If you want all the rich flavor and tenderness offered by a slow cooker but in a fraction of the time, then a pressure cooker is the right small kitchen appliance for you.

With a lid that releases only a little of the heat and steam built up during the cooking process, a pressure cooker creates intense pressure inside the machine that helps meats and other dishes retain plenty of moisture and flavor. The pressure also reduces the cooking time. So, you will get many of the benefits offered by a slow cooker, but your meal will be finished cooking more quickly. In fact, pressure cookers can reduce cooking time by 30%–70% when compared to conventional cooking methods.

As an added benefit, an electric pressure cooker frees up your oven and the burners on your cooktop, so it’s easy to make multiple courses or dishes at once. It can be the perfect kitchen appliance for entertaining or for making an easy one-pot dinner.

When shopping for an electric pressure cooker, start by considering the best capacity for your household and the meals you would like to make. To cook a roast, you need a large pressure cooker, but if you live alone and want a great machine for making quick and easy dinners, a small pressure cooker won’t take up much space in your kitchen.

You will also want to consider additional features and setting options. Multicookers are popular for their ability to work in more than one way. For instance, you might want a multicooker with pressure cooker and slow cooker settings. That way, you can decide which to use depending on when you want to prep the meal. There are even pressure cookers with built-in air fryer settings for great versatility.

Before choosing the right pressure cooker for your house, take a minute to look up pressure cooker recipes. They can give you a good idea of what to prioritize when choosing your new pressure cooker.