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Rice Cooker Buying Guide: 4 Things You Need to Consider


February 17, 2023

Buying a rice cooker isn’t as simple as picking one off the shelf. There are various things to consider before you select the right rice cooker for you. Asking yourself questions like, how many people will you be feeding, what dishes are you most likely to cook, and even your dietary constraints should play a part in your decision.

After considering all these things, you then have the task of selecting which brand and model best fit all these requirements.

In this buying guide, we’ll try to ease the process by expanding on the four things you need to consider when buying a rice cooker in 2023.

1. Capacity

Your inner pot capacity should be your utmost priority. This boils down to the question: how many people will you be feeding?

You’d want to keep it as precise as possible to the amount of pax you’ll be catering for on most days. For example, a bachelor who only needs to feed him/herself has no need for a rice cooker that can cook for five persons. Having a rice cooker that is oversized will eat up unnecessary power and hike up your electricity bill.

How many cups or litres is right for you depends heavily on appetites. Some can be light eaters, while others are more voracious.

Since rice cookers typically come in 3- and 5-cup capacities, a household of 1-3 persons would do just fine with a 3-cup capacity rice cooker. For slightly bigger households of 4-6 persons, then a 5-cup capacity is enough.

Chances are you’ve come across rice cookers displaying capacity in litres. For reference, a 1L rice cooker can cook up to 4-5 cups depending on the type of rice used (long grain vs short grain). A 1.5L rice cooker can hold up to 6-8 cups.

Anything 2L and above will cater comfortably to a party of 14 persons.

Keep in mind that the number of cups is measured in uncooked rice.

2. Types of Rice Cooker

The types of rice cookers available to us are abundant, and still growing. There are four types of rice cookers to consider when making your decision.

  • Traditional Electronic
    Traditional electronic rice cookers are the most basic types. Most will only have 2 functions: cook rice and keep warm. They don’t have a lot of buttons, and is limited in terms of what you can cook. Although considered rudimentary, traditional rice cookers does the job well and is usually cheaper than most.
Khind’s Anshin Rice Cooker Series are Traditional Electronic Rice Cookers
  • Microcomputer Controlled
    Sometimes shortened to Micom rice cookers, these are the modern day rice cookers that you’ll mostly find today. They have significantly more functions than traditional rice cookers. Aside from the cooking and keep warm functions, Micom rice cookers have timers, cooking presets (brown rice, sushi, porridge, etc), and digital displays which distinguishes them from traditional rice cookers.
Toshiba’s 1.8L Rice Cooker is an example of a Micom Rice Cooker
  • Induction Heating
    Induction Heating (IH) refers to the method of cooking. IH rice cookers is said to have more efficient heat distribution because it cooks from all sides, resulting in evenly cooked rice. Standard electronic rice cookers on the other hand cook from the bottom, which may cause over- or undercooked rice. An IH rice cooker and Micom rice cooker looks the same, but brands will usually include the term ‘IH’ in the model name to set them apart.
  • Multifunctional
    Multifunctional rice cookers are a combination of a rice cooker, a slow cooker, and a steamer. You’re not just limited to rice, but can also cook stew or heat up soup in it. Since it accommodates various types of food, multifunctional rice cookers are the more versatile option and better suited for those always switching up their meals.
Khind 0.8L Digital Rice Cooker [RCM08]

3. Inner Pot Material

Ceramic (right) vs Stainless Steel (left) inner pot

The inner pot is one of the most crucial components of a rice cooker. Most rice cookers either use stainless steel, aluminium, or ceramic inner pots.

Stainless steel and aluminium pots are the more durable option. You’d get away with those clumsy accidental drops without even leaving a dent on it. Although there are non-stick options, bear in mind not all stainless steel and aluminium inner pots have the non-stick coating. There are also health concerns with the use of these materials under such high heat. Some say the concerns are unfounded, but others take a more cautious approach.

An answer to this conundrum is a ceramic inner pot. Ceramic is believed to be non-reactive and will not release harmful chemicals under intense heat. If taken care of, a ceramic inner pot can last for many years, though it may not survive a drop as well as others.

4. Should you get a Low GI Rice Cooker?

Panasonic 1.5L Low Sugar Induction Heater (IH) Rice Cooker

Those big on health will appreciate the advances of rice cooking technology. Low GI rice cookers are burgeoning and becoming increasingly more popular. This is great for diabetics who need to be watchful of their sugar levels, or for those seeking to cut some weight.

Low GI rice cookers lessen the sugar content in rice by reducing starch.

Different brands employ their own sugar-reducing technology. For instance, Panasonic uses Induction Heating techniques to break down starch into soluble form, after which it would trickle into a separate chamber, where as Toshiba utilizes what is called a sugar-removing basket.

Not everyone has bought into the low GI rice cooker craze yet, but it is worth considering if you’re scouting for a rice cooker.

Editors Choice

Rice cookers are more personal than you think! Particularly in Malaysia, where rice is a staple and the key ingredient to a plethora of our delicacies. It’s important to make the best choice to the very appliance that’s going to help nourish us in the long-term.

Now that you’re well equipped with what you need to know, how about a few recommendations? Find the best deals for rice cookers in Malaysia on PriceShop!

Here are some of our picks:

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