Quest 63009 Pressure Cooker Review: a no-fuss multi-cooker that keeps things simple (and cheap)

I’ve been using the Quest 63009 6L electric pressure cooker for a few weeks now, mainly for weekday dinners. I already own a more expensive multi-cooker from a big brand at home, but I wanted something cheaper for a small kitchen that still lets me pressure cook, do stews, and keep food warm. I went for this one because of the price and the 6L capacity, plus the 12 presets looked similar to the pricier models.

First impression: it’s not fancy, but it does the job. The controls are basic, the build is lighter than premium models, and you can feel it’s a budget appliance. But in practice, it cooks rice, stews, and soups properly, and that’s what matters most to me. I’m not here for pretty design or 50 different modes I’ll never use, I just want to throw stuff in, press a button, and eat.

I mostly used it for pressure-cooked stews, basic curries, and cooking rice on the side. I also tested the keep-warm setting and the slow cook function over a Sunday. No advanced gourmet stuff, just normal family meals. Compared to my usual stovetop pan routine, I saved time and didn’t have to hover over the hob, which is already a win.

It’s not perfect though. The lid has a bit of a learning curve, the manual is pretty bare-bones, and cleaning the lid and silicone ring is a bit of a chore. But overall, for the price, I’d say it’s a pretty solid option if you just want a simple, no-frills multi-cooker that you’re not scared to actually use every day.

Price-wise, this sits clearly below the big-name multi-cookers, and that’s its main selling point. You’re not paying for a big brand logo or a fancy app, you’re just paying for a simple pressure cooker that does 12 basic functions. Compared to my more expensive branded multi-cooker, this Quest is less polished in terms of interface, materials feel lighter, and you don’t get the same level of documentation or support. But in everyday cooking, the actual food results are surprisingly close.

If you only ever plan to pressure cook stews, rice, soups, and the odd cake or porridge, this is good value for money. You get 6L capacity, decent power at 1000W, and enough presets to cover normal home cooking. For a student flat, a holiday home, or as a second cooker, it makes a lot of sense. You’re not stressing about damaging an expensive gadget, and if it lasts a few years, you’ve had your money’s worth.

On the downside, you’re giving up some comfort features: no dishwasher-safe pot, no spare sealing ring, a slightly fiddly lid, and a manual that doesn’t really hold your hand. If you’re not comfortable figuring things out or you want the most user-friendly experience possible, a more expensive model from Instant Pot or similar might justify the extra cost for you.

For me, in practical terms, I’d rate the value as strong if you’re on a budget or just don’t care about brand prestige. It’s not trying to be premium, and it doesn’t feel premium, but it cooks properly and doesn’t cost a fortune. If you catch it at a good discount, it’s even easier to recommend as a solid, no-frills workhorse.

Design-wise, the Quest 63009 is pretty plain. Stainless steel housing with black plastic top and base, digital display on the front with a ring of touch buttons. It’s not ugly, but it’s not something you’ll stare at and admire either. It looks like a typical budget multi-cooker you’d find in any supermarket. Personally, I don’t care much about looks on this kind of appliance, as long as it’s practical and easy to wipe down.

The control panel is simple: you’ve got 11 presets plus manual options for time and temperature. The LED display is clear enough to read from across the kitchen, which I appreciated when I was doing other things and just wanted to check how much time was left. The buttons are membrane/touch style, not physical clicky ones. They responded fine, but they do feel a bit cheap compared to higher-end models. Still, they work, and I didn’t have any mispress issues.

The lid is where the design shows its budget side most. Locking it into place is slightly fiddly the first few times. You need to line it up just right and twist firmly. Once you get the hang of it, it’s okay, but my first couple of tries I had to redo it because it didn’t feel fully locked. The steam vent is a simple rotating knob on top. It’s clear enough which way is open/closed, but you do need to pay attention. I’d say this is not something I’d hand to someone who never reads manuals and just “guesses” how things work.

On the plus side, the housing is cool-touch and doesn’t get dangerously hot on the outside during use, which is important if you’ve got kids around or a cramped kitchen. The footprint is compact for a 6L cooker, and it tucks nicely into a corner. Design overall: functional, a bit basic, but no real deal-breakers unless you’re very picky about premium feel.

The main body is stainless steel with plastic top and handles. The steel isn’t super thick, but it’s enough for a countertop appliance. It doesn’t feel like it would dent if you just bump it lightly, but I wouldn’t go dropping it or banging it around. The fingerprint-resistant claim is partly true: it does pick up some marks, but it’s easier to wipe than shiny chrome-style finishes I’ve had before.

The inner pot is non-stick, which is actually one of the better points. Food doesn’t cling too much, and cleaning it with a sponge and a bit of washing-up liquid is quick. I made a thick beef stew that usually leaves a crust on the bottom of my regular pan, and here it lifted off pretty easily. That said, it’s not dishwasher-safe, so you’re stuck with hand washing. If you rely heavily on a dishwasher, that’s a bit annoying, especially after a big meal when you just want to shove everything in and forget about it.

The lid is mostly plastic with a metal inner plate and a silicone sealing ring. The seal feels decent quality, not too flimsy, but you do need to remove it regularly to clean it properly. The metal rack included is thin but usable: I used it for steaming veg and keeping a bowl above water. It didn’t bend or warp, but it’s clearly not heavy-duty stainless steel like more premium accessories.

Overall, the materials are what I’d call “good enough for the price”. It doesn’t feel premium, but it also doesn’t feel like it will fall apart in a month. If you treat it reasonably, don’t scratch the non-stick with metal utensils, and clean the seal and lid properly, I don’t see why it wouldn’t last a few years. If you’re used to heavier, more solid-feeling branded cookers, you’ll notice the difference, but that’s the trade-off with this price bracket.

After several weeks of using it a few times per week, I didn’t notice any worrying signs of wear. The non-stick coating on the inner pot is still intact, no peeling or major scratches, but I’ve been careful and only used silicone or wooden utensils. If you start scraping it with metal spoons or whisks, I can see it degrading faster. So if you buy this, I’d say treat that pot gently if you want it to last.

The lid mechanism is still smooth, but you do need to keep the silicone ring and the steam valve clean. After a few stews and curries, the ring picks up smells, which is normal for this type of cooker. A good wash and airing it out helps, but the smell never fully disappears. That’s why I’d have liked a spare ring in the box. It’s not a deal-breaker, but if you switch between savoury and sweet (like doing rice pudding after curry), you’ll notice some lingering smell unless you clean it very thoroughly.

The outer stainless body hasn’t picked up any dents or major scratches from normal use. It wipes down easily with a damp cloth. The plastic top hasn’t discoloured or warped. The buttons still respond fine. Electrically, no issues so far: no random shut-offs, no error codes. Overheat protection hasn’t kicked in on me, which is a good sign that it’s not running on the edge.

Maintenance-wise, the most annoying part is cleaning the lid and the area around the seal. Food splatter and steam can leave residue there, and you need to take a few minutes after cooking to clean it properly. If you’re lazy about cleaning, any pressure cooker will punish you with smells and potential issues, and this one is no different. Durability overall seems decent for a budget device, but I wouldn’t abuse it. Use it regularly but sensibly, and I’d expect it to last a few years without too much drama.

In terms of cooking, it performs better than I expected for the price. With 1000W and a 6L capacity, it’s not the fastest thing on earth, but it’s not sluggish either. A beef stew with 1kg of meat and veg took around 35 minutes at pressure after coming up to pressure, and the meat was properly tender. Rice for four people cooked evenly without burning at the bottom, which is usually my main test for these machines.

The 12 presets cover the basics: rice, soup, stew, porridge, etc. I mostly used the stew, rice, and manual pressure cook options. The presets are slightly conservative on time, so sometimes I had to add 5–10 minutes depending on the recipe, but that’s very standard with this kind of appliance. The temperature range of 40–120°C is handy if you want to use it for things like yoghurt or gentle warming, though I didn’t go deep into that side, just tested it for keeping sauces warm, which it did fine.

Pressure building time is reasonable. With a full pot of stew, it took around 10–15 minutes to come up to pressure from cold water, which is about what I see on my more expensive cooker. Natural release takes a while, as expected, but the manual steam release works without being too violent. Just don’t stick your hand over the vent, obviously. The unit doesn’t start heating if the inner pot isn’t inside, which is a nice safety touch.

Noise-wise, it’s pretty quiet. You get the usual hissing when releasing steam, but during cooking it just sits there with a faint hum. No loud clicking or strange sounds. For everyday meals, I’d say the performance is solid: it doesn’t do anything fancy, but it reliably cooks stews, curries, soups, rice, and one-pot meals without fuss. If you’re used to slow cooking on the hob for hours, this will save you time and attention. If you already have a top-tier multi-cooker, you’ll notice the missing polish, but the core cooking results are actually decent.

Out of the box, the Quest 63009 is pretty straightforward. You get the main unit, the 6L non-stick inner pot, a basic plastic measuring cup, a plastic spoon, a metal rack, and a thin recipe booklet. No fancy accessories, no extra sealing rings, no glass lid. It’s very much the essentials and nothing more. For the price point, I wasn’t expecting a full kit anyway, but a spare seal would have been nice.

The recipe booklet is short but usable. Don’t expect a full cookbook with glossy photos. It’s more like a starter guide with a handful of simple ideas to get you going: stews, soups, rice dishes, that kind of thing. I ended up mostly using it to understand rough cooking times, then just did my own recipes. If you’ve never used a pressure cooker before, it’s enough to get you started, but you’ll probably end up on YouTube pretty quickly.

The unit itself is a typical cylinder design, 32 x 32 x 35 cm. It fits fine on a normal countertop and slides under wall cupboards without an issue. It’s light enough (around 4.2kg) that you can move it in and out of a cupboard if you don’t want it out permanently. The cable is a normal length, not super long, so you’ll want a plug fairly close by.

Overall, the presentation is basic but functional. It feels like a budget appliance, but nothing looks flimsy to the point of worrying me. Everything clicked into place fine, the pot sits properly, and the lid mechanism works once you get used to it. If you’re expecting a “wow” unboxing, this isn’t it. If you just want something that’s ready to cook within 10 minutes of opening the box, it gets the job done.

In daily use, the biggest thing I noticed is that it genuinely reduced the amount of time I spend hovering around the stove. I’d chop everything, toss it in, set a preset or manual time, and then just walk away. For work nights, that’s the main benefit: I can deal with other stuff while dinner sorts itself out. For stews and curries, it’s very effective. The meat comes out tender, veg holds up well, and sauces thicken nicely if you give them a quick extra simmer at the end with the lid off.

The keep-warm function is handy and not overly aggressive. I left a batch of chili on keep-warm for about 2 hours and it didn’t dry out or burn at the bottom. It did thicken slightly, but in a good way. For batch cooking on weekends, this is useful because you can cook one thing, leave it warm, and start prepping the next without rushing. The 12-hour timer is also decent if you want to delay cooking, though personally I’m not a huge fan of leaving food sitting for ages before cooking, so I didn’t lean heavily on that.

As a slow cooker, it’s fine but not mind-blowing. On low, it behaves like a standard slow cooker: 6–8 hours for a proper stew. On high, you can get things done in 4–5 hours. If you mainly want slow cooking, a dedicated slow cooker might be a bit simpler and cheaper, but here you get pressure cooking on top, so it’s more flexible. I ended up using pressure cook mode more because it just fits better with weekday schedules.

Overall, in terms of effectiveness, it ticks the main boxes: it frees up your time, handles one-pot meals well, and doesn’t require constant tweaking. There’s a small learning curve with the lid and figuring out which preset suits which recipe, but after a few runs it becomes a routine. It’s not life-changing, but it does make cooking easier and less hands-on, which is exactly what I wanted from it.