Tefal RK5001 Mini Ceramic Rice Cooker Review

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Our search for a ceramic mini rice cooker lead us to Tefal RK5001 which boasts a wide range of  11 functions to maximise convenience and make cooking a breeze. The functions include cooking rice, brown rice, congee, porridge and instant noodles. Aside from these, this sturdy compact rice cooker has an adjustable timer and presets for quick cooking, steaming, reheating and keeping food warm.

Notable bigger range of features (as compared to its counterparts)

Tefal RK5001 makes use of the fuzzy logic technology to deliver perfectly-prepared dishes and boosts a 24-hour delayed start and 24 keep warm mode function. It has a five-layer 2mm ceramic coated pot with diamond shape coating for durability.

Compact-sized for small household

Although compact, this rice cooker has a capacity of 0.5 Liters (3 Cups) which is suitable for a small household of 2 to 3 people. Dimensions LxWxH:  32cm x 26.5cm x 25 cm Weight: 3.45 Kg Colour: White Power: 350 W

Mid to higher priced 

At the time of the writing, you can get Tefal RK5001 for $99 from Shopee or NTUC Fairprice. For a compact rice cooker, this is considered as a mid to high-range price. The higher cost is likely attributed to its bigger range of functionality (11 in total) and better and sturdy material quality. Ceramic coated is generally preferred over Teflon non-stick coating since Teflon releases fumes when heated above 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

First impressions

Tefal RK5001 comes in pure white only and it comes pre-packed the following accessories: a steam basket, standard measuring cup, rice spoon, soup spoon and a removable rice spoon support. It is equipped with an LED control panel. Measuring at only 32cm x 26.5cm x 25 cm, its tiny footprint meant that it can be easily stored in one corner of the kitchen without taking up much countertop space!

Is Tefal RK5001 easy to clean?

Preparing for first use 

After unpacking the rice cooker, wipe the outside of the appliance and the lid with a damp cloth and dry off carefully. The ceramic bowl, the steam shield and the pressure valve need to be cleaned with the sponge with a bit of washing detergent before they are rinsed off with water. Boil some water and pour into the ceramic bowl to remove any residue left from the manufacturing process.

Verdict: Easy to clean and dishwasher-friendly! 👍

Since most of the parts (ceramic coated bowl, steam shield, inner lid and cord) is removable;  this makes cleaning Tefal RK5001 a breeze! Although the parts are dishwasher safe, extra care must be taken not to damage the ceramic coating while the bowl is being loaded into the dishwasher.

Does Tefal RK5001 cook rice well?

Verdict: Passes rice cooking test with flying colours (Uncle Roger will definitely approve) 👍

We have used Tefal RK5001 for around 3 months and glad to share that the white rice has consistently come out perfectly cooked and moist. The cooked rice doesn't stick to the ceramic bowl and doesn't burn!

Verdict: Cooks delicious congee and porridge 👍

Cooking congee and porridge is as easy as a few clicks, just select the "Congee" or “Porridge” function which has default pressure/time, then press “Start”. Just wait until the rice cooker beeps and the congee and porridge come out nice and tasty.

Steaming is a bit of squeeze

Cooking rice and other steamed dishes are made very convenient since we are able to steam other dishes as the rice is being cooked. However, due to its compact size, the steaming basket is shallow and not wide and as a result, there is a limited amount of food which can be steamed (since some space has to be set aside for steam to circulate around the food).

Cooking instant noodles saves time if you wish to steam a dish at the same time

Using a rice cooker to cook instant noodles is recommended if you intend also to steam another dish at the same time. Otherwise, cooking instant noodles the traditional way is still similar to cooking it in a rice cooker. 

Final verdict

Tefal RK5001 passed with flying colours and we voted that it is definitely suitable for a small household. Furthermore, its compact frame helps to save a considerable kitchen countertop space. After using it for 3 months, we are glad to report that it is very easy to use and helps to cook rice, congee and porridge perfectly!