An oval shaped countertop kitchen appliance having a cooking chamber that defines a cavity. The cooking chamber has a rim defining an opening to the cavity. An electric heating element is disposed proximate the cavity to heat the cavity. A pan retaining foodstuff therein has a generally hollow interior and a rim defining an opening for accessing the interior thereof. The pan is sized and shaped to fit within the cavity of the cooking chamber. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the cooking chamber rim when placed on the cooking chamber rim. At least one hinge and one latch are mounted to one of the exterior surface of the side wall of the cooking chamber and the lid. A pressure seal is present in the interface of the lid and the cooking chamber rim. Said pressure seal is compressed when latching mechanism is in its latched position. Pressure regulating valve communicates between the cooking chamber cavity and the outside, to limit the pressure built up within the cooking chamber as foodstuff is heated by said electric heater and emits steam during the cooking process. Said cooking pressure is set at a predetermined level. Temperature in the cooking chamber is controllable by the user as is the duration of the cooking cycle.