How to choose the best rice cooker for brown rice?
Some brown rice cookers come with built-in programmable settings that automatically adjust to the optimal cooking time and temperature for a wide array of recipes. Some models even allow you to prepare different dishes simultaneously so you can cook rice while steaming vegetables and seafood. Oftentimes you can get a unit with convenient delay timer and keep-warm feature to save time and energy. There are more features that we are going to discuss below. All in all, we will be focusing on affordable, versatile and compact models to fit in limited space of your kitchen.
Brand
A reputable brand can be relied upon to build trust, so customers can buy products with confidence. Brands that have been in existence for a while are more reliable because you can easily find several reviews on user experiences by verified buyers. These brands have also been in the industry long enough to know what works, so they are able to make high-quality, durable products and incorporate new technology to upgrade their existing models. A great example is Tiger Corporation, which introduced the Tiger JBV-A10U-W, has been manufacturing household products since 1923. The next one is Zojirushi, Japanese brand that offers reliable products like the Zojirushi NS-ZCC18. Many people love the quality of those products.
You can also find out the top brands by researching the companys websites and feedback from customers, expert reviewers and authoritative review sites.
Capacity
The capacity of a specific rice cooker indicates the maximum amount of uncooked rice it can hold. This amount will generally produce twice as much cooked rice. For instance, both Breville BRC600XL and Aroma ARC-150SB have a capacity of 10 cups of uncooked rice and 20 cups of cooked rice.
Knowing the capacity will help you to identify the best brown rice cooker that will meet your demand. Moreover, you might want to find a bigger rice cooker to prepare multiple dishes at the same time.
Programs
Majority of the products we have reviewed feature multiple preset settings and modes for cooking different types of dishes in different ways, keep-warm function to keep your food hot for a while, and a timer to delay cooking time to a more convenient time. While these time-saving programs yield more precise results, they are not everyones preference. Some buyers would rather have a brown rice cooker that can cook and warm food without the complexity that may come with advanced features.
If you are looking to create masterpieces with your rice cooker, consider the Midea MB-FS5017, which is great for advanced users thanks to the multiple programs. On the other hand, you might be searching for something simple, like the Rival RC61. It is an amazing model with a steaming basket and useful accessories included.
Ease of use
Apart from pricing and size, one other reason that some buyers may shy away from advanced models is the initial learning curve, which can be long. This is why controls that are easy to figure out and one-touch operation that reduces human errors is a key factor to consider when choosing the best small rice cookers for brown rice. Not everyone wants to waste time figuring out how to start the unit. Especially when there are many appliances with intuitive interfaces.
Dimensions
The importance of knowing the dimensions of your prospective unit is to help you compare its size to the space available on your counter, especially if the cooker will be operating alongside other sizeable appliances. Next, the size of the unit is important if you are going to move it quite often. You might want to take a closer look at our Editors Choice, the Zojirushi NS-ZCC18. It has an average-sized footprint but still wont take much space.
Make sure to have some free space above the unit, since you will want to open the lid to get access to the pot. Moreover, it gets hot while operating, so avoid placing it near curtains.
Warranty
Just like with any appliance, you want to make sure that you get an undamaged and fully operating unit.
From our research, we found that majority of the top rice cookers for brown rice come with warranties that cover them for 1 year, although you may find exceptions like the Cuisinart CRC-800 that has a 3-year limited warranty, or Rival RC61 which comes with an additional incentive of 30-day money return period.
Cooking accessories
When you are searching for the best brown rice cooker, you will likely find the accessories like scoops/spoons, cooking books and measuring cups included in the package. These are essential measurement tools that enable you to use the correct portions for water and rice when cooking brown rice. Since programmable products come with preset cooking settings based on their respective measurement devices, manufacturers will always remind you to use the specific measuring tools for their respective rice cookers for accurate results.
You may also get a steaming basket with units like the Panasonic SR-DF101 as well as multiple cooking options.
Other useful features
Non-stick coating The majority of the rice cookers for brown rice we reviewed also come with a removable inner pot with non-stick coating for easy cleaning.
Dishwasher safe parts some parts of the units can be cleaned in a dishwasher. That saves a lot of time and effort. All the removable parts of Cuisinart CRC-800 are dishwasher safe.
Power cord Consider a long cable for extensive reach and a retractable one that minimizes storage space.
Prices
Computerized rice cookers for brown rice with advanced features and several programmable settings, such as the Zojirushi NS-ZCC18 and the Zojirushi NS-YAC18, will cost more than their more basic counterparts. At the price tag around $200, you will get premium models with multiple settings.
If you dont need that many functions, then the Panasonic SR-DF101 might do just well. Although it features 7 built-in programs, Fuzzy logic technology and auto shut-off, it is still within the pricing range of other budget-friendly models in the market, costing somewhere near $60.
There is also a more affordable option, the Aroma ARC-150SB, that doesnt lack functions or reliability, and offers you a large capacity at $40.