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Looking for an Instant Pot alternative? Our Power XL Pressure Cooker reviews found this to be a good unit that will cook your food fast while infusing it with flavor, but there are a few things to know about before buying. It features seven different cooking methods and one-push cooking. Plus, the flavor technology pushes more flavor into your meals so they’re better than ever. How does this stack up against the bigger brands? Keep reading to find out.
Power XL Pressure Cooker Overview
While there are many bigger brands crowding the market, like Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot, there are plenty of other strong pressure cookers on the market. The 6-Quart Power Pressure Cooker XL is just one example. It’s priced reasonably around $100 (see lowest price), and this electric pressure cooker has a number of features and a sleek exterior.
There are seven different cooking methods and they include:
- Pressure Cooker
- Canner
- Soup Maker
- Cookware
- Slow Cooker
- Rice Cooker
- Steamer
Just push the button on the control panel to activate the cooking method.
There are several different sizes, but the 6-Quart Power Pressure Cooker XL is the most popular. You can also choose the 8-Quart Power XL or the 10-Quart Power XL. All three are the same in terms of features and power. Size is the only difference. This stainless steel appliance can take a few hits and comes with a one-year warranty.
The inner pot is nonstick and dishwasher safe, plus the safe-lock lid is sturdy and uses a manual steam release. The control panel includes a digital timer that’s simple to read. This makes it easy to properly set Power XL Pressure Cooker recipes, and you don’t need to monitor food too closely. In fact, there are pre-set functions for stew, rice, meat, fish, vegetables, and more. There’s even a delay timer so you can start cooking when you want, even if you’re not around. Looking to make cake? Then check our guide on the best pressure cooker for cake.
On top of that, the Power XL uses Flavor Infusion Technology. This locks in nutrients while also making your recipes as flavorful as possible. When pressure cooking, steam will be trapped in the unit and will force liquid into the food so that it’s moist and delicious when you’re finished.
Power Pressure Cooker XL Review
There’s some good and bad here. Overall, the Power XL is a good pressure cooker, but there are a few things to be wary about. We’ll start with the good.
This is a powerful pressure cooker with numerous features and several sizes. You can easily cook meat, poultry, stews, and much more. Plus, even at the smallest size, you can cook for the whole family with ease. Not only that, but it gets consistently high reviews based on its performance.
However, there are some lacking safety features to be aware of. First off, the Power XL is not ETL approved, which is a common safety standard for pressure cookers. Plus, the nonstick coating on the cooking pot is Teflon-based, which some people are worried about.
If you’re careful, then the manual steam release should be fine, but it’s harder to use than some other steam release valves. The last thing you want to do is severely burn your hand when making dinner. If you want one of the safest pressure cookers with an EasySeal lid, then consider the Instant Pot Duo Nova, one of Instant Pot’s newest models.
So it’s a bit of a mixed bag. This is a popular unit and most people love it (it currently holds a 4-star rating and over 3,000 reviews), but you can do better within the same price range. If you do get it, then be suggest being careful with the steam release.
If you’re specifically looking for the best pressure cooker for rice or the best pressure cooker for ribs, then we found some better units for you.
Other Models, Similar Price
Want another pressure cooker with similar features? Here are a few options:
Yedi 9-in-1 Total Package
Yedi is known for quality and the Yedi 9-in-1 pressure cooker proves it. It can saute, slow cook, pasteurize, cook rice, and so much more. Plus, it has 15 cooking programs for perfect meat, beans, soups, cakes, and vegetables. The deluxe accessory kit comes with two egg racks, ladle, cooking mitts, rice paddle, stainless steel cooking pot, and more.
Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 9-in-1
Built with a strong 1200W heating element for fast preheating, there are 48 cooking programs for the most meals and nine cooking options for pressure cooking, rice cooker, steaming, baking, sauteing, and more. The inner pot is made from 304(18/8) stainless steel and nonslip handles keep you safe. Plus, the bright display is Instant Pot’s biggest yet.
Crock-Pot 8-Quart Multi-Use XL
Built on Crock-Pot’s elustrious reputation, this multicooker is large enough to feed 10 people and it can boil, summer, pressure cook, slow cook, saute, and more. You can set the pressure automatically or manually, giving you more control over how your food cooks. The nonstick pot ensures you can easily remove food when finished. You even get a steaming rack, serving spoon and Crock-Pot recipe book.
Final Thoughts
I hate saying negative things, but our Power XL Pressure Cooker reviews revealed some real red flags to be aware of. It’s a strong and versatile cooker and I won’t say it’s terrible, but there are some lacking safety features. Sometimes going with a small brand is good while other times it’s best to stay with the big brands, like Instant Pot and Ninja.
It’s a mixed bag with this one. If you do get it, then just be careful. It’ll make good food, but that’s not worth burning your hand over.