Rice is one of the most popular and abundant foods worldwide. Most of us eat a ton of it, if you are reading this page then chances are you love rice as well and want a convenient and easy way to cook your rice. I hate cooking rice in a pan, I always either overcook it or under cook it. Once I invested in a rice cooker I never looked back.
The latest induction technology is now available in rice cooker form and while these cost a bit more than standard rice cookers they do have advantages. Firstly they cook the rice a lot faster. As induction cookers heat up the entire vessel the rice is in, it cooks more quickly and more evenly when compared to a regular rice cooker which only heats the bottom of the vessel.
You can also make adjustments to the cooker on the go, altering the temperature is no problem with an induction cooker. Some older rice cookers won’t allow you to do this once you have set the program away.
The third advantage is the taste. In our tests the rice from the induction range was fluffier, tasted better and was generally cooked to perfection!
The disadvantages are: they are more expensive, they use more electricity and they are quite heavy.
So is it worth the investment?
We think it is especially if you don’t already own a rice cooker. It’s so much easier and quicker to do with an induction unit and the taste is definitely better. So if you eat a lot of rice then go for it. We are going to give you a run down of what we think are 5 of the best currently on the market.
Contents
- 1. Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer, 1 L, Stainless Dark Gray
- 2. Tiger JKJ-G18U Induction Heating 10-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker and Warmer
- 3. Panasonic Microcomputer IH rice cooker (5.5CUP) SR-JHS10-N/220V
- 4. Lihom LJP-HK100GDE 10-Cup Rice Pressure Cooker
- 5. Cuckoo CRP-HZ0683F 6 Cup Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker, 110V, Black Pebble.
- Conclusion
1. Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer, 1 L, Stainless Dark Gray
This is one of the most popular choices at the moment and it is easy to see why with a whole host of great features. One of the best features is its range of cooking options, you can choose what kind of rice you are using so the device will be able to automatically adjust its settings to ensure the rice is cooked perfectly. Whether it be regular white rice, jasmine white rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice or quick cooking rice the Zojirushi will cook it beautifully.
This cooker comes with triple heating technology meaning the rice is heated from all side including the lid so that the rice is cooked quickly and evenly. Once your rice is cooked the device will enter a keep warm mode so that your rice is kept perfect even if it is ready before the rest of your meal. It also allows you to make minute adjustments to the temperature so perfectionists can get the rice exactly as they like it. Although we found the presets to be more than acceptable.
It is made from a clear coated stainless steel on the exterior meaning it is very easy to clean and will look good with any kitchen decor if you plan on keeping it on the worktop when not in use. The lid is detachable for easy washing and the whole unit is wipe clean friendly.
| Product Dimensions | 14 x 10 x 8 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 9 pounds |
| Shipping Weight | 11.3 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Zojirushi |
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2. Tiger JKJ-G18U Induction Heating 10-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker and Warmer
This cooker looks a bit smaller than the last one in the picture but is actually almost identical in size. It comes with a handy handle for lifting out the inner pan. This comes in very handy when it is time to serve your rice as you can carry the pan to your plates or table. As the name suggests it can handle 10 cups of rice at a time.
This is a very versatile machine as it can also be used as a slow cooker and to make bread. We didn’t try this feature on our tests but thought the versatility on offer was outstanding.
Like the Zojirushi this is very easy to clean and again the lid detaches for easy cleaning and it can be fully rinsed under a tap.
This is a nice little cooker but it is quite expensive at the time of writing. It also comes in a cheaper 5 cup size which is an option if you think 10 cups is way to much.
| Product Dimensions | 14 x 10.2 x 8 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 9.3 pounds |
| Shipping Weight | 11.3 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Japan Tiger Corporation of U.S.A |
3. Panasonic Microcomputer IH rice cooker (5.5CUP) SR-JHS10-N/220V
Panasonic is of course a very well known brand and it is well known because they regularly produce high quality electrical equipment. This is no exception, this is a very good induction rice cooker with some great technology that looks to raise the bar in rice cooking! The technology is a bit of a mouthful, using heat convection of fine bubbles caused by the diamond reinforced fluorocarbon resin coating heats each individual grain of rice. The outer side coat including copper micro particles keeps rice warm. Wow! Basically because it conducts the heat so well and so evenly, each grain of rice gets cooked as well as the next grain.
With a 5 cup capacity this has more than enough room for a decent serving of rice. This one also has a detachable and washable lid for easy cleaning. If you like to go with a recognized brand then this could be the one for you.
| Product Dimensions | 15.8 x 11 x 9.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 12.5 pounds |
| Shipping Weight | 12.5 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Panasonic |
4. Lihom LJP-HK100GDE 10-Cup Rice Pressure Cooker
Straight away you can see this one looks a bit different to the others. It’s white, for me this makes it look a little old fashioned. I much prefer stainless steel looking appliances these days as I feel they look more modern. Of course that is just me and many people will love the look of this.
Like the Panasonic model the inner dish comes with a similar diamond coating which gives it the same great heat conduction. It also means it is scratch resistant which is always a good thing with anything you cook in. Deep scratches can start to harbor germs so obviously being resistant to that is a bonus.
Despite me saying this isn’t as modern looking as the others, feature wise it is probably the most modern one on the list. This cooker actually speaks to you to keep you up to date on the progress of your rice! It also has a Golden Dimple inner pot design that increases thermal efficiency, resulting in faster, tastier rice.
| Product Dimensions | 17 x 11 x 11 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 15.2 pounds |
| Shipping Weight | 18.6 pounds |
| Manufacturer | LG Livart |
5. Cuckoo CRP-HZ0683F 6 Cup Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker, 110V, Black Pebble.
Much like number 4 on the list this one has a more contemporary look with a black finish. It also boasts some very modern features like voice navigation, an LCD display and 21 built in safety features.
It comes with a nice 6 cup capacity and again has a detachable and washable lid. The outer pot is diamond coated to protect against scratches.
I’m a big fan of this model, it made amazing tasting rice and had so many features it stood out from the crowd.
Features
- Stainless detachable cover lid for easy removing and cleaning
- 2 layer rubber gasket to ensure pressure is sealed
- 2 layer soft steam cap for quiet steam release
- LCD Menu Display
- Voice Guide: Korean, English, and Chinese
- Automatic steam cleaning function
- Cuckoo Smart Algorithm DSP technology to match your taste
- 16 cook settings
- GABA mode to cook delicious and healthy brown rice with less soak time
- Multi-Cook mode to cook other dishes besides rice
- 21 safety features
- 1 year manufacturer warranty covering parts and labor
| Product Dimensions | 14.8 x 10.6 x 10.1 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 12.8 pounds |
| Shipping Weight | 16.3 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Cuckoo |
Conclusion
All of the above would be a fine choice, all a great way to cook rice. The induction technology really speeds up the whole cooking process and results in great tasting rice. My favorite was the Cuckoo Black Pebble for it’s sleek look and feature rich functionality.
Here are our 5 top picks again with their current prices
