Choosing Between Manual and Electric Pressure Cookers

A pressure cooker is an essential kitchen tool for homemakers, speeding up the cooking process of stews and braises. However, homemakers often struggle with the decision between a traditional manual pressure cooker and an electric one. Don't miss out on Mytour's article for the answers you need! 

1. What is a Manual Pressure Cooker?

A manual pressure cooker is typically used for simmering and stewing on gas or infrared stovetops, much like conventional cookware. It features a compact design, and the lid has a rubber gasket to trap steam inside, creating effective pressure. 

During cooking, heat is transferred from the stove to the cooker, creating high pressure inside due to the rubber gasket on the lid. This ensures quick and nutritious cooking. After cooking, users need to release the pressure through the valve on the lid before opening to avoid burns. 

1.1. Advantages 

Manual pressure cookers come with advantages such as: 

• Quick cooking: Manual pressure cookers reduce cooking time by up to 70%, saving time for stewing and simmering food 
• Versatility: Capable of preparing a variety of dishes, from stews and braises to porridge and other nutritious meals that require longer cooking times 
• Preserving nutrients: Ensures the preservation of nutrients inside, thanks to the tightly sealed lid with a rubber gasket 
• Simple to use, suitable for various stovetops, including gas, electric, and infrared stovetops 

1.2. Drawbacks 

Despite the numerous advantages, manual pressure cookers also have drawbacks, such as: 

• Potential for burns to users 
• Difficulty in timing for simmering and stewing, which may lead to food becoming dehydrated or burnt when using a pressure cooker 
• Limited capacity, inconvenient for users who want to cook large quantities of food simultaneously 

2. Review of Electric Pressure Cookers

In addition to the traditional pressure cookers, the market now features the emergence of electric pressure cookers. This appliance utilizes electric energy to generate high pressure for cooking. Electric pressure cookers often come equipped with control panels featuring automatic cooking functions, timers, and other conveniences 

Electric pressure cookers, with their heating elements, ensure that the pot heats up, raising the internal steam temperature. This contributes to quick and tender cooking of the food without losing nutritional value 

2.1. Advantages

• Electric pressure cookers aid users in preparing slow-cooked dishes without consuming excessive time and energy 
• Using an electric pressure cooker helps preserve the nutritional content of the food 
• Integration of various features such as slow cooking, stewing, porridge making, and a timer function facilitates quick and enticing meal preparation for homemakers 
• Automatic pressure release valve and additional safety lid lock provide users with peace of mind during usage 
• Quick and easy cleaning with non-stick pot and prevention of food sticking to the pot during cooking 
• Simple usage with a well-labeled control panel for easy understanding 
• Large capacity ranging from 3 - 6 liters enables users to cook multiple dishes simultaneously without dividing them into smaller portions 

However, electric pressure cookers also have some drawbacks, such as: 

• Price is often higher compared to traditional pressure cookers 
• Large and bulky design, causing hesitation among many homemakers when making a purchase

3. A Comparison between Stovetop and Electric Pressure Cookers

4. Should You Buy a Stovetop or Electric Pressure Cooker?

To answer the question, 'Should you buy a stovetop or electric pressure cooker for better results?' First, consider your usage needs, kitchen space, the number of family members, financial conditions, and preferences to choose a pressure cooker type that suits your family.

You should choose a stovetop pressure cooker when: 

• If your family is small, a pressure cooker with a small capacity will help you make the most of the volume and save costs. 
• For small kitchen spaces, choosing a stovetop pressure cooker is advisable due to its compact design, saving space. 
• If your family's needs do not require complex and sophisticated cooking, and you only occasionally stew meat or bone broth, this is a perfectly suitable choice. 
• If you are on a tight budget, a stovetop pressure cooker is a reasonable choice because it is reasonably priced and still meets your usage needs. 

Here are the reasons why you should choose an electric pressure cooker: 

• Ideal for spacious kitchens due to its robust design. 
• Suitable for families with small children and elderly individuals as it ensures much safer use, minimizing the risk of explosions from forgetting the cooker on the stove or neglecting to release pressure (cooker pressure). Additionally, it has a lock to prevent opening the cooker when the pressure hasn't completely dissipated, enhancing safety during use.
• Facilitates homemakers in preparing complex and sophisticated dishes with various cooking modes. Moreover, its usage is simple and quick. 

So, this article from Mytour has helped homemakers answer the question “ Should you use a stovetop or electric pressure cooker?” We hope this article will assist you in easily choosing a preferred product to use. Thank you for following our article!