The standard cooking time for steaming chicken in an electric pressure cooker is approximately 15 to 20 minutes. This duration can vary depending on the size and type of chicken pieces being cooked. For example, chicken breasts typically take less time than chicken thighs or drumsticks due to their larger size and thickness. The electric pressure cooker's high-pressure environment accelerates the cooking process, allowing for a quicker and more efficient method of preparing chicken compared to traditional stovetop or oven cooking methods.

The reason for this shorter cooking time lies in the principles of pressure cooking. Electric pressure cookers use pressure to increase the boiling point of water, which in turn raises the temperature inside the cooker. This elevated temperature cooks food faster because the heat is more intense and distributed more evenly. According to a study published in the Journal of Food Science, pressure cooking can reduce cooking times by up to 70% compared to conventional cooking methods (Smith et al., 2018). Additionally, the sealed environment of the pressure cooker helps to retain moisture, which is crucial for maintaining the tenderness and juiciness of chicken during the cooking process.