Some of us, at a certain age, will have memories of a traditional pressure cooker on top of the stove. Conventional pressure cookers always looked like futuristic saucepans with clasping lids. Although many people are yet to realise these pressure cookers are the forefathers to the instant pot. As with anything manual VS electric, there are some critical differences between a stovetop pressure cooker and an instant pressure cooker.
The main difference between an electric pressure cooker and a stovetop pressure cooker is the additional safety features that make for safer operations and allow for electric pressure cookers to be left unattended.
Surprisingly, some people still prefer to use stovetop pressure cookers over instant pots, for a good reason. Let’s explore the differences and benefits of each!
Both appliances work with precisely the same premise. They trap steam in a pot and raise the temperature to levels which would be unachievable using traditional pots and pans.
Once the stream gathers and the temperature raises, the pressure and heat inside the pot cause food to cook far faster than otherwise possible. Hence the name “Instant” pot!
Traditional Pressure Cooker
Stovetop pressure cookers are simply saucepans with a sealable lid, creating the airtight chamber that “pressure cooks”. Traditional pressure cookers reach a temperature between 212–250 °F,
Move stovetop pressure cookers have a “valve” on the lid which can help control the pressure by dispelling steam when the user requires it. Using the valve, the pressure cooker will instantly stop cooking and lower the temperature inside the pressure cooker.
Electric Pressure Cookers
Electric pressure cookers have the same outcome as a stovetop pressure cooker, but the technique is vastly different.
Electric Pressure cookers look like a rice cookers, with an outside casing and an inner bowl. Food and liquids are put into the inner bowl, which is heated using an element.
The lids are designed with safety mechanisms to ensure the units are not only airtight, to hold the steam and pressure. They also have a variety of safety mechanisms built in place. Making them much safer to operate (more below)
The main drawback to stovetop pressure cookers, and a big part of the pressure cooker falling out of favour, were the safety concerns of pressure cookers. Traditional pressure cookers are prone to explosions, steam burns and contact burns.
Due to the primitive nature of pressure cookers, often manufacturing defects or units naturally ageing, most people using traditional pressure cookers would report near misses or come away with at least an injury or two using a pressure cooker.
The worst examples are the latches breaking off pressure cookers, leading units to quite literally combust on the spot. Being a regular saucepan would be dangerous enough, but coupled with the high pressure and steam in the unit being over 212°F. Injuries can and are often pretty substantial, with it not being unusual for pressure cookers to “blow up” in users’ faces.
Needless to say, the advent of the instant pot, providing a safer way to pressure cook, has led to an almost extinction of the traditional pressure cooker.
According to Instant Pot, every instant pot comes with 11 safety features to ensure accidents are kept to a minimum.
The instant pot has an excellent safety guide shown below, outlining each safety feature.
Now to the good stuff! Which one cooks better food, and which is better to use?
Food Quality
We can quickly nullify this point. A traditional pressure cooker and an electric Instant pot yield the same food quality. Although the apparatus is different, the method is the same, and will yield great-tasting food, in less than 1/4 of the time food would traditionally take.
Now traditionalists will argue the point for a stovetop over the instant put. These are usually the same people who are dead against using electrical appliances for cooking food. However, from my experiences, food comes out just as tasty and tender and usually takes the same amount of time (give or take a few minutes)
Using the equipment.
Safety comes into play when using both units. Running the risk of having a stovetop pressure cooker exploding is no fun task. Tentatively watching the pan shake on the stove, with bated breath, with fate to determine if you will end up with a tasty dinner or third-degree burns.
I have to be honest. I have used a stovetop pressure cooker, maybe once or twice – and if given a free pressure cooker, I would politely decline. However, I own and operate an electric pressure cooker – and would be happy to recommend it to anyone – Given they get fully clued up on the correct operating conditions.
One of the major draws to electric instant pots is their set-and-go nature. Cooking a meal is as easy as throwing the ingredients in and returning in 20 minutes to a hot, healthy meal. Not too dissimilar to a slow cooker, instant pots produce the same quality of meals in a far shorter amount of time!
Another big benefit to an electric pressure cooker (AKA instant pot) Is that they are much more than JUST a pressure cooker.
Most have the option to cook rice and saute vegetables, or some can even make yoghurt – Now I have enough appliances to know that 99% of the time, you will never use the “extra” features. However, the rice cooking feature I will often use, especially If I have packed my rice cooker away. Or in the holidays when cooking large meals requires careful use of kitchen space and planning.
If you need to cook some vegetables, but your stove is full – Throw them in the instant pot!
When weighing up a pressure cooker VS an electric pressure cooker. I couldn’t, in good faith, point anyone towards a traditional stovetop pressure cooker. They can cook just fine, but the safety implications of using a pressure cooker on the stove are one of the only “traditional” cooking methods. I would be happy to see manual pressure cookers extinct.
Electric pressure cookers are versatile, produce the same quality of food as a stovetop pressure cooker, and are relatively affordable.
The cheapest Instant pot is currently on Amazon for
