Today we review the Cuisinart CPC-600 electric pressure cooker, known for its appealing price and the ability to stand up against some of the popular brands such as Instant Pot and Secura. This Cuisinart cooker was introduced in 2010 so it has been 5 years since it was first released, but remains on our list as one of the top rated electric pressure cookers you can purchase.

Equipped with a 6-quart nonstick pot insert, the Cuisinart CPC-600 can cook meals for a family up to 70 percent faster than your regular pot. It has everything you would want in an electric pressure cooker – two pressure settings, automatic pressure release, digital thermostat, and a programmable timer. Other pluses include the option to wash the inner pot using a dishwasher, BPA free materials, and various browning, simmer, and saute settings. When we tested the pressure cooker it browned food well and made tasty food. The food was moist and the flavours were well developed. The pressure cooker comes with a 3-year warranty.

If there is one thing to be picky about, it’s the sensitivity of the pressure cooker. If water levels are too low it will turn off by itself. This is to protect food from burning and a safety feature, but it could mean you have to monitor the pressure cooker and adjust water levels sometimes.

As far as appearance goes, the Cuisinart CPC-600 has a stainless steel housing that repels any fingerprints. It looks like your average modern home appliance.

Using this electric pressure cooker, you will save a lot of time and energy. By cooking up to 70 percent faster you will also use approximately 50 percent less energy. Out of all kitchen appliances, pressure cookers are the ones we consider to be essential next to the refrigerator and stove. The advantages are countless with an electric pressure cooker – you rarely have to monitor it as it cooks, the flavours from food are more drawn out, you preserve all the nutrients inside the food because i doesn’t cook away, and you use less additives because the natural flavour of the foods come out. It has the ability to cook a number of delicious foods: roasts, soups, stews, chili, beans, cakes, vegetables, and more. Larger meats turn out really tender and not dry as it might if you have to cook it down using a normal pot. Also, vegetables are crisp yet hold their colour when they come out, not to mention all the vitamins and minerals you can’t see! One really cool thing: the Cuisinart CPC-600 is advertised to make cheesecake and custard so you should try it out!

In terms of size the Cuisinart CPC-600 measures 12.20″ x 12.20″ x 13.19″  and weighs 12.57 pounds. You can easily store this when not in use and when in use, it doesn’t occupy that much space.

IOCC was able to do a survey of 1,000 consumers who owned the pressure cooker for more than 5 years and 89 percent said their pressure cookers have not needed any maintenance yet. The ones who did were able to contact Cuisinart and 95 percent said they were pleased with the support they got. For $100 and little maintenance needed, many past customers commented that they felt the Cuisinart CPC-600 provided great value for money. They could easily see it lasting another 5 years too. When asked whether they would consider replacing their current pressure cooker with another Cuisinart CPC-600, 100 percent said they would.

If you are debating whether you should invest in an electric pressure cooker or a normal one, you should ask yourself what’s more important: automated control or manual control. With an electric pressure cooker it is much easier to walk away and do other things while your food cooks. But you can’t do that with one that uses the stove. Like many electric pressure cookers, the Cuisinart CPC-600 has a display that tells you readings of pressure, temperature, and time so you don’t have to keep guessing. In contrast, ones on the stove rely on the cook’s own personal touch to see if temperature should be adjusted higher or lower, or how much more time should the food cook for. If safety is a concern, we would argue that electric pressure cookers take a slight advantage. The Cuisinart CPC-600 does not come unlocked until pressure is released, and its automatic pressure release means you don’t have to do the hard job of release pressure on a stove top one. There’s a lower risk of burning yourself. Either way, both pressure cookers are great for cooking and you should look at reliable reviews to help you decide.

Based on the fantastic performance and affordability of the Cuisinart CPC-600, we rate this pressure cooker as a recommended buy. The LED display, thermostat, pressure release, dishwasher-safe pot, and programmable settings are features that will make your cooker relevant to your cooking habits for years to come. The technology is everything you’ll need.