Happy customers report that their Lagostina pressure cookers are still going strong after more than 30 years, which is a testament to their quality. Available in three, six or eight-litre capacities, this whizz of a device does all the cooking for you, automatically adjusting temperature, pressure and cooking time to produce a whole host of delicious meals in minutes. We love the variety too - while it may be pricey initially, it's an impressive seven-in-one gadget that acts as a slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté pan, steamer and more. We assess how easily each pressure cooker can be set up and used to cook, taking into account functions such as switches, buttons and digital displays, and how easily lids and cooking pots can be removed.

It depends on what you're looking for - in terms of budget options you can't beat the Tower 4L Pressure Cooker, but for something a bit more stylish the Lagostina Mia Pressure Cooker is a solid, reliable option. In terms of large-scale cooking, opt for the Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cooker. How we chose our recommendations Uses a visual indicator valve which raises to let you know once the pressure setting has been reachedWe select pressure cookers from retailers UK consumers go to most when shopping for them, including a mixture of stove-top and electric options. The 8-quart / 7.5-liter Ninja Foodi Max adds air frying, grilling/ broiling, and dehydrating, to the long list of cooking methods offered by the best Instant Pots. It even offers the ability to introduce steam when air frying, which when paired with the built-in thermometer, ensures you can cook the perfect steak in this multi-cooker. While we haven't tested this exact 14-in-1 model, we have given the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 the full TechRadar review treatment. That model is available in other markets (and for the most part they are exactly the same), and we were pretty impressed by the multi cooker's ability to perfectly cook a variety of dishes, from beef chilli to fries. The large capacity is ideal for those that have several mouths to feed, although the extra size does mean this multi cooker is quite bulky and takes up a lot of space on a countertop.

With such a wide array of models available when it comes to Instant Pots and multi-cookers, choosing the right one for you can be confusing. Start by considering the different cooking methods offered by the best Instant Pots and multi-cookers, and the dishes you prepare most. While some offer a handful of cooking modes including pressure cooking and slow cooking, others including the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus have as many as 48 different ways of cooking and can do everything including proving bread and making yogurt.We got ours in October and it has been fantastic. We cook a lot of Pakistani food in there, wholemeal rice is super fluffy and light, beans/lentils very easy to cook. I like the fact it’s not just a pressure cooker. (Tried and tested by Mumsnetter TakeMe2Insanity) Our verdict

We’ve compared these brands in detail, to find out which came out on top, read our Ninja Foodi vs Instant Pot feature. How we tested these Instant Pots A 7L capacity provides the perfect amount of portions for a large family, making meal times that much easier For most people, the 6 quart / 5.7-liter size Instant Pot will prove to be the most useful. Instant say this capacity is enough to feed between three and size people depending upon your appetite, so will be ideal for families or those looking to batch cook meals for a handful of people. Stovetop pressure cookers are usually made from stainless steel. They tend to work at a higher pressure than electric ones, so they may require a little more liquid to be added. Because they have higher pressure, they are faster than electric cookers and, because of their design, they can make more of a noise and may appear to rattle as they reach their peak.I love my Instant Pot. I love that you can start a ragu by sautéing the soffritto then adding the meat and then the tomatoes before pressure cooking it. No other pots and pans needed unlike a traditional slow cooker. One pot wonders are a staple in our house!!"(Recommended by Mumsnet user LadyCampanulaTottington) As you might expect, the larger and more feature-heavy appliances from Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are more expensive, but generally speaking, Ninja models are normally more expensive.