Owing to an exclusive metal-to-metal sealing system (the cover is secured with handy clamping locks), no gaskets are needed, so the lid is super easy to open and close.
The unit is equipped with a large stay-cool handle.
The item is a bit bulky.
You can cook a variety of delicious and nutritious dishes and canned foods. The All Americal 921 pressure cooker is available in several size options.
Stovetop, power depends on the stove
21.5 Quarts
Steaming and immersion cooking, canning
Durable cast aluminum pot and lid with smooth satin finish
20 lbs
Metal-to-metal sealing system
Stay-cool bakelite handle on the lid, safety control valve and overpressure plug
Geared steam gauge
1 year
60-day Money Back Guarantee
Anti-blocking vent for trouble-free steam release.
Totally safe pressure cooker thanks to the necessary sensors.
Impressive number of cooking programs.
Capacity is optimal for the family.
Excellent electric pressure cooker that combines versatile cooking options and perfect quality.
1 year
Incredibly large capacity for canning.
Huge 76-page instruction book with many recipes.
Durable mechanical pressure gauge.
Plastic heat-resistant handles.
Too big for family use. Designed mostly for food preservation.
Stovetop, power depends on the stove
12 years
Dishwasher-friendly inner pot.
Simple to operate.
Informative LED display.
Includes a handy cookbook with lots of recipes.
3 years
What is a Pressure Cooker?
We have created this pressure cooker review in order to tell about these kitchen appliances and help you choose the right one. Today, cooking gets simpler and quicker every year and a pressure cooker is an extremely handy helper in the kitchen. In fact, a pressure cooker is a sealed pot inside which the steam is accumulated under a high pressure so that a food cooks really fast. No need to say, a pressure cooker prepares foods a lot quicker than a conventional pot. And the food remains healthy: for example, vegetables lose fewer nutrients, while porridge and cereals get fluffy. Therefore, a pressure cooker is an excellent solution for any household or even for a small restaurant or cafe.
You may also be interested in our review on slow cookers, special kitchen appliances used for cooking soups, meat, fish, porridge, jam at low heating settings for a prolonged period of time. Or our other review on unique rice cookers designed for preparing delicious fluffy rice.
What Features to Compare
You might have come across pressure cooker reviews online but they have not been informative enough if you are still looking for this appliance. That is why we have made our comparison as simple as possible and picked 5 best pressure cookers for you and compared them by the most important criteria.
The first thing you need to consider when choosing a pressure cooker is its Capacity and Power. And here you must know that there are 2 types of pressure cookers: electric pressure cookers and stovetop pressure cookers. No need to say, an electric pressure cooker requires electricity whereas a stovetop cooker is basically a metal pot you put right on top of your stove (no matter gas or electric). Any electric pressure cooker has the certain power - make sure it is at least 1000 Watts which is a standard for this kind of kitchen appliances. When you are done with this choice, go to the capacity that shows you how much food you are able to prepare. If you have a common family, you can choose a typical 6-Quart cooker, but if you need this appliance for professional use (for a restaurant, for example) or for feeding a lot of people - make sure to choose a bigger pressure cooker.
If you want to use a pressure cooker for many years without any troubles you should pay attention to the Material it is made from. As usual, there are cookers made of stainless steel (both electric or stovetop) and aluminum. Aluminum pressure cookers are usually more affordable but less health-friendly due to the peculiarities of this material. Aluminum cookers look like pots with a multi-layer bottom for even heat distribution; a lid firmly adjoins the pot thanks to a sealing method that most often includes a silicone or rubber ring (though some models have an all-metal sealing system). As usual, a silicone sealing ring is more durable compared to a rubber one. Keep in mind that you will have to change the sealing ring from time to time. The lid usually has a couple of valves to release excessive pressure and one of the valves automatically does it when the pressure becomes dangerously high. Of course, you can set up the maximal pressure level. Stainless steel pressure cookers are more expensive but safer for health. If you choose an electric pressure cooker, you will be able to clean the inner pot in a dishwasher. When you are done with choosing a material, check what weight it has. No need to say, aluminum is lighter than stainless steel.
Next, the last yet really important issue to take into account is the Cooking Modes by which we mean what kind of food you can use a pressure cooker for and what pre-set programs the appliance offers. For example, a stovetop pressure cooker is most often used for canning and stewing whereas an automatic electric pressure cooker is a multifunctional appliance that can serve as a rice cooker, slow cooker, and so on. Therefore, choosing an electric pressure cooker pot allows you to save up the money and get an awesome kitchen helper. And those who want to preserve food need a large canner crock pot.
Finally, you need to be sure the pressure cooker will not blow up and that is why make sure to check the Safety and Sensors. All pressure cooking pots have a lid lock which ensures the safe position of a lid and prevents its accidental opening. Also, every good crock pot has an overpressure release - if the pressure inside gets too high a special vent (or valve) will get rid of the excess. Electric pressure cookers are totally automatic, while on crock pots you need to set the max. pressure level manually. Sold stovetop crock pots have a sophisticated manual locking system - you just manually do all the locking so the accidental opening is impossible. Also, pay attention to Sensors every pressure cooker has: as usual, electric ones have an LED display that shows the operation modes and a thermal sensor that controls the temperature inside a pot, whereas most stovetop crock pots have just a pressure gauge.
All American 921
All About Quality
If you were looking for a kitchen appliance to cook healthy food and do it quickly, look no further than this All American 21.5 Quart pressure cooker. Designed for big families use, this pressure cooker allows you to cook large quantities of food as well as do canning in the comfort. The All American 921 is made of high-quality hand-cast aluminum and features a safe and effective metal-to-metal sealing system. To ensure unit durability and leak-free performance, all connection points have edges that are double thick. This eliminates the need for any additional silicone or rubber rings; you can easily open and close the lid. Canning and cooking in this pressure cooker will become a real pleasure, we have no doubt about that. For those who've made up their mind to stick to a healthy diet, we'd also like to recommend going through our review on air fryers, kitchen gadgets that use no oil at all.
Simple and Safe
This All American pressure canner can be used on both electric and gas stoves. The operation is simple and intuitive. All you need is to put food ingredients in a pot and place it on the stove. You can further adjust the cooking speed by changing the heat output. The process of cooking is maintained with the help of a geared steam gauge and a safety control valve. Once you select the pressure level you need (5, 10 or 15 psi), the rest will be done without your surveillance. The All American 921 has a heat-resistant cool-touch handle to avoid burns when the cooking is done and you open the lid.
6 Clamping Locks for Perfect Sealing
As we have mentioned above, this pressure cooker features a metal-to-metal sealing system. To align the lid with the base and ensure a steam-tight seal, the unit is equipped with six positive action clamping locks. Each lock has a stay-cool grip for safe and comfortable opening and closing of the cover.
Easy-To-Clean Finish
Made of high-quality aluminum, the All American crock pot has a smooth satin finish which is easy to clean after each use.
Additional Info
Power Pressure Cooker XL PPC
Capacity and Power
Material
Cooking Modes
Safety and Sensors
Instant Pot IP-DUO60
Capacity and Power
This is one of the best electric pressure cookers available and it is a great choice for any family. The capacity of the pot is 6 Quarts which is typical for kitchen appliances for home use. However, some small restaurants can also use this pressure cooker - the scope of food it can cook is terrific. The power of the built-in heating element is 1000 Watts and it is enough to ensure quick cooking.
Material
Cooking Modes
This electric pressure cooker is surely the leader in terms of cooking options and the reason is simple - it is a 7-in-1 appliance that combines a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a saute/browning maker, a yogurt maker, a steamer and a warmer. Therefore, you can get this appliance only and save up the money. Also, there are 14 built-in Smart Programs for lots of dishes including soups, poultry, porridge, rice, and many others. All the controls are simple - there is a large panel on the side of the housing. The buttons are large and there is also an LCD screen.
Safety and Sensors
Additional Info
Presto 01781
Capacity and Power
Material
Cooking Modes
Safety and Sensors
Cuisinart CPC-600AMZ
Capacity and Power
Material
Cooking Modes
Safety and Sensors
Sources:
1. LAURA PAZZAGLIA The Pressure Cooker Buying Guide, Hip Pressure Cooking. November 1, 2015.
2. Alan Henry What to Look for in a Pressure Cooker, lifehacker. November 2, 2013.
3. THERESA CROUSE How To Choose A Good Pressure Cooker, SURVIVOPEDIA. March 5, 2017.
4. Ashley Martell Picking A Top Rated Pressure Cooker For Your Kitchen, FOODAL. September 13, 2014.
5. Sara Bir How to Buy Your First Pressure Cooker, Paste. April 13, 2015.
