6 Insider Tips for Choosing the Right Rice Cooker for Your Family

There are so many types of rice cookers in the market, so how would you pick the ideal choice for your home? To help you make the right choice, here is a quick checklist of what areas you need to look out for, prior getting a rice cooker.

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#1. Choose wisely since there are many types of rice cookers available in the market

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Aside from the traditional electric rice cookers, there are also slow cookers and multi-purpose cookers in the market and they do much more than just cooking rice. A typical rice cooker has a singular function, which is to cook rice with water. However, on the other spectrum, there are rice cookers that are multifunctional, which also function as a food warmer, slow cooker, steamer, fryer yoghurt maker and so on. There are also slow cookers that make use of low heat to cook the food slowly and are great for making flavorful stews, soups, sauces and rice. Ultimately, the type of rice cooker you choose should meet your lifestyle needs.

#2. Rice cookers come in a different capacities, measured by cups

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Rice cookers come in standard 3-cup, 5-cup, or 10-cup sizes. As a guide, a 3-cup capacity cooker is enough for a small family of 2 - 3 people, a 5-cup rice cooker for mid-sized family of 4-6 people and so on.

#3. The amount of the kitchen counter estate depends on the type and the capacity of the rice cooker

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Generally, a 3-cup capacity cooker takes up more space than a 5-cup rice cooker. In addition, a multifunctional rice cooker is also larger in size than an electric rice cooker. However, a larger-sized multifunctional rice cooker is generally more space-saving, since it replaces multiple appliances at once.

#4. Pay attention to the material used for the rice cooker's inner pot since it can be toxic

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Rice cooker inner pots come in myriad of materials such as aluminium, Teflon, ceramic, and stainless steel. However, inner pots which are coated with Teflon, which is a non-stick coating made of a material called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poses a health hazard when it is scratched or burnt which causes these chemicals to leak into our food. For the health-conscious, choose an aluminium or inner pot made of ceramic that is baked and glazed.

#5. Durability is based on the material used

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Stainless steel inner pot is durable, but causes food to stick and has a poor heat transfer capability. Ceramic inner pots are non-stick and have even heat distribution, but they are expensive and not durable. Ceramic coated inner pot (often coated over aluminium) is not durable since the coating can be scratched and hence should be handled carefully.

#6. Look for a rice cooker with detachable inner pots and lids, and dishwasher safe for ease of maintenance

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Rice cookers that come with detachable inner pots and lids make washing and drying much easier. Ceramic inner pots are easier to clean since the food does not stick onto the pot. In addition, if you have a dishwasher, you can opt for those rice cooker inner pots which are dishwasher friendly.