Both air fryers and pressure cookers are the world’s trendiest kitchen appliances right now. Most people have either one or the other. Some people even have a combination of both in the form of multi-cookers because they couldn’t decide on either. We have a dedicated post reviewing the best air fryer pressure cooker combo in the market, check it out.
The right choice depends on what and how you want to cook.
The Short Answer:
If you are someone on the go and have little to spend, get an air fryer.
If you want to cook a variety of foods in large quantities, tastily, simultaneously, and safely, get a pressure cooker.
Air fryer vs. Pressure Cooker – Full Comparison:
Ease of Use
Air fryers are simple in use. They have one or two dials maximum. The rest is you checking on the food. There are no complicated instructions.
While pressure cookers are also easy to use, they come with many features that one takes time to get the hang of. There is a learning curve, but there are many instructions and recipes to assist.
Winner: Air Fryers.
Safety
There are many safety concerns regarding the use of air fryers. First, using too much oil can lead to fire hazards. Second, it is quite easy for air fryers to burn food since it works at such high temperatures; some studies suggest that burned food can be carcinogenic.
The most basic pressure cookers are equipped with safety features such as excess pressure protection, high-temperature warning, lid lock under pressure, and lid closing detection. Also, their inner coating is stainless steel, making them safer than other appliances with Teflon coatings.
This enables users to resume other activities, while the cooker is working its magic.
Winner: Pressure Cookers.
Price
Although both of them are similar in their price range, air fryers are more affordable. You can find an air fryer that costs as little as 50 USD, making it the best choice for people starting out financially.
On the other hand, the least expensive pressure cooker is around 60 USD. So, it is not expensive, but not as cheap as an air fryer.
Winner: Air Fryers.
Energy Consumption
Although air fryers are relatively small, their energy consumption is quite high. Air fryer owners will definitely pay a lot of electricity bills.
Due to the ability to schedule the cooking, pressure cookers are praised for being energy-efficient. They cook a lot of things in very little time; thus, they use less energy.
Winner: Pressure Cookers.
Size and Portability
Both appliances come in different sizes to accommodate the user’s different needs.
However, the average air fryer is definitely smaller than the average pressure cooker. The average fryer measures at 1-5 quarts (0.94-4.7 liters). This makes it portable and perfect for people who are constantly on the go.
The average pressure cooker is large, measuring at 30-40 quarts (28.3-37.8 liters). This means you can’t take it on the go.
Winner: Air Fryers.
Versatility
The main use of air fryers is to fry. In addition, they can grill, bake, and roast. Yet, these things can only be done by buying additional accessories. Air fryers are limited to cooking only breaded or dry-seasoned foods, as opposed to doughy or liquidy foods.
Pressure cookers are pretty versatile, as they can cook almost anything. Most people tend to use them for foods that otherwise take a long time, such as beans, soups, stews, artichokes, chicken, mashed potatoes, and steak.
Winner: Pressure Cookers.
Health
Most people just love deep-fried food. Deep fryers dominate the heart but abuse the body. You can find in air fryers a tasty and healthier alternative.
Air fryers use as little as a tablespoon of oil, which is up to 80% less oil use than deep fryers. This means less sodium and cholesterol for you. A quick and healthy way to eat? Sign me up.
Pressure cookers kill bacteria and preserve important nutrients. Yet, they still use cooking oil, which leads to more cholesterol and fat consumption.
Winner: Air Fryers.
Efficiency
Air fryers circulate dry heat to produce a crispy exterior and a juicy interior. However, it is very easy for air-fried food to be cooked unevenly. The outcome is almost always a low-quality taste. Some users complain about metallic or plastic-like taste in air-fried food.
Pressure cookers not only preserve taste but also make replicates the taste of home-cooked meals that took hours to finish. Pressure cooked food is tasty, juicy, and tender
Winner: Pressure Cookers.
Speed
Both air fryers and pressure cookers are praised for cooking quickly.
Air fryers are definitely faster than conventional ovens, finishing meals in about 15 to 25 minutes. However, due to their small size and functionality, they cook one thing at a time. So, if you need to cook more than one thing with only an air fryer, the time taken might add up.
Since pressure cookers depend on steam pressure, they end up cooking at a really high speed. They take 10-15 minutes normally and around 20-30 minutes to cook frozen foods.
Another advantage of pressure cookers here is their ability to cook different things simultaneously. You just add all the ingredients you need to cook in one pot and then turn it on.
Winner: Pressure Cookers.
Pros and Cons of Air Fryers and Pressure Cookers:
Pros
- Affordable
- Small and portable
- Healthy alternative to deep fryers
- Easy to use
Cons
- High risk of burning food and fire hazards
- Not that fast in the big picture
- Can only cook for a few people
- High energy consumption
- Food tastes undercooked, overcooked, metallic or plastic-like
Pros
- Equipped with safety features
- Can cook many things at once
- Saves energy
- Preserves nutrients and taste
- Kills bacteria
Cons
- More expensive
- Uses oil
- Large and unsuitable for travel
- Learning curve
Final Verdict 💭
You are now informed enough about both air fryers and pressure cookers to know which one is suitable for your needs.
To go through it again, air fryers are for when you can’t afford a pressure cooker or don’t want greasy deep-fried food and when you’re on the go.
Pressure cookers are for large quantities of tasty food and safe use for families or facilities.
