Let’s talk about pressure cookers. It probably feels like every time you turn around, there’s a new kitchen gadget demanding your attention (and money!). But the pressure cooker is no new kid on the block, though it has come a long way since your mother’s (or even your grandmother’s) time.
For starters, they are safer (more on that later). Secondly, many pressure cookers on the market now (including most on this list) are actually multicookers and believe us, those are a real meal prep game changer. These babies (depending on the brand and model) are pressure cookers, slow cookers, air fryers, rice cookers, yoghurt makers, steamers and dehydrators, all in a single, hero appliance.
But we get it, you’ve got questions. We’ve got the answers, and we’ve done the hard work for you with our curated list of some of the best pressure cookers available in Australia, for different circumstances.
2024’s TOP pressure cookers
- Philips All-In-One Cooker, $197, Amazon(here’s why)
- Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus, $198, Amazon (here’s why)
- Tefal Cook4Me Touch Multicooker, $649, Betta (here’s why)
The best pressure cookers 2024
01
Philips All-In-One Cooker
from $197 at Amazon
Best overall pressure cooker
This sleek and attractive chrome multicooker is a solid all-rounder, it doesn’t try to be too fancy or complicated, it just gets the job done. Why does it deserve a coveted place on your kitchen bench? With 1300W power, it heats up 25% faster and has seven pressure cooking modes to create flavoursome dishes when you are time-poor. Being a multicooker means there are also slow cook, sauté/sear, steam, bake and even yoghurt-making functions. The automatic, 12-hour Keep Warm function means that you can set and forget until you’re ready to eat. The nine safety protection systems mean that you don’t need to worry about your family’s safety, and the detachable, easy-to-clean inner lid design makes washing up a breeze (or get one of the kids to do it!).
The Philips All-In-One Cooker gets 4.5 stars from 479 ratings on Amazon, reviewer Julie says, “Easy to use, and so versatile. Large capacity for economical meal prep…once cooked keeps food safely warm until ready to eat or freeze.”
Key features:
- 6L ProCeramic+ anti-scratch inner pot
- 7 pressure cooking modes
- Slow cook with high and low temps up to 12 hours
- Additional mulitcook functions for variety
Available at:
02
Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus 8L
from $198 at Amazon
Best pressure cooker for families
If you’re looking for an appliance to feed the hungry masses, then look no further because this baby does it all. Not only does it have a huge 8 litre capacity (enough for up to 8 serves, depending on appetite levels), this multicooker does just about everything you can think of, with 13 customisable, one-touch cooking programs, including pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, soup/broth, cake, egg, rice, yoghurt, and more. It also reduces cooking time by up to 70 per cent, which makes it a fantastic aide on weeknights. It replaces nine kitchen appliances, freeing up bench/cupboard space and its versatility makes it the ultimate family gadget. Also available in a 5.7L size.
The Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus gets 4.7 stars from 1,578 ratings on Amazon. Reviewer Scott calls it a “game changer in the kitchen…the 8L capacity is perfect for larger families or entertaining guests, allowing me to prepare generous portions of delicious meals with ease.”
Key features:
- Durable inner pot with anti-spin design for perfect sautéeing
- Built-in safety features including Overheat Protection and safe locking lid
- Easy Release Switch makes venting simple and stress-free
- Dishwasher-safe components including multi-cooker lid, accessories and inner pot
Available at:
03
Tefal Cook4me Touch Multicooker
from $649 at Betta
Best ‘bells and whistles’ pressure cooker
This next-gen appliance from Tefal takes all the effort out of cooking. Perfect for those of us who struggle for inspiration when it comes to meal planning, the Cook4me Touch Multicooker comes with 250 built-in recipes, ready for you to scroll, select, then set and forget! With 16 auto-programs, including pressure cook, steam, simmer and slow cook, simply choose your desired dish and the Cook4me will automatically set the correct time and temperature settings. And connecting to the Tefal app unlocks an ever-growing library of recipes. You are not locked into using the built-in recipes, there is also a manual cooking mode for you to explore your culinary creativity.
The Tefal Cook4me Touch Multicooker gets 4.8 stars from 350 reviews on Betta, reviewer Sandy says, “This machine is amazing. So easy to use and I love that everything takes so little time to make. Soup in 10 minutes. Roast in 15 minutes. I love it.”
Key features:
- Wifi connection to get more recipes from Tefal and the community
- Large, tilting colour touchscreen for ease of use
- Step-by-step guidance provided on-screen via text, photos and videos
- Unique express cooking mode means that recipes can be ready in as little as 10 minutes
- 6L capacity makes up to 6 serves
Available at:
04
Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker 5.7L
from $155 at Appliances Online
Best budget pressure cooker
Many of us are feeling the cost of living pinch lately and might not have several hundred dollars to splurge on a high-tech pressure cooker. We hear you. That’s why we were excited to find the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker. Coming in at only $179 (RRP), it is still designed to meet all your cooking needs, with pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté, slow cook, rice and steam functions. You can also choose between seven one-touch meal options such as risotto, yoghurt and dessert. The 5.7 litre non-stick cooking pot resists stuck-on food and is dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze. This is a great budget or introductory option if you are keen to dip your toe into the world of pressure cooking, without spending a bundle.
The Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker gets 4.6 stars from 296 reviews on the Good Guys. Reviewer Joey says, “This is a very well made device, simple to use, easy to clean. Every day I discover a new use for it. It’s replacing half of my kitchen equipment! Love it.”
Key features:
- 5.7L capacity, non-stick bowl
- Comes with a serving spoon and metal steaming rack
- Airtight locking lid stays locked until pressure is released for added safety
- 7 one-touch meal settings for a variety of quick, healthy meals at the touch of a button
- Auto keep warm mode to ensure food stays warm until ready to serve
Available at:
05
Breville Fast Slow GO Cooker
$287 at Bing Lee
Best pressure cooker for beginners
The simplicity of this multicooker makes it perfect for the nervous beginner. If you’re a newbie to pressure cooking it might seem overwhelming at first. But the simple interface of the Breville Fast Slow Go should put your fears to rest, with 14 preset functions like soup, stock, meat, stew, and risotto, and of course seven pressure cooking settings, or slow cook for up to 12 hours. There are also some great safety features such as a safety locking pin, pressure release valve and a pressure safety valve. There is also an automatic steam release button which safely releases pressure and reduces the risk of burns.
The Breville Fast Slow Go Cooker gets 4.8 stars from 70 reviews on Bing Lee. Reviewer Nat describes it as a “very versatile appliance”. She says, “I love using my Fast Slow GO…I often use it when I cook meat, I can choose pressure cook or slow cook depending on how much time I have…I also like the ‘delay start’ function so I don’t need to worry about over-cooking the meal. 100% recommended!”
Key features:
- 6L capacity, dishwasher-safe, stainless steel bowl
- Three hands-free steam release settings for safe pressure release – Natural, Pulse and Auto Quick release
- 14 shortcuts in an easy-to-use interface, including new functions for yoghurt and sous vide
- Automatic keep warm function
Available at:
Frequently asked questions
Are pressure cookers safe?
First up, and this was our big question as well, will it explode? Fear not, gone are the days when your pressure cooker was likely to explode in your kitchen, leaving you covered in casserole-flavoured liquid and the lid embedded deeply in the ceiling. Modern pressure cookers have multiple safety features to ensure this doesn’t happen, such as pressure-activated locks and safety valves. That being said, if a pressure cooker is misused, accidents can happen. The bottom line is, any kitchen appliance involving heat and electricity can become damaged or cause harm if not used as intended. Read the instruction manual and follow the directions, don’t overfill the pressure cooker, don’t cook foods that aren’t recommended for pressure cooking (see more on this, below) and release the pressure safely (away from hands, face and body).
What is the benefit of a pressure cooker?
There are many benefits to using a pressure cooker. A huge one for the time-poor amongst us (isn’t that all of us?) is the reduced cooking time. VASTLY reduced, in fact. Pressure cookers trap all the pressure (and therefore heat) inside. This is heat and pressure that would normally escape when using a regular cooking appliances. As a result, the food cooks at a much faster rate (around 70-75 per cent faster, depending on the dish). The results are also fantastic as the reduced time doesn’t impact the flavour or texture of the food. In fact, pressure cooking produces similar results to slow cooking, in a fraction of the time.
Another benefit is that when food is cooked faster, it is less likely to lose vital nutrients during the cooking process. Also, since pressure cookers reduce evaporation, the flavours are trapped inside, resulting in more flavoursome, healthier dishes.
What can you NOT cook in a pressure cooker?
You can cook a great many dishes in pressure cookers, but not everything. There are a few dishes or foods that do not do well in pressure cookers. These include:
- Donʼt cook pasta or porridge, or any food that becomes foamy, in the pressure cooker.
- Anything dairy – the high temperatures will cause dairy foods to curdle or separate. If you’re making something with a creamy sauce, you may be able to add it at the end of the cooking time, but it just depends on the recipe.
- Fried foods – pressure cookers lock in air and moisture as part of the fast cooking process, which means foods that should be crispy won’t do well. A multicooker with an air frying function or air crisp lid is your best bet.
- Pasta and noodles – it will mostly likely end up as a gummy mess, or cook unevenly. Stovetop is still the best option for cooking pasta.
- Anything baked – like cakes or biscuits, can technically be cooked in a pressure cooker but that oven-baked consistency will be missing so it’s not ideal.
- Seafood – because most seafood is quite delicate and requires precise cooking times, chances are your seafood would come out of the pressure cooker mushy or rubbery.
- Eggs in their shell – you can cook hard boiled eggs using a pressure cooker (one benefit is that they are supposed to be easier to peel) but it is risky (they could crack or burst) and it’s no faster than doing it on the stovetop.
Related article:
- How to use a pressure cooker: our Test Kitchen do’s and don’ts
- Sweet and savoury recipes for your pressure cooker
- Why the multicooker is a game changer
