Best Budget Electric Pressure Cookers for 2017

I'm a mom who's always on the run. With my five kids, it's awfully tempting to stop at a fast food restaurant every time we get a little bit behind. That still happens on occasion, but now that I own a pressure cooker it's a lot less. If you haven't tried one you should. They save time, money, and allow you to eat healthier.

While pressure cookers used to be dangerous in the past, today they're standardized and safe as long as you're following the directions. In addition to cooking fast, a pressure cooker also keeps more of the nutrients in your food (90-95% retention). As pressure cookers cook food more efficiently, they can do so at a lower temperature.

In this post, I'll review ten of the top rated pressure cookers for both high and low-level pressure cooking and give you my thoughts on the pros and cons of each.

Available in 5, 6, and 8-quart varieties, this Instant Pot IP-DUO60 is the one I'd recommend for everyone except those who need a larger size. As we have a large family we purchased the 8-quart variety it a couple months ago. I was a little bit worried that the 8-quarts wouldn't be big enough for our family. I wanted something that could cook entire meals like my crock pot but didn't have to sit all day. Having received a lot of recommendations for this model from my family and neighbors, I went ahead and bought it. I'm very glad I did.

Having used other pressure cookers in the past, I can say that this one is less expensive and more reliable than those options. I wasn't sure how often I'd use it, but it quickly became my favorite way to cook. Everything from poultry to soups, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and beans cooks so much faster.

The Instant Pot Duo comes with 7 functions including pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, saute / browning, yogurt maker, and steaming and warming. In addition it has 14 programs that automatically set the time and keep your food warm.

For those of you concerned about safety, you should be good to go with this model. It has 10 proven safety mechanism that help to keep anything from going wrong.

Summary:

For the money, the Instant Pot IP-DUO60 truly can't be beat. I can't live without it! If they came out with a 10-quart variety, I'd be on board as you can only fill it 2/3 the way full. Still, we can cook most of our foods in this way.

Cuisinart CPC-600

This fancy little machine can produce a wholesome, home cooked meal in just minutes. A whole, four-pound chicken can cook in approximately 25 minutes. Even dried beans, which are normally soaked overnight and require over an hour of cooking can be cooked in as little as 30 minutes without soaking (depending on the bean).

With the touch of a button the Cuisinart CPC-600 can sautee, brown, simmer and keep warm. For pressure-cooking, there is a high and low pressure. To move through the various settings as needed, just press the corresponding button.

The 6-quart capacity is perfect for an average sized family. The brushed metal is beautiful and resistant to fingerprints. Since all the steam is trapped inside, more vitamins are also retained inside.

Many people are afraid of pressure-cooking. With the Cuisinart, pressure won't start building until the lid is completely locked and the lid will stay locked so long as the pressure is built up inside.

The cooking pot and trivet are non-stick, dishwasher safe and easy to clean.

While the included recipe book offers great basic tips, it is lacking a variety of recipes. There are some wonderful options available for those adventurous souls.

There have been some reports of the valve not engaging properly. If it happens to you, you can fix the problem by tapping on the lid to make it engage. Once it does engage, you can leave it and it will finish cooking. But it can be somewhat bothersome to have to check on it and make sure it engages properly.

This pressure cooker can be used as a pressure cooker, a rice cooker, or a slow cooker. Now you can get rid of two superfluous appliances and save some cupboard space.

The Fagor Multi-Cooker comes with high and low pressure-cooking. The safety lid won't release until all the pressure inside has dissipated. At the end of any cooking cycle, the machine will automatically switch to a "keep warm" setting. The automatic shut off in case of overheating will also ease your mind.

Vs. the Cuisinart Model: As it only has a "brown" function, it is missing the "simmer" and "sauté" function that the Cuisinart has.

Great for working moms, the 8-hour delay lets you prepare the food before you leave and come home to a finished meal. The non-stick pot is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

At an affordable price, this 3 in 1 machine just can't be beat.

For those who need a smaller sized pressure cooker, this Deni 2 quart size makes a great choice. Perfect for college students or those living on their own, this can quickly make a delicious, home cooked meal without making a lot of leftovers or using up unnecessary space. It is also great for cooking side dishes when your regular pressure cooker is already in use.

The five preset settings are used for rice, soup, beef, chicken, and vegetables. You can also manually program your own time, up to 99 minutes. The 9-hour delay lets you prepare everything, leave the house for a few hours, and then come home to dinner waiting for you. After the food has finished cooking, the keep warm function will last 24 hours.

The pot for this pressure cooker is non-stick, making it easy to clean. When using this cooker, make sure that the plug is firmly plugged into the machine, as there are several reports of it disengaging and putting the entire operation on hold.

All in all, this is a wonderful choice for those who need a smaller option.

The Nesco PC6-25P pressure cooker also functions as a slow cooker and steamer. It even includes the "browning" option for those who wish to sear their meat in the pot. There is also high and low pressure for those who like to customize their cooking. The pot that is included is non-stick and very easy to clean. This machine comes with a steaming rack.

The delayed timer enables you to prepare all your food in the pot and it will start itself up to 8 hours later. This is perfect for working parents or those families who live on the go. Since cooking time is decreased by up to 70% compared to conventional methods, this machine is also perfect for busy moms.

There are many people who fear pressure cookers. Most of them remember their grandmothers using them and having to stay out of the kitchen while they were in use. Today's pressure cookers are very safe, very easy to use. With locking lids, you can rest assured that your machine won't build up pressure unless it is completely sealed. It is unable to open until all the pressure has been released. Many people are discovering how wonderful pressure cookers are with today's busy lifestyle.

Overall, I highly recommend cooking with a pressure cooker. It saves me so much time every single day. In general, I use mine mostly for things that would normally take a while to cook. Most of your favorite recipes can be converted and the food you eat will be even healthier than before.

Have a favorite recipe? I'd love to hear it in the comment section below.