Pigeon vs Prestige Pressure Cooker: Which Is Better in 2021?
Two renowned pressure cooker brands, Pigeon, a Korean company, began in 1978, while Prestige, an American company, opened its doors in 1996. Most consumers agree that Prestige wins in overall value, but you may choose Pigeon in some cases. Keep reading because you will see why I chose to purchase a Prestige over a Pigeon by using multiple evaluation factors like:
- Price
- Quality
- Customer service
- Safety
- Ease of use
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Pigeon vs Prestige Pressure Cookers: Price
Pigeon pressure cookers range from $35 to $85. On the other hand, Prestige pressure cookers cost anywhere from $40 to $150. I say this to mean that the bulk of the pressure cookers that you can buy from this brand sit in that price range. Especially with Prestige, you had a few outliers higher than that, but most sat in that area.
You can buy Pigeon for a slightly lower price when compared to Prestige. The price depends on the size of the pressure cooker. A pressure cooker with more quarts will cost you more.
I recommend that most people buy the 4-quart size of either brand because it accommodates singles and couples. At the same time, small families can use it for one-course meals.
Most people know Prestige better than Pigeon. Because of that, some of the pressure cookers from Prestige will cost slightly more because of demand. Prestige sells its pressure cookers as either stainless steel or aluminum. If you want the budget price, pick aluminum.
Quality: Who Wins?
Prestige earned its reputation for selling reliable and durable pressure cookers. American brands have long held a strong reputation for quality products that last. The stainless steel pressure cookers from Prestige look, feel, and deliver on quality.
They use high-quality materials that show in the design and use of the product. Prestige boldly claims that they source only from the best stainless steel materials.
How does Pigeon compare? Compared to Prestige, Pigeon doesn’t measure up to the same standards of quality. To be clear, you receive good quality, but Prestige steals the show in this category. You have a reason that Prestige costs more than Pigeon—they provide better quality and have a strong business brand.
Customer Service
Before you buy a pressure cooker, you want a company that stands behind you if you have issues with the product. Good customer service can make or break a brand.
Unfortunately, multiple customers threw their hands up in frustration at the customer service from Pigeon. Many complained that Pigeon never resolved their issues. The unresponsive customer service representatives and poor track record for resolving issues have put this company on the naughty list.
Prestige suffers the same fate with people angrily saying that the company might as well have non-existent customer service because they have the worst that they have ever experienced. If you want a pressure cooker company that will back you up, neither Prestige nor Pigeon will provide. This category is a draw.
Safety: Pigeon vs Prestige
Given the dark reputation of pressure cookers exploding, you want a brand that won’t shrug off safety. One of the unnerving things about the pressure cooker comes from when it makes rattling noises as it cooks. They were designed this way to serve as a warning, but Prestige offers some pressure cookers that cook virtually silently. The safety from Prestige on most of its pressure cookers looks decent and because it’s a well-known brand, you can trust it.
Pigeon, on the other hand, offers some great models with excellent safety features. Many Pigeon pressure cookers include the ISI mark, which means that the pressure cooker holds to the safety and compliance standards of India. This is the most recognized consumer mark in India.
However, despite the ISI mark, Prestige also has some pressure cookers with the mark, and they’re a better-known brand. We would say that they win because of that.
For in-depth information about pressure safety, this article I wrote goes deep into using a pressure cooker safely to avoid any accidents.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, Prestige steamrolls Pigeon. Pigeon does have models where you can easily navigate the controls, but other models don’t have user-friendly features. Be careful what model you buy if you want Pigeon. Prestige in comparison has far more user-friendly features included with its pressure cookers.
Pros and Cons of Pidgeon
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lower cost | Poor customer service |
| Most have the ISI Mark | Less user friendly |
| Good quality |
Pros and Cons of Prestige
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Recognized as a leading brand | Poor customer service |
| Quality materials used in pressure cookers | |
| Easy to use | |
| Good quality for a similar cost to Pigeon |
Pigeon vs Prestige: Who Wins?
Overall, Prestige hands you a better value. The brand lays claim to a stronger presence in the pressure cooker market over Pigeon. While I wouldn’t call Pigeon the worst brand – they rank as one of the best – they don’t beat the quality or style of a Prestige. Unless you can’t afford the slightly higher cost, Prestige makes more sense.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t get a good value from Pigeon, but I would go with Prestige because this is top-of-the-line, ranking in the same class as the best like Hawkins pressure cookers. Now that we’ve covered who is the better pressure cooker brand, let’s look at some of the pressure cookers from each brand and let you decide for yourself.
Prestige Popular Aluminum Pressure Cooker
One of the most popular pressure cookers from Prestige, you wouldn’t buy this for its quality of materials, but you would if you wanted a budget-priced pressure cooker from a good brand. The Prestige Popular Aluminum Pressure Cooker works for individuals who want a pressure cooker for small meals.
The manufacturers gave it a robust design and you can use it easily. This pressure cooker, because of its size, may take a few minutes longer to cook your foods.
Closing this pressure cooker can also prove difficult, and the steam throws off a lot of noise that some may find intimidating because it shrieks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent budget-priced pressure cooker | Made from aluminum—lower quality than stainless steel |
| Good for cooking small meals for a couple or small family | It may take a few minutes longer to cook |
| Robust design that seals well | Some may not like the noise |
| Comes from a solid brand |
Prestige 3L Alpha Deluxe Induction Base Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker
A good pressure cooker that sits in the medium price range, the Alpha Deluxe features an induction bottom to distribute heat evenly. This pressure cooker performs well on an induction stove while building pressure.
You can use the Alpha Deluxe to cook small meals for one to two people and its ease of use has made it popular. Once the pressure builds, a screw will pop up, showing that it has enough pressure. When the screw drops back down, take that as an indicator that you can safely open it.
One negative of the Alpha Deluxe comes from how when used, it may tarnish the interior with a rainbow shine. The other downside comes from how that will affect the flavor of the food. Customers have also complained about the noise that comes out of this pressure cooker.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | Leaks water sometimes when it whistles |
| Cleans easily | Safety valve sometimes not working as it should |
| Great for small families | The handle came loose in some cases |
| Good value for the money | |
| Excellent choice for frozen vegetables | |
| The compact device takes up little space |
Read more about pressure cookers and why they make noises in my article – here
Prestige Clip-On Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker
One of the finest designs for a pressure cooker, you’d buy the Prestige Clip-On Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker if you want superb quality and style. Made from stainless steel, the four safety features include the gasket release system, whistle, pressure indicator, and safety valve.
You can securely lock the lid in any direction. This eliminates confusion. The lid weighs more than normal, which some may find inconvenient.
One thing to understand with stainless steel is that it doesn’t conduct heat as well as aluminum. For someone who bought the pressure cooker for speed of cooking, expect stainless steel to take 20 percent longer.
It may look attractive, but don’t buy a stainless steel pressure cooker if you want speed. This pressure cooker also feels like quality. You may pay a higher price for it, but the robust design doesn’t disappoint. The whistle can be scary on this one, however.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Looks like a top-notch pressure cooker | Noisy for what you pay for it |
| Lock the lid in any direction | Expensive higher end pressure cooker |
| Plenty of great safety features | Some say it doesn’t seal fully |
| The lid includes an indicator | |
| Accentuates the rich flavors of foods |
Pigeon – Inox Stainless Steel Outer Lid Induction Base Pressure Cooker
Cook’s soups, meats, and legumes, the Inox Stainless Steel prepares meals in less time than conventional cooking methods. You can care for this one easily because maintenance doesn’t require much.
The Inox Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker works on all heat sources including induction, solid plate, ceramic HOB, and gas.
Stainless steel offers an advantage in that you can clean it much easier than other materials like aluminum. During use, the handles feel comfortable and easy to manage. You get a good value for the money. The other thing that people will like about it is its convenience.
What do people dislike about the Inox Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker? Some people have complained about the quality of this pressure cooker saying that the rubber is made of poor quality. The other issue came from it being confusing to use.
Some people have also expressed concern about safety with this pressure cooker. However, any pressure cooker has the potential to pose a danger.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel is easier to clean | May have some potential safety concerns |
| The handles feel comfortable in use | Confusing to use |
| Works on all heat sources | Very heavy pressure cooker |
| Convenient and easy to use | |
| Good value for the money paid |
Pigeon – Deluxe Aluminum Outer Lid Stovetop Pressure Cooker – 12 Liters
An energy-efficient pressure cooker, says 12 liters, but you can buy this pressure cooker in sizes depending on need. The 12-liter pressure cooker especially makes sense for large family events.
You can cook for between 11 to 12 people with the 12-liter pressure cooker. Consider this your go-to cooking tool when cooking for large groups. At the same time, food in a pressure cooker accelerates the process, but it cooks even faster on top of that since it uses aluminum.
You can clean this pressure cooker easily. The high-quality design of this stovetop pressure cooker makes it a good choice for those who want that design. The stovetop has the advantage that it achieves higher pressure and maintains it for longer.
The other advantage of the Deluxe Aluminum Outer Lid Stovetop Pressure Cooker comes from its safety features like a gasket release system, weight valve, and safety plug.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes in a variety of sizes | The handle isn’t great for this pressure cooker |
| You can clean this pressure cooker easily | Not a great size for people without the demand for it |
| A great choice for large family events | |
| Safe and easy to use | |
| Good choice for someone who wants a stovetop pressure cooker | |
| Aluminum cooks your foods 20 percent faster |
Conclusion – Pigeon vs Prestige Pressure Cooker
If you wanted the tried and true, Prestige has more popularity, but Pigeon has gained some attention for its quality pressure cookers as well. You can’t go wrong with either, but I’d still say that Prestige is a better value. It even remains a firm favorite among many customers. The other thing about Prestige is that they have more models available than Pigeon, which means a much larger selection. However, someone might still appreciate the cost savings when buying a Pigeon pressure cooker.
One-Pot Cooking Rocks
Thanks for the video music – Ben Sound
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Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made on my website. If you make a purchase through links from this website, I may get a small share of the sale from Amazon and other similar affiliate programs.
