How To Get The Best Pressure Cooker For Your House
Pressure cookers, as an airtight appliance, have helped many cooks and homemakers reduce their cooking time and make every cooking session an enjoyable and effortless experience. Thus, pressure cookers have been highly recommended among people for the utmost convenience.
However, for first-timers who new to this appliance and are looking for one, it could be challenging to find the best pressure cooker for the house. That said, we have gathered below a list of the key features you should consider before making your purchase.
Pressure Cookers - Buying Guide
Type of Pressure Cookers
There are two types of pressure cookers available on the market for you to choose: stovetop and electric. The main difference between these two types is the heating mechanism. While stovetop pressure cookers require an external source of heat, electric units feature their own built-in heating components.
Each of these two has its own advantages and disadvantages.
1. Stovetop pressure cookers:
Pros:
More exceptional durability with the majority made of stainless steel featuring aluminum core in the base.
More control over temperature.
Easily switch into a regular cooking pot
Much more affordable.
Cons:
Requires more observations for checking the time and temperature
Harder to use.
2. Electric pressure cookers
Pros:
Extraordinarily user-friendly and safe to use
Various cooking programs for different dishes
Advanced technology
High and low settings for different pressures
Built-in timers for automatically switching to warm settings once the cooking is done.
Cons:
More expensive
Not really durable as stovetops
The cooking pot is often non-stick
In the end, it all boils down to your needs. If you prefer manual control on the temperature and pressure, a stovetop pressure cooker will be a good option. Meanwhile, if you’re a busy person who loves convenience and time-saving, pick an electric one.
Cooking size
Are you living alone? Are you prepare for a party coming soon? Ask yourself these questions to get the right model to cook enough food for yourself or the family.
There are many options in terms of sizes for you to pick what you’d need, from three, six, to eight quarts. An important thing to note down is that typically only half to two-thirds of the indicated size can be used for cooking, as you can’t fill the pot full of liquid and ingredients. Consider this feature to get a pressure cooker right according to your needs.
Safety Features
When it comes to cooking with steam pressure, safety features are the most important factor to consider before getting a pressure cooker. Check for seal lid that keeps closed as pressure increases inside, valve stem, and how you can release the pressure from the pot.
Price points
As there are a wide variety of products available on the market, there is also a big price range. Thus, there is always a good pressure cooker for everyone with different budgets.
While some stovetop versions are priced under $20 that are ideal for first-timers or people with a tight budget, high-tech appliances from big pressure cooker brands like Instant Pots can get much more pricey.
Wrap Up
With this piece of buying guide, we hope you can now easily spot out the key features to consider to get the best pressure cooker for yourself and the family.