Why Is the Electric Pressure Cooker So Popular?

Electric pressure cookers are popular because they are versatile, time-saving, energy-efficient, and enhance food flavor, texture, and nutrient retention. They function as multi-cookers, replacing various kitchen appliances and simplifying cooking processes.

Pressure cookers have been around for a long time. But in recent years the electric pressure cooker has gained popularity.

The reason: not only do these fantastic machines pressure-cook, but they also have many other functions such as steaming vegetables, slow cooking, stew, rice cooker, browning and some make yogurt. So really, it is a multi-cooker

They are generally easy to use due to digital settings and controls. The ability to cook food quickly and to electronically set the time and temperature plus being more energy-efficient than cooking on the stovetop or oven has made them more appealing to the home cook.

When the craze started, I was curious. I wanted to make beef stew but didn’t want to wait all day for it to cook.

So yes, I did it. I went out and bought myself an electric pressure cooker.

And I have to admit I loved it. I can make my hearty beef vegetable soup in 30 to 40 minutes depending on how tender you want your meat.

Amazing! The electric pressure cooker I bought was a Power cooker.

I don’t believe the Instant Pot had made an appearance yet. 

What Exactly Is Pressure Cooking?

The pressure cooker is a sealed pot in which food is cooked by a boiling liquid such as water or broth. The steam builds in the sealed pot thereby increasing the internal pressure and allowing the temperature to rise resulting in food cooking quickly.

For a better explanation check out this video.

The Advantages Of An Electric Pressure Cooker

• Saves time: You can have a meal on the table in no time. Especially those of you who have kids in many activities and your time is limited. The pressure cooker cooks food 50% to 70% faster.
• Saves energy: The cooking time is decreased which equals less energy.
• Produces food with amazing flavor, color, and texture: fast cooking times preserve more nutrients. Flavors are richer and more developed.
• They are designed with plenty of self-regulating features including sensors to monitor the pot’s temperature and amount of pressure. All you need to do is plug it in and push a button and it does everything else. Pretty nifty! Another advantage is that you can cook food from a frozen state. But you shouldn’t use large pieces of meat. I have put a frozen roast in the pressure cooker but it took longer to cook and did not achieve the tenderness I wanted. I prefer my roast made in the slow cooker or oven. But that’s just me.

The Disadvantages Of An Electric Pressure Cooker

• You can’t monitor for doneness.
• You can’t add or adjust seasoning to the food.
• The sealing ring needs special care when cleaning.
• In order to inspect the food, the pressure cooker needs to be opened and this stops the cooking process.

But honestly, the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages.

Beans Cooked In an Electric Pressure Cooker

Several years ago I told my boss that you can make ham and beans in an electric pressure cooker and they will be done in 30 minutes. Well, she didn’t believe me. 

So I was on a mission to prove to her that it can be done. I went to my local grocery store and bought the ingredients I needed.

Now I usually soak my beans overnight but I had heard that it was not necessary when cooking them in an electric pressure cooker. But the creature of habit that I am I went ahead and soaked them the night before.

Two hours before I had to leave for work I put the beans, a small chopped onion, and a small bone-in ham into the cooker. Added water to about an inch above the beans, closed the lid, and set it to cook for 30 minutes.

When the time was up, I had ham and beans cooked to perfection. I took a bowl of those beans to my boss but she didn’t believe that I had cooked them in the electric pressure cooker.

But I was prepared as I had taken pictures of the process to show her. Needless to say, she was amazed.

And she expressed that she was going to have to get one.

My Final Thoughts

They are known as a multi-cooker so you can get rid of those other appliances. You won’t need them.

They cook food faster so if you have a busy life you can still get a great meal on the table in no time. They are easy to use and energy-efficient.

They retain nutrients in your food unlike boiling them away with stovetop cooking. There are many brands of electric pressure cookers.

One of the most popular is the Instant Pot. Do you have an electric pressure cooker?

If so do you like it? Please leave me a comment.

Have a wonderful day!

FAQ about Electric Pressure Cookers

1. Why have electric pressure cookers become so popular?

• They are versatile, able to replace multiple kitchen appliances and perform functions like steaming, slow cooking, and browning.
• They save time and energy, cooking food 50% to 70% faster, with digital settings that simplify the cooking process.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an electric pressure cooker?

• Advantages include quick cooking times, energy efficiency, enhanced flavor, texture, and nutrient retention, and ease of use with automated features.
• Disadvantages include the inability to monitor for doneness or adjust seasoning during cooking, and the need for special care in cleaning.