If you’ve organised an extended family dinner and a sudden sense of panic ensues as you realise that this involves you, well, cooking the aforementioned meal for the family, then you’ll probably want to find recipes that are easy to make – but also easy to impress – stat.
However, when it comes to easy recipes, oftentimes we find ourselves in a loophole where the meal ends up tasting a bit bland – in the name of saving time or being ‘quick and easy’.
So, if you’re a lover of flavour (who isn’t), we have a handy appliance that’ll be a lifesaver in the kitchen. No, we’re not talking about air fryers, though these are undoubtedly a great kitchen appliance to be familiar with too; we’re talking about one that’s been around for a while yet hasn’t received the attention we think it deserves.
We’re talking about pressure cookers, also known at times as multi-cookers.
There’s a lot to love when it comes to pressure cookers. It’s a versatile appliance that can save you time and energy while also helping you make delicious and healthy meals.
How does a pressure cooker work?
A pressure cooker works by trapping steam inside the pot, which increases the pressure and raises the boiling point of water, allowing food to cook more quickly – thus saving the amount of time needed to wait before your favourite dish is ready to be served.
A pressure cooker is especially useful for dishes that require a long cooking time, such as soups and stews.
Why should I invest in a pressure cooker?
There are three main reasons why a pressure cooker is a must in any family kitchen.
1. Saves time and energy
The most obvious reason is that a pressure cooker saves you time and energy. For example, when making your favourite soup or stew, place all the ingredients in at once, close the lid and let the pot work its magic.
A traditional chicken soup may take you upwards of two hours to perfect; with a pressure cooker, it could take as little as 20 minutes (depending on your recipe).
2. Retains nutrients
As it takes less time to cook your favourite dish when using a pressure cooker, the reduced cooking time means that fewer nutrients are lost during the process.
3. Tenderises tough cuts of meat
Dreaming of a tender lamb shank that falls off the bone? Achieving such is easier than you may think with a pressure cooker.
What are the best pressure cooker models to buy 2023?
So, if you’re ready to invest in your next kitchen appliance upgrade, below is our edit of the best pressure cookers to shop in Australia this year. But be warned, your friends and family may be requesting more dinner parties after this…
Philips All-In-One cooker in silver, $249, Myer
With a 25 per cent faster heat-up time (compared to its previous model), the Philips All-In-One cooker will make cooking your favourite dish more efficiently than ever. Jam-packed with an intelligent cooking system, you can slow cook, pressure cook and multi-cook delicious meals in one machine with ease.
Key features:
- 6L capacity
- 1300 KW
- Fast preheat time
- Slow cooker, pressure cooker and multi-cooker in one
- Automatic keep warm function
Instant Pot 5.7L Duo, $129 (usually $149), Bing Lee
The Instant Pot Duo is an overachiever – it does everything you can do with seven other appliances. It’s a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yoghurt maker and food warmer. So, if you dream of decluttering all your kitchen appliances, opting for this versatile model is a no-brainer.
Key features:
- 5.7L capacity
- 7 appliances in 1
- 13 in-built customisable one-touch controls
- Includes stainless steel steam rack
Breville The Fast Slow Go pressure cooker, $269, Bing Lee
Wow your guests with a homecooked meal thanks to The Fast Slow Go pressure cooker by Breville. With an easy-to-use interface, all you’ll have to worry about is which winter recipe to choose for your next family dinner. With the Fast Slow Go you can pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, stew, sous vide, and so much more.
Key features:
- 6L capacity
- Keep warm function
- Dishwasher-safe stainless steel cooking bowl and trivet
- 3-way safety system
Tefal Cook4Me touch pressure multicooker, $579 (usually $699), Myer
With its large touch screen that guides you step by step with images and videos, not only is making your next weeknight dinner a breeze, but deciding what to make is also a non-issue thanks to the 250 in-built recipes to choose from.
Key features:
- 250 in-built recipe programs
- Large touch screen with images and videos
- Cook4me app to easily monitor the cooking process
Cuisinart Meal Maker high pressure multi cooker, $299, The Good Guys
Choose from 12 settings to create the perfect recipe and dish with the Cuisinart Meal Maker pressure multi-cooker every time. Plus, with its removable stainless steel bowl, cleaning up is just as easy.
Key features:
- 5.7L capacity
- Removable stainless steel bowl
- 12 cooking settings
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