How much rice cooker do you need?

Using a basic rice cooker is generally easier than cooking rice on the stove top, particularly if you cook rice almost every day or need to keep rice warm for a few hours. Electric rice cookers have one or two simple settings: cook and keep warm. Mid-range rice cookers add more functions, such as settings for various types of rice, vegetables and soup. They also keep cooked rice warm for up to 13 hours. Programmable rice cookers use fuzzy logic to make adjustments to heat, allowing you to program them up to 24 hours in advance. Higher-priced models are also generally better at cooking specialty rice types like brown rice and sushi rice.

Experts say the following about shopping for a rice cooker:

  • Consider your needs. If you don't eat rice at least once a day, you probably don't need a programmable rice cooker with fuzzy logic. These cookers take much longer to cook than their less expensive counterparts. If you want your rice to be ready when you come home, you'll have to incorporate programming into your morning routine.
  • Measurements are not standard. When a rice cooker's box says "5½-cup capacity," this usually refers to dry rice in the cup that comes with the cooker. Unlike standard measuring cups, which hold 8 ounces, these cups hold about 6 ounces.
  • Look for a one-piece unit. Experts say that two-piece rice cookers with glass lids cook rice unevenly, cool too quickly and spit water through the hole in the lid. Glass lids are also more difficult to wash by hand, according to experts.
  • Nonstick pots speed cleanup. Nearly all of today's rice cookers have nonstick pots, but the coatings can scratch, so it's best to use a soft sponge or allow the rice cooker to soak before washing by hand.
  • A keep-warm setting is a handy feature. This allows you to program the cooker to cook the rice and keep it warm for as long as 13 hours. You should be aware, however, that rice that's been kept warm for more than two hours may dry out.
  • Decide whether you need a steamer basket. Reviews say that Zojirushi models excel at cooking rice, but many of its cookers lack steamer baskets for cooking vegetables and other foods.
  • Consider your recipes. Some rice cookers, like the Sanyo Micom ECJ-F50S, allow you to toast the bottom layer of the rice for traditional Korean and Persian dishes. You can bake cakes in a few rice cookers, but reviews say the cakes turn out misshapen.
  • Using a saucepan is quicker and cheaper than using a rice cooker. This is particularly true if you don't make rice more than a couple times a week. You can make very good white rice in a lidded saucepan in about 20 minutes. Brown rice can be boiled for about 45 minutes, followed by five to 10 minutes of steaming. Microwaves also work well for making rice.

Back to top