Midea Multi-Cooker Pressure Cooker & Slow Cooker Comparison: The Electric Cooker for Every Meal

Introduction

Midea (美的) produces the most popular electric pressure cookers and multi-cookers in China. Their MY-series electric pressure cookers and DH-series slow cookers are kitchen staples for millions of Chinese families, excelling at braised pork belly (红烧肉), beef stew, chicken soup, and red bean soup.

Unlike the multi-function cooking pots covered elsewhere, these are sealed pressure cookers designed for faster cooking and deeper flavor extraction. The key models are the MY-50S3S (¥199, classic pressure cooker), MY-YL50Easy (¥249, smart), MY-50T3P (¥399, app-controlled), and MY-SH50 (¥499, dual-pressure). With 400,000+ reviews on JD.com combined and 97%+ positive rates, these are among the best-selling kitchen appliances in China.

Specifications

Model	MY-50S3S	MY-YL50Easy	MY-50T3P	DH-50S (Slow Cooker)
Price	¥199	¥249	¥399	¥159
Type	Electric Pressure Cooker	Smart Pressure Cooker	Smart + App	Slow Cooker
Capacity	5L	5L	5L	5L
Pressure	70kPa	70kPa	70kPa	None (atmospheric)
Power	1,000W	1,000W	1,100W	300W
Cooking Modes	8 (rice, stew, soup, etc.)	10	14 (app: 50+)	3 (high/low/warm)
Inner Pot	PTFE non-stick	304 Stainless	304 Stainless + Ceramic	Ceramic pot
Display	LED buttons	Digital screen	Full-color touch	Knob + LED
Smart App	❌	✅ (Basic)	✅ (Full)	❌
Timer	24h	24h	24h	24h
Keep Warm	✅ (24h)	✅ (24h)	✅ (24h)	✅ (12h)
Safety	10 safety features	12 safety features	14 safety features	Auto shutoff

Design and Build

MY-50S3S — The Classic

The simplest and most popular model. A cylindrical white body with a top-mounted control panel — 8 physical buttons for different cooking modes. The non-stick inner pot is removable and dishwasher safe. The lid opens fully with a one-press button and has a detachable sealing ring for cleaning.

Build quality is solid — the plastic body is thick and the locking mechanism feels secure. The 10-layer safety system includes overheat protection, pressure relief valve, and lid lock safety.

MY-50T3P — Smart Multi-Cooker

The step-up model adds Mi Home-like app control via the Midea Smart Home app (美的美居). The 50+ presets cover everything from braised beef to congee to cheesecake. The full-color touch display shows cooking progress with estimated remaining time.

The dual-layer inner pot option (304 stainless + ceramic glazed) allows cooking different foods without flavor transfer. The ceramic glazed pot is excellent for slow-cooked soups and congee.

DH-50S — Dedicated Slow Cooker

For those who prefer low-and-slow cooking (8-12 hours), the DH-50S uses a ceramic pot that heats evenly at 300W. It’s not a pressure cooker — no sealed cooking — but the ceramic pot excels at developing deep flavors in soups and stews.

Performance

The MY-50S3S cooks braised pork belly from raw to tender in 35 minutes (vs 2 hours on a stovetop). The 70kPa pressure is sufficient for most Chinese home cooking — tough cuts of meat become fork-tender. Rice cooks in 12 minutes under pressure — faster than a dedicated rice cooker.

The 24-hour keep-warm function is heavily used in Chinese households — many families cook in the morning and eat in the evening. The cooker maintains temperature above 70°C for food safety.

The Smart App on the 50T3P is genuinely useful. The “My Recipes” section allows step-by-step guided cooking — add ingredients, press start, and the cooker handles temperature and pressure changes automatically. This is particularly helpful for complex dishes like spiced beef shank or lotus root soup.

“美的电压力锅是家里利用率最高的小家电了，几乎天天用。红烧肉35分钟就炖得软烂，比我用砂锅省了两个小时。最重要的是预约功能，睡前放好材料，早起直接吃早餐。” — JD.com 邵** ★★★★★* “The Midea electric pressure cooker is the most used small appliance in my home — almost daily use. Braised pork belly in 35 minutes — fork-tender, saves 2 hours vs my clay pot. Most importantly, the timer function: set it before bed, breakfast ready in the morning.”

“买高压锅一定要买不锈钢内胆的！带涂层的用久了会掉。MY-50T3P带不锈钢内胆和陶瓷胆双配，炖肉用不锈钢，煮粥用陶瓷，不串味。App上还有视频食谱指导，厨房小白也能做大菜。” — 小红书 懒人厨房 *“When buying a pressure cooker, get the stainless steel inner pot! Coated pots degrade over time. The MY-50T3P comes with both stainless and ceramic inserts — stainless for meat stew, ceramic for congee, no flavor transfer. The app has video recipe guides — even kitchen beginners can cook impressive dishes.”

What Chinese Users Say

Aggregated Ratings: 4.4/5 ★ (400,000+ reviews, 97% positive)

Quote 1 — 曾* ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐** “原来用电饭煲煮饭和炖汤分开两个锅，一个美的电压力锅全搞定了。排骨炖土豆20分钟，米饭同时蒸。省电省地方，强烈推荐。” 💡 “Previously used a rice cooker and a separate slow cooker for soup. One Midea pressure cooker handles everything. Ribs and potatoes in 20 minutes, while simultaneously cooking rice. Saves electricity and counter space. Highly recommended.”

Quote 2 — 石* ⭐⭐⭐⭐** “功能强大，炖牛肉很烂。但密封圈用久了有味道，建议半年换一次（¥15一个）。还有就是App有时连接不上，需要重新配网。” 💡 “Powerful functionality — beef stew turns out very tender. But the sealing ring develops an odor over time — recommend replacing every 6 months (¥15 each). Also, the app occasionally fails to connect — needs re-pairing.”

Quote 3 — 崔* ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐** “给父母买的，操作很简单，几个按键调到对应模式就行。老人很喜欢预约功能，睡前放好材料早晨喝粥。比我用燃气灶安心，不用担心忘关火。” 💡 “Bought for my parents — very simple operation, just press the corresponding mode button. They love the timer function — set up before bed, congee for breakfast. Safer than my gas stove — no worry about forgetting to turn off the fire.”

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Fast cooking under pressure (35 min for braised pork)
2. 24-hour programmable timer for meal prep
3. Excellent keep-warm function (24h above 70°C)
4. Multiple inner pot options (non-stick, stainless, ceramic)
5. Safety certifications (10-14 safety features)
6. Large 5L capacity serves 4-6 people
7. Smart app with guided recipes (premium models)

Cons

1. Sealing ring retains odors over time
2. Non-stick inner pot models have coating durability concerns
3. App connectivity can be unreliable
4. Bulky — takes up significant counter space
5. Not suitable for open-pot cooking (can’t reduce sauces while pressurized)

vs Competitors

Feature	Midea MY-50S3S	Supor Pressure Cooker	Joyoung Pressure Cooker	Instant Pot Duo
Price	¥199	¥179	¥229	¥599 (China)
Pressure	70kPa	70kPa	70kPa	70kPa
Smart App	❌	❌	❌	❌
Capacity	5L	5L	5L	5.7L
Inner Pot	Non-stick	Stainless	Non-stick	Stainless
Presets	8	10	8	14
Rating	4.4★	4.3★	4.3★	4.5★

FAQ

Q1: Pressure cooker vs slow cooker — which should I buy?

Pressure cooker if you value speed (35-minute stew vs 8-hour slow cook). Slow cooker if you want to leave food cooking all day while at work and prefer the texture of slow-cooked meats. Many Chinese households own both — the pressure cooker for weeknights, the slow cooker for weekends.

Q2: Is the non-stick coating safe on the MY-50S3S?

Yes, it’s PFOA-free and certified for food contact. The coating is applied to an aluminum substrate for even heating. However, like all non-stick cookware, it degrades over 2-3 years. Replace the inner pot (¥99) when food starts sticking or the coating shows visible wear.

Q3: Can I make yogurt or bake a cake in a Midea pressure cooker?

Yogurt: Yes — many models have a dedicated yogurt mode (ferment at 40°C for 8 hours). Cake: Yes, using the “Cake” preset. The pressure is used for moist, even baking. The result is a dense, pudding-like cake — different from oven-baked but delicious in its own way.

Q4: How do I deal with sealing ring odor?

Soak in white vinegar + water solution (1:3) for 30 minutes, then sun-dry. Replace every 6-12 months (OEM rings cost ¥15-¥20 on JD.com). Some users keep two rings — one for savory dishes, one for congee/rice — to prevent flavor transfer.

Q5: Can I cook two dishes simultaneously?

Yes, using the steam rack (¥29, sold separately). Place meat stew in the pot and a heat-proof dish on the rack for vegetables or eggs. The steam from the stew cooks the upper dish. Both dishes finish at the same time.

Who Should Buy / Which Model

✅ Buy MY-50S3S (¥199): Classic, reliable pressure cooker. Best for users who just want to cook without smart features.

✅ Buy MY-50T3P (¥399): For tech-savvy cooks who want app-guided recipes and dual pots (stainless + ceramic).

✅ Buy DH-50S Slow Cooker (¥159): For traditional slow-cooking enthusiasts who don’t need pressure cooking.

❌ Skip Midea: If you already own a quality pressure cooker. If you prefer stovetop pressure cookers (more pressure, faster).

Buying Advice

Budget Pick — MY-50S3S at ¥199: The best-selling model for a reason. Simple, reliable, effective. Does everything a home cook needs.

Smart Upgrade — MY-50T3P at ¥399: App recipes, guided cooking, dual pots. Worth the premium for cooking enthusiasts.

Complement — DH-50S Slow Cooker at ¥159: Add to a pressure cooker for gentle, overnight cooking. Ceramic pot is perfect for congee and herbal soups.

Verdict

Midea’s pressure cookers and multi-cookers are the unsung workhorses of Chinese kitchens. The MY-50S3S at ¥199 delivers incredible value for a 5L electric pressure cooker that handles braised meats, soups, rice, and congee with equal competence. The smart models add recipe guidance and app control for cooking enthusiasts. For any Chinese home cook, a Midea electric pressure cooker is a kitchen essential.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (8.5/10)

• Cooking Performance: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 9/10
• Build Quality: 8/10
• Smart Features: 7/10
• Value: 9/10