7 differences and 3 similarities between pressure cookers and air fryers

Kitchen appliances are getting more sophisticated, we want to have more advanced devices with various functions in our kitchens. Most food lovers will have a pressure cooker and an air fryer in their kitchen. They look the same and both cook food in a closed space, so you may wonder what are the differences between them.

This piece will break down the debate on pressure cooker vs air fryer, including their functionalities, how they differ, and my thought on the air fryer and pressure cooker combo.

You don’t want to miss every part of this article because I will reveal both the good and the bad sides of pressure cookers and air fryers. After using them reasonably, I will tell you my verdict on these appliances as you read on.

Before you check their differences, don’t you need deep research on them? How do them work? What are the pros and cons? OK, let’s do it! (scroll down if you already familar with them!)

What is a Pressure Cooker? Pros and Cons

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The pressure cooker uses high pressure to cook food quickly. It is a kitchen appliance that has recently gained popularity even though it has been used for many centuries. They trap steam inside the pot to cook food. The high pressure from the steam cooks food faster than otherwise possible.

People use them for cooking different kinds of foods like stews, soups, vegetables, and meats. They also use water or broth to prep meals in this appliance.

Before using your pressure cooker:

  • Ensure to get the appliance rated for the specific food you intend to use it for.
  • Understand how to use it by carefully reading the user manual
  • Follow the safety instructions and use fresh ingredients anytime you want to use your pressure cooker.

Here are some of its pros and cons:

Pros

  • It saves on energy bills and prepares food one-third of the time
  • Cooks food more quickly
  • It can accommodate a large quantity of food
  • It is versatile and can cook a range of foods
  • Easy to maintain and manage

Cons

  • It is quite expensive
  • It requires you to wait for some time before getting your food out of the pot
  • It may not be easy to use

Even with that, there is a particular pressure cooker you may want to check out below:

The Best Pressure Cooker you should have a look

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Perfect size for your kitchen
  • Versatile for different cooking
  • Suitable for heating food

Cons

  • Not-so-good customer service

Instant Pot Duo 7-in1 is one of many people’s choices because of its versatility. It cooks evenly and is suitable for sautéing with its tri-ply, food-grade stainless-steel bottom. It has a safe-locking lid, overhear protection, and more than 10 safety features to make cooking seamless. You can easily and quickly clean all the accessories, and you can choose to cook your food slow or fast.

What is an Air Fryer? Pros and Cons

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The air fryer uses hot air to cook food as a kitchen appliance. Therefore, many people use air fryers to fry food like French fries, fish, and chicken. They distribute hot air around the food when cooking, almost similar to a convection oven. It can prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the cooking basket while also cooking evenly.

There are temperature and timer controls on air fryers to make them cook at a particular temperature and for a specific time, depending on the model. The appliance can also keep your food warm with the heating element or hot steam until you’re ready to eat it with the keep-warm setting. 

Air fryers are appliances that also use less oil, making them a healthier alternative to conventional deep fryers.

Pros

  • Some air fryers have pre-programmed settings for different foods
  • Easy to clean and simple to use
  • Make models are compact and small
  • Makes fried foods like French fries and fried chicken healthier
  • Energy-efficient and works quickly

Cons

  • Awkward basket shapes and foods may not fit into some small models
  • The bulky size of some models can take up lots of kitchen space
  • Not as versatile as an instant pot

But how do you get the best appliance for your cooking? Keep reading because I will show you my best choice.

The Best Air Fryer you should have a look

Air Fryer Oven Combo by COSORI

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Versatile
  • Easy to clean
  • Very convenient

Cons

  • Basket/drawer tends to leak steam

If you want a fully-certified air fryer that is easy to use with mess-free cooking, Air Fryer Oven Combo by COSORI is the best choice. Thanks to the nonstick coating of the dishwasher-safe, removable basket, it cleans easily. The appliance also helps to reduce the oil content of your food by 85 percent and cooks 50 percent faster than a traditional oven. You can rely on this unit for your bulk cooking.

Congratulation! Now you are a pre-specialist about pressure cookers and air fryers, let’s check their differences and similarities.

Pressure Cooker vs Air Fryer: 7 Differences

I’m sure you must have an idea of how the pressure cooker and air fryer can benefit you by now. However, I want to take this discussion further by distinguishing the critical differences and similarities between the two.

1. Food Cooking

The air fryer is best at frying foods. It makes food crispy using oil and dry heat. Therefore, it is best for making drumsticks, chicken nuggets, French fries, etc. The pressure cooker uses steam and not heat to cook food.

2. Capacity

The most popular size of pressure cookers is 8- quart, 6-quart, and 4-quart liquid capacities. The appliance has the capacity to contain about 22 liters. Air fryers have standard size measures at 3- or 5-quart with around 2 to 4 liters capacity. Typically, both have a wide variety of sizes available.

3. Cooking Method

The air fryer’s internal fan provides dry and rapid air that heats and cooks the food. With a tablespoon of oil, you can bring out the flavor. However, a pressure cooker can only cook foods with a liquid foundation. Both of them cook at a high temperature.

4. Safety

There are sophisticated built-in safety features in many air fryers. However, the exterior can get extremely not and dangerous if you accidentally touch it. The pressure cooker can be less safe, especially the pressure valve and the sealed gasket. Check the safety instruction properly before using both of them.

5. Cooking Time

Cooking time depends on specific models. However, it can take quite a long time for the pressure cooker to cook meals when it comes to their cooking times. The appliance must reach high steam or pressure before it starts cooking. Air fryers cook faster using hot circulated air or heat, taking about 20 minutes to cook nuggets or fries.

6. Cholesterol Consumption

Air fryers reduce cholesterol consumption since it requires little or no oil to cook healthy meals. However, the pressure cooker can provide cholesterol and fat even though it can maintain food nutrients.

7. Electricity Consumption

Air fryers use a total of 0.75 kilowatts, and your model can use around 1.5 kilowatts if it has a 3000 wattage. However, the other appliance saves money since they use up to 70 percent less energy than air fryers.

Pressure Cooker vs Air Fryer: 3 similarities

1. They Provide Similar Nutrients

Both pressure cookers and air fryers can preserve the food nutrients, whether you stew or steam your dishes.

2. They Make Food Crispy

If you have a pressure cooker with frying features, you can expect to have highly crispy, healthy food, just like the one cooked in an air fryer.

3. Liquid Requirement

Both need liquid to cook, as air fryers require oil to cook while the other needs water to cook.

Which is Better Air Fryer or a Pressure Cooker?

At this point, you will be thinking about how to make an informed decision with some of the features mentioned. Well, let’s clear more air with this section.

When it comes to which is better, both pressure cookers and air fryers cannot replace the other. They have their various advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, your specific needs will influence which one to choose.

Pressure cookers will give you the best experience if you want nutritional home-cooked meals. However, you may want to turn to air fryers if you want a healthier alternative for frying your foods.

Now, how do you enjoy both worlds in this air fryer vs pressure cooker? The answer may lie in an air fryer pressure cooker combo. Let’s take a look at it.

What you may be thinking now: Oh, I want to have both of their advantages, Is there any kitchen equipment that has both of their functions? Yes!

Air Fryer Pressure Cooker Combo

The air fryer pressure cooker combo blends the pressure cooker versatility and the air fryer’s technology into one device. It uses electric pressure to work and can cook food without using oil, providing healthier and tastier meals.

With these two appliance combinations, you can prepare nutritious, delicious, and crispy foods easier than before. There’s no need to use grease or oil, and you can easily make grilled cheese sandwiches or fried chicken wings.

Here’s my top pick for an air fryer pressure cooker combo.

Ninja FD401 Foodi 12-in-1 Deluxe XL 8 qt

Pros

  • A versatile appliance that can cook anything
  • Cooks many things at the same time
  • A must-have device in your kitchen
  • It revolutionizes the way you cook

Cons

  • It can consume a lot of power

The Ninja Foodi 12-in-1 comes with a 45-recipe, chef-inspired cookbook, stainless steel deluxe reversible rack, 5 qt. crisp basket and ceramic coated cook and more. It is highly versatile, and you can air fry or prepare various meals in it. The appliance boasts an extra-large capacity to cook for your whole family at once. With the included recipe guide, anyone will find the appliance controls intuitive and straightforward。

FAQs

Is Pressure Cooking Healthier than Frying?

Pressure cooking is better than frying because it cooks faster, giving less time for nutrients to escape. It also provides few or no changes to the foods or nutrition components since it contains the nutrients when cooking. Also, it reduces the unsaturated fat content.

Can You Use a Pressure Cooker as An Air Fryer?

You can use a pressure cooker as an air fryer. However, you can achieve this for fried food or deep frying if you use Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid. Your electric pressure cooker can produce a crispy food item with any of these unique accessories.

Air Fryer vs Pressure Cook Chicken

Air fryers can fry crispy chicken wings and French fries while you need a small amount of oil to sauté or shallow fry in pressure cookers. It might be a bad idea to fry chicken using the pressure cooker, and a suitable option will be the fryer. So, buy an air fryer as one of your kitchen appliances to cook chicken and many types of foods.

Is Air Fryer Healthy?

Yes, air frying is better and healthier than traditional oil frying. It contains less fat and cuts down calories by about 80 percent. Air frying can also cause less inflammation since it gets rid of extra oil in your meals. It also eliminates toxic compounds found in deep-fried foods.

Final Thought

Though the pressure cooker vs air fryer debate will continue, the results may not be typical. They have differences but are both good at various cooking ways. The pressure cooker will give you moist food while getting dry foods from an air fryer. Ultimately, consider your budget, kitchen needs, and cooking methods when choosing one or both of them.

And if you want to have both of their functions and advantages, the air fryer pressure cooker combo will be your final choice, nobody said it isn’t good after using it.

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