weekend-long affair.

The 23-quart capacity means you can fit tons of jars into the pressure cooker. The warp-resistant aluminum body heats up quickly and evenly but is still relatively lightweight, making it easy to move around in the kitchen.

You can use it either as a pressure canner or as a boiling water canner, depending on your needs. It also comes with a canning rack for your convenience. To top it all off, it comes with a 12-year limited warranty, which means this pressure canner is built to last.

Tips for how to choose the best pressure cooker 

If you’re still not sure whether you need a pressure cooker and need more information, we’re here to help. These FAQs and other information about pressure cookers can help you choose the right appliance for your family.

Why are these kitchen appliances useful?

Pressure cookers are designed to trap steam that is created when water boils, which increases the pressure within the cooker to about 15 PSI. Without getting into the science, higher pressure allows the water to boil at a higher temperature of about 250° F, rather than 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hotter liquid means faster cooking times. Depending on what you’re cooking, you could cut down the cooking time by up to 70%, which is great if you don’t have a lot of time to make dinner. Because cooking is faster, food also retains more nutrients. Pressure cooking also saves energy, since less overall power is required to cook your meals. Your pressure cooker will also heat your kitchen up less in the warmer months.

What size is right for me?

Most people will need a pressure cooker that’s between 6-8 quarts. If you tend to make bigger meals, we’d lean toward an 8-quart model. While there are 4-quart models available, these may be a bit too small to be practical.

On the other hand, if you want a pressure cooker for canning, you’ll want the largest possible pressure cooker. These are often marketed as “pressure canners,” and range between 16 and 24 quarts. These are too large to be practical for most meals and recipes, though, so keep this in mind.

Stovetop vs. electric: Which is better?

For most people, an electric pressure cooker is the best option. But a stovetop model may be right for you if you already have a lot of other kitchen appliances or do a lot of home canning.

Electric pressure cookers use an electric heating element to heat up and pressurize their contents. On the other hand, stovetop pressure cookers look similar to a standard aluminum or stainless steel pot. However, they have a special lid, seal and vent design that lets them maintain the proper pressure.

One big benefit of stovetop pressure cookers is that they’re more durable, since they lack any electronics or fragile components. They also come to temperature faster, which means they cook food more quickly than electric pressure cookers. Stovetop pressure cookers can also be built in just about any size, so they’re a better option for canning.

On the other hand, electric pressure cookers often feature a lot of other cooking modes and timers to turn them on and off automatically. This makes them a lot more versatile and convenient. The price is higher compared to stovetop models, though.

What other functions can pressure cookers have?

Electric pressure cookers may incorporate a lot of other features and come with attachments that let them be used in different ways. This could include steaming, sauteing, boiling without pressure, air frying and slow cooking, just to name a few.

The specifics depend on the pressure cooker you’re looking at. If you don’t have many other appliances in your kitchen, going for a multi-functional pressure cooker is a fantastic way to add a lot of versatility to your cooking. If you already have lots of single-purpose kitchen appliances, though, you may not need a pressure cooker with tons of other features.

Which pressure cookers get our vote?

There are lots of options if you’re looking to buy the best pressure cooker for your family, and the above products are all great picks. But if you want us to boil it down further (pun intended), our three picks are:

• ZAVOR LUX Multi-Cooker 6-Quart: We're big fans of this compact pressure cooker by ZAVOR for its many cooking functions. You can use it as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker or saute pan — and it makes enough for up to six servings, so you'll be able to feed the whole family or make enough for leftovers.

• Instant Pot 6qt Duo Pressure Cooker: The price is right, 6 quarts is plenty for most meals, and the amazing versatility of this pressure cooker from Instant Pot means that it can replace a ton of different appliances in your kitchen.

• IMUSA 7qt Stovetop Basic Pressure Cooker: If you value simplicity, affordability and speed, this is the top pressure cooker we’d recommend for you. It lacks bells and whistles, but it does its job well while coming in at a way lower price than most electric pressure cookers.

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The information presented above is accurate as of 10/03/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices.