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Your loving grandparents may swear by those traditional pressure cookers because of their incredible longevity. But now, in 2022, it’s not so easy to ignore more than one hundred and forty thousand customer reviews on an Electric Pressure Cooker by Instant Pot on Amazon that makes me reconsider the rivalry of electric vs stovetop pressure cooker reviews.
Pressure cookers offer a topcellent cooking method that can help you finish your cooking within a very short time.
Moreover, this cooking style allows you to take care of other household chores while cooking. So, most of the chefs started using this whistling cookware.
But, they noticed that this whistle sometimes makes their sleeping babies scared, and to solve this problem, a new version of pressure cooker has been designed. This pressure cooker doesn’t whistle; this cooker never disturbs your little sleeping angels.
This silent cooker is known as an electric pressure cooker, and I was talking about this surprising one which has so much more reviews on Amazon than my imagination.
Top Features
- 7 In One Pressure Cooker
- Multi-Cooking Functions
- Cook Up to 70% Faster
- Advanced Safety Features
- Perfect Tiny Living Appliance
- Smart & Good Looking Design
- Dishwasher Safe with Stainless Steel Body
No matter if you have little babies or cute puppies in your home, if I’m not wrong, you’ve decided to buy this magical cookware.
And as soon as you’ve decided to buy, a puzzling debate appears. This debate is about electric vs. stovetop pressure cookers, and now you want me to tell you which one you should go for.
Well, as a mom of little cuties, you should buy an electric pressure cooker. More than thirty-five thousand wise decisions can never be wrong. So, you can also become another happy customer of this fantastic power cookware.
But, you should take a few more minutes to make your purchase decision if there are no little babies in your house.
An electric pressure cooker comes with several peculiar cooking functions; it uses electricity to cook food and takes a bit more time to finish cooking.
On the other side, those traditional pressure cookers produce much pressure, take less time, entertain a chef with its whistle while cooking, cheaper in price, and can last not for years, but for decades after decades, ensuring the same cooking experience.
So, either buy both of these cookers to make your cooking a bit easier or let me speak for four more minutes to give you the best answer.
Electric Vs Stovetop Pressure Cooker Reviews – A Quick Comparison
It’s already clear that both pressure cookers use pressure to prepare food. You’ve also known that there are differences between the functions and features of these two types of cookers.
Now let me show you a quick comparison to select which one is best for what type of lifestyle-
| Specifications | Electric Pressure Cooker | Stovetop Pressure Cooker |
| Operation Mode | Fully automatic | Manual |
| Maximum Cooking Pressure | 9 – 12 psi | 15 psi |
| Heat Regulation | Completely automated | Manually and repeatedly |
| Cooking Time | Take a bit longer | Take less time |
| Uses | Multi-use | Single-use |
| Durability | 1-2 Years (Changeable) | Lasts for decades |
| Best for | Slow cooking | Faster cooking |
| Our Top Pick | 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker | Stovetop Fast Cooker Pot |
| Price | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon |
An Electric Pressure Cooker Is Best for
- The cooks who feel nervous about technical settings. The electric cooker is fully automatic.
- The cooks who are crazy about slow cooking recipes but want to cook them with the twinkle of eyes. Just put the ingredients into the cooker, have a walk in your backyard garden, and it’ll be ready without any supervision.
- The cooks who have little babies and need to schedule cooking. Simply set the timer, and it’ll start cooking for your family on time.
- The college students who don’t have enough space in their kitchen to store dozens of cookware. A single electric cooker can cook dozens of recipes.
- The super busy moms who don’t have enough time to take care of switching on and off the stove. Electric pressure cookers do these things automatically.
- The super busy chefs who need to cook multiple dishes at the same time but don’t have enough space in their kitchen to install multiple stoves.
9-in-1 Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
First, let’s check out a nine-in-one instant pressure cooker that comes with a plethora of amenities. Living up to the expectation of its brand name, the cooker offers both slow and steady cooking, no matter whatever recipes you try.
Let’s explore what core benefits it has in store for you!
Top Features
- A 9 in 1 appliance
- Allows one-touch cooking
- Easy and effortless clean up
- Supports both fast and slow cooking
- Detailed display which is easy to read
- Automatically sealed once the lid is closed
- Simple yet sturdy stainless steel construction
Also, Instant Pot equipped this electric pressure cooker with more than ten inbuilt safety features. So, chances are less that you would face any accident while cooking.
Smart Contemporary Design
The very first thing about this electric pressure cooker to catch your attention is the smart and innovative design that features a transparent display. The contemporary display comes with a cooking progress bar to check the progress. So, you don’t need to open the lid always.
Moreover, the dedicated start button lets you start the cooker immediately. And there are different indicators for pressure and temperature indication.
Best of all, all the indications are easy to read in order to handle the appliance smartly.
Easy Clean-Up
As it features a fingerprint-free exterior, cleaning is a breeze for this electric cooker. Furthermore, both the lids and the inner pot are dishwasher safe. So, you can clean them regularly if needed.
Convenient Cooking
Like a premium-quality cooker, it offers both fast and slow cooking based on your convenience.
Suppose, you are trying to cook a traditional recipe that needs long cooking hours. Now you might think it’s not possible with this modern electric cooker.
To be honest, that’s not the case. There is an option of slow cooking as well.
On a different note, this stainless steel cooker will cook 70% faster than regular cooking appliances when you are running out of time.
9 in 1 Application
As the name suggests, this is a 9 in 1 cooking appliance. That means you get to use nine appliances for the budget of one.
On the bright side, this exclusive feature makes the pressure cooker a multifunctional one. It works as a rice cooker, pressure cooker, saute pan, yogurt maker, food warmer, sterilizer, seamer, slow cooker, and sous vide.
Can you imagine how many ways you can use this electric machine while cooking? No wonder it’s one of the best-selling products in the cooking appliances industry.
Variety of Recipes
Not only can you cook in hundreds of ways but also thousands of recipes, that too in a tasty and healthy flavor. Its three key programs- cake, egg, and sterilize are meant for making soft and yummy cakes, cooking eggs in the fastest possible time, and sterilizing cooking utensils, respectively.
Moreover, the Instant Pot app comes with countless guided recipes. So, even the first timer can taste the best-cooked foods following the step-by-step guidelines.
Pros
- Easy and fast cooking
- Numerous built-in safety features
- Large LCD display with easy user interface
- Protects food from overheating and burning
- Premium-quality stainless steel construction
Cons
- Doesn’t last long as expected
- Initially, a bit difficult to set it up
10-in-1 Pro Style Electric Pressure Cooker
Next, we have another stainless steel electric cooker from Instant Pot which belongs to their Pro series. Naturally, this is another irresistible electric cooker to suit a variety of cooking needs.
On that note, this is a bit advanced from its Duo Plus counterpart. You can use it as a 10 in 1 cooking appliance. In fact, we recommend it as one of the greatest cooking tools of all time, thanks to the feature-packed ergonomic design.
Top Features
- 6 Quarts cooking capacity
- More than 11 safety features
- Gentle and quiet steam release
- 28 customizable cooking programs
- 10 in 1 multifunctional performance
- Includes a stainless steel steamer rack
However, for your better understanding, let’s run a thorough analysis of the salient features.
Time-Saving
Like most other Instant Pot cookers, this one is also capable of quick cooking. Thus, you can save a lot of time when you are in a rush.
In the case of pre-heating, we found this electric cooker 20% faster. And in terms of rapid cooking, it can prepare delicious meals 70% faster.
So, if you are in need of an electric cooker that conveniently fits your busy schedule by letting you cook way quicker, give it a try right away!
10 in 1 Application
Another exclusive advantage of this cooking pot is that it can replace ten cooking appliances. That means you can use one single electric cooker in ten different ways.
Wondering what the ways are? Well, starting from a pressure cooker to a food warmer, it includes the role of a slow cooker, cake baker, steamer, sterilizer, yogurt maker, sous vide, and a saute pan as well.
Built-In Safety Features
The electric cooker comes with 11+ safety features. Firstly, it is super effective against overheating. So, you don’t need to constantly monitor your food when you need to warm them. Once your food is ready, there will be an indication.
Aside from that, the safety locking lid is a great inclusion in such electric cookers. People generally face major issues with the lids if they don’t lock properly. Here, no such issue will be experienced.
Above all, thanks to the advanced steam release technology which makes steam release a breeze.
Customized Cooking Programs
Just imagine you get a cooker that already offers 28 program settings based on your preferences. It feels great, right? That’s what makes this tool the most wanted electric cooker of all time.
These 28 program settings let you enjoy a variety of customized meals. On top of that, there are five new program settings that you can add for new recipes.
Pros
- Quieter steam release
- Includes an extra sealing ring
- Can cook for up to six people at a time
- An auto sealing lid for added protection
- Easy to read instructions on the LCD display
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Could be a bit faster
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Is Best for
- The super-fast chefs. This type of cooker can produce the highest level of heat, which helps finish cooking faster.
- The fancy cooks who love to try different pressure cooking recipes every day. Traditional pressure cookers have no such technical parts to get wrong or damaged because of excessive use.
- Amateur cooks who love to take care of cooking every single second. This type of cooker releases pressure frequently, and after releasing pressure, sometimes it’s needed to observe the food inside the cooker.
- The cooks who expect to show their favorite cookware to their grandchildren. Just like a dutch oven or cast iron skillets, stovetop pressure cookers last for decades. The professional cooks who have a couple of double stoves in their kitchen.
Which of these cooking styles most closely match your lifestyle? Still, confused? Does your lifestyle match two characteristics from the second cooking style and two from the first style?
No problem, a closer look at the differences, their specific features, advantages, and cons of these two types of pressure cookers will help you make an informed decision.
Presto Aluminum Stovetop Pressure Cooker
Finally, let’s explore an 8 Quarts stovetop pressure cooker from Presto that works on electric, gas, or any smooth top range.
Talking about the core benefits, it’s constructed with heavy-duty aluminum to provide a long lifespan. Once you invest in this cooking tool, this is going to last several years leaving no room for complaints.
Besides, you can cook numerous low-calorie recipes to complement your healthy lifestyle.
Top Features
- Cooks three to ten times faster
- Includes a 64-page recipe book
- Compatibility with a versatile range of stovetops
- Quick and even heating with the aluminum surface
- The cover lock indicator shows the pressure inside
- The cooking rack prevent the intermingling of flavors
However, let’s look forward to how this feature-loaded pressure cooker comes in handy when used in real life.
High-Quality Material
Heavy-duty aluminum not only makes the cooker robust and reliable but also one of the most desirable ones. Being architectured with strong and heavy-gauge aluminum, it is particularly popular for its smooth and polished surface.
Therefore, the entire surface offers even heating while cooking.
Healthy Recipes
Like any other aluminum pressure cooker, you will love this Presto one as well as it is the best cooking tool for healthy recipes. Thanks to the safety lid lock mechanism, it retains all the flavors and nutrients inside the food.
As a result, you can get all the health benefits from your hard-cooked foods.
Time Efficient
As you all know, this Presto 8 Quarts cooker can cook 3-10 times faster than the conventional cooking procedure. We think it’s a great advantage to maintain today’s busy schedules where we hardly get enough time to cook.
Moreover, the smooth heat flow makes cooking much easier, even if you are trying the most difficult recipe ever.
Simple Steam Release
In most cases, the steam release could be a great issue while using a stovetop cooker. But the simple steam release procedure in this cooking appliance makes the process a breeze.
In fact, there is an overpressure plug to let the excessive steam off easily.
Quick Cleaning
Pretty similar to the Barton one, it is dishwasher safe. So, cleaning and maintenance wouldn’t be an issue even if you regularly use this pressure cooker.
Although the manufacturers suggested using non-abrasive cleaners so that it retains the polished outlook longer.
However, you can rely on a mild dishwasher to clean the cooker on a regular basis.
Large Interior
Presto manufactured it with 8 Quarts of cooking capacity. So, it’s meant to cook food for your entire family at a time. Moreover, you can use it in small family get-togethers as well.
Best of all, the recipe book with more than 65 authentic recipes is an exclusive add-on for any pressure cooker out there!
Certainly, you can please your dinner guests with a variety of magical meals following the instructions.
Pros
- Easy and fast cooking
- Economic price range
- A multipurpose cooking pot
- Prepares healthy and flavorful foods
- Includes a special rack to cook several foods simultaneously
Cons
- The handle need retightening frequently
- Some customers complained that it discolored fast
Barton 8-Quart Stovetop Pressure Cooker
Next comes a very budget-friendly pressure cooker from Barton. This is also 6 Quarts in the capacity like the previous cooker from Instant Pot offering a large cooking space inside. But the difference is, it’s a stovetop cooker, not an electric one.
However, we found this cooker as a heavy-duty one made of the finest category aluminum. Resultantly, it’s a durable pressure cooker that lasts pretty long.
On top of that, being operated in both manual and an automatic mode, it’s quite easy to handle.
Top Features
- 6 Quarts cooking capacity
- Customized silicone seals for added safety
- Strong heavy-gauge aluminum is used for even heating
- The sturdy ergonomic design makes the cooker durable
- Built-in pressure valve maintains adequate pressure inside
Here comes a detailed review of the key specifications to let you make an informed purchase.
Lightweight Structure
Usually, regular stovetop pressure cookers are pretty heavyweight. Compared to those, Barton engineered this cooker with only 3.63 pounds of weight which is quite convenient to handle.
In fact, the lightweight structure makes this pressure cooker a suitable cooking tool for everyday use.
Versatile
Versatility is an absolute must when it comes to any cooking appliance. No exception in this high-tech stovetop cooker as well.
Living up to the expectations, it can cook chicken, beef, vegetables, stews, soups, and many other traditional foods keeping both the flavor and moisture intact.
Also, it is available in two other measurements, 7.4 Quarts, and 8 Quarts. Therefore, you can choose any of them depending on the capacity you need.
Fast Cooking Facility
Compared to the regular cooking procedure, it can cook three to ten times faster based on your requirements. So, as a fast cooking tool, it justifies the claims Barton made.
Quick and Even Heating
As already mentioned, this pressure cooker is architectured with heavy-gauge aluminum. That’s why the entire cooking surface is extremely smooth which ensures rapid heating.
Aside from that, it offers even heat flow throughout the cooking process. As a result, you can cook your favorite dishes with ultimate perfection. No worries whether it will be overcooked or undercooked.
And due to that even heat flow, any dish, especially lean meats is full of juiciness and tenderness to satisfy your taste buds.
Dishwasher Safe
Similar to the previous two cookers, this too is dishwasher safe. So, cleaning and maintenance are quite hassle-free for this cooking too. You can use it every day and clean it conveniently.
The regular dishwashers cannot affect the like-new shine and sparkle of this silver color Barton cooker for a long time.
Pros
- Perfect for regular use
- Enough cooking capacity
- Heavy-duty construction
- Preserves flavors and nutrients in dishes
- Smooth and polished surface for even heating
Cons
- No protection plate for scorching food
- Doesn’t include any cooking instruction
Electric vs Stovetop Pressure Cooker Reviews – Unfold Your Confusion Layer
Before knowing the advantages and disadvantages, let’s see the differences between an electric pressure cooker and a stovetop pressure cooker based on some key points.
Maximum Cooking Pressure
The first thing you should consider before buying a pressure cooker is its maximum pressure. No matter if it’s an electric or stovetop pressure cooker, most of them come with two options – Low Pressure and High Pressure.
The lowest limit is almost the same for both types of cookers. It’s 6PSI (pounds per square inch). But, the difference can be seen in the highest limit of cooking pressure.
A Stovetop pressure cooker can produce up to 15 PSI, and to produce the maximum pressure, it usually takes 11 to 12 minutes.
On the contrary, electric cookers can never produce such high pressure. The highest pressure an electric pressure cooker can offer is 13 PSI, and to reach this pressure limit, an electric cooker takes 3x more time than a stovetop cooker.
Some brands claim that their electric cooker can produce 15 PSI, but I’m yet to experience it personally.
So, if most of your cooking recipes require 15 PSI, then you should go for a stovetop pressure cooker. Watch this video to see exactly how it works
Heat Regulation
Heat regulation is a critical thing while cooking with a stovetop pressure cooker. It’s no issue for the expert chefs.
But as a new user of a stovetop pressure cooker, you’ll have to adjust the heat manually and repeatedly to save your food from being overcooked. The exact heat level is needed to properly cook your food without destroying its taste.
So, to ensure the exact heat level, a new user needs to know how to adjust the heat while the stovetop pressure cooker starts producing heat, and also, they have to spend 15 to 20 minutes standing by their stove to adjust the pressure.
But, the heat regulation of an electric pressure cooker is completely automated. You’ll just need to select the exact pressure and cooking time suggested by your recipe book and then switch on your cooker and forget about it.
Your cooker will do everything from maintaining the exact heat to switching off the cooker at the right time. So, in regulating heat and pressure, an electric cooker is the winner.
Cooking Time
After a long and stressful day of work, nobody likes to spend much time in the kitchen. That’s why pressure cookers have become so popular cookware.
But, you can’t identify which one is faster if you don’t cook the same recipe in both of these two types of pressure cooker.
In general, stovetop pressure cookers can finish cooking three times faster than the regular cooking method, and electric pressure cookers take a bit longer time than stovetop cookers to get your cooking done.
But, undoubtedly, it’s also nearly two times faster than conventional cooking. So, it’s sure that both will save your time.
Timers And Cooking Programme
Electric pressure cookers are not the fastest cookers in the world. But, these cookers are the number one choice of most home chefs whenever it comes to looking at schedule cooking, cooking timer, and multiple cooking functions.
Electric cookers are featured with integrated timer, automotive cooking, and cooking programs that let you enjoy cooking without being in the kitchen.
But, stovetop pressure cookers are not featured with any timer. These traditional pressure cookers also can’t offer any cooking programs, and you’ll have to stay close to your stove if you don’t want to lose the real taste of your food.
As it can’t automatically maintain heat or pressure, so your supervision is needed while cooking.
If you need to do multitask at the same time or want to have your cooking done before you arrive home, then an electric pressure cooker will be the best option for you. It can help you save your time though it’s not the fastest cooker.
Multi-use
A stovetop pressure cooker can not offer any other cooking features other than being used as a regular cooking pot.
Yap, if you remove its special air locking lid, it can be used as a regular cooking pot. At best you can cook sauté in it.
But, you can use your electric cooker for several cooking purposes. An electric pressure cooking pot can be used as a steamer, slow cooker, sterilizer, yogurt maker, cake maker, egg boiler, stew cooker, curry cooker, and it also can be used as a rice cooker.
Emergency Cooker
A stovetop cooker can’t help you cook in any emergency situation. For example, while renovating your kitchen, this type of traditional pressure cooker can’t cook any food until you install another stove out of your kitchen.
On the contrary, an electric pressure can cook any time, anywhere. You can cook food even in your game room or TV room if you have an electric power cooker.
So, there should have an electric pressure cooker in your home to face this kind of emergency situation.
Durability
Nobody likes to buy the same cookware over and over again. So when buying a pressure cooker, durability is the key, and stovetop models are the ultimate winner here.
There’s nothing to get damaged in this type of pressure cooker. Moreover, it gets heat directly from the stove, and thus this heat creates pressure naturally inside the pot.
So, its durability and longevity can surprise anyone. You may expect your cookware to last for years. But, a stovetop pressure cooker lasts for decades and can be passed to the next generations.
On the other hand, electric pressure cookers can not last for decades. Because of its construction and electric parts, it can not produce the same heat for decades.
This type of cooker rely on electric devices, which are subject to wear and tear. As a result, electric cookers are more vulnerable than stovetop cookers.
Pressure Cooker Size
Size is another important factor to consider while choosing a pressure cooker. It’s true that the best size is the size that you most frequently use, and almost all the electric pressure cookers are available in the best size.
But, sometimes, a smaller size or a larger size is also needed. I need a larger size once a year. I need it to cook a special marriage cake to celebrate our marriage anniversary.
But, if you need a giant pressure cooker every month or every week, it’ll be better for you to opt-in for the stovetop pressure cooker.
You’ll get from 2 quarts to 14 quarts of stovetop cookers. Some brands also manufacture even larger sizes.
But, the size of electric pressure cookers usually ranges from 4 to 10 quarts. Or at best, you can get 12 quarts. But, I’m yet to see any larger electric cooker than 12 quarts.
Still, confused? No problem, I’ve something more to show you. Let’s see the advantages and disadvantages of these pressure cookers.
Advantage of Stovetop Pressure Cooker @ a Glance
Variety of design, dozens of sizes, and a wide collection of beautiful colors, these are the eye-catching features of the stovetop pressure cookers.
Moreover, a stovetop cooker is all about dealing with a pot and a lid with a valve. It ensures less concern while cooking as it’s constructed with fewer parts. Its other impressive advantages are listed here-
- Strongly and solidly built.
- Comes with a handle that makes it easy to serve the meal
- Offers more control over cooking
- Easy to turn off the stove
- Help finish cooking faster
- Better at browning meats
- Comes with a heat controlling feature
- Last longer than your expectation
These are some of the most notable advantages of the stovetop pressure cooker. Now, let’s see how many disadvantages it has-
The Disadvantages @ a Glance:
- Requires a bit more work
- Requires attention throughout the cooking process
- Requires monitoring and controlling the heat
If these requirements don’t sound frustrating, then you can consider buying a stovetop pressure cooker.
But, if you’re not a chef to fulfill any of these requirements, then the following advantages of an electric pressure cooker will make you feel more confident-
Advantage of An Electric Pressure Cooker @ a Glance
- Designed to be easier to use
- Doesn’t require your attention to finish cooking
- A single press of a button is enough to cook your food
- Comes with different modes and functions
- Allows you to set the machine up and leave it alone
These are the cool features of an electric pressure cooker. Maybe it can’t create 15 PSI of pressure, maybe it can not cook as fast as a stovetop cooker, but these cool features have made it more popular than an old-fashioned pressure cooker.
So, I think now I should expect that your puzzling debate about which is better electric or stovetop pressure cooker is now over.
