If you thought years of cooking rice is what you needed to become the best cook, think again. With the many modern rice cookers that are available in the market, you will have access to advanced and useful features that make rice cooking easy and fun.
Our team embarked on a journey to find the best induction rice cooker, and the cooking appliances we tested took us by surprise. For instance, we established that there is much to consider in the rice-cooking department before you can pick the best rice cooker for your kitchen. Each cooker that we have listed in this article has features that make it good as well as a few drawbacks that people who have used the cooker noticed. Continue reading the sections below, which explores rice cookers from different brands, to see our opinion regarding the best induction heating rice cooker.
The 5 Best Induction Rice Cookers
1. Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH – Editor’s Choice
Highlights:
- Superior induction heating technology
- Clear coated stainless steel exterior
- All-round heating
- Automatic keep warm and extended keep warm
- Detachable stainless steel lid
- LCD panel with clock and 2 setting delay timer
- Melody and beep signal alerts
- 5.5 cup holding capacity
This induction rice cooker measures 10 inch W by 14 inch D by 8 inch H and has a holding capacity of up to 5.5 cups, which makes it perfect for cooking rice for small and large families. The large-sized LCD located at the top of the lid has a clock and a 2 setting delay timer that allows you to put in the rice and wait for the cooker to alert you with an optional beep or melody sound when the rice is done cooking.
The cooker has a 1230 watt power rating and requires an electrical power input of 120 volts to power the triple heating mechanism of the bottom, walls, and lid for all-round heating. Included is a stainless steel covering lid that detaches from the body for easy cleaning and a spherical cooking pot that is induction ready.
You can pick settings for cooking jasmine, Gaba brown, or germinated brown rice that once cooked, is kept at optimum serving temperature by the automatic keep warm and stay warm setting.
What we liked:
- Supports induction heaters
- Easy to clean interior cooking pot
- Has a large holding capacity
- The multifunction cooker supports cooking other foods like beans and oats
- Includes a measuring cup
- Covered under a 1-year limited warranty
What could be better:
- The lid and pot are not safe for dishwasher cleaning
- Difficult to replace the battery when it wears out
2. Panasonic SR-HZ106 – Best Value
Highlights:
- 13 preset menus
- Large LCD
- Easy to carry handle
- Calibrated 7 layered inner pans with diamond coating
- 12-hrs keep the warm capability
- 5 cup holding capacity
- All-round induction heating
- Automatic shut off
The Panasonic SR-HZ106 features an induction rice cooker whose bottom, top lid, and sidewalls are lined with magnetic coils that heat the induction ready pot insert simultaneously, thus ensuring that the contents cook uniformly. A large-sized display has a timer that can be preset to alert the cook when the rice is perfectly cooked. 13 different rice menus are pre-set on the cooker and can be accessed through a single touch button. The cooker also features an automatic shut off mechanism when the contents are cooked and a keep warm capability that immediately kicks in after the cooker shuts off to keep the contents warm for 12 hours.
A spacious large-sized handle enables easy transportation of the cooker and its contents from the kitchen to the serving table.
What we liked:
- Easy to clean inner non-stick pot
- All-round heating cooks contents evenly
- Includes measuring cup and serving spoon
- The inner pot is calibrated for accurate measuring
- Is portable
- Includes steaming basket
- Has a side holder for the ladle
What could be better:
- The cord does not detach for convenient storage
3. Cuckoo CRP-HR0867F – Best Korean
Highlights:
- Front-facing LCD
- 8 cup holding capacity
- Induction heating
- 18 built-in cooking functions
- Calibrated non-stick interior
The Cuckoo CRP-HR0867F induction rice cooker has a large holding capacity of up to 8 cups, which enables it to cook enough rice for 8 adult-sized servings. The cooker is powered by 110v electrical power making it suitable for use in the home kitchen.
This induction rice cooker works by heating the interior induction-ready insert pot, which features a non-stick coating for easy cleanup, and whose walls are calibrated to enable accurate measurements of contents.
Cooking rice with this cooker avails 18 different options of the outcome you want and includes Glutinous (White), GABA brown, Mixed, and Brown rice, among others. Various settings can be accessed through the large-sized front-facing LCD and the surrounding menu buttons.
What we liked:
- Large holding capacity
- Easy to clean non-stick insert pot
- Calibrated interior of the pot enables accurate measuring
- Removable cover cleans easy
- Compact size takes up less space when storing
What could be better:
- Difficult to switch the language to English
- The electric memory battery is not replaceable
4. Cuckoo – ECO mini – Full Stainless
Highlights:
- 3 cup holding capacity
- Fuzzy logic smart temperature adjustment
- LCD
- Touch and Voice navigation
- Automatic steam release lid
- Overheating Alarm
- Calibrated induction-ready insert
- Lock and release lid
The Cuckoo – ECO mini packs lots of features in a miniature-sized induction heating rice cooker and is a must-have for any cook who cooks for a few individuals. The LCD has a unique blue hue that differs from the display on other cookers in this induction rice cooker review and is accompanied by voice navigation in English, Korean, or Chinese languages.
This induction cooker uses all-round induction heating to heat up the induction-ready insert that has calibrated interior walls. The top covering lid has a lock-in and release mechanism, which firmly holds the lid in place during cooking and a steam release perforation that automatically opens to release pressure and steam, thus preventing spilling.
More safety features are included in the design of this cooker and include an overheating alarm alert, secondary pressure release, electric fuse, Auto temperature control, malfunction indicator, and a magnetic safety sensor.
What we liked:
- Packs lots of safety features
- Cooks quietly
- Cleans easily
- Convenient for small-sized meals
- Voice navigation supports three languages
What could be better:
- Lacks a delay timer
- Too many optional settings take time to master
5. Buffalo Titanium SMART IH – Budget Pick
Highlights:
- Fully touch control panel
- 11 different inbuilt cooking functions
- Buffalo Clad non-stick oxidation-resistant inner pot
- Intelligent temperature control
- Collapsible carrying handle
- Removable stainless steel covering lid
- Detachable steam valve
- 24-hour preset timer
The Buffalo Titanium SMART IH has a large-sized fully touch control panel located at the top of the covering lid. The cooker has 11 inbuilt cooking functions that enable the cook to achieve more than just the perfect rice recipe.
Induction heating is supported by the buffalo clad insert that holds up to 8 cups, is non-stick for easy cleaning, and resists corrosion and oxidation to make it durable. Both the top lid and pot insert easily detach for efficient cleaning in the sink.
New technology featured in this cooker successfully prevents overheating, spilling, overcooking, and sticking of food on the walls of the insert pot. The cooker also features a micro intelligent controller that helps inaccurate measurement of the contents to be cooked, allows cooking with intelligent temperature control, and enables efficient pressure and steam release, which maintains the rich taste of the food being cooked in the interior.
What we liked:
- 11 inbuilt cooking functions
- A timer allows up to 24 hours presetting
- Fully touch control panel
- Includes a steamer
- 8-cup holding capacity enables cooking for many people
- The top lid and insert detach for easy cleaning
What could be better:
- The insert scratches easily
- The cooker produces a loud sound when cooking
Buying Guide
When looking for a rice cooker to add to your kitchen, your cooking requirements will guide you into knowing the best rice cooker for you. However, it is always advisable to consider buying modern appliances that include helpful features like the five induction rice cookers we have listed in the section above. Modern rice cookers with additional features make your cooking experience fun and enjoyable and help you get remarkable results within a short time.
The section below outlines in detail some of the things that you should consider when purchasing a rice cooker.
Holding Capacity
The rice cooler you pick should have a holding capacity enough for the people that you regularly cook for. Students who live alone on campus or share a room can opt for smaller rice cookers like the Cuckoo – ECO mini while large-capacity cookers like the Cuckoo CRP-HR0867F are better suited for large families.
Functional Timers
Timers that can allow presetting the cooker to begin cooking at a certain time offer great convenience that you should not miss when buying a cooker. Display screens also enable the cook to monitor the progress of the food cooking and give a countdown estimation of when the food will be ready for serving.
Ease of operation
Consider purchasing a cooker that is easy to operate. Rice cookers with full touch control panels like the Buffalo Titanium Smart cooker give cooks an easy time when setting the cooker to prepare food.
Models like the Cuckoo – ECO mini that has menu select buttons and additional voice navigation in three languages announcing the setting that has been selected are even better because they eliminate cases of wrong settings being selected.
Keep warm function
A remarkable feature that a shopper looking through modern rice cookers should not miss is the keep warm function that helps to keep the food warm after it is done cooking. The Panasonic rice cooker we included in our review has an innovative keep warm function that immediately kicks in when the cooker switches off and efficiently keeps the contents inside ready for serving when warm for up to 12 hours.
Ease of cleaning
The cleaning process should also be a priority when selecting a rice cooker for your kitchen. Here, note that cookers that have detachable parts come apart easily for easy cleaning. Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH, for instance, has a detachable stainless steel lid and a pot insert that cleans quickly and effortlessly.
Rice cookers with inserts that can be cleaned in the dishwasher will also give you an easy time when getting rid of leftover food items after cooking.
Consider the Warranty
Consider purchasing rice cookers that are covered under warranty by the manufacturer. Note that the warranty on most appliances is limited, which means that the appliance is covered for some time and only replaced if the damage happens within the time that it is covered. Ensure that you check the warranty document thoroughly to know the kind of damages to the cooker make it viable for replacement and those that do not.
How do I clean my rice cooker?
To clean your rice cooker, ensure that you scrape off any food items in the interior first. Then detach any parts that come off and clean them in the sink under running water. Any parts that house electrical parts should not be cleaned in the sink.
How long can rice be left in the rice cooker?
Rice cookers that have keep-warm functionality allow storing rice for up to 12 hours. Ensure that you keep the cooker on after cooking and cover the contents with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying. The cooker should also remain closed during the time you want to keep the rice in the cooker.
Our Verdict
After comparing several rice cookers, our team picked the Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH as the best induction rice cooker due to its large size, considerably fair pricing, and its extra features. Panasonic SR-HZ106 followed closely as the second best cooker with many useful features and convenient sizes that give the buyer value for money. We placed the Buffalo Titanium SMART IH rice cooker third on our list due to the ability of the manufacturer to avail the futuristic rice cooker at an affordable price that is almost too good to be true considering all the advanced features it packs. We hope that this article has shed more light on induction rice cookers and helps you pick the best induction rice cooker when you are looking to add one to your collection of kitchen appliances.
