Government has requited many procedures and recommendations developed to prevent contamination in medical utensils. Government and all the caring medical forces are responsible for implementing effective precautionary methods and measures to protect the patient and the people who are providing necessary care. It has been approved that the use of saturated steam under pressure is the most accessible and preferred way of sterilizing medical grade instruments. Questions kept arising if pressure cookers are suitable for using pressure sterilizing, which effectively kills all types of microbes.
Best Pressure Cookers for Sterilization
Pressure cookers are used globally for the sterilization of glass jars and different types of vessels as well. Pressure cookers are the easiest sterilization method in less time and leave no mess behind. The key behind using a pressure cooker for sterilization has the perfect temperature and pressure. Generally, a pressure of 7psi to 15psi is required to kill the pathogens and microbes from your vessels, and it is vital that you maintain the optimum pressure level. For that purpose, we recommend that you get yourself a pressure cooker that can hold a pressure of max 15 psi. Believe it or not, a pressure cooker works best as an autoclave on budget. As long as you have a suitable cooker, there is no need to worry about unsterilized stuff.
When I was sterilizing my jars for canning, I was always confused about the timing, and the pressure requirements as these variables change according to the size of the pot. Many pressure cooker models are available in the market, but not all of them have the same quality, which can lead to disastrous results. Prior research and study can help you find the perfect cooker to sterilize and achieve perfect results.
Below, we have short-listed the best pressure cookers for your sterilization needs. Always ensure the item you want to sterilize is strong enough to withstand pressure, and always check the instructor’s manual for your pressure pot to avoid any mishaps.
- Heat resistant handles and locking lid for safety
- 12 years of extended warranty so you know you can trust the manufacturers
- USDA approved pressure cooker
Our Top Picks:
| Pressure Cooker | Look | Award | View on Amazon | View on Walmart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-fal Pressure Cooker, Pressure Canner |   |
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| All American 25qt Pressure Cooker/Canner |   |
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| Barton Pressure Canner 22-Quart Capacity Pressure Cooker |   |
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| Hawkings Bigboy Aluminium Pressure Cooker |   |
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| CONCORD Stainless Steel Home Brew Kettle Stock Pot |   |
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| Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker |   |
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| Buffalo QCP435 37-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker |   |
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T-Fal Pressure Cooker:
Pros
- Equipped with numerous amazing safety mechanisms
- Rust free, strong, and very lightweight aluminum body.
- 10 years warranty to back you up.
- It’s super easy to use and easy to clean for time efficiency.
Cons
- Some consumers complained that there are problems with the dial gauge.
- Large size can cause storage issues.
Looking for a lightweight pressure cooker with excellent quality and build that can perfectly perform all your sterilization? No need to search anymore as T-Fal has got your back by being one of the best pressure cookers available in the market. The pot has a massive capacity, and unlike filling it half full as you do for cooking, you can use the full capacity of this cooker and utilize it to its maximum.
We have kept our T-Fal cooker for years in our kitchen, and just because of its strong aluminum exterior and body, it is even rust free, unlike steel which catches rust quickly. Believe me, as I have had a wonderful experience with my pot, and I’m always in a hurry managing work and home together.
With three manual pressure settings of 5, 10, and 15 psi, I saved my time by keeping the pressure high at 15 psi and enjoying the beautiful results with the process timing reduced to 70%. Many of my readers are mothers, and as a mother, we always want our children to be safe from the horrible results a pressure cooker can evict.
The manufacturers have added safety features to reduce our fear of pressure cooker-related mishaps. It includes a lid locking system, pressure release valve, and heat resistant handles that help you save yourselves. The company provides 10 years extended warranty, and the handling of this pot is so easy that it is difficult to screw up anything.
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All American Canner Pressure Cooker:
Pros
- Even heat distribution.
- 15psi highest setting for killing all pathogens.
- Heavy duty reliable cooker with a durable and strong build.
- Massive capacity, which holds up to 7 quart jars.
Cons
- Expensive for people who want a cooker on a budget.
- It cannot be used on glass or induction ranges.
When choosing from the best, no one can beat the All American cooking ranges or even come up to their quality mark. All American is a leading brand that promises quality for their customers and nothing else, and they have always stood by their words. The sterilization process is definitely tricky for beginners, and it is suggested to do a lot of thorough studies prior before trying it yourself. When I was a beginner, I gathered all kinds of manual, different instructions guides from different manufacturers.
Still, the one who always distinguished itself from the others was All American pressure cooker range. This is another heavy duty 25 quart pressure cooker with a huge capacity to fill all your sterilizing jars and vessels.
The body is aluminum based, making it lightweight, extremely durable, and free from the valid scare of catching rust, which happened to several of my pots. It has a body with 15 inch width and 19 inch height, which held about 7 quart sized jars of mine. The trying and testing of this product are very easy as it comes with a manual dial gauge with pressure ranging from 5, 10, and 15 psi.
Now you need to choose your desired pressure setting, relax in the lounge and let the pot take care of sterilizing your valuables. The high 15 psi setting is ideal for killing all the microbes in your vessels and leaves you with a clean and uncontaminated result. The aluminum body is also very easy to clean and provides even heating. It also includes many safety measures. Now you can relax and chill!
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Barton Pressure Canner:
Pros
- Affordable and within midrange.
- It can be used on multiple stove tops.
- Large capacity.
Cons
- Quality is a bit lower.
- Vague instruction manual.
- Some people might find it too big.
Feel proud by having a Barton pot in your home and revel in the luxury of time you will save by working with this pot. This pot has a massive volume that holds approximately 20 liters of liquid, but with the vague instructions provided by the manufacturer, this pot can be a bit tricky to handle. Even though it has a maximum pressure level of 20 psi and can destroy all kinds of pathogens and microbes but for that to work properly.
You have to understand the working of this properly, or you will end up with an explosion which we all fear. The pot is not clearly made for beginners and works only on gas stove tops. This pot comes with racks to keep your jars.
The security measures are not even that solid with this one, but it is sure to create great results as this pot can reach high levels of pressure and help in sterilizing your units to their 100%. It definitely has the side locking lid which does not open until the pressure is released to a safe level.
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Hawkins Big Boy Aluminum Pressure Cooker:
Pros
- Large capacity.
- Made from virgin aluminum and each piece is tested for leakproof.
- Plastic handles with reinforced fiberglass.
Cons
- It takes up a lot of space.
- The cord is not detachable.
Each of these big boys is foolproof, leakproof, made from virgin aluminum to bring more durability and life to the product. This product offers professional quality work from the ease of your home. Working in heaps and batches is a breeze with the big boy cooker, which has heaps of capacity. This pot will cut your working time significantly. The only downside to this amazing pot is that you can only use it on a gas stove, so don’t buy it if you don’t have a gas range.
Just like its name, the pot is a big boy and can hold a lot of substrate for sterilizing. I am scared of burning my hands from holding the lids, so the lids are made up of reinforced fiberglass. It also includes a helpful guideline manual with recipes and the easiest ways around your pressure pot. Actual studies show that this pot reduces your gas consumption by 57% as it distributes heat evenly through the pot and works in a magical way in sterilizing your utensils. It reaches 15psi very quickly and does your work quickly, saving loads of time and giving you lots of room to work around.
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Concord Stainless Steel 100-Quart:
Pros
- Budget friendly.
- Can work up to the scale of 5 mid sizes pressure cookers.
- The accessories and pot is made of high quality stainless steel, which helps in easy asepsis.
Cons
- The base of the pot can be off a bit light quality.
Are you looking for a pressure pot for industrial and market purposes, with no compromise on no quality, then all hail for the Concord steel 100 quart pot? For industrial works, you need a pressure cooker for mass sterilization, and what better equipment to work with than a 100 quart pressure cooker.
This pot is easy to handle. You can place large stencils and utensils in it because it is very tall, with an exact height of 20 inches and a width of 21 inches. This pot definitely came as a savior for me when I needed a giant pressure cooker for sterilizing huge utensils, and there was no appropriate pot in the market.
The rural people needed medical care instantly, and sterilizing the utensils and medical-grade stuff was a big need of the time. I found this beauty and shipped it right through at that exact moment. The shipment and delivery process was very smooth and didn’t take much time.
Upon opening, we revealed a humongous pressure cooker with a large pot and a very large lid to seal it close. Upon first glance, the safety mechanisms seemed promising with lid screws for tightening. The piece is made of stainless steel, so no more worry about it getting ruined by rust.
The stainless steel is an amazing conductor of heat, and because of this feature, the pot quickly rose up to the required pressure of 15 psi. Another thing to note is that the dial gauge comes with three ideal pressure settings, which can be regulated easily. Made for mass disinfection, there is more to this utensil than what meets the eye. The parts came unattached, and with the help of a guiding manual, it was very easy to put together.
One feature definitely distinguished this pot from others, and that is that the pot had a hangable lid which can easily be hung on the side of the pot while you do work with the inner pot. And we all know how annoying it is to find a place to rest the lid safely.
This is a completely commercial vessel and does not come fully welded for easy cleaning with removable parts. If you want to do sterilization on a big scale and are trying to source lots of pressure cookers, then concord has made it easy for you by providing you with one pot which is equal to five pots.
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Presto 01781 23-Quart:
Pros
- Heat resistant handles and locking lid for safety.
- 12 years of extended warranty so you know you can trust the manufacturers.
- USDA approved pressure cooker.
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe.
A moderately sized yet voluminous pressure cooker is a dream of many. One that does not gather a lot of space but is also able to hold quart jars easily. We have found a permanent solution for your problem and we present to you, Presto Pressure Cooker with a volume of 23 quarts and the quality of your dreams.
The presto pressure cooker can be considered a multi cooker as it is able to cook food, can food, and then sterilize and disinfect your vessels as well. This is definitely the pressure cooker of my dreams, and I wouldn’t trade this with anyone. Now we all wonder, if the pot is large, then will it be able to heat up properly and reach the required level. YES. DEFINITELY. This pot is designed with high grade aluminum which helps in even heating and easily raises the pressure to 15 psi. Imagine how hot that will be.
Presto has never compromised its customer care, and that’s why they provided a double steaming rack, which has always helped me double the process and reduce the time consumed in half. I was easily able to sterilize double batches of jars and vessels in it and then after that can double the amount of produce I usually do. The safety features of this pot are what takes my breath away. The pressure pop up indicator.
The inner sealing ring. I mean, what’s there not to love. The sealing ring helps keep the pressurized steam inside the pot, whereas the pressure pop up lid will help you with releasing extra pressure and will be able to warn you if your disinfection is done. The lid is also equipped with a dial gauge, and you can now easily retain the pressure at 15psi or whatever you want. You have the choice to regulate it to either 5, 10, or 15 psi. Pretty cool, right?
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Buffalo Stainless Steel 37-Quart:
Pros
- Emergency pressure release system.
- Easy to use and clean.
- It comes with multiple racks to speed up your asepsis process.
Cons
- Pressure dial gauge does not come with the package.
The buffalo stainless steel pot is definitely featured and distinguished by its amazing heat conducting capabilities and its gigantic size. The size might be smaller than our concord 100 quart pot, but you cannot underestimate the performance of a buffalo pressure cooker when it comes to reaching the highest pressure and killing all the pathogens in a blink.
With a large pressure cooker, you can sterilize small batches, but you can surely not sterilize large batches in a small pressure cooker, so it is recommended to check your requirements before buying a cooker and regretting it later.
The buffalo stainless steel pot will save your time, money, and gas consumption. It is characterized by its effortless heat distribution and works perfectly for disinfecting big jars and utensils. The lid is sealed with a rubber ring so that no gas escapes and the pressure does not drop mid process, or else what’s the difference.
This pot can be used commercially as well as domestically if you want to work on a large scale from your home. It is also very easy to clean and user friendly as the gaskets are removable from the lid. The pressure safety valve also helps us in ranking this cooker amongst the list of our favorite ones.
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