Letโs talk about pressure cookers. It probably feels like every time you turn around, thereโs 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 motherโs (or even your grandmotherโs) 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 real meal prep game changers. 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, youโve got questions. Weโve got the answers, and weโve done the hard work for you with our curated list of some of the best pressure cookers available in Australia, for different circumstances.
2024โs TOP pressure cookers
- Philips All-In-One Cooker, $148, Amazon(hereโs why)
- Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus, $169, Amazon (hereโs why)
- Tefal Cook4Me Touch Multicooker, $559.20, Myer (hereโs why)
The best pressure cookers to buy in Australia 2024
01
Philips All-In-One Cooker
$148 at Amazon
Best overall pressure cooker
This sleek and attractive chrome multicooker is a solid all-rounder. It doesnโt 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 per cent 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, sautรฉ/sear, steam, bake and even yoghurt-making functions. The automatic, 12-hour Keep Warm function means that you can set and forget until youโre ready to eat. The nine safety protection systems mean that you donโt need to worry about your familyโs 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 boasts 4.5 stars from 520 ratings on Amazon, with one reviewer writing: โEasy to use, and so versatile. Large capacity for economical meal prepโฆonce cooked keeps food safely warm until ready to eat or freeze.โ
Key features:
- 6L ProCeramic+ anti-scratch inner pot
- Seven pressure cooking modes
- Slow cook with high and low temps up to 12 hours
- Additional mulitcook functions for variety
Also available at:
- $146 (usually $199) at Billy Guyatts
- $148 at The Good Guys
- $149 (usually $249) at Myer
- $169 (usually $199) at Bing Lee
02
Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus 8L
$169 at Amazon
Best pressure cooker for families
If youโre 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 eight-litre capacity (enough for up to eight 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, sautรฉ, 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.
The Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus gets 4.6 stars from 545 ratings on Amazon. Reviewer Scott calls it a โgame changer in the kitchen,โ saying: โThe 8L capacity is perfect for larger families or entertaining guests, allowing me to prepare generous portions of delicious meals with ease.โ
Key features:
- Also available in a 5.7L size
- Durable inner pot with anti-spin design for perfect sautรฉing
- 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
Also available at:
- $169 (usually $219) at Bing Lee
- $169 (usually $269) at Myer
- $213 (usually $299) at Appliances Online
- $299 at Big W
03
Tefal Cook4me Touch Multicooker
$559.20 (usually $699) at Myer
Best โbells and whistlesโ 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 either, there is also a manual cooking mode for you to explore your culinary creativity.
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 six serves
Also available at:
- $634 (usually $700) at Appliances Online
- $699 at The Good Guys
- $699 at Betta Home Living
- $699 at Stan Cash
04
Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker 5.7L
$143.20 (usually $179) at Myer
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. Thatโs why we were excited to find the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker. Coming in at a retail price of $179 (and currently on sale for an even better $143.20), it is still designed to meet all your cooking needs, with pressure cooker, slow cooker, sautรฉ, 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.
The Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker gets 4.6 stars from 296 reviews on The Good Guys. Reviewer Joey says: โThis is a very well made device, simple to use, easy to clean. Every day I discover a new use for it. Itโs replacing half of my kitchen equipment! Love it.โ
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
- Seven 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
Also available at:
- $149.95 (usually $179) at Amazon
- $149.95 (usually $179) at Kitchen Warehouse
- $162 (usually $179) at Appliances Online
- $169 (usually $189) at Stan Cash
- $179 at The Good Guys
05
Breville Fast Slow GO Cooker
$299 at Bing Lee
Best pressure cooker for beginners
The simplicity of this multicooker makes it perfect for the nervous beginner. If youโre 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. Plus, thereโs an automatic steam release button which safely releases pressure and reduces the risk of burns.
The Breville Fast Slow Go Cooker has 4.7 stars from 73 reviews on Bing Lee. Reviewer Nat describes it as a โvery versatile applianceโ. She says: โI love using my Fast Slow GOโฆI often use it when I cook meat. I can choose pressure cook or slow cook depending on how much time I haveโฆI also like the โdelay startโ function so I donโt need to worry about over-cooking the meal. 100% recommended!โ
Key features:
- 6L capacity, dishwasher-safe, stainless steel bowl
- Three hands-free steam release settings for safe pressure release โ 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
Also available at:
- $287.20 (usually $359) at Amazon
- $329 at The Good Guys
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 doesnโt 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, donโt overfill the pressure cooker, donโt cook foods that arenโt 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 (isnโt 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 doesnโt 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:
- Donสผt cook pasta or porridge, or any food that becomes foamy, in the pressure cooker.
- Anything dairy โ the high temperatures will cause dairy foods to curdle or separate. If youโre 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 โ pressure cookers lock in air and moisture as part of the fast cooking process, which means foods that should be crispy wonโt do well. A multicooker with an air frying function or air crisp lid is your best bet.
- Pasta and noodles โ it will mostly likely end up as a gummy mess, or cook unevenly. Stovetop is still the best option for cooking pasta.
- Anything baked โ like cakes or biscuits, can technically be cooked in a pressure cooker but that oven-baked consistency will be missing so itโs not ideal.
- Seafood โ 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 โ 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 itโs no faster than doing it on the stovetop.
Related articles:
- How to use a pressure cooker
- Sweet and savoury recipes for your pressure cooker
- Why the multicooker is a game changer
