A programmable pressure cooker would soon be your trusty kitchen companion for foodies who wish to have meals ready for serving in an instant. You can’t find a lot of cooking devices that allow you to cook hands-free, allowing you to spend minimal time next to the stove.
Contemporary pressure cookers are more appropriately referred to as multi-cookers, as they can sauté, simmer, slow cook, and do a multitude of other things. With so many choices out there, the search for the best programmable pressure cooker can very well be a tricky one.
Check out our programmable pressure cooker reviews below and choose the best one for you!
Table of Contents
1. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 6-qt. Programmable Pressure Cooker
Key Features:
14 built-in smart programs
Automated warm function for up to 10 hours
Several safety mechanisms
LED display
Equipped with a 24-hour timer for delayed cooking
This stainless steel 7 in 1 programmable pressure cooker is built to last. So you can bet it’s not going to wear off in the foreseeable future.
The inner cooking bowl is composed of 3-ply food-grade 18/8 stainless steel, which can withstand even the most corrosive foods. The exterior is composed of coated stainless steel, which is resistant to fingerprints.
The low-profile steam rail is made of 18/8 stainless steel as well. So that should ease your worries about durability.
Pressure cooking may be intimidating, but this electric pot can make the process seem simple and feel extremely safe. There are numerous safety features that you cannot eliminate, so you may use them with confidence. However, you should always obey the guidelines; since it is still a pressure cooker. For a counter-top pressure cooker, it’s quite small, stylish, and fairly priced.
This tiny device is pretty small when you perceive all it provides. This is especially crucial for those who have minimal storage capacity.
When it comes to functionality, the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker easily outperforms its competitors.
2. Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker
Key Features:
Easy seal lid included
Bright LED display
Up to 24-hour timer setting
Auto keep-warm function (up to 10 hours)
4 different sizes available
The Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker offers a variety of quick and adaptable cooking modes that allow you to heat, simmer, roast, broil, slow cook, and much more. You can do them all in one pot by pushing a single button. It’s as easy as setting the timer and allowing the multi-cooker to do its thing.
The Instant Pot Duo Nova comes with an easy seal cover that ensures when you shut the lid, it would immediately seal. It also effortlessly discharges steam with a touch of the quick-release switch.
The panel on the Instant Pot Programmable Pressure Cooker has been updated with newer, easy-to-read indicators. This makes it easy to activate the ten food safety elements and planned programs. The vibrant LED display would also keep you up to date as to what is happening in the pot and how much cooking time is still needed.
If you wish to try multi-cooking, the Instant Pot Duo Nova is a good option to explore. In addition to creating and delivering value in the kitchen, its collection of inspiring recipe ideas should make regular meal preparation a delight.
3. Ninja FD401 Foodi Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker
Key Features:
Cook’s essentials programmable pressure cooker manual included in the pack
Ceramic coating
Easily accessible display window
9 different cook settings
Convenient control panel
The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker allows you to prepare amazing meals in just 20 minutes. This is what 1760 watts of electricity can do. The adaptability of the pressure cooker is also quite notable.
The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL does more than just pressure cook the meals. It is capable of air crisping, searing, sautéing, baking, broiling, steaming, dehydrating, and even making yogurt.
Throw in a few ingredients together, hit a few buttons, and you’re done.
With the stainless steel appearance, the Ninja FD401 Foodi Deluxe XL Cooker looks great in any kitchen. The interior has a nonstick ceramic finish and accommodates 8 quarts.
Slow cooking is a hit-or-miss scenario with the Ninja Foodi. The heat is significantly lower than in a conventional slow cooker when you set it low.
Using all of its functions is simple from the start, with precise guidelines. Put the pressure cooker someplace safe to avoid gathering moisture on the ceiling and walls.
The Deluxe XL’s maximum temperature setting is 400 degrees (F), which is ideal for baking, air frying, and other related work. While dehydrating food, the lowest temperature is only 80 degrees, and it maintains the temp degree for 12 hours.
4. Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker
Key Features:
Large LCD display
Quick pre-heat function
28 cooking programs
Various safety mechanisms
Auto-seal lid
The Instant Pot Pro is intended for home cooking when you need a multi-purpose cooker with quick pre-heating and total cooking time. You also get a gentle steam release, as well as five favorite program selection functions.
Instant Pot Pro comes with 28 configurable cooking programs. With this cooker, you get to spend very little time in the kitchen since pre-heating is faster than many conventional pressure cookers.
Because of the diffusing cover, the improved steam release is smoother and quieter.
The Instant Pot Pro comes with an inner pot composed of culinary-grade stainless steel with an additional thick aluminum coating. This makes the cooker extra heat-efficient, ideal for sizzling and sautéing.
You may use a pressure cooker to instantly cook meat, chickpeas, stews, and roasts, as well as simmer the meals.
The 28 customizable programs make it convenient to get going with the next meal straight away. You may utilize the extra 5 Favorite program settings for some favorite meals as you grow more comfortable with the Instant Pot Pro.
The 6-quart Instant Pot Pro design is ideal for homeowners, meal planning, and bulk cooking.
5. Yedi 9-in-1 Total Package Programmable Pressure Cooker
Key Features:
Silicone sealing ring ensures more safety
Tempered glass lid included
Comes with 9 appliances
Auto pressure control setting
Steamer basket is made of stainless steel
Yedi Yedi 9-in-1 Total Package Programmable Pressure Cooker combines ease, nutrition, and flavor in a single product. Yedi pressure cooker, with its 15 rapid touch technologies, helps create a distinct cooking style.
Not only that, but you can prepare two meals at once in minutes due to the accompanying stainless-steel steamer basket, which is incredibly easy to wash and completely dishwasher-friendly.
The food-grade stainless steel inner pot with a 3-ply bottom for optimal heat distribution is large enough to feed a household of four. This component does not require a synthetic coating to keep it nonstick, so there is no risk of anything leaking into the meals.
The Yedi 9-in-1 pressure cooker not only cooks fast, but it cooks safe as well. The design is entirely made of stainless steel with no chemical finishes. This preserves the nutrients of the food while destroying any harmful microorganisms.
The overall quality of this pressure cooker makes it one of the convenient options available in the market.
Best Programmable Pressure Cooker Buying Guide
Size
Do you need a pressure cooker to cook for one person? Or do you want to use the pressure cooker for gatherings or a larger family? The size of a pressure cooker is an important consideration when selecting one.
If you simply want to prepare smaller portions, a 3-quart Instant Pot would most likely be enough. However, 6- and 8-quart sizes can also be taken into consideration.
Please note that pressure cookers must only be filled approximately 2/3 of the space for most meals and only midway for items that generate froth during cooking.
Material
The materials used to line pressure cookers vary. A lot of people, such as the well-known Instant Pot model, feature a stainless steel lining. This material is safe for use in the dishwasher and can withstand repeated usage. Some manufacturers sell pressure cookers with nonstick-coated components for easy cleanup. However, you must be more careful with this material since it might crack or scratch when not handled appropriately.
So the choice is between simpler clean-up and simpler upkeep. There is no such thing as an incorrect answer.
Cooker Settings
Some programmable pressure cookers come with just one pressure setting, while several others have two (high and low pressure) or more. The low-pressure setting saves energy by allowing the cooker to shift to a low setting after the meal has finished cooking. It’s also great for cooking tender meals like leafy greens, spaghetti, eggs, and seafood.
If you enjoy coming home to a hot dinner, the keep-warm setting function is something you should look out for. There are also timer settings in these pressure cookers that allow you to set it for up to 24 hours.
Safety Features
With scorching hot steam and plenty of built-up pressure, it’s critical that these programmable cookers have certain safety systems in place. You can pick cookers with locking lids that seal it shut if there is any pressure within.
A valve stem automatically releases steam when there is too much pressure inside the pot. Comfortable grips composed of heat-resistant materials are also something one can seek in these cookers.
FAQs
What size programmable pressure cooker should I get?
That depends on how much food you need to prepare in the cooker. A 3-quart pressure cooker is the most suitable for a single-person use. 6-quart sized cookers are most ideal for small to medium families.
Start out with a 6-quart, and if you find your cooker to be the perfect cooking option, then you can get an 8 or 10-quart for bulk meal preparation.
Which is better: stainless steel or nonstick inner pot?
Stainless steel inner pots are dishwasher friendly, heat consistently, and can be used with metal utensils without damaging the surface. But stainless steel is more difficult to extract stuck-on material off.
Nonstick inner pots are ideal since the meals are less inclined to stick to the inside, making cleanup easy. Several nonstick pots are dishwasher-friendly; however, this varies by brand.
What’s the difference between quick release and natural release?
Quick-release entails switching the steam release valve to exhaust to let the steam evade. When the pin next to the valve lowers, the pressure is released, and the lid may be removed safely.
The steam is not released immediately with natural release. Rather, you let the pressure drop by itself. When the pin drop shows that the pressure is stable, you may open the lid. Many dishes instruct you to do a 10-minute natural release accompanied by a fast release.
Conclusion
After surfing through the best ones, picking only the best programmable pressure cooker is not an easy task. Individual preferences come into play when you have to buy a kitchen appliance such as this.
However, we would recommend the Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker from the list above. The overall design and functionalities are too fantastical to just pass off.