For cooking, kitchen utensils are essential. If you are a chef and cook food in a large quantity, you must be sensitive about the cookware you are using. In the kitchen, a pressure cooker is as essential as other cookware's. You can find this in any house or any restaurant or hotel.
Many people are afraid of the pressure cooker. They don't know how to use it. Nowadays, pressure cookers are safer and healthy. They are available in various materials and types.
In this buying guide, we will tell you about the most common kitchen cookware, the pressure cooker. We will guide you on what things should be considered while buying it. We will also tell you about the types and the price range of pressure cookers available in the market. Hopefully, this guide is helpful to you.
What are The Things to Consider While Choosing the Best Pressure Cooker?
Are you having a problem while choosing the best pressure cooker brand? You should consider the following points while shopping and get your ideal pressure cooker.
Size
First of all, consider the size of the pressure cooker. If you have a big family, then you should buy a big size pressure cooker. And for a small family, buy a small-sized pressure cooker for your ease.
Heat Conductivity
The pressure cooker should be a good conductor of heat. When we cook a large amount of food, it will take time to cook. So we need more heat to cook the food.
Material & Durability
It is crucial to consider the material of the pressure cooker. Choose a pressure cooker which material is not harmful to your health. If you don't know much about the best materials, then choose a stainless steel pressure cooker.
Durability is the most crucial factor for kitchen cookware. The pressure cooker should last 5 or 6 years. If you are more consistent with durability, the stainless steel pressure cooker is the best.
Safety and Weight
When you buy a pressure cooker safety factor is most important. Check the pressure cooker lid if it is tight with the pot. Is the whistle of the Pressure cooker working right? The pressure cooker should be light-weighted too for your easy cooking routine.
Budget
After deciding the size, material, safety, and heat conductivity of the pressure cooker, it's time to check the price. Regular pressure cookers are mostly cheap because they are the common part of kitchen utensils. Their prices differ by the types of pressure cookers.
Style
Pressure cookers now come in various styles. You can buy a pressure cooker that matches well to your kitchen and other utensils. Also, the style should be comfortable to use, and the pot should have enough capacity to cook any amount of food.
What are the Different Types of Pressure Cookers?
Kitchen cookware is updated too over time. Best pressure cookers for experts have two types.
Stove-top Pressure Cooker:
The stove-top pressure cooker is the common type that can be seen in any kitchen. It is simple to use; just put the food in and the pressure cooker on the medium flame stove. This type of pressure cooker needs attention. You have to be aware of timing; otherwise, your food will get burnt. Nowadays, stove-top pressure cookers are safe. They are available at different prices with a quality difference.
Electric Pressure cooker:
The electric pressure cooker is the modern pressure cooker for the modern generation. This pressure cooker type is easy and safe to operate. You can set the timing and temperature with different cooking types like sautéing, browning, and simmering.
If you are preparing a feast, you can cook the food in the electric pressure cooker aside and use the stove for other recipes. These types of pressure cookers are more expensive than stove-top pressure cookers because of their features. They are usually slower cookers than stove-top pressure cookers. But if you follow the guidelines and use them properly, it will be easier for you.
What is the Average Price Range of Pressure Cookers?
Pressure cookers have made the cooking routine more straightforward and faster. They are now becoming the need of every kitchen.
Pressure cookers are available in cheap and expensive price ranges. The best pressure cooker average range starts from $50 to $300.
The cheap pressure cookers don't guarantee the safety of the user. But, it's not always the case that expensive pressure cookers are safer than cheap ones. We recommend you always check features, your safety, and then budget.
Best Pressure Cooker FAQ
Do professional chefs use pressure cookers?
Yes, many professional chefs use pressure cookers to tender their meat or other foods. Professional chefs have to be quick while cooking as their customers are waiting for their ordered food. Pressure cookers make the procedure of cooking any food ten times faster than boiling it. Many chefs use pressure cookers to do their work quickly.
Another reason to use a pressure cooker is to kill all the bacteria from food, like the boiling process. And the nutrients of food remain in the flavor. So it is also healthy to use. Many professional chefs use pressure cookers for these reasons. Some professional chefs don't use a pressure cooker; they believe in the natural process of making food.
Which pressure cooker is best, aluminum or steel?
The main difference between an aluminum pressure cooker and a stainless steel pressure cooker is durability. Stainless steel is a well-known material for its durability and shiny look, but it is also expensive.
Note: If you do not put in much oil while cooking, the food will stick to the bottom surface, and you have to suffer for its cleaning.
Aluminum or nonstick pressure cookers don't last long, but they are a good conductor of heat. They are easy to clean, and the food doesn't stick to it while cooking. They are cheaper than stainless steel pressure cookers.
Is an aluminum pressure cooker terrible for health?
Food cooked in an aluminum pressure cooker or pans can absorb the aluminum. Aluminum can be dissolved within food and water during cooking. There is no such scientific proven fact that aluminum is harmful to our health.
It is said that the human body can consume 50 milligrams of aluminum a day without any harm. Just be careful while using it. Use a wooden spatula for stirring, and don't use steel wool for cleaning the aluminum pressure cooker.