Cuisinart CPC-900 6-Quart High Pressure Multicooker - 15psi Electric Pressure Cooker
Low risk. Stainless steel pot is PFAS-neutral, but brand discloses nothing about coatings or seals.
The inner cooking vessel is stainless steel with no known PFAS association. However, Cuisinart makes no public statement about gaskets, exterior coatings, or any non-stick surfaces elsewhere in the unit.
The better-graded swap
Presto
Presto 23 Quart Induction Pressure Canner
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Stainless steel inner pot, aluminum outer housing
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Seal and gasket degradation
Rubber seals in all pressure cookers age and harden with repeated thermal cycles. The CPC-900's silicone or EPDM gasket can fail over time, leading to pressure loss or steam escape; this is a mechanical, not chemical, hazard but must be monitored.
Aluminum outer housing corrosion or leaching
While the outer aluminum shell does not contact food directly, acidic foods or environments could theoretically corrode it if liquid reaches the exterior. No recalls or reports specific to the CPC-900 exist, but aluminum's reactivity means prolonged exposure to moisture warrants drying after cleaning.
Pressure relief valve blockage
Mineral deposits or food debris can clog the float valve or pressure vent, reducing safety margin. This is maintenance-dependent rather than material-based; regular rinsing of the lid assembly prevents accumulation.
What’s reassuring
Bare uncoated material
Recorded as a bare, uncoated material with no surface coating or treatment.
Stainless steel pot discoloration or pitting
18/10 stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion from food and water. No known issue with this model; pitting is rare unless exposed to chlorine or prolonged salt water contact, neither typical in home cooking.
Non-stick coating absence or degradation
The CPC-900 uses bare stainless steel, not Teflon-type coating or other non-stick coatings, so no risk of coating flaking or Teflon-type coating fume production under normal use.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The CPC-900 features a stainless steel inner cooking pot (typically 18/10 or 18/8 grade) paired with an aluminum outer housing and lid assembly. Stainless steel is chemically inert under normal cooking conditions and does not leach metals or require protective coatings. The aluminum outer shell is not in direct contact with food, so oxidation or minor corrosion poses no ingestion risk, though durability over years of use depends on manufacturing tolerances.
The brand's record and disclosure
Cuisinart does not publish detailed material safety data sheets or independent third-party certification for this model. The brand has not faced recalls or public complaints specific to chemical leaching from the CPC-900. Cuisinart's general stance on food contact materials aligns with FDA compliance but includes no voluntary PFAS or heavy-metal disclosure beyond regulatory minimums. No evidence of BPA in seals or gaskets is on record for this model.
How it compares in its category
Electric pressure cookers at this price point typically use stainless steel or non-stick (Teflon-type coating) inner pots; the CPC-900's all-stainless design avoids Teflon-type coating fume risk that some competitors face if coatings degrade. Most rival models (Instant Pot, Presto) use similar materials and pose comparable or identical hazard profiles. The CPC-900 does not stand out as having a different level of PFAS concern than mainstream alternatives in its category.
If you buy it
Inspect the rubber gasket and sealing ring before each use; replace every 12-18 months or if discoloration, cracking, or loss of elasticity appear. Do not exceed the 15 psi operating limit and follow the manual's fill-line guidelines to prevent seal stress. Hand-wash the lid assembly rather than running it through a dishwasher to reduce seal degradation. The stainless steel pot can be scoured gently with non-abrasive cleaners; harsh acids are unnecessary and should be avoided.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Cuisinart has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More pressure cookers grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.