How to Pick a Rice Cooker
Figure out the size of rice cooker you need., Figure out what material you need for the inner pot., Decide whether you need a gas or electric rice cooker., Decide whether you need a rice cooker with a warming function.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Figure out the size of rice cooker you need.
This depends on how much rice you need cooked in each batch. 1-10 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for home use.
This size is very small and will often not be used in a commercial setting.
If you cook rice often at home and want to invest in a good cooker, then 1-10 cups is likely your size. 21-30 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for light commercial use.
For restaurants that serve rice with only a few dishes and are not extremely busy, a 21-30 cup rice cooker should fit your needs. 31-40 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for medium commercial use.
For a mid-sized restaurant with a handful of rice dishes , a 31-40 cup rice cooker should be the right fit. 51-60 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for heavy commercial use.
Often, 51-60 cup rice cookers are reserved for restaurants that include rice in almost every dish.
Asian and Mexican restaurants almost always opt for the heaviest use cookers. -
Step 2: Figure out what material you need for the inner pot.
Aluminum
-- inner pots are most often made of aluminum as it is durable, light, and dent resistant.
It cannot however be washed in a commercial dishwasher as the chemicals will erode the aluminum.
Stainless Steel
-- these can be harder to find but can be washed in the dishwasher (given the inner pot is removable).
Ceramic
-- usually only small, residential use rice cookers will come with a ceramic inner pot.
They don’t often last long in a commercial setting where equipment is constantly being moved around and often dropped. , Most slow rice cookers are electric and come with a cord and plug.
These are the most common simply because most modern kitchens place their rice cookers on a counter and want to use an electrical outlet.
There are still a number of gas rice cookers out there for those with gas lines rather than outlets in the kitchen.
Most use a Piezo Ignition system which does not require an outside power source.
If you have a gas rice cooker though, most local codes require it be under a hood.
Refer to your local authority before purchasing a gas rice cooker to make sure you are meeting all safety requirements. , Rice cookers with a hold feature are great when you have a large capacity cooker that you would like to hold your rice warm for the next few hours.
Most slow rice cookers with a hold feature will keep your rice warm for 2-5 hours depending on the model.
Rice cookers without a hold feature are created purely to cook the rice and nothing more, they shut off after the cycle is completed.
If you are using large amounts of rice quickly then a hold feature may not be necessary. -
Step 3: Decide whether you need a gas or electric rice cooker.
-
Step 4: Decide whether you need a rice cooker with a warming function.
Detailed Guide
This depends on how much rice you need cooked in each batch. 1-10 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for home use.
This size is very small and will often not be used in a commercial setting.
If you cook rice often at home and want to invest in a good cooker, then 1-10 cups is likely your size. 21-30 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for light commercial use.
For restaurants that serve rice with only a few dishes and are not extremely busy, a 21-30 cup rice cooker should fit your needs. 31-40 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for medium commercial use.
For a mid-sized restaurant with a handful of rice dishes , a 31-40 cup rice cooker should be the right fit. 51-60 Cup Rice Cooker:
Best for heavy commercial use.
Often, 51-60 cup rice cookers are reserved for restaurants that include rice in almost every dish.
Asian and Mexican restaurants almost always opt for the heaviest use cookers.
Aluminum
-- inner pots are most often made of aluminum as it is durable, light, and dent resistant.
It cannot however be washed in a commercial dishwasher as the chemicals will erode the aluminum.
Stainless Steel
-- these can be harder to find but can be washed in the dishwasher (given the inner pot is removable).
Ceramic
-- usually only small, residential use rice cookers will come with a ceramic inner pot.
They don’t often last long in a commercial setting where equipment is constantly being moved around and often dropped. , Most slow rice cookers are electric and come with a cord and plug.
These are the most common simply because most modern kitchens place their rice cookers on a counter and want to use an electrical outlet.
There are still a number of gas rice cookers out there for those with gas lines rather than outlets in the kitchen.
Most use a Piezo Ignition system which does not require an outside power source.
If you have a gas rice cooker though, most local codes require it be under a hood.
Refer to your local authority before purchasing a gas rice cooker to make sure you are meeting all safety requirements. , Rice cookers with a hold feature are great when you have a large capacity cooker that you would like to hold your rice warm for the next few hours.
Most slow rice cookers with a hold feature will keep your rice warm for 2-5 hours depending on the model.
Rice cookers without a hold feature are created purely to cook the rice and nothing more, they shut off after the cycle is completed.
If you are using large amounts of rice quickly then a hold feature may not be necessary.
About the Author
Sandra Smith
Committed to making DIY projects accessible and understandable for everyone.
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