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Pressure cookers: five of the best for slow food in a hurry

An appliance that delivers the results of a slow cooker in a fraction of the time? Why the pressure cooker deserves a place on your kitchen bench.
Electric pressure cooker viewed from above with ingredients inside, a can of coconut milk is being poured in
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While it can seem like there are new kitchen gadgets demanding your attention (and money) all the time, the pressure cooker has an impressive history. In fact, pressure cookers date back to the 17th century, with French physicist Denis Papin credited with developing the first version in 1679. But pressure cookers have come a long way since then – and continue to evolve.

For starters, they are now even safer than they were in your mother’s (or even grandmother’s) time. Secondly, many pressure cookers on the market now (including most on this list) are actually multicookers. And believe us, those are real game-changers in the kitchen, which can work as pressure cookers, slow cookers, air fryers, rice cookers, yoghurt makers, steamers and dehydrators, in a single appliance (depending on the model).

So if you’re trying to find the best pressure cooker for your home, we’ve done the hard work for you with our curated list of some of the best pressure cookers available in Australia. We’ve considered different functions, materials, size, price and even customer reviews as part of the process to help you choose one that will do everything you want.

2024’s Top 3 pressure cookers

  1. Philips All-In-One Cooker, $169.15, Amazon (here’s why)
  2. Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus, $211, Amazon (here’s why)
  3. Tefal Cook4Me Touch Multicooker, $594.15, Myer (here’s why)

The best pressure cookers to buy in Australia 2024

Philips all-in-one cooker

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Philips All-In-One Cooker

$169.15 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 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, 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 boasts 4.4 stars from over 540 ratings on Amazon, with one reviewer writing: “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
  • Seven pressure cooking modes
  • Slow cook with high and low temps up to 12 hours
  • Additional mulitcook functions for variety

Also available at:

Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooker

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Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus 8L

$211 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 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, 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.

The Instant Pot 9-in-1 Duo Plus has a 4.6 star rating from over 800 reviews on Amazon. Reviewer Scott calls it a “game changer in the kitchen,” saying: “The 8L capacity is perfect for larger families or entertaining guests, allowing me to prepare generous portions of delicious meals with ease.”

Another reviewer from Australia said: “Love this thing. Easy to use and clean. So many great recipes on app to try. Eliminates dirtying so many dishes to make meals and cuts down on cook time. Only regret is not buying one sooner.”

Key features:

  • Also available in a 5.7L size
  • Durable inner pot with anti-spin design for perfect sautéing
  • 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:

Tefal Cook4me Touch Multicooker and pressure cooker

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Tefal Cook4me Touch Multicooker

$594.15 (usually $699) at Myer

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 either, there is also a manual cooking mode for you to explore your culinary creativity.  

It also has a rating of 4.7 stars from over 500 reviews listed on the Myer website, with Australian reviewer GregRicho3 saying: “I use this product at least 4 times a week, sometimes in conjunction with the crispy lid (few times a month). Mainly used for pressure cooking and everything turns out perfect. The unit is quick and easy to use and setup for cooking. I use the recipes that are built in as well as converting instant pot recipes from the internet.”

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:

Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker and pressure cooker

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Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker 5.7L

$152.15 (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. That’s why we were excited to find the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker. Coming in at a retail price of $179 (and cheaper when on sale), 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.

The Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker also has 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
  • 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:

Breville Fast Slow GO cooker

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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 you’re a newbie to pressure cooking it might seem overwhelming at first. But the interface of the Breville Fast Slow GO helps keep things simple, with 14 preset functions like soup, stock, meat, stew, and risotto, and of course seven pressure cooker 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, there’s an automatic steam release button which safely releases pressure and reduces the risk of burns.

The Breville Fast Slow Go Cooker has 4.8 stars from over 80 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

Also available at:

How to find the best pressure cooker for you

When you’re shopping for a pressure cooker, consider these questions to help you find the right one:

  1. What cooking functions do you want, in addition to “pressure cooker” mode?
  2. How many people will you usually be cooking for?
  3. How easy will it be to clean? (And does it have a pot or other parts that are dishwasher safe?)
  4. What are its safety features?
  5. What type of warranty does it have?
  6. Where will you store it when it’s not in use?
  7. How much are you willing to spend?

There are pressure cooker options for just about every budget and home. But thinking about these factors before you head to the shops (or online) means you can stay focused and find one with the features that are important to you.

Are pressure cookers safe?

One of the biggest questions people have when they get a pressure cooker (including us) is “will it explode”?

While older pressure cookers could sometimes build up so much pressure that they would explode, leaving your kitchen and you covered in casserole-flavoured liquid, that’s no longer the case. 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.


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