Rice cookers have revolutionized the kitchen experience and helped reduce the effort required to make a rice-based meal. Here is our shortlist of top picks.
There are many ways to cook rice. Some people like to do it the old-timey way—over an open flame or stovetop. Others, however, want a more convenient and time-saving method.
In some cases, you may have been in a rush to cook your family’s favorite rice dish. When this happens, it may come out too gooey or undercooked (Handball anyone?).
If you frequently find that you’re pressed for time, then adding a rice cooker to your kitchen counter may prove wise. Fortunately, there are plenty of great rice cooker options available.
Rice cookers have many benefits that make them worth the investment. Like air fryers, they’ll save you time and money. They’ll also take away the stress of cooking perfect rice every single time. With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy list of the best rice cookers.
Keep reading to find out more about the best rice cookers we’ve tested in Malaysia in 2021.
1. Tefal Spherical Mini Rice Cooker (RM309.00)
The Tefal Spherical Mini Rice Cooker is sound and thick. What’s more, it’s extremely versatile. Plus, you’ll find cleanup is a snap with its nonstick coating.
Pros
Tefal’s Spherical Mini Rice Cooker has a beautiful, modern aesthetic. Also, it has an automatic keep-warm timer.
Cons
The Tefal Spherical Mini Rice Cooker is a bit on the expensive side.
2. Russell Taylors Fuzzy Logic Smart Rice Cooker (RM129.99)
Russell Taylors Fuzzy Logic Smart Rice Cooker is your solution for an affordable rice cooker. It has an automatic keep-warm function. The function triggers automatically once your rice is finished cooking.
Pros
The Fuzzy Logic Smart Rice Cooker comes with a handy serving paddle and rice cup. It also features a nonstick coating for easy cleanup.
Cons
The holes in the rice cooker are somewhat small. It’s hard for steam to pass through.
3. Panasonic Conventional Rice Cooker (RM150.00)
The Panasonic Conventional Rice Cooker is our third affordable option on the list (I’m starting to see a trend here). Panasonic makes it using anodized aluminum. If you want a straightforward rice cooker, then you might like this option.
It’s made by a trustworthy manufacturer. More importantly, it’s easy to use.
Pros
The Panasonic Conventional Rice Cooker goes easy on your electric bill.
Cons
There’s a trade-off for the simplicity of this rice cooker—it has limited functionality.
4. Toshiba Honatsukama Digital Rice Cooker (~RM279.00)
Toshiba’s Honatsukama Digital Rice Cooker has a 24-hour preset timer. It also comes with cool accessories, including a:
• Cup
• Paddle
• Scoop
• Steam rack
The rice cooker has a 2 to 10 cup cooking capacity.
Also, the Toshiba Honatsukama Digital Rice Cooker is a tough little rice cooker. It has a durable 2.2 mm wall.
Pros
This is a highly multifunctional rice cooker. It has 11 different modes. With it, you can make everything from cake to sushi and about 30 minutes.
Cons
This model is also on the expensive side. Also, it only has a one-year warranty.
5. Tefal Healthy IH Low Gi Rice Cooker (RM799.00)
The Tefal Healthy IH Low Gi Rice Cooker is easy to use and has clear instructions. What stands out about this unit, however, is its healthy rice function.
It has a convenient cooking timer. Like our other higher-end options, it also has an automatic keep-warm function.
Pros
For some reason, food tastes better using Tefal’s Healthy IH Low Gi Rice Cooker “healthy” rice function. Also, the unit prepares a range of rice cooker dishes quite speedily.
Cons
Tefal only manufacturers the Healthy IH Low Gi Rice Cooker in one size—1 liter. What’s more, it’s a bit on the small side for its hefty price tag.
Caring for Rice Cookers
No matter which rice cooker you choose, you’ll need to give it some TLC if you want it to last.
Your cleaning routine will vary somewhat depending on your equipment selection. However, cleaning all rice cookers involves a few common steps.
First, you’ll need to remove the pot. Next, you’ll want to let the pot soak in warm, soapy water.
You’ll also want to detach the lid, wipe it down and let it soak. If needed, you can clean the hot plate with fine sandpaper.
The sandpaper will remove any dried food, but be careful not to damage the surface. If you need to clean the exterior of your rice cooker, you can do so with a mixture of half white wine vinegar and half water.
Perfect Rice Every Time!
The best thing about rice cookers is that making a meal involves adding rice and water, setting the program and walking away. A few tips, however, will make sure that you don’t screw up something that’s as easy as boiling water.
Firstly, you’ll want to maintain equal water to rice ratio when cooking white rice. If you’re cooking brown rice, however, you want to use 2 1/4 cups of water for every cup of brown rice.
Rice cooking time for a rice cooker ranges between 25 to 35 minutes. You’ll want to keep an eye on the clock to make sure your dinner doesn’t turn into a disaster.
Finally, you want to make sure that your rice is fluffy. The secret here is to leave the rice in the pot untouched with the lid on when it’s done cooking.
Simply let it sit for 10 minutes. Now, you can fluff it up layer by layer.
Level-Up Your Kitchen Game
Now you know more about the best rice cookers we’ve tested in Malaysia in 2021.
Buying a new rice cooker can prove overwhelming. Hopefully, we’ve provided you with what you need to know to make the process as easy as, well, cooking rice.
If you want to boost your cooking power, however, you’ll need to add knowledge to your good taste in kitchen appliances. If you need awesome ideas for your new rice cooker, check out our “Recipes” section.
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