Express cookers are great for being able to quickly prep and make a delicious meal without much effort. What took you an hour before might take you 25 minutes now, and recipes that would dirty more than one pan now only require you to wash a single pot, cutting board, and lid.
However, before you go out and purchase an express cooker, it’s important to know what model is best for you. You might want something that can be used for multiple cooking options, including a pressure cooker and a slow cooker, all in one unit.
Crock-Pot Express Cooker
Crock-Pot is known for their slow cookers, and they have years of experience in making great products. This express cooker is designed to be user-friendly and gives you the most bang for your buck. This 6-quart multi-cooker can slow cook, pressure cook, brown and sauté, or steam food all in one unit. It has eight meal presets, so you can easily choose what you’re cooking and let the pot tell you how long it will take to cook.
With this unit, you can adjust the pressure and temperature manually, plus you’ll get a lid that slides on easily every use. Another great thing about this express cooker is that it comes with a non-stick inner pot, making cleanup easier. The only downside to this product is that it only comes in a 6-quart size and can take up a lot of counter and storage space.
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TaoTronics TT-EE007
This express cooker is designed to be very similar to the world-famous Instant Pot. The sophisticated, sleek cooker has a panel that is easy to use, and its blue on black display makes this pot attractive, with all necessary information displayed clearly. The cooking speed and power of this product are amazing; all functions work quickly and extremely well to cook your food in little to no time properly.
There are 16 custom presets on this cooker, including slow cooker and food warmer. There is even a sterilize function on this pot, which is perfect for anyone with children.
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Instant Pot Duo Plus
This cooker is incredibly user-friendly and is one of the original pressure cookers on the market. The features that this pot offers are designed to make cooking food easy and quick. You have the option of choosing between high- and low-pressure, allowing you to have control over the pressure in the pot without having to guess.
The lid on this unit lets you know when it’s in the right position and is designed to make it so that you can’t use this cooker without the lid is in place. There are over 14 preset functions on this product, including steam and sauté.
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Now that you have an idea of some of the best express cookers let’s talk about some recipes that you can try out.
Express Barbecue Chicken
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Servings: 5
Ingredients
Recipe
- Empty the bottle of barbeque sauce into your express cooker
- Cut your chicken breasts in half and place on top of the barbeque sauce in the cooker.
- Add ½ cup water into your barbeque sauce bottle, cover, shake and empty into your cooker.
- Empty your can of pineapple chunks, with juice, into your pot. Add sliced onion, if desired.
- Stir gently, so the chicken is coated.
- Set express cooker to poultry and cook for about 12 minutes.
- Remove from express cooker and serve
Apple-Cranberry Grains
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 10
Ingredients
Recipe
- In express cooker, combine first 11 ingredients
- Lock lid, close pressure release valve
- Adjust pressure to high and set time for 25 minutes
- When finished cooking, allow pressure to release for 10 minutes naturally
- Then quick release any remaining pressure
- Service with optional ingredients if desired
Buffalo Shrimp Mac & Cheese
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
Recipe
- In express cooker, combine first seven ingredients; stir macaroni
- Lock lid; close pressure-release valve
- Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 3 minutes
- Allow pressure to naturally release for 4 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure
- Press cancel
- Select sauté setting
- Adjust to normal heat
- Stir in shredded cheeses, shrimp, bleu cheese, and hot sauce
- Cook until heated through, 5 to 6 minutes
- Just before serving, stir in chives, parsley, and, if desired, additional hot sauce