Best Pressure Cookers in 2021
With so many electric pressure cookers on the market, you’re probably lost at which one best suits you.
Electric pressure cookers and multi-cookers hit the scene a few years back, and we haven’t looked back since. 2021 is coming in hot with a number of different best pressure cookers and multi-cookers for the picking. If you’re new to electric pressure cookers or multi-cooking, be prepared to be schooled. Even if you are not new to the cooking phenomenon, check out our picks for the seven best pressure cookers for 2021.
Now, let’s take a look at the best pressure cookers and multi-cookers of the year:
Overall Best Pressure Cooker for 2021
Instant Pot Ultra
Making the first on our list of best pressure cookers for 2020 comes the Instant Pot Ultra, which is a fan favorite for many reasons. The Instant Pot Ultra was designed for home chefs like you, who want to kick it up a notch in the kitchen with total customization and amazing control for precision cooking.
Features & Specifications
- The Instant Pot Ultra has some major functions including a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker, porridge maker, yogurt maker, suaté, searing, warmer, steamer, sterilizer, and the Ultra program.
- The Ultra program lets you have custom programming for your pressure cooking along with times you’re not pressure cooking.
- To have custom programming with the Instant Pot Ultra, you can just set exact parameters to get the results you want.
- Another perk to this amazing best pressure cooker is Altitude Adjustment. Altitude adjustment takes recipe conversion away for those living above or below sea level. No more figuring what to cook your meal at because of your altitude.
- The new large blue LCD display is like no other. There’s a cooking indicator on the display, which provides you visual progress of how your meals are cooking; from preheating, cooking, to keep warm.
- With the turn and press of a dial, you get precision cooking. You can even delay the start of cooking an item for up to 24 hours.
- Our favorite new button on the Instant Pot Ultra is the ‘Steam Release Reset’ button. Long gone are the cautionary steps of turning your valve to sealing or release.
- After your meal is done, simply press a button. Now, the scary part of worrying about getting scalding steam on you is gone. This is a great new safety feature you can’t get anywhere else.
- Along with the altitude program and the Ultra button, the Instant Pot Ultra allows you to sterilize baby bottles, jars, and utensils, along with pasteurizing dairy products with the Sterilize button.
- You can also perform select types of canning, which is a convenient add-on.
- The new ‘Cake Maker’ feature makes it easier for you to make moist and delicious cakes. Then there’s the ‘Egg’ feature to make perfect eggs. Now get breakfast, lunch, and dinner from one appliance with zero hassle.
What Customers Are Saying
With the Instant Pot Ultra designed to be as efficient and state-of-the-art as ever, it’s no wonder how this best pressure cooker is loved by its customers. Customers love the ease of use and ability to cook whatever you want and have it turn out to be the most delicious meal in 70% less cooking time. The Instant Pot Ultra is an investment to have in your kitchen and one that is built to last and the top best pressure cooker for 2021.
Best Pressure Cooker and Multi-Cooker Combo for 2020
Ninja Foodi Deluxe
If you are loyal to the Ninja brand, or just want to try something new, the Ninja Foodi Deluxe, eight-quart pressure cooker. This deluxe pressure cooker crisps. Go from frozen to crispy in as little as twenty minutes.
Features & Specifications
- This best pressure cooker comes with an eight-quart cooking pot for pressure cooking and a five-quart cook and crisp basket so you can conveniently air fry recipes. The Ninja Foodi Deluxe even has a stainless steel finish and has dishwasher safe parts.
- Similar to the Instant Pot, the Ninja Foodi Deluxe is pretty simple and easy to operate. Use the pressure cooker much like you would an Instant Pot. If you haven’t read up on how to use an Instant Pot, be sure to read the beginner’s guide.
- Much like the Instant Pot, the Ninja Foodi Deluxe pressure cooks, makes soups, is a slow cooker, yogurt maker, rice maker, steamer, all in one. This bad baby also happens to be an air fryer as well, which results in crispy and tender chicken, meats, veggies, and more.
- The sleek stainless steel exterior on this pressure cooker multi-cooker is sophisticated with an enchanted user interface. There is a large center dial to set time and temperature easily. The Deluxe only comes in eight-quarts. If you’re a home cook, though, you’ll find the eight-quart the perfect size for you.
- The cooking pot inside is non-stick and easy to wash by hand. There’s also the five-quart cook and crisp basket, ceramic coated and dishwasher safe.
- You can cook a seven-pound chicken in there. There’s also a two-piece rack that can be reversed and stacked for more cooking and air frying.
- With an easy to align lid with a white line on the housing and the pressure cooking lid, you can easily fit your pressure cooking lid in place when ready to pressure cook. And the black sealing ring stands out amongst its competitors so you don’t get them mixed up.
- Do know, however, that the Ninja Foodi Deluxe weighs a hefty 26 pounds. The crisping lid also is not removable, which means you will need to lift the entire multi-cooker to move or clean.
- It may be hard to fit in cupboards and pantries due to the lid not being removable. Just something to keep in mind.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love this best pressure cooker because the Ninja Foodi Deluxe can do anything. Pressure cook or slow cook meats and then air fry them so they’re crispy. Customers might even find some controls a bit easier than the Instant Pot, but it really is based on preference. They also love that this cooker is big and can take the place of their other appliances, making this a certified best pressure cooker and multi-cooker combo for 2021.
Budget Best Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot Duo
It would be a disservice to not include the Instant Pot Duo as one of our best pressure cookers for 2020, yet this one makes our budget-friendly top choice. The Instant Pot Duo is constantly going on sale, but its regular price tag is affordable as it is. No wonder why Instant Pot calls their Duo model the best-selling model.
Features & Specifications
- Maybe it’s the latest third-generation technology including the microprocessor that monitors pressure, keeps time, monitors temperature and adjusts heating intensity for the best cooking results possible.
- Maybe it’s the seven appliances in one this best pressure cooker gives you including a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté pan, warmer, and more. Not to mention the hassle-free pressure cooking done 70% faster than traditional cooking.
- The great thing about this best pressure cooker is that you can cook whatever you want and it will come out consistently delicious.
- There are 14 one-touch smart programs to easily cook ribs, soups, beans, rice, stews, poultry, and yogurt that comes out tasty and at a lower cost than what you’d pay for a fancy meal. Our first Instant Pot was a Duo, and honestly, we got the best meals out of the low price we paid for it. The Instant Pot Duo paid for itself in the first month that we had it.
- We love how easy to clean this Instant Pot is, too. It’s made with a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel lid and you can even put the lid and other components in the dishwasher and they will come out looking brand new. With so many appliances, they look nasty after a few uses, but not with the Instant Pot Duo.
- This Instant Pot model also has over ten built-in safety features. Features like overheat protection and a safety lock make for a safe cooking experience, especially if one is new to pressure cooking.
- You can get this Instant Pot in three sizes: three-quart, six-quart, and eight-quart. Though, the three is a little small if you are cooking for more than just a couple of people at a time.
- A six-quart and it is perfect for us two-plus when we have guests over or make food for our families. The eight-quart is perfect for large families, food prepping for the week, or if you have people over or potlucks frequently.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love the Instant Pot Duo for being a budget-friendly lifesaver. Customers snatch these best pressure cookers up when they go on sale. Rice comes out perfect every time on the rice setting, and meat comes out tender and juicy when pressure cooked at the right time. It’s really hard to screw up a meal using the Instant Pot Duo, which is why it deserves its spot here on the best pressure cookers list.
Runner Up Best Pressure Cooker for 2020
Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus
Our runner up to the top spot on our list for best pressure cookers for 2020 is the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus. The all-time best-seller of the Instant Pot Duo series, and for a good reason. This Instant Pot pressure cooker comes with over twenty enhancements and is the fastest and easiest to use in its class. New users, as well as experienced Instant Pot owners, will be delighted at the ease of use and customization available for this pressure cooker.
Features & Specifications
- Cooking fast and saving 70% of the cooking time, the new 1200w heating element reduces the amount of time you need to preheat, so meals cook way faster with new QuickCool technology.
- Automatically seal the pressure cooker with the EasySeal lid, an improvement in the Instant Pot models. The new improved steam diffusing cover makes pressure cooking fun and takes the fear out of the pressure releasing process.
- The Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus pressure cooker even has 48 customizable presets for soups, beans, rice, ribs, and so much more.
- No more worry or guesswork needed when figuring out how to create winning meals for family and friends. There are even settings like sous vide and bake, which haven’t been seen before. It’s crazy to think that chef-quality food can come from the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus.
- The Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus has its bright, bold, and big display. So, if you are cooking from a distance, you can see the cooking progress from afar with the new cooking progress indicator. You will clearly know where you are in the cooking process.
- Along with that comes advanced safety protection including being UL certified.
- There are over eleven built-in safety components like automatic pressure, temperature control, and overheat protection. There’s even a stainless steel steam rack with longer handles and an extra sealing ring included to make sure you are making food safely.
- What Customers Are Saying
Customers love the Duo Evo Plus for being foolproof for cooking great meals. The safety features are a bonus for customers as well as some pressure cookers can be-off putting for safety hazards. Not this pressure cooker though. For its safety features and advancements, in particular, we can confidently recommend the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus as a best pressure cooker for 2021.
Under $50 Best Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot Lux Mini
Talk about value – our under $50 best pressure cooker for 2020 comes in how with the Instant Pot Lux mini. This three-quart beauty is the right companion to the Instant Pot Lux 60 as well as the Instant Pot Lux 80. If you have a small household or just cook for yourself, the Instant Pot Lux mini is the best choice for an instant Pot pressure cooker. It is budget-friendly and truly pays off quickly as your meals will come out tasting delicious.
Features & Specifications
- The Instant Pot Lux mini pressure cooker is six appliances in one: a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, sauté, steamer, and warmer in one.
- There are also ten smart built-in programs including meat/stew, soup/broth, egg, steam, rice, porridge, keep warm, slow cook, and pressure cook. With the press of a button, you get any of these meals and quickly.
- This mini pressure cooker can cook up to six cups of uncooked rice (twelve cups cooked) and is so versatile that it can make small dishes for one or two, side dishes, and whatever you’d like. This best pressure cooker is ideal for small homes, traveling, RV camping, sailing, boating, or hotel stays.
- If you’re busy, the 24-hour delay start timer allows you to have food ready when you get home from work or play. The keep-warm function will keep your food at the right temperature for when you’re ready to eat.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love the Instant Pot Lux mini pressure cooker because it makes a great starter to your pressure cooker collection or a great companion to your collection of Instant Pots. At such an affordable price, it’s no wonder that we would put the Instant Pot Lux mini on our list of best pressure cookers for 2021.
Best Pressure Cooker With a Twist
Instant Pot Duo Crisp
This best pressure cooker for 2020 comes with a giant twist that saves money and time while coming out delicious. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp combines a pressure cooker with an air fryer, so you can serve up all kinds of tender, juicy meals with a crispy exterior. Simply swap the pressure cooker lid with the air fryer lid for even more culinary achievements at home.
Features & Specifications
- With the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, you get all the same taste and texture of your favorite fried foods with way fewer calories.
- You also get to save space as you no longer need a separate air fryer, sous vide cooker, warmer, roaster, oven, broiler, and dehydrator, steamer, sauté pan, and pressure cooker – now you simply lock on the Duo Crisp lid to combine the appliance and do all the mentioned cooking techniques.
- The Instant Pot Duo Crisp air fryer lid can air fry, roast, broil, bake, and dehydrate all your favorite foods. Want juicy chicken wings? Crispy fries? Onion rings? Cook 70% faster with the air fryer lid on the Instant Pot Duo Crisp.
- Mealtime is simplified with the Instant Pot Duo crisp, and the reason it made our list of best pressure cookers.
- You get a large and easy to read display so you can see what you’re cooking from across the room.
- There are a customizable temperature range and Smart Program to cook meals the right way.
- The automatic and manual keep-warm function ensures your food is at ready-to-eat temperatures at all times. You can also delay cooking up to 24 hours if you are busy working and want a meal for when you come home.
- The greatest point about this pressure cooker is that it air fries. No need to worry about your heart health as there is less fat, oil, and cholesterol used for cooking these air-fried meals.
- Want to air fry after pressure cooking? Simply swap the pressure cooker lid for the air fryer lid and voila – you have an air fryer. It’s that easy.
- The air fryer lid comes with the latest and innovative EvenCrisp technology, which makes sure you get that perfect crunch every time you use it. Get the perfectly crispy crust on wings every time you use it.
- The air fryer accessories come with a multi-level air fryer basket, a dehydrating and broiling tray, and both are designed for optimal air circulation. There is even a protective pad included for proper storage and countertops.
- Your pressure cooker lid comes with the new EasySeal lid, which seals for pressure cooking and a pressure release button which helps vent steam at a distance so you don’t have to risk any injuries like you would a normal pressure cooker.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love this best pressure cooker, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp because it’s so easy to make different types of meals using one appliance. Make dinner in your Instant Pot Duo with pressure cooker lid, then switch to the air fryer Duo Crisp lid when you’re ready to fry up any finishing touches. Or use the lid solely to bake or broil. The opportunities are endless with the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, our best pressure cooker for 2021, with a twist.
Best Pressure Cooker for Smart Homes
Instant Pot Smart WiFi
We’ve saved the best for last because this next best pressure cooker for 2021 is completely smart home friendly. What does that mean? Well, the Instant Pot Smart WiFi is the best-kept secret in pressure cooker appliances because you can now control and monitor your meals using your mobile device and Amazon Alexa. This is the first multi-use programmable pressure cooker that’s smart.
Features & Specifications
- Make tender, juicy, and melt in your mouth meats, vegetables, soups, you name it with one tap on your screen. Okay, well you still have to go about prepping your meal, but you know what we mean.
- The Instant Pot Smart WiFi has taken unnecessary steps like presoaking beans or lentils out of the equation. In just about 30 minutes you can have a home-cooked meal waiting for you to dig in.
- The Instant Pot Smart WiFi is six quarts of stainless steel, 1000 watts, and is designed with a large display screen that is state-of-the-art. Create risotto in just 30 minutes. Stew, that tastes like its been cooking all day, in as little of an hour. Pair with your Android 5.0 or iOS 9.0 or later and soon you’ll have a delicious meal.
- The Instant Pot Smart WiFi pressure cooker is eight kitchen appliances in one including a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, pressure cooker, cake maker, sauté pan, warmer, and steamer. There are even thirteen one-touch Smart Programs that help you cook ribs, beans rice, soups, and stews, with ease and with satisfying results.
- Compatible with Alexa and WiFi, you can control your Instant Pot through your device using the Instant Pot app or Amazon Alexa.
- The app even gives you access to over a thousand recipes, can verify your cooking progress, and you can even get alerts on your smartphone.
- This pressure cooker is one of the safest on the market for its safety features. Get overheat protection, safety lock, and other smart safety features that make cooking with an electric pressure cooker fearless.
- The Instant Pot Smart WiFi cones in the most popular size, which is six quarts. It’s perfect for cooking for up to six people, a great size for families, batch cooking, or meal preparation for smaller household sizes.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who have bought the Instant Pot Smart WiFi are tech-savvy and bought it for that reason. Customers love being able to control the temperature and the phases in their meal cooking with just a glance at their app or by talking to Alexa. The future is here, and the Instant Pot Smart WiFi makes this as the best pressure cooker (and perhaps the first one) that’s smart.
What is an electric pressure cooker?
Remember those metal pots with a tight lid your grandma had on her stove that produced crazy good chicken you couldn’t get anywhere else? Well, electric pressure cookers are basically pressure cookers on steroids. They’re safer and do pretty much everything for you so you don’t have to break your back cooking.
What is a multi-cooker?
Multi-cookers are electric pressure cookers on even more steroids. They take the place of your pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, yogurt maker, rice maker, steamer, and sometimes even your oven/broiler and air fryer/fryer.
I hope you learned a thing or two about pressure cookers and multi-cookers in this round. A quick and delicious meal is a click away. Don’t forget to find your perfect pressure cooker now. Click here for the best pick of pressure cookers.
