Table of Contents
What is a Pressure Cooker?
The working principle of the pressure cooker is straightforward: steam pressure. A sealed pot is filled with a lot of steam, increasing the high pressure and helping the food cook faster.
It was invented in the 1600s by a Frenchman of Denis Papin, who wanted to transform the discoveries in the physics of pressure and steam into cooking. He called his pots “Digester”, but it took a long time to have better manufacturing standards and techniques to make these pressure cookers safe.
How does the pressure cooker work?
The pressure cooker is a sealed pan with a valve to control the internal steam pressure. When the pot is heated, the liquid inside will form steam, thereby increasing the pot’s pressure. This high-pressure steam has two main functions:
- Increase the boiling point of the water in the pot
When cooking something moist (such as stews or steamed vegetables), the heat of cooking is limited to the boiling point of water (212°F). But now with the pressure of steam, the boiling point can be as high as 250°F. Higher calories help food cook faster. - Increase the pressure and force the liquid into the food
High pressure also helps to drain fluid and moisture into the food quickly, which allows it to cook faster, and can also help certain foods (such as tough meat) tenderize very quickly
The super high heat of the pressure cooker also promotes caramelization and browning in surprising ways-when we cook caramel in liquid, we are not used to it yet. However, unlike conventional steamed food, the flavour produced in a pressure cooker can be intense and complex.
What can you cook in a pressure cooker?
Almost everything! It can cook rice in just a few minutes, and it can cook chewy foods such as beans and chickpeas in less than an hour. Pressure Cooker is very useful for foods that need to be cooked (such as stews and roasts). But people have already cooked various other things in it, such as hard or soft boiled eggs. But it is most commonly used in beans, legumes, stews and vegetables worldwide.
What are the advantages of pressure cookers?
But is it worth it? I think that for many people. The pressure cooker is very efficient compared to many other appliances; its energy consumption is much lower because it cooks very fast and can make full use of the steam pressure. Last week, I made the most tender lamb curry ever, in which the flavour of the spices filled the meat. I also made chickpeas from scratch in 45 minutes and made fragrant rice in 6 minutes.
Now, with electric pressure cookers (such as Instant Pot), pressure cooking becomes more effortless. These pressure cookers have built-in safety mechanisms, which will cause you a lot of trouble, and you may not be able to solve the pressure problem completely. They also have preset options for rice, beans, and broth, so you don’t have to guess how long you can cook without even reading the manual.
Best 7 Pressure Cooker
7. Midea MY-CH502A
Midea MY-CH502A is the right choice for cheap pressure cookers in Malaysia. Although the price is reasonable, it works well, cooks quickly, and comes with 2 non-stick pans for continuous cooking. Besides, it has 7 preset menus for automatic cooking. So you can put in all the ingredients and voila, you can easily prepare a meal!
Features:-
- Cheap and durable
- 5L capacity
- 2 inner pots
- 7 Preset Menu
- 10 safety features
6. Philips Pressure Cooker HD2136
Popular choice
Philips HD2136 is one of the most popular pressure cookers in Malaysia. With a capacity of 5 litres and a durable stainless steel body, it is the ideal choice if you are looking for a less expensive multifunctional cooktop. The Philips series has 14 automated menus and a 24-hour preset timer, which is versatile enough to allow you to cook a variety of foods. Besides, there is a particular baking function that can provide a crispy taste while maintaining nutrition.
Besides, the pot is non-stick material, which is easy to clean. Simultaneously, the automatic pressure release function can automatically release steam when an abnormal increase in pressure is detected, thereby ensuring additional safety. The Philips HD2136 is also compact, which is the perfect choice if you have limited space on the work surface.
Features:-
- 14 menus
- The baking feature offers a crispy taste and preserves nutrients
- Non-stick inner pot
- Safety auto pressure release
- Up to 24-hour preset timer
5. Russell Taylor Pressure Cooker PC-60
Popular Pressure Cooker
Russel Taylors PC-60 is by far the most popular pressure cooker in Malaysia. It is the favourite dish among home cooks, and it uses advanced microprocessor technology to cook perfect tender meat and food.
Besides, 10 smart programs allow you to cook quickly and manually adjust the cooking pressure through your recipes. With its automatic pressure-release function, wait for the intelligent airtight lock cover to open after the pressure is ultimately released.
Features:-
- Affordable Price
- 10 smart programs
- Advanced microprocessor technology
- Automatic pressure release
- Smart airtight locking lid
4. Khind Pressure Cooker PC6000
3-in-1 Pressure Cooker
Khind PC600 has three functions in one, including pressure cooking, multiple cooking and slow cooking. Compared with other pressure cookers with similar Malaysia operations, Khind’s price is relatively affordable, so it is value for money.
13 programmable menus provide various cooking options, and its stylish digital touch screen makes it easy to operate. Unlike traditional pressure cookers, after cooking, you can safely release the pressure by merely touching a button without waiting for the pressure to drop.
Cook 60% faster
The ceramic-coated three-layer inner pot combined with an excellent heating plate provides maximum heat distribution and reduces cooking time. It is also easy to clean thanks to the removable steam cover and a non-stick pan.
Features:-
- Easy to clean
- 13 programmable menus
- Cooks 60% faster and more evenly
- 3-in-1 – pressure cook, multi cook, and slow cook
- One-touch button to safely release the pressure
- Sleek digital touchscreen
3. Tefal CY638D Home Chef Smart Pro IH Multicooker
Fast and universal
Tefal Home Chef Smart Pro is a better pressure cooker in Malaysia, both fast and versatile. With the Opti-Taste technology that combines induction heating with a specially designed spherical pot. Food are cooked faster while retaining natural food’s taste and nutrients. Besides, these 3 special functions allow you to adjust the time, pressure and temperature accordingly to achieve the versatility of trying your unique formula. You can also use the “My Recipes” program to save three favourite recipes.
19 preset programs
With an incredible 19 preset programs, it fully demonstrates its versatility. It also has a preset timer and a warm-keeping timer, which can last up to 24 hours.
Features:-
- Opti-Taste technology
- Cook faster and preserves foods’ taste and nutrients better
- Adjustable time, pressure, and temperature
- Save your favourite recipes with My Recipes Program
- 19 preset programs
- 18 safety features
2. Philips Premium Multicooker HD2145
Best overall
I strongly recommend that you buy this pressure cooker, mainly because I use it in cooking almost every day. The Philips Premium HD2145 is a multifunctional induction cooker used for pressure cooking, slow cooking, and frying or boiling. If you want to prepare food in a few minutes and get tender meat similar to those cooked in a slow cooker for several hours, you only need to select the pressure cooker function. It has 18 automatic cooking programs and can cook rice, risotto, soup, stew, casserole, yoghurt, and even bake cakes.
Accurate pressure and temperature
This cooker comes with a dual control system; this function can provide precise pressure and temperature control and reduce heating fluctuations. Therefore, it can cook perfectly and produce tender meat. The Philips Advanced Series also has other function buttons that make cooking more manageable, such as adding ingredients and thickening sauces. What’s impressive is that 18 other safety functions can give you peace of mind when cooking. Finally, its stylish black stainless steel finish can perfectly match any elegant kitchen.
Features:-
- Stylish design
- All-in-one cooking method: pressure cooking, slow cooking, Saute or Sear
- 18 automatic cooking programs
- Dual control system for accurate pressure and temperature control
- Add ingredient function and sauce thickening function
- Non-stick inner pot
1. Philips Electric Pressure Cooker HD2137
Value for money
If you are on a budget but still like a good pressure cooker, check out Philips HD2137, a more affordable alternative to the all-in-one pressure cooker in Malaysia. It also has similar functions, including pressure cooking, slow cooking, and 2 hours of high and low temperature sauté. Making cooking more manageable has various automatic cooking programs including soup, risotto, rice, steam and meat.
Automatic pressure release
It is equipped with an easy-to-program timer that can indicate the cooking progress and has nine safety protection systems for safe use. The automatic pressure release function allows you to enjoy food immediately without waiting for the pressure to drop naturally. Although it has a large capacity of 6 litres, it is compact and can accommodate any space in your kitchen.
Feature:-
- Automatic pressure release for faster cooking
- Compact
- Includes Pressure cooking, slow cooking, and saute
- Few cooking programs: soup, risotto, rice, steam, meat, and manual
- Recommend cooking time for yoghurt, stew, and bake
- 9 safety protection
Conclusion
On average, Philips brands emerge as the top brand for pressure cookers with many reasonable prices and feature-packed pressure cookers for different usage and lifestyle. However, some brands are affordable price and quality that are not mentioned here that you might consider. It is recommended to check the review for the products before you purchase.
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