The 8 best pressure cookers in Australia 2026

Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker

Best overall pressure cooker

• Versatile

Cons

• May be too small for larger families
• Some said it’s a bit difficult to clean

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This multi-cooker not only lets you pressure cook but it allows you to slow cook, steam, brown and sauté, thanks to its easy-to-use 1-touch control. It offers 7 programs to help you create mealtime favourites in an instant. According to the brand, it's also 70% faster than your traditional oven or cooktop.

When it comes to convenience, this features an optional manual function and delay timer for full control. There is also an auto keep-warm function to keep your dish nice and hot until you're ready. The non-stick removable bowl offers a 5.7L capacity, which is enough for up to 4 people. But larger households may want something bigger like the Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L, which is also part of this list.

Healthy Choice 6L Electric Slow/Pressure Cooker

Best cheap pressure cooker

• Easy to use

Cons

• Noisy operation
• Doesn’t let you slow cook

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This appliance is a great option if you're looking for a versatile pressure cooker and air fryer in one. Not only does it have a smaller footprint compared to other pressure cookers, but it also offers 7 pre-set programs to make meal prep a whole lot easier. It has a digital control and uses advanced turbo air technology so you can air fry your favourite food to perfection.

The air fryer function offers 1500W of power while its pressure cooker function offers 1000W. It also has an air frying cooking range of 80°–200°C, a delay timer, a high/low pressure level setting and a keep-warm mode. The 6L bowl also has plenty of room to fit a whole chicken. However, this doesn't have a slow cook function.

Cuisinart Pressure Cooker Plus

Best mid-range pressure cooker

• Claims to be 70% faster than traditional cooking methods

Cons

• No delay timer
• Handle tends to get too hot

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For the best mid-range option, we picked the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker Plus, which has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Myer.

Offering 1000W of power to fit all your cooking requirements, the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker Plus has a 6L non-stick cooking pot, LED countdown display and push-button controls. It also features 8 programmable temperature settings, including low and high pressure, low and high slow cook, browning and sauté. Additionally, it has a keep-warm mode to keep food hot when you're ready.

Many customers were impressed by this model's quick cooking, ease of use and tasty results. It can help you create delicious dishes with minimal effort, saving up to 70% of the cooking time compared to traditional methods. It also comes with a stainless steamer basket and trivet to accommodate various dishes.

Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L HD2238/72

Best Philips pressure cooker

• Adjustable pressure and temperature

Cons

• Steaming takes longer than other options in the market
• Difficult to use according to some

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The Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L HD2238/72 is our choice for the best pressure cooker from the brand. It earned a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon. This versatile appliance is also one of our picks for the best breadmakers available online.

This Philips cooker has 20 cooking programs, including baking, slow cooking and sautéing. It also features an LED screen, preset functions and an 8L capacity for the entire family. Apart from customisable settings, it has 9 safety protection systems. According to the company, this cooker also cooks 35% faster than traditional methods.

A sturdy and versatile cooker, this option is suitable for large families or groups of up to 6 people, It has a 12-hour keep-warm function, allowing you to enjoy your favourite hot meals for longer. You can even use this appliance to make loaves and cakes or prepare low-lectin dishes. Some customers found it a bit difficult to use but added that once you get the hang of it, the pressure cooker becomes a convenient kitchen companion.

Today's Philips All in One Multi Cooker 8L HD2238/72 deals

For pressure cookers, Philips was ranked 3rd for value for money, 1st for performance, 1st for ease of use, 1st for cleaning and maintenance and 1st for product features.

8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

Tefal CY851840 Cook4Me+ Multi Cooker

Best pressure cooker for beginners

• 5 temperature settings

Cons

• Only 4 cooking modes
• There are cheaper options in the market

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For beginners, we recommend the Tefal Cook4Me Multi Cooker as the best option to get. On Amazon, this has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

This compact pressure cooker has a 6L bowl capacity so you can create tasty dishes for up to 4 people. It also offers a step-by-step guide to creating quick and easy cooked meals, making it a great choice for beginners.

When it comes to cooking modes, this offers 4: ingredients, recipes, manual and favourites. It also features 5 settings: pressure cooking, steaming, browning, simmering and reheating. Customers also loved that it's small enough to fit in not-so-spacious kitchen counters but offers a decent 6L bowl for creating large batches of food.

How do Australians rate Tefal's pressure cookers?

88% of surveyed Australians recommend Tefal

How Tefal compares

In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.

For pressure cookers, Tefal was ranked 7th for value for money, 3rd for performance, 4th for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 6th for product features.

8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

Nutri Ninja Foodi Multi Cooker OP300

Best versatile pressure cooker

• Extremely user-friendly

Cons

• Bulky
• Only 4L capacity

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Our pick for the best versatile pressure cooker is the Nutri Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker OP300. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from reviews on Amazon and Myer.

Nutri Ninja's Foodi pressure cooker is an all-in-one appliance that allows you to slow cook, air fry, steam, sauté and brown any ingredients for easier meal prep. It features the brand's TenderCrisp technology, making pressure-cooked meals crispy and delicious. Apart from an airflow design, it has a 4L capacity.

Customers were impressed by this cooker's ease of use, versatility and quick cook time. It offers tons of cooking functions and a 40-minute cook time, helping take out the stress of meal prep during busy nights. It's also pretty fuss-free and easy to clean, thanks to its dishwasher-safe bowl.

Hawkins Contura 5L Pressure Cooker

Best stovetop pressure cooker

• Won’t break the bank

Cons

• Some said it starts oozing out water when whistling
• Heavy

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When it comes to the best stovetop option, we picked the Hawkins Contura 5L Pressure Cooker, which has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

An easy-to-use stovetop option, this pressure cooker has a 5L capacity so you can cook food for up to 4 people. It is made of high-quality aluminium material and has a curved body for an easy stirring of food. Additionally, it comes with a stainless steel lid that is pressure-locked when cooking, ensuring the pressure stays inside the cooker. According to the brand, the lid can't be opened until the pressure has fallen to a safe level.

At $90, this is an affordable stovetop option for beginners and pro home cooks alike. It's easy to use and is made of sturdy material to last you a long time. Users said it lets time create tasty dishes faster than traditional methods. But because it's just a stovetop option, it doesn't offer the fancy features that standalone pressure cookers have.

Breville BPR700BSS the Fast Slow Pro Multicooker

Best slow pressure cooker

• Automatically adjusts temperature and pressure

Cons

• Finicky lid latch
• Expensive

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With a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Myer, we selected Breville's The Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker as the best slow pressure cooker.

The Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker features a large, interactive LCD for easy operation. It also comes with an easy-to-clean 6L pot and a removable lid that is dishwasher safe. Apart from a hand-free steam release feature, there are 11 pre-set modes and a 3-way safety system. This appliance comes with a stainless steam rack and a recipe book as well.

The Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker is an easy-to-use option that offers heaps of handy functions to make cooking faster and easier. Users said it produces consistently delicious meals each time, allowing them to create various dishes for the whole family. It also automatically adjusts the temperature and pressure between fast and slow cooking for the optimal condition for each meal.

How do Australians rate Breville's pressure cookers?

98% of surveyed Australians recommend Breville

How Breville compares

In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.

For pressure cookers, Breville was ranked 6th for value for money, 2nd for performance, 1st for ease of use, 4th for cleaning and maintenance and 5th for product features.

8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

Methodology

• Breville
• Crock-Pot
• Cuisinart
• Culina
• Fissler
• Futura
• Hawkins
• Healthy Choice
• Instant Pot
• MasterPro
• Midea
• Nutri Ninja
• Panasonic
• Phillips
• Pigeon

• Prestige
• Presto
• Russell Hobbs
• Sunbeam
• Tefal
• Vinod

We narrowed down our choices based on customer ratings and reviews (as of December 2023). We also considered each model's key product features, value for money, capacity, ease of use and functions. For the best cheap option, we examined pressure cookers priced at $150 and under.

A pressure cooker is a kitchen appliance designed to cook food quickly. It features a sealed pot with a lockable lid and a valve that controls the pressure inside that pot.

When the pot is heated, the liquid inside boils and produces steam, which in turn causes the level of pressure inside the pot to rise. This raises the temperature inside the pot, resulting in drastically reduced cooking times and moist, tender food.

You can use a pressure cooker to make just about anything from roasts to cheesecake.

What are my main options?

You have 2 options to choose from when buying a pressure cooker:

• Stovetop pressure cookers. Traditional pressure cookers are designed to be heated up on the stovetop just like a regular saucepan. Their main advantages are that they make it easy to achieve the optimum heat for your meal (handy if you need to brown meat before pressure cooking it) and that they reach your desired pressure quickly. They can also achieve higher heat and pressure levels than electric models. However, they're nowhere near as easy or convenient to use as electric pressure cookers.
• Electric pressure cookers. Electric pressure cookers come with their own heating mechanism built in and regulate the heat and pressure inside the pot. They offer a range of cooking modes, such as browning, sautéing and simmering as well as feature timers so you can follow recipes precisely. While they don't offer the same hands-on control as stovetop cookers, they're simple to use and very convenient.

How to compare pressure cookers

Make sure you consider the following factors when you compare pressure cookers:

Size

Pressure cookers range in size from 2 to around 22 litres, but the most common size is 6–8 litres. Considering how much space the cooker will take up in your kitchen cupboards or on the benchtop and check the specifications sheet for its dimensions.

Price

Most electric pressure cookers are priced in the $80–$300 range, while stovetop cookers can cost anywhere from $50 up to more than $600. Some multi-cookers that feature pressure cooking functions exceed this price range.

Ease of use

Check if the pressure cooker will be practical to use. Are the controls clearly labelled and easy to operate? Will the handles stay cool to the touch? If it's an electric pressure cooker, does it have a wide range of cooking settings that will suit your needs?

Other features and accessories

Depending on your cooking needs, you may also want to consider the accessories that may come with a pressure cooker. These can include a steaming rack or basket, a serving spoon, a cookbook and perhaps even preprogrammed recipes.

Preset cooking functions

If you're buying an electric pressure cooker, check what preset cooking functions are available. Many models can sear, sauté, steam, simmer and boil, with settings for specific ingredients. Some models also feature a keep-warm function to ensure that your meal stays at a ready-to-eat temperature once you've finished cooking.

Safety

Most of us have heard scary stories about exploding pressure cookers, so make sure the locking mechanism is secure. Electric pressure cookers release pressure themselves and feature a countdown timer so you know how long you have to wait until all pressure has been released and some models also have an auto shut-off feature.

Cleaning

Check how easy the cooker will be to keep clean. Are there any crevices where food spills and other muck might accumulate? Is the pot dishwasher-safe?

Timer

Electric pressure cookers feature a timer to help you set cooking times and work out how long until your meal is ready. Many models also offer a delayed start feature so you can program the cooker to prepare your meal at a certain time.

Warranty

Read the fine print closely to find out how long the manufacturer's warranty lasts and exactly what it covers.

Pressure cookers versus slow cookers, multi-cookers and all-in-one kitchen appliances

Before you buy a pressure cooker, consider whether one of the following appliances might be a better fit for your cooking needs:

• Slow cookers. Slow cookers use low temperatures to cook stews, soups, casseroles, roasts and more. You can switch a slow cooker on in the morning and then set and forget while it cooks your dinner throughout the day. Learn more in our guide to slow cookers vs pressure cookers.

• Multi-cookers. As the name suggests, multi-cookers are designed to perform the jobs of several other kitchen appliances. They can be used for pressure and slow cooking, cooking rice, steaming, frying, baking and more. Check out our multi-cooker buying guide for more information.

3 things to watch out for

1. Don't forget to read the instructions. Each pressure cooker has its own procedures for safe use, so read the instructions carefully before you start cooking.
2. There's a learning curve. Understanding how to properly use a pressure cooker and produce the best results can take a little while. Remember, you can't dip a spoon in to sample your dish while it's cooking, so you might need to experiment with a few recipes until you get the hang of pressure cooking.
3. Older models don't have as many safety features. Modern pressure cookers have come a long way since the days of your grandma's rickety old stovetop model, and they include a number of safety measures to prevent explosions and other accidents. So, if you've inherited an old second-hand pressure cooker, investing in a new model instead is a much safer option.

Compare pressure cookers

2019 Best Rated Pressure Cooker Brand

Is a pressure cooker the same as an air fryer?

A pressure cooker is different from an air fryer. Pressure cookers trap steam in a sealed chamber to cook your food, while air fryers circulate hot air to fry food using little to no oil at all.

How to avoid pressure cookers from exploding?

To keep your pressure cooker from exploding, make sure to clean its interior and valve regularly. Food build-up might cause blockage on the valve, leading to an explosion.

Vent and open your pressure cooker slowly and carefully. Ensure that you properly vent the steam and follow the manufacturer's instructions to reduce the chance of explosion.

Never use oil when cooking with this appliance. Cooking oils like canola and olive oils can increase the temperature inside the cooker, leading to more risks of exploding.

What food should you not cook in a pressure cooker?

Because it's easy to use and produces tasty meals consistently, it can be tempting to make any meal using a pressure cooker. But you shouldn't!

Unless specifically stated, most pressure cookers can't be used to make crunchy or crispy dishes. You also can't use this appliance with dairy products such as cheese and milk as it can cause curdling.

A pressure cooker isn't ideal for making pasta unless you want a gummy texture. Barbecues are also a no-go. A pressure cooker can toughen any meat very quickly. Seafood may be too delicate for this nifty device to handle as well.

Does a pressure cooker consume more electricity?

Because you're only using a single pot to create a meal, you'd be consuming less energy than a standard electric stove with multiple burners. On average, a pressure cooker uses about 900 watts. However, the specific energy consumption still depends on the type of pressure cooker you have.

How do you remove burnt food on a pressure cooker?

To remove burnt food and stains on a pressure cooker, boil water on your cooker for about 10 minutes to loosen the particles. Let the cooker cool down and pour dishwashing liquid in it and start gently scrubbing. This will help remove any stains and burnt food before washing the cooker as you normally would.

You can also add 3 tablespoons of baking soda during the boil to loosen up really tough build-ups.

Can a pressure cooker replace a slow cooker?

Pressure cookers utilise hot steam and pressure to cook meals quickly. Slow cookers use a lower temperature and have longer cooking times. While they are equally helpful in preparing tasty dishes, you can replace your slow cooker with a pressure cooker that has slow cooking functions. Most pressure cooker brands in the market offer these options, although they may be pricier than basic models. ​

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