The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.
How we test overall cooking
Overall cooking takes into account how well the pressure cooker copes with cooking a beef and vegetable stew, a tricky risotto with delicate courgettes and cooking dried beans. A good pressure cooker will be able to cook all the ingredients, evenly and without overcooking or undercooking.
How we test ease of use overall
A pressure cooker should be easy to set up and use, so that it doesn't end up being an expensive, frustration in your kitchen. We check how easy the pressure cooker is to set up, how clear the instructions are, including safety information and any pictures or diagrams. We check how intuitive it is to programme, so that you're up and running in no time. We also check how heavy the pressure cooker is, how good the handles are for carrying and if there will be any issues.
How we test cleaning the lid and pot
Some cooking pots and the lids which attach to them are dishwasher safe. This makes cleaning up a little less hassle than the ones which need washing by hand. Under this rating, we also check for dirt traps where food debris could get caught and need extra cleaning.
How we test cleaning external surfaces
Some pressure cookers are really simple to keep clean, and will just need a wipe with a cloth. Others, usually metallic or super shiny finishes, need a lot more effort to keep them sparkling like new. We also check for dirt traps and any other issues which could make some harder to keep clean than others.
How we test speed of heating
We use exactly the same test for all pressure cookers to time how long it takes them to build up to the maximum pressure.
How we test pressure drop
The way the pressure drops after cooking will depend on what you are cooking. It will also affect how long the pressure takes to drop. Two methods of pressure drop include the natural method - where you leave the pressure cooker to drop back down to normal pressure naturally, or where you can release the pressure quickly, manually. Some pressure cookers have an automatic pressure release, which means you don't need to do anything. We look at the time it takes to drop after all three of our cooking tests and work out which ones are the quickest and slowest.
How we test energy consumption
Exactly the same test is used on all the pressure cookers to work out energy consumption. We fill each pressure cooker with water and measure energy consumption getting the pressure cooker up to maximum pressure and then back down, naturally.
