The 5 best pressure cookers of 2021, according to food experts

These cookers have been around for a while — popularized by iconic brands like Instant Pot — and their usefulness has only increased during the pandemic, as they help you complete meals faster than a traditional stovetop or smart oven, and with much less clean up.SKIP AHEAD How to choose a pressure cooker “You can add the ingredients, lock the lid in place and go help the kids with their homework while the meal cooks,” said Barbara Schieving, creator of “Pressure Cooking Today,” a pressure cooking blog and author of multiple pressure cooking books. While slow cookers use lower temperatures and longer cook times, pressure cookers use hot steam and, you guessed it, pressure to cook food faster. The inner pod and lid are dishwasher-safe.This model has a built-in air fryer and nine basic pressure cooker settings, including steaming, slow cooking and searing. Most users opt for the regular “Pressure Cook” button, said Sakai.Higher-end pressure cookers also sport LCD screens that give you information on what’s going on inside the pot, including cook time and temperature.Catch up on the latest from NBC News Shopping guides and recommendations and download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.Hanna Horvath is a personal finance reporter based in New York City.