I have had a cheap Tower pressure cooker from Argos. It’s been excellent and I have no complaints at all! I use it most weeks as a pressure cooker and also the large pan size is useful for cooking other things.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnetter MissingFriendandSad) Our verdict The fact that you can just set it off and leave it is, IMO, the best thing about it and a total gift to parents. I don't do anything adventurous with mine, just one pot meals, or cooking up rice, polenta etc. Wouldn't want to be without it now though."(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user BessAndCress) The science behind Pressure Cookers is impressive but simply achieved by the boiling point of water being dependent on air pressure. We love these top-of-the-range stovetop pressure cookers from Swiss brand, Kuhn Rikon, available in a four- and eight-litre capacity. I have a 6-litre Kuhn Rikon duromatic stovetop pressure cooker - not the cheapest, but it’s excellent. Very energy efficient and durable, and the perfect size for a family meal with plenty leftover." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user burblish)

Like other models, the Chef iQ Smart Pressure Cooker has a host of cooking capabilities, including pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, searing, sautéing and sous vide. It even has a built-in scale for precisely following a recipe. Unlike other models, this one has a standout feature that’s particularly appealing to budding home chefs: more than 1,000 presets and access to more than 600 guided recipes and culinary how-to videos. Plus, you can control the appliance using your smartphone via WiFi or Bluetooth.

The advantages of having a pair of pressure cookers is clear, giving you flexibility to cook varying quantities of food, or even to use both at the same time when preparing food on a larger scale. Plus these particular models are known to be quieter and less hissy than some thanks to their revolutionary patented spring-loaded valve. I love my Instant Pot. I love that you can start a ragu by sautéing the soffritto then adding the meat and then the tomatoes before pressure cooking it. No other pots and pans needed unlike a traditional slow cooker. One pot wonders are a staple in our house!!"(Recommended by Mumsnet user LadyCampanulaTottington) To answer how does a Pressure Cooker work, we have created our own dedicated Prestige Guide. If you're look for a short answer however, please keep reading! It depends on what you're looking for - in terms of budget options you can't beat the Tower 4L Pressure Cooker, but for something a bit more stylish the Lagostina Mia Pressure Cooker is a solid, reliable option. In terms of large-scale cooking, opt for the Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cooker. How we chose our recommendations I like the fact that you can do a whole meal in one pan as you can sauté and then slow cook. I've started to use the pressure cooking setting more and more - it makes excellent rice for example."(Vetted by Mumsnet user QueenofLouisiana) Our verdict

One-Touch Ultima Pressure Cooker with Detachable 60-Minute Timer Brown, boil, steam, braise, stew and roast a range of delicious dishes with Tower’s Ultima Pressure Cooker I have a standard stove top pressure cooker. Absolutely fantastic. Constantly in use. I do stews and add potatoes towards the end for a one pot dinner."(Advice from Mumsnet user billy1966) A Pressure Cooker is a fantastic time-saving device, meaning that you’ll never have to prepare and cook in a hurry to enjoy a nutritious meal. From flavoursome casseroles to tender, succulent meat and creamy, rich risottos, a top-of-the-range Prestige Pressure Cooker yields endless possibilities. Like the Sage Fast Slow Pro, it’s a brilliantly versatile gadget and can be used for pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing, baking, roasting and grilling. Buy what really makes this gadget stand out from the rest is its ability to air fry. In fact, you may never need to use your oven again! I've got a Lagostina stovetop pressure cooker. Very easy to use and good safety features.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user HardasSnails) Our verdictAs Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, Nicole Papant oniou has tested dozens of multicookers, slow cookers, and air fryers. Previously she worked in product development for small kitchen appliances and tools since 2014 as well as in several test kitchens, where she tested and developed recipes and food content starting in 2012. Nicole lent her expertise to the reporting and editing of this story, as well as oversaw the testing process. Decide whether you want an electric or stovetop pressure cooker. The main difference between an electric and stovetop pressure cooker is the power source. An electric pressure cooker is powered from the mains to create the necessary steam, whereas a stovetop cooker sits on your hob and heats up like a normal pan. More people are turning to Airfryers for their healthy, everyday cooking alternative. Discover our Vortx Airfrying technology today and see why over 1 million people have chosen our Airfryers.

This multicooker from Cuisinart goes up to 15 psi and won top scores in our slow cooker test, making the most tender beef stew out of all other multi-cookers. Experts loved how simple it was to use — the large LCD screen makes it easy to read each function and the clearly labeled buttons are lit making everything easy to see. The timer allows you to see exactly how much more cooking time remains before completion and once finished, a new stopwatch will start showing the time that the food has remained in the cooker. When coming to pressure, progress bars appear on the screen to let you know what stage the machine has reached. The same will happen when it is releasing pressure — bars will lessen until all pressure is released. Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from a real parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which pressure cookers discerning Mumsnet users had bought for themselves.Happy customers report that their Lagostina pressure cookers are still going strong after more than 30 years, which is a testament to their quality. Beginners and home chefs will likely find electric pressure cookers to be more user-friendly since they more closely resemble slow cookers. Though bulky, the countertop appliances are generally pretty intuitive with easy-to-use controls, convenient pre-sets and clear LCD screens. Some even function as multi-cookers, doing everything from browning to slow cooking — some even air fry with a specialized lid. There are some brilliant multi-purpose cookers on the market which allow you to pressure cook and slow cook (not at the same time), eliminating the need for two products. We recommend the Sage Fast Slow Pro which is a great cooker for quality and versatility. How do I choose a good pressure cooker? Available in three, six or eight-litre capacities, this whizz of a device does all the cooking for you, automatically adjusting temperature, pressure and cooking time to produce a whole host of delicious meals in minutes. We love the variety too - while it may be pricey initially, it's an impressive seven-in-one gadget that acts as a slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté pan, steamer and more.

A pressure cooker is a small electric or stovetop cooker which is used to speed up cooking times. It uses high pressure steam to force liquid into the food you’re preparing, meaning it cooks in far less time than by conventional cooking methods. Because of this, your food also retains its nutrients well, making a pressure cooker a healthier option for most families. Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook? I have a Kuhn Rikon stovetop pressure cooker and it would be instantly replaced if anything happened to it. Brilliant for soups and cooking pulses - I do a big batch of beans and freeze them. It’s a zillion times better than a slow cooker and makes amazing macaroni cheese."(Recommended by Mumsnetter MoltoAgitato) Our verdict

Even if you’ve only got a compact kitchen space with which to work, choosing to buy a small pressure cooker could be a fantastic investment. You could transform your cooking experience with a Prestige pressure cooker, taking all the hassle out of your favourite recipes and turning a formerly time-consuming task into a tasteful delight. Tower is an iconic British brand boasting over 100 years of quality in manufacturing and design excellence. Tower is the UK’s fastest growing SDA & Housewares brand loved by millions of households The Ninja Foodi combines two popular cooking styles — pressure cooking and air frying in one machine. For those who love both the tenderness that pressure cooking offers and the crispness air frying can bring, this multicooker is for you. Available in both 6.5-qt. and 8-qt. visions, this updated model uses only one lid, unlike the original Ninja Foodi XL 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker. The smart-lid slider enables you to select up to 14 different cooking functions including pressure cooking, air frying and steam frying — which fries and steams simultaneously. The large 4L pan capacity is perfect for cooking 4-5 portions of food for all the family and can easily accommodate perfect cooking of any large meat joint, whilst the bonded steel base ensures even heat distribution for perfect cooking. Suitable for all hob types, even induction.