Best Pressure Cookers

Stovetop pressure cookers

Price is not a reliable indicator of quality. In two professional reviews of pressure cookers, Fagor Duo pressure cookers outperform Kuhn Rikon cookers, which cost twice as much. That said, both product lines earn positive reviews on Amazon.com and Cooking.com.

In their evaluation, Choice magazine tested the Fagor Duo 6 Quart (*Est. $85) against seven other similarly sized pressure cookers. Editors give this pressure cooker their highest performance rating for its "excellent results." Editors said it was the lightest model they tested, which made it easier to use. Testers also appreciated how this pressure cooker released steam away from the cook to prevent accidents and potential burns.

Editors at Cook's Illustrated magazine also tested six 8-quart pressure cookers, evaluating each product's price, performance and steam time, which was described as "the amount of time it takes to reach full pressure."

We also found good reviews for the larger Fagor Duo 8 Quart Pressure Cooker (*Est. $90). Owner-written reviews say this sturdy model is easy to use because its lid is easy to attach and lock in place. Others say they appreciate the appliance's yellow indicator, which reveals when correct cooking pressure has been reached. The Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker comes in two other sizes: 4-quart (*Est. $80) and 10-quart (*Est. $120). The most popular size, the 8-quart, has been called a good value by many users. Several owners at Amazon.com, however, report bad experiences with the Fagor Duo 8 Quart Pressure cooker. Complaints range from having the pressure cooker's handle break to surprise explosions. Still, it's difficult to tell whether these mishaps were due to improper use.

Several experts, including cookbook author Lorna Sass, cite Swiss manufacturer Kuhn Rikon as the leader in pressure cookers. Reviews say that these cookers are especially quiet and have numerous safety features. In her New York Times article, writer Marian Burros tests four pressure cookers and selects a Kuhn Rikon as her favorite.

Other professional reviews that pit Kuhn Rikon pressure cookers against Fagor Duos favor the latter, however. Choice magazine gives the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Slide Handle 6 Quart Pressure Cooker a lower cooking score than the Fagor Duo 6 Quart Pressure Cooker. For example, while the Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker did an excellent job of cooking the dried soup mix, the lamb shanks turned out better with the Fagor Duo. That said, testers did admit that the Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker was slightly easier to use, but they didn't like that it released steam "in all directions." Kuhn Rikon has discontinued the 6-quart model tested in this review, but a newer line of Kuhn Rikon Duromatic pressure cookers currently exists ranging in size from 3.5 to 12 quarts.

Editors at Cook's Illustrated magazine were dissatisfied with the design of the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic 7.4 Quart Pressure Cooker (*Est. $200), complaining that this pressure cooker lacked any "audible or manual locking system" as well as a quick pressure-release valve that automatically releases pressure if the appliance's regulator becomes clogged. The Kuhn Rikon website describes this feature as an "automatic lid-locking system." Editors at Cook's Illustrated also gripe that the pressure cooker's manual instructs users to rinse only the rim of the hot cooker in order to release pressure quickly -- an awkward, potentially dangerous maneuver. On the other hand, owners say the pressure cooker's instruction manual is helpful and clearly written. Given the Kuhn Rikon's design flaws and the higher price tag, the slightly larger Fagor Duo 8 Quart pressure cooker appears to be the better buy.

The WMF Perfect Plus is the only other pressure cooker included in both the Choice magazine and Cook's Illustrated reviews. Although it has a slightly larger capacity, the WMF Perfect Plus 8.5 Quart (*Est. $255) is significantly more expensive than the similarly sized Fagor Duo or Kuhn Rikon pressure cookers. Editors at Choice magazine say the dishwasher-safe pot and lid make it the easiest to clean. And like the Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker, the Perfect Plus has a well-designed quick release valve. While editors at Cook's Illustrated complain about the low, droning noise this cooker made under high pressure, owners posting to Amazon.com don't seem to mind. WMF offers pressure cookers in sizes ranging from 2.5 quarts to 8.5 quarts.

For those who only use a pressure cooker once in a while and don't want to spend a lot, the Presto 8 Quart Stainless Steel (*Est. $55) may fit the bill. Like the Fagor Duo, the Presto has pressure indicators, quick pressure release and a stainless-steel steamer basket; however, it only has one pressure setting. Unfortunately, editors at Cook's Illustrated magazine couldn't find much to like about the Presto, which is why they gave it a rating of "not recommended." They noted that its stay-cool handle, which they considered too short, became hot to the touch during cooking. One feature they did like, however, was its handy air vent, a safety feature that locks the cover when pressure builds and exhausts air until the post-cooking pressure releases.

More than 250 owners posting to Amazon.com are perfectly happy with their Presto 8 Quart and smaller Presto 6 Quart (*Est. $50) pressure cookers. Many owners say that they were surprised by the quality of this no-frills cooker, given its low price. They like the stainless-steel construction and locking handle. A few owners were dissatisfied either because it was damaged right out of the box or the regulator blew off during use. Presto also makes pressure cookers in a 4-quart size and larger sizes for canning as well as a line of lower-priced aluminum models.

Electric pressure cookers

According to Cook's Illustrated magazine, stovetop pressure cookers are superior to electric models, "which don't allow the cook to modify or change a recipe procedure once the pot is sealed." Electric pressure cookers are usually fitted with aluminum pot inserts, which makes it more difficult to brown ingredients on the stovetop before cooking. What's more, aluminum can react with acidic ingredients such as tomatoes or wine to produce off flavors. Lastly, most electric pressure cookers are coated with Teflon or Teflon-like substances that can flake off over time.

Nonetheless, the Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker CPC-600 (*Est. $150) performs well in Choice magazine's dry soup-mix test. Although it doesn't come with a steamer basket like the stovetop pressure cookers tested, editors particularly like the LED display. The removable cooking pot has a non-stick coating and is dishwasher-safe, but the lid has many crevices that are hard to clean. At Amazon.com, owners voice their appreciation for the programmable timer and say that this cooker does its job well. This pressure cooker has a shorter warranty than stovetop pressure cookers, which is a concern since we read some complaints about mechanical problems and poor customer service from Cuisinart. Other owners say that the instruction manual isn't very helpful in answering questions.

Very few other companies make electric pressure cookers. According to owners at Amazon.com and Target.com, the Deni 8.5 Qt. Oval Pressure Cooker (*Est. $155) seems to have quality issues. Owner complaints run the gamut from the pressure cooker never working to product failure after a few uses. We found the manufacturer's other sized pressure cookers also had mixed reviews.

Large-capacity pressure canners

Pressure cookers are frequently used for home canning as well. Small pressure cooker models intended for cooking won't fit many mason jars, but some models do come with a convenient rack for canning. Larger pressure cookers are available for more ambitious canning projects, but we didn't find comparison reviews on these models. We did, however, consult dozens of owner reviews on All-American and Presto pressure canners.

Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry has been making All-American pressure canners since 1930. At last look, the All-American 21.5 Quart (*Est. $190) receives mostly perfect scores from the 45 owners posting reviews at Amazon.com. This pressure canner has six twisting locks for the lid and a pressure gauge. Owners like the metal-to-metal seal that doesn't require a gasket. One caveat cited by owners is its bulky size and 20-pound weight, which make this pressure cooker difficult to maneuver and clean. Additionally, its 16-inch height doesn't fit under some range hoods, and bigger models require a large burner. However, this canner can hold a lot of jars -- up to 19 pint-size jars or seven quart-sized jars. All-American pressure cookers come in sizes from 10.5 to 41.5 quarts and are backed with a one-year limited warranty.

Presto also makes larger pressure cookers that are suitable for canning. The Presto 23-Quart Pressure Canner (*Est. $85) costs less than the All-American. At Amazon.com, 125 of 166 owners (at the time of our visit) give it a perfect score of five stars. However, five owners say it blew during operation and several others mention broken parts or other damage right out of the box. If safety is your biggest concern, we didn't read any explosion reports in owner reviews of the All-American pressure canner. The Presto 16-Quart Pressure Canner (*Est. $75) also receives mostly favorable reviews at Amazon.com and Cooking.com. Both Presto pressure canners are made of aluminum and include a canning rack.