This review updates our knowledge about pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) and subcritical water extraction (SWE), two sample preparation techniques which are increasingly used for the extraction of moderately and non-volatile organic pollutants from a variety of solid and semi-solid environmental matrices. Parameters influencing the extraction yield and selectivity are discussed. The results deriving from the analysis of several different classes of compounds in a variety of matrices are compared with a reference method, e.g., Soxhlet extraction. PLE and SWE are both promising techniques due to the short extraction times and low solvent consumption. In addition, SWE offers a wide range of polarities by changing the temperature and can easily provide class-selective extraction by temperature programming and/or the addition of modifier(s). This indicates that, even though many applications have already been reported, more can be expected.