Which are the 9 Best Rice Cookers In India 2023? Expert’s Pick

Last Updated on 25 January, 2023 by Sourav Roy

Rice is a huge part of every Indian’s life- we consume it every day. Not to mention, it’s also the primary ingredient in many delicious and special dishes like Khichudi, Biryani, Porridge, etc. Hence, it’s practically a must to have one of the best rice cookers in India in your kitchen.

This post contains everything you’d want to know about rice cookers, including expert reviews and one of the most comprehensive rice cooker guides around. Remember; it’s important that you get a good rice cooker. If you do that, you’ll be able to cook your rice very fast and make sure that it comes out cooked perfectly.

Best Rice Cookers In India 2023

Best Rice Cookers In India

1. Panasonic SR-Y22FHS 5.4L Non-Stick Rice Cooker

Panasonic is a Japanese brand renowned for high-tech appliances. This rice cooker is a fine example of the company’s prowess and is one of the best rice cookers in India available on the market today.

Panasonic SR-Y22FHS 5.4L Non-Stick Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 26.7 x 26.7 x 35 cm
  • Weight: 3.3 Kg
  • Capacity: 5.4L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Non-Stick Anchor Coating
  • Wattage: 750W
  • Control Type: Touch

Highlights

  • Offers maximum convenience with an efficient auto operation and easy-to-clean design.
  • Heatproof handles make it easy to carry the cooker around.
  • Comes with a warming mode that keeps food warm for several hours.

Why The Panasonic SR-Y22FHS 5.4L Non-Stick Rice Cooker?

Convenient Heat-resistant Bridge Handles: No matter how hot the cooker is, you don’t have to worry about burning your hands on the handle and accidentally dropping it. The shape of the handles is also ergonomic, and they can be held without any discomfort.

Comes With A Non-Stick Pan: With the pan being non-stick, there’s no need to worry about your food getting burnt. Plus, the material also ensures that you can clean the pan easily.

Long-lasting Design: The whole rice cooker is made of tough material, especially the lid and basket. The lid itself uses stainless steel, so it’ll last for a long time and stay rust-free. You can also use the basket comfortably, as it uses polycarbonate that’s far more durable than what’s used in standard rice cooker baskets.

Auto Cooking: You can make rice start cooking right away without much input; the rice cooker can cook food perfectly with minimum user interaction. The touch controls also add to the convenience.

Positives
  • High-quality pan.
  • Works well for steaming veggies.
  • Heat-free handles.
  • Easy to use control panel.
  • Comparatively light.
Negatives
  • Basked uses good quality plastic, but a metal one would’ve been better.
  • Takes a while to cook.
  • After-sales service isn’t particularly good.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

Can I cook biryani with it?

You can, but the meat you use needs to be pre-cooked.

Can I reheat food with it?

No, rice cookers aren’t good for reheating in general.

Is the power cord detachable?

No, it isn’t.

Verdict

If you need a rice cooker for a medium-sized family, the Panasonic SR-Y18FHS Rice Cooker is a great choice. Since it uses a non-stick pan and comes with a stainless steel lid, cleaning won’t be an issue. Plus, it comes from a top-tier brand, so you can stay assured that you’ll be able to use it at its peak performance for a very long time. All of that makes it one of the best rice cookers in India. Not to mention, it’s incredibly energy efficient compared to most rice cookers in the market.

 

2. Geek Robocook Zeta 5 5L 900W Smart Rice Cooker

Geek is most likely a brand you haven’t heard of, but once you try out this Robocook Zeta rice cooker, you’ll be sure to remember the brand. We were pleasantly taken aback by the number of high-tech features. Read on to learn more about this cooker.

Geek Robocook Zeta 5 5L 900W Smart Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 33 x 33 x 34.5 cm
  • Weight: 5.44 Kg
  • Capacity: 5L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Non-Stick Coating
  • Wattage: 900W
  • Control Type: Touch

Highlights

  • Comes with a versatile preset menu that allows you to conveniently cook a lot of food other than rice.
  • Designed to cook quickly whilst retaining a lot of nutrients.
  • Comes with a large number of versatile accessories.

Why The Geek Robocook Zeta 5 5L 900W Smart Rice Cooker?

More Than Just A Rice Cooker: While it cooks rice perfectly well, it can also handle soups, noodles, desserts, gravy and much more. In fact, we’ve found out that the included recipe book has items optimised for this specific cooker.

Uses An Intelligent Cooking Mechanism: You can be very precise with your cooking, as the control panel allows you to adjust many things. However, if you’d rather stay back and prefer easier controls, you can simply click the preset button. The rice cooker will handle the rest; it cooks well, taking all the important things like Temperature, Pressure, Heat and Time into account.

Comes With A Lot Of Accessories: Unlike most standard rice cookers, this one comes with all sorts of accessories. There’s a strainer, a recipe book, a streamer rack, a silicone gasket and much more. There’s even an egg rack so you can make eggs conveniently without needing to bother with your stove.

Specially Designed Pot: For a start, the pot is a non-stick one, as expected from a rice cooker considered one of the best rice cookers in India. It’s also constructed with maximum heat retention in mind, meaning you can enjoy faster cooking speeds.

Positives
  • Easy to clean.
  • Extremely versatile with various kinds of dishes.
  • Durable build quality.
  • Advanced heating mechanism.
  • Convenient control panel.
Negatives
  • A little bulky and heavy.
  • Not as energy-efficient as other high-end cookers on this list.
  • Customer service is somewhat hard to acquire.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

Will this cooker support 5 people?

Yes, it will. A 5L-6L rice cooker is enough for a family of such size.

What's the inner pot made of?

It’s made of High-Quality Non-Stick Aluminium.

Does it come with a physical book or an app?

It comes with both.

Verdict

Whether you need to make delicious variety recipes or want to make a large quantity of rice for events, the Geek Robocook Zeta 5 Rice Cooker will be able to handle it all. Its Intelligent Cooking feature especially sets it apart from all the other rice cookers on the market. You’ll definitely enjoy the amount of versatility the control panel and the rice cooker itself can offer you.

 

3. Pigeon by Stovekraft Joy 1L 400W Rice Cooker

Pigeon is starting to have a very loud presence in the Kitchen appliance market. Their products are always top-tier; our team has reviewed many of their products before. If you live alone or with a small family and need something compact, we suggest trying out this rice cooker.

Pigeon by Stovekraft Joy 1L 400W Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 24.2 x 24.2 x 20.7 cm
  • Weight: 2.4 Kg
  • Capacity: 1L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Stainless Steel
  • Wattage: 400W
  • Control Type: Button Based

Highlights

  • Lightweight body and cool-touch handles make carrying easy and comfortable.
  • Auto Shut Off mechanism ensures that you barely need to monitor your rice while it cooks.
  • Cooks evenly while offering excellent power savings.

Why The Pigeon by Stovekraft Joy 1L 400W Rice Cooker?

Versatile Cooking: Though it doesn’t have a fancy control panel like other high-end rice cookers, it can easily make you tasty porridges, soups, vegetable stews and even pulavs.

High-quality Cooking Plate: The cooking plate is made of durable aluminium and is designed to absorb heat quickly.

Durable Cooking Pot: Moving on, the pot itself is designed to last for a few years. We noticed that certain foods stuck to the surface when cooked, but such leftovers come off fairly easily.

Auto-Shut Off Mechanism: This Joy 1L can turn off on itself when cooking is complete, without any need for extra user input. Better yet, it keeps your food warm for a long while as well. You can set it to cook rice and leave home for a few hours, and you’ll come back to fresh, fully-cooked rice. The rice will stay warm for a whole 5 hours.

Easy To Carry: Another great thing about this cooker is one of the lightest options on the market, which is a large reason for us considering it one of the best rice cookers in India. You can carry it around with no effort, and the handles are super convenient, too, as they always stay cool.

Positives
  • Offers excellent mobility.
  • Easy to use one-click control.
  • Comes with auto-shutoff.
  • Has a very durable body.
  • Cool touch handles.
Negatives
  • Makes some noise while cooking.
  • Takes a while to cook.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

How many cooking bowls does it come with?

It comes with 1 bowl.

Is it good for boiling eggs?

No, this particular rice cooker isn’t.

Will I be able to boil vegetables?

Yes, you can boil vegetables with it.

Verdict

The Joy 1L is especially good for those that prefer ease of use over features. As long as you have a fairly small family, you can use this rice cooker to its full potential. The lightweight makes it perfect for carrying around, and it can cook a lot of dishes other high-end rice cookers can. Overall, this is a great product for the price.

 

4. Prestige Delight Aluminium 1.8L 700W Detachable Cord Rice Cooker

Like Pigeon, Prestige has also become fairly popular lately. From gas stoves to pressure cookers, they make all sorts of premium kitchen accessories. When it comes to the best rice cookers in India, they have a wide variety to offer as well. Their Delight Aluminium 1.8L 700W Detachable Cord Rice Cooker is a great option if you want something that performs well and is portable.

Prestige Delight Aluminium 1.8L 700W Detachable Cord Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 31 x 31 x 26 cm
  • Weight: 2.94 Kg
  • Capacity: 1.8L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Aluminium
  • Wattage: 700W
  • Control Type: Button Based

Highlights

  • Comes with a durable body and has a stainless steel lid.
  • Lightweight and detachable cord means you can effortlessly serve rice within the pot.
  • Has a scoop holder for extra convenience.

Why The Prestige Delight Aluminium 1.8L 700W Detachable Cord Rice Cooker?

Detachable Power Cord: The first thing that stood out to us about this product was its power cord. Though the market is full of advanced rice cookers, ones that use detachable cords are still rare. This one will offer you that and weighs very little compared to standard rice cookers.

Practical Yet Durable Design: You can serve rice with this cooker comfortably for a very long time. It’s made up of a mix of high-grade aluminium and plastic. Additionally, it comes with a heat-proof handle as well. The scoop holder isn’t much compared to everything else it offers, but it’s definitely a great addition.

Uses A High-Quality Lid: This cooker is equipped with a stainless steel lid, one that has a steam vent on the side. So, you can cook even more efficiently and without issues.

Comes With A Keep Warm Mode: Like the Pigeon rice cooker we reviewed earlier, this one too comes with a similar Keep Warm mode. So, if you want to leave your rice cooking in the pot for a few hours, then this one is great for the job.

Positives
  • Built to last.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Comes with scoop holder.
  • Recipe book included.
Negatives
  • Cook button starts having some problems after a while.
  • Mediocre after-sales service.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

Can it make rice for 3 people?

Yes, it can.

Can it boil eggs?

Yes, it can.

How many cooking bowls does it come with?

It has 2 cooking bowls.

Verdict

This rice cooker is simple yet effective. If you prefer to have something price-efficient and down-to-earth, this one is a good option to try. It’s easy to use and has a lot of extra benefits. You might want to get it because of the detachable cord, too, as that means a much smaller chance of accidents. We mentioned that the cook button gets faulty after a while, but that’s still not a very significant con. It feels less solid and less clicky but still works properly. So it’s a good option all in all.

 

5. AGARO 33307 1L 400W Rice Cooker With Steam Pot

Here’s another rice cooker from an underrated brand. The AGARO-33307 1L 400W Rice Cooker With Steam Pot is a great choice if you want something durable and simple. It cooks very well and comes packed with many features and accessories.

AGARO 33307 1L 400W Rice Cooker With Steam Pot

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 24.8 x 24.8 x 26 cm
  • Weight: 1.83 Kg
  • Capacity: 1L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Anodized Aluminium
  • Wattage: 400W
  • Control Type: Button Based

Highlights

  • Compact size makes it incredibly space-efficient.
  • One-step operation makes it convenient and easy to use.
  • Comes with a highly durable body and a long warranty for great long term use.

Why The AGARO 33307 1L 400W Rice Cooker With Steam Pot?

Close Fit Lid That Prevents Steam Leakage: When steam leaks in a rice cooker, it will result in uneven cooking. There’s also chance of the rice overflowing. However, you don’t have to worry about any of that with this lid. It’ll prevent that from happening and also increase the cooker’s cooking speed.

Comes With A Steamer, Measuring Cup And Spatula: Alongside being equipped with some of the best features on the market, it also comes with a steamer, measuring cup and a spatula. So, you’ll have even more convenience over what comes with owning a powerful rice cooker.

Takes Little Effort To Clean: The cooking pot doesn’t get rice stuck on it often, so you can clean it up fairly easy. The aluminium material isn’t as durable as the other models on this list but is still far better than what you’d get with a regular rice cooker.

Has A Long Warranty On Heating Plate: With 3 years of warranty on the heating plate, you don’t have to worry about the cooker breaking down anytime soon. It’s incredibly reliable.

Detachable Power Cord: You can take the cord off. Because of this feature and the heat resistant handles, you can comfortably carry the cooker around once you’re done cooking.

Positives
  • Easy to carry and clean.
  • The cord is detachable.
  • Compact size.
  • Has a reliable build quality and long warranty.
Negatives
  • Rice still sticks to the pot, though not as often; it’s not an actual non-stick cooking pan.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

Can it boil vegetables?

Yes, it can.

Does it come with a starch plate?

No, there’s no starch plate.

Will I be able to boil eggs in it?

Yes, you can boil eggs in this cooker.

Verdict

Although the AGARO 33307 can’t match some of the higher options on our list, it’s still an incredibly reliable rice cooker. In fact, its reliability is one of the biggest reasons we consider it to be one of the best rice cookers in India. Although, the elegant yet simple design and the detachable cord also gives it more credibility for being an excellent cooker. You don’t see the latter even in a lot of the higher-end rice cookers. All in all, great product for the price.

 

6. Prestige PRWO 1.8L Red 700W Rice Cooker

Considering that this cooker is a best seller and has 10,000+ ratings, it’d be a shame to not include it in our list of the best rice cookers in India. It comes with convenient controls and special features like keep warm options and a detachable power cord.

Prestige PRWO 1.8L Red 700W Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 32 x 28 x 29 cm
  • Weight: 2.53 Kg
  • Capacity: 1.8L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Aluminium
  • Wattage: 700W
  • Control Type: Button Based

Highlights

  • Keep Warm feature makes sure your food never gets spoiled when you take a while to bring it out after it’s cooked.
  • The lid has a steam vent, so your rice always gets cooked evenly.
  • 1.8L capacity is more than enough to serve rice for 5-6 people.

Why The Prestige PRWO 1.8L Red 700W Rice Cooker?

Easily Supports A Medium Sized Family: Besides being equipped with a large number of features, it also comes in an 18L capacity. If you’ve got a medium-sized family, you can easily make rice for everyone in one go.

Versatile Enough To Cook More Than Rice: While this cooker can quickly cook up rice for your family, it can also do a lot more than that. It’s versatile enough to steam vegetables, heat soup and cook biryani perfectly. So, you’ll always have easy, quick and delicious meals at hand.

Comes With A Handy Warm Mode: With this cooker, you can enjoy hot and fresh rice as long as 4 hours after cooking it. This is thanks to the automatic warm mode, which keeps your food at a perfect temperature.

Cooks Quickly: Another high point about the performance of this rice cooker is that it can easily cook rice within 15-20 minutes. That’s a huge advantage over standard rice cookers, which can take as long as an entire hour to cook.

Positives
  • Fast cooking speed.
  • Detachable cord.
  • Cold touch handles.
  • Lightweight.
  • 5 years warranty.
Negatives
  • Exterior build quality could be a little better.
  • Cleaning takes some effort.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

What accessories does this cooker come with?

One bowl and one spoon.

Does it come with a recipe book?

No, there’s no recipe book included with this one.

Can it be used to bake?

No, it can’t. Baking manually or with a microwave oven is significantly easier.

Verdict

If you’re looking to buy a rice cooker that’s not only good at cooking rice but a few other good dishes as well, then the Prestige PRWO 1.8L Red 700W Rice Cooker is an excellent option to try. With its large capacity, cooking speed, and detachable cord, you’ll be more than satisfied.

 

7. Preethi RC 320 A18 1.8L Double Pan 660W Rice Cooker

Here’s another underappreciated rice cooker we came across whilst looking for cookers for our list of the best rice cookers in India. Preethi has outdone itself with this particular cooker, as it manages to look quite elegant and offer a lot of unique features at the same time. Let’s take a closer look at this top-tier product.

Preethi RC 320 A18 1.8L Double Pan 660W Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 29.8 x 30.3 x 29.8 cm
  • Weight: 4 Kg
  • Capacity: 1.8L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Anodized Aluminium
  • Wattage: 660W
  • Control Type: Button Based

Highlights

  • Aluminium cooking pan ensures your rice gets cooked to perfection.
  • Comes with a specialised anti-rust coating that keeps the cooker clean and working perfectly for several years.
  • Has many extra protection features for both machine and user safety.

Why The Preethi RC 320 A18 1.8L Double Pan 660W Rice Cooker?

Comes With A High-Quality Pan: The pan, though not a non-stick one, is made of high-grade aluminium. Only a little bit of rice sticks to it, and it retains heat quickly, so you can enjoy fast cooking speeds.

Incredibly Fast Cooking Speed: It’s not only the pan that ensures you get your rice as fast as possible; the 660W power output and overlapped heating coil also provides a huge benefit. If you’re looking for performance, this rice cooker is certainly worth trying out.

Safe To Use: This rice cooker is equipped with a thermostat cut off mechanism to ensure maximum safety. Plus, it’s also designed so that there’s no melting of lead, so it’ll operate perfectly well for a good few years.

Auto Warm Keeps Food Fresh: And, of course, it comes with a super handy food warming mechanism. Set it to cook your food for you, and you can go about your tasks without having to rush back to get the cooked food out.

Positives
  • Comes with extra safety mechanisms.
  • Has an auto warm feature.
  • Excellent looks.
  • Good cooking capacity.
Negatives
  • Body is a little bulky.
  • Mediocre after-sales services.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

Is the lid transparent?

No, it isn’t.

Does it start warming right after cooking?

Yes, it’ll automatically switch to warm mode after cooking is complete.

Can it boil milk?

Yes, but it’s not very good at that. We’d highly advise against using this cooker for such a purpose.

Verdict

The Preethi RC 320 A18 1.8L Double Pan 660W Rice Cooker is a good product in almost every aspect, offering great cooking speeds and excellent safety features to protect both you and the appliance. It’s easy to use and looks nice on the eyes too. If you like simplicity, then this rice cooker will be more than satisfactory.

 

8. Bajaj RCX 5 1.8L 550W Rice Cooker

Everyone knows Bajaj- it’s a top-tier Indian brand. If you go for this rice cooker, not only do you get the best features on the market, but guaranteed quality after-sales support as well.

Bajaj RCX 5 1.8L 550W Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 29.21 x 29.59 x 24.51 cm
  • Weight: 2.29 Kg
  • Capacity: 1.8L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Anodized Aluminium
  • Wattage: 550W
  • Control Type: Button Based

Highlights

  • Cool-touch handles for easy carriage.
  • The stainless steel lid is incredibly durable; it’s easy to clean and can withstand several years of use.
  • A detachable power cord offers maximum convenience.
Sale
Bajaj RCX 5 1.8L 550W Rice Cooker
6,500 Reviews

Why The Bajaj RCX 5 1.8L 550W Rice Cooker?

User-Friendly Handle Design: The handles on the RCX 5 are not only heat resistant, but their general design is also perfect- you won’t feel any fatigue when holding the cooker while it’s full. The low 2.29kg weight helps with that as well.

Quick Cooking Speed: Don’t let the 550W power output put you off. Though it isn’t as high as other options on this list, the material in the cooking pan still ensures that you get your food cooked as fast as possible.

Power-Efficient: 550W is relatively low compared to other high-end rice cookers, so this one doesn’t consume a lot at all. Not to mention, it doesn’t even need to run for very long, thanks to the super quick cooking speed.

Conveniently Keep It On Your Dining Table: This cooker has a detachable power cord- so it’s easy to carry, and setting it up on your table won’t be a problem.

Positives
  • Charming appearance.
  • Low power consumption.
  • Lightweight.
  • Auto-shut off mechanism.
Negatives
  • Rice can stick to the pan.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

Does it have a timer?

No, there aren’t any timers.

Can I make brown rice with it?

Yes, you can.

Does it work well with vegetables?

Yes, it does.

Verdict

The Bajaj RCX 5 1.8L 550W Rice Cooker is a brilliant choice. It has everything you’d look for in a good rice cooker- power efficiency, good looks, and it’s also incredibly user friendly. Not to mention, customer support is right around the corner if you need help with something. You can pretty much for this product without your eyes closed as long as you’re not looking for a specific feature.

 

9. Panasonic SRWA 18 1.8L 660W Anodised Aluminum Rice Cooker

We’re not done with Panasonic; we’ve stumbled upon another great model from them whilst combing through the market. This one is the perfect option for a small-medium family; it offers state-of-art features and excellent durability.

Panasonic SRWA 18 1.8L 660W Anodised Aluminum Rice Cooker

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 27 x 27 x 23.5 cm
  • Weight: 2.67 Kg
  • Capacity: 1.8L
  • Cooking Pan Material: Anodised Aluminium
  • Wattage: 660W
  • Control Type: Button Based

Highlights

  • Extremely durable premium body construction makes sure you can serve rice with it for many years.
  • Stops on its own once cooking is complete to prevent accidental food burning.
  • Cooks quickly but consumes minimal power.

Why The Panasonic SRWA 18 1.8L 660W Anodised Aluminum Rice Cooker?

High-quality Body Design: The body is built out of CRCA food-grade material, which means the rice cooker can be easy to clean, efficient and super durable at the same time.

Comes With A Cooking Plate: Thanks to the cooking plate, you can have better control over the dishes you cook. If you want to cook something else alongside the rice but don’t want the flavours of the other dish you’re cooking to mix into it, then the plate will come in handy. It’s made of BPA-free material and can easily fit into the cooker even when it’s loaded with rice. So, you can cook two things simultaneously while still keeping them separate.

Turns Off On Its Own When Cooking Is Complete: Once the rice is cooked, it will turn off on its own- so there’s no need to worry about the burning food that happens if the cooker is left on for too long.

Comfortable Bridge Handle: Though this cooker is one of the least expensive models on our list, it has incredibly comfortable handles. They’re even heat resistant, like other higher-end options.

Positives
  • Efficient and sturdy design.
  • Has heat-proof handles.
  • Doesn’t weigh much.
  • Low energy consumption.
Negatives
  • No “Warm Mode” feature.

FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions about the product.

Can it cook brown rice?

It can make that within 20 minutes.

How much raw rice can it cook?

About 1kg of raw rice.

How many bowls does it come with?

It comes with just 1 pan.

Verdict

The SRWA 18 lacks a few features, but we think that’s acceptable, as it’s more of an entry-level option. It’s practically a perfect pick for anyone who wants something really basic. The features are solid, the capacity is decent, and most of all, the build quality is right up there with all the high-end rice cookers on this list. All in all, this cooker is definitely worthy of being the model we’re ending our list with.

 

Recommended Reading: Top 9 Best Microwave Oven in India (2023) Buyer’s Guide

 

Best Rice Cookers in India – Buying Guide

Best Rice Cookers in India 01

If you’re not sure which rice cooker to pick, you’re in luck! This guide will help you find the best one for your needs. There are plenty of different rice cookers to choose from, so it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

 

Rice Cookers Vs Pressure Cookers

On the surface, the cooking mechanism of these appliances seem similar, so you might wonder whether you need a rice cooker or a pressure one. So, we’ll get any possible confusion about these cookers out of the way first.

Both of these cookers actually work very differently. In this section, we’ll go a little in-depth into their mechanism and list some pros and cons. If you want to get more insight into this comparison, we have a post entirely dedicated to the subject; feel free to give it a look if this portion isn’t satisfactory enough.

 

Rice Cookers

Rice Cookers make rice through water; the appliance heats up that water until it boils, and then the boiling process makes your grains ready. These cookers are specifically made for rice, though steaming vegetables and making a few other items is still possible.

Pros Of Rice Cookers

  • They can cook rice evenly without any sort of burning.
  • They take up very little space and are easy to clean.
  • Some models come with accessories like spoons.
  • Rice Cookers can also come with a delayed start mechanism so you can set your rice to cook automatically at a certain time.
  • They don’t need constant monitoring.
  • Rice can be cooked easily with little to no manual intervention.
  • Many models come with a special “Warm Mode” that actively keeps cooked food warm once cooking is done.

Cons Of Rice Cookers

  • Rice Cookers aren’t as versatile as pressure cookers.
  • One needs to be extra careful when putting in water; it’s easy to put in the wrong amount and burn the rice.
  • Entry-level models lack a lot of features and can be very inconvenient.

 

Pressure Cookers

Cooking with pressure cookers is a lot different than doing so through water. These appliances work by trapping steam inside the compartment and increasing pressure, making it hot enough for the food inside to cook quickly. Since they utilise more than just water, they can also cook much more quickly than rice cookers.

Pros Of Pressure Cookers

  • Pressure cookers are versatile and can cook various foods like stews, meats and vegetables.
  • They can cook much faster than rice cookers.
  • They’re also more energy-efficient than rice cookers.
  • You can use them with both gas and electricity.
  • These cookers are more convenient if you simply want to store food in them for a while.
  • Entry-level pressure cookers are more convenient than entry-level rice cookers.

Cons Of Pressure Cookers

  • They’re heavier.
  • They need a fairly high amount of manual interaction.
  • Higher chances of overcooking as there’s no automatic stop mechanism.
  • They don’t actively keep food warm inside.
  • Food can’t be monitored whilst cooking.

Here’s a comparison table that sums up all the important pros and cons;

FactorsRice CookersPressure Cookers
Cost-efficiency DecentGood
VersatilityLowHigh
Cook SpeedSlowFast
User InteractionMinimal, Auto OperationA lot of manual interaction needed
Cooking MethodSteamSteam, Heat and Pressure
WeightLightHeavy
CleaningEasyMore effort needed
Ease Of UseMoreLess

For versatility, pressure cookers are definitely good. However, the convenience of cooking rice in a rice cooker and the resulting quality is unmatched.

Recommended Reading: The 9 Best Pressure Cooker In India 2023: Stainless Steel & Aluminium

 

Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Rice Cooker In India

1. Capacity

The capacity of the rice cooker is denoted by litres. Whilst looking at the market, you’ll come across capacities ranging from 1L to 10. You can follow a few tips to get the right capacity for yourself; consider the amount of rice your family consumes in cups.

For example, a small family of 4 or so members generally needs 3-5 cups (each cup being 250ml) of rice for each serving. In that case, a 1L capacity rice cooker will do just fine. For a bigger family, we’d suggest a 2L-3L rice cooker as that can handle 7 cups of rice, which is more than enough for a family of 5-7 people.

Do be aware that this guideline only applies if only rice is being cooked, with nothing else.

 

2. Build Material

This is another important factor to consider when buying a rice cooker. You should always ensure that the cooker is made of non-stick material; you don’t want rice sticking to your cooker and making cleaning much harder. Most of the best rice cookers in India have non-stick pans, though some don’t. Options that don’t have non-stick coating but use anodised aluminium are almost as good. They’re durable, and while rice does stick to them, they’re fairly easy to clean.

 

3. Ease Of Carriage

You’ll obviously need to carry the cooker around a lot since you’ll be serving the rice right from it more often than not. So, consider the weight of the cooker as well. Since there are various capacities and weights, you should make some comparisons before making your buying decision.

Additionally, you should ensure that the cooker you’re getting a cool-touch handle; you don’t want to accidentally spill hot rice on yourself because you accidentally touched the handles without gloves. The best rice cookers in India usually come with this feature.

One last thing you need to make sure the rice cooker has is a detachable power cord. The lack of this kind of cord is usually an indicator of mediocre quality. After all, carrying a hot cooker with a cord makes things dangerous because of the chance of tripping.

 

4. Versatility

Standard rice cookers are only good at cooking rice. However, high-end rice cookers are not only used to make rice but can also make other items like steamed vegetables, grains, etc. This feature can be very useful when your main stove doesn’t have space, and you need to make a lot of other dishes.

 

5. Auto-operation Mechanism

Not all rice cookers turn off on their own when the rice is done cooking, leading to you having to eat burnt food. Always make sure that the cooker can turn off once cooking is complete. A lot of good rice cookers also come with a timed start function. You can put your rice in the cooker and set it to start at a specific time, making things more productive and convenient for you.

 

6. Digital Operation

Rice cookers can come with either a manual button-based control system or a full-fledged digital one that works through touch and offers basic information. Going for the latter is a good idea, as models using such a control panel come with many other advanced features- like preset options.

 

7. Wattage

This part may sound a little different than you expect; a rice cooker with higher wattage doesn’t actually cook faster. That’s because this kind of appliance cooks rice through water, not direct heat. The water generally doesn’t get hotter than 100°C, even if the power output is high. So, don’t put extra consideration into a cooker that offers higher wattage; keep the features and weight your priority next to the capacity. 600W-800W is enough for offering you fast cooking without wasting energy.

 

8. Warm Mode

A common feature you’ll see across some of the best rice cookers in India is the Warm Mode. It can keep cooked items warm for an extended period of time; good models can even keep food warm for as long as 12 hours.

 

9. Warranty

In case anything goes wrong with your rice cooker, you’ll want to be able to replace it as soon as possible. So, always check if the product comes with a warranty and how long that warranty period is.

Recommended Reading: Which are the Best OTG Oven in India 2023: Expert Speaks

 

Best Rice Cooker In India: frequently asked questions

What's a fuzzy logic rice cooker?

A fuzzy logic rice cooker is a high-end rice cooker that uses a microprocessor to control various functions like timing and cooking temperature. These rice cookers have just come out, so you won’t find many good ones on the market. The available ones are incredibly expensive, going as high as Rs. 40,000.

What other things can be cooked in a rice cooker?

Most rice cookers are versatile enough to be used to make a wide variety of dishes, including puddings, porridge, steamed vegetables, beans, noodles and soups.

Can I steam chicken in a rice cooker?

Yes, you can steam chicken in a rice cooker. You just need to make sure you’re using a steam tray or rack.

How long do rice cookers normally take to cook rice?

This depends on the type of rice you’re making and the capacity of your rice cooker. Generally, it can take anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour for most models to cook white rice. However, some of the best rice cookers in India come with a special quick-cook mechanism that can cook rice in as little as 20 minutes.

Is it possible to boil just water in a rice cooker?

No, it isn’t. You’d most likely end with an empty rice cooker as the water will boil quickly and evaporate before the cooker turns off.

Does rice type affect the cooking in a rice cooker?

Yes, low-end rice cookers can’t work very well with thicker kinds of rice.

Can I open a rice cooker while cooking?

No, we’d highly recommend against doing that. Doing that might let heat escape, which will lead to uneven cooking. You don’t need to put so much effort into monitoring the rice, as most rice cookers can turn off on their own at the right times.

Recommended Reading: 15 Pressure Cooker recipes to give new angles to Indian Cuisine

 

Conclusion

How you cook your rice can impact your entire meal, both at lunch and during dinner. It can even change your mood, if it’s cooked really well or really bad. Having one of the best rice cookers in India at home will make sure you can get well-cooked rice with minimum effort.

Even if the rice cookers we reviewed don’t meet your needs, our buying guide will still be of great help. Our research will help you pick the right product in terms of size, functionality, design, capacity and other factors.

Good luck with your shopping, and we hope you have a wonderful day and meal today!

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