What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £70 (~$93) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £60 (~$79) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £46 (~$61) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £32 (~$42) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £18 (~$23) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Large appliances that need collection and a van, and small ones that have simply been descaled badly or not at all. On cookware, the state of the coating.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a pressure cooker is worth what is being asked:
- Perished or hardened gaskets
- Blocked or seized pressure valves
- Warped lids that will not seal
- Discontinued models with no gasket supply
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Intact, supple gaskets
- Working pressure valves and safety releases
- Recognised brands with spares available
- Complete with trivet and instructions
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit premium cookware exists and is usually detectable on weight and base markings, which genuine pieces cast in rather than print.
Ask for the model number and the age, and for large appliances ask whether it can be wheeled out and whether there are stairs. Ask for a photograph of the interior.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a pressure cooker, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Take it out and flex it. A hardened or cracked gasket will not seal, and on discontinued models a replacement may not exist.
Check each one is clear and not seized. These are the components that stop a pressure cooker becoming dangerous, so it is not a detail to skip.
Look up the model. A pressure cooker whose gaskets are no longer made has a limited life and buyers should know before they commit.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the gasket is supple and seats properly
- Confirm the pressure valve moves freely
- Test the lid locks and seals
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The cooker assembled with lid locked
- The gasket removed and laid flat
- The safety valves and vents from underneath the lid
- The base, plus the model marking and any warp, crack or corrosion
Details to confirm before you commit
- Type — stovetop or electric — and capacity in litres
- Brand and model, precisely, so gaskets can be matched
- Whether the gasket is sound and whether spares are available
- Condition of the safety valves, lid lock and base
Live pressure cooker listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse kitchen & appliances for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Lifts in autumn and January. Electric multi-cookers sell within days; stovetop cookers sell steadily to cooks who prefer them.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a pressure cooker sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell pressure cooker for what to photograph and how to price, or what pressure cooker is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used pressure cooker?
Around £10 to £46 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a pressure cooker before buying?
Ask for the model number and the age, and for large appliances ask whether it can be wheeled out and whether there are stairs. Ask for a photograph of the interior.
Is buying a pressure cooker second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Large appliances that need collection and a van, and small ones that have simply been descaled badly or not at all. On cookware, the state of the coating.
See also: all buying guides · pressure cooker value guide · selling pressure cooker · Kitchen & Appliances · condition grades.