There are few kitchen appliances that are more convenient than the rice cooker. This is because not only can rice cookers make cooking any kind of rice to perfection every time, many of them also operate as a steamer, which means that other food items can be prepared in them.
The concept of a rice cooker seems simple enough. All they really do is steam rice, vegetables, or even certain meats.
However, you would be surprised at the many different particular uses that a rice cooker has and what exactly they can do. Not all rice cookers are made the same and you should be aware of this, especially when it comes to commercial rice cookers.
Our 3 Favorite Commercial Rice Cookers
Best Commercial Rice Cookers: A Buying Guide
Not all commercial rice cookers act the same, and it’s important to know exactly what you need a commercial rice cooker for.Here are some things that you should consider before you make a decision on which commercial rice cooker you should acquire.
What food items do you need to prepare?
As you should know, commercial rice cookers can prepare a lot more than just rice. However, you need to know that different commercial rice cookers specialize in preparing different food items and this is something that you need to be very aware of.
Are you using your cooker for a household or a business?
There is a big difference in having a commercial rice cooker for your home compared to having a commercial rice cooker for a small establishment.
This difference revolves around the fact that you will be using your cooker a lot more in an establishment than your own home. Ignore this consideration, and you might find yourself with a suboptimal commercial rice cooker, especially if it is used in an establishment.
Do you have any preferences on preparation time?
Different commercial rice cookers prepare their food items at different rates, and this is something else that you need to be aware of.
This is somewhat related to the previous consideration about rice cookers that are designed for the home versus those that function better in small establishments, but it is still a proper consideration.
Do you have preferences on capacity?
Again, this is related to the other considerations but it is still an important consideration. If a commercial rice cooker has a large capacity, it might take a lot longer to prepare what you put in it and this is something that you should probably be aware of.
7 Best Commercial Rice Cookers Review
1. 14 cup digital rice cooker and steamer by Aroma Housewares
As simple as they might appear, it is possible to encounter a lot of complications with commercial rice cookers if you are not experienced with using them. This is especially true if the cooker operates on different temperatures or has a lot of settings. Anybody who isn’t too experienced with rice cookers might be overwhelmed or intimidated by this.
Fortunately, Aroma Housewares’ commercial rice cooker is very user friendly. You still have a good amount of preparation options, but they are much more simplified than other rice cookers. You get a setting for white rice, brown rice, a saute option, a steam option, and a keep warm option. As you can see, this gives you some nice options while keeping things simple.
You’ll have no problem using Aroma Housewares’ rice cooker in a small establishment that serves rice or steamed or sauteed vegetables, either. It can yield 14 cups of rice, which will still allow you to serve very large crowds. Combine this with the keep warm setting, and you have a commercial rice cooker that you can use for your home or a small establishment.
Something that you’ll need to watch for with Aroma Housewares’ commercial rice cooker is that it takes a little longer than average to finish cooking rice. It takes 15 to 20 minutes for it to finish cooking rice, and it may take longer if you are making other food items with it. It may take even longer if it is filled to capacity as well.
2. 20 quart commercial grade stock pot by Homichef
Commercial rice cookers can be limited in their capacity. While some of them have some impressive capacities, it can be difficult to find a commercial rice cooker that you can actually store food in after cooking it. Even though these rice cookers have the ability to keep the food in them warm, this usually doesn’t last long, or at least as long as you might want it to.
Homichef’s stock pot solves both of these problems. It has a capacity of an impressive and staggering 20 quarts, which makes it a go-to tool for any kitchen, whether it can be a kitchen for your home or an establishment with a kitchen. The aluminum core at the base will also keep anything that you boil in it warm long after it has been boiled.
Another fantastic thing about Homichef’s stock pot is that you can use it on virtually any cooktop. You can use it on gas, induction, ceramic, glass, and halogen cooktops. This makes it decisively more versatile than other stock pots.
The one downside to Homichef’s stock pot is that it is not a commercial rice cooker. You need a lot of experience in cooking to use it. You cannot just place any food item in it and expect it to be cooked to perfection in 10 minutes with Homichef’s stock pot. If you are not experienced in using a stock pot to cook, you should probably pursue a commercial rice cooker instead.
3. 10 cup neuro fuzzy rice cooker by Zojirushi
Some commercial rice cookers are severely lacking in cooking options. There is really nothing special about most of these cookers in that the only thing you can really do is cook rice or make steamed vegetables in them. While this is not a bad quality about commercial rice cookers in and of itself, it certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
You’ll see no shortage of options with Zojirushi’s rice cooker. With nearly half a dozen different options, you’ll be able to make all kinds of variations of rice and mixed vegetables with it. This is perfect if you are tasked with signature rice or steamed vegetable dishes, since those dishes often need the options that Zojirushi’s rice cooker can provide.
Something else you’ll like about Zojirushi’s commercial rice cooker is that you’ll know exactly when it is finished with its cooking cycles and you’ll be able to see everything that is going on. You can set a cook time easily with its LCD control panel and it has audio indicators to let you know when it’s cycles are finished.
The wealth of options that Zojirushi’s rice cooker has can be intimidating and overwhelming to some, and it’s compact size makes navigating through all the options even worse. The control panel on the front of the unit is very crowded and there is a good chance that you might enter a setting that you might not have wanted to select.
4. “Duo Nova” 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker by Instant Pot
The majority of commercial rice cookers do not have a lot to offer when it comes to what kinds of food items you can cook in them. Most of them are limited to rice or vegetables, and while this might be alright for anybody who only wants a rice cooker to make these things, you’ll be on an endless search for something different if you want a commercial cooker that can cook other things.
Your search for something like this ends with the Duo Nova, by Instant Pot. Just like a lot of other products from Instant Pot, the Duo Nova will allow you to cook nearly everything, from rice to certain proteins and everything in between. You have no shortage of options with the Duo Nova, and this makes it perfect for anybody who does not have access to an oven or stove top.
Even better, the Duo Nova is extremely easy to use. Each setting has a preset time, so literally all you need to do is put the food item that you want to cook into the pot, adjust the setting, and just wait for it to cook. The Duo Nova’s built in microprocessor will do all the work for you. It also seals really easily and tightly, keeping every last bit of steam inside where it belongs.
Unfortunately, all of this convenience comes at a price. That price is the amount of cleaning that you are going to need to do once using it. This is especially true if you are using the Duo Nova to cook a protein. Because of the pressure it uses, chances are really good that particles of the protein product will splatter all around the interior of the pot, making you clean it after almost every use.
5. Digital rice and grain cooker by Aroma Housewares
While some commercial rice cookers can cook a variation of food items, a lot of them struggle with cooking a variation of grains. Oftentimes, you’ll come across rice cookers that can make rice, vegetables, and even some porridges and sautees. But these rice cookers never seem to have options for grains other than rice.
You have your answer in Aroma Housewares’ rice and grain cooker when it comes to having options for grains other than rice. It is possible to cook quinoa, oatmeal, and other forms of rice with it. If you ever wanted to make rice for sushi, you now can with Aroma Housewares’ rice and grain cooker.
Most commercial rice cookers that have these kinds of options typically crowd the base of its control panel with their setting buttons, making it a little difficult to select the right setting. This is not the case with Aroma Housewares’ rice and grain cooker. Every individual setting is spaced together nicely and you won’t need to worry about punching in the wrong setting.
You’ll get a lot of capacity with Aroma Housewares’ rice and grain cooker, as well. It is able to make up to 20 cups of rice, making it perfect for any establishment that serves rice based dishes.
The only thing about Aroma Housewares’ rice and grain cooker that you might want to watch out for is that it can take up a lot of space. This is very common for any rice cooker with a 20 cup capacity, and Aroma Housewares’ cooker is no exception.
6. Stainless steel rice cooker by Oyama
One of the reasons why so many turn away from any given commercial rice cooker is that they get extremely dirty really quickly. It can be difficult to clean the pot as well as the trays inside of the cooker and this can get so frustrating that it can get many to walk away from rice cookers, being fully aware of what they are missing out on.
Any issue that you ever had with cleaning is eliminated with Oyama’s rice cooker. With all of the pots and trays inside of it being made of stainless steel, it is much easier to clean than other rice cookers. While it is true that you’ll still need to clean its pot and tray after using it, you will spend far less time doing so. If you are looking for a rice cooker that you can use a lot, you’ll want Oyama’s rice cooker.
The stainless steel pot and tray seem to be the only good thing about Oyama’s rice cooker. It offers zero options as to what other kinds of foods that you can make in it. White rice, brown rice, and steamed vegetables are practically the only food items that you can make in it. It has only two options, as well, a warm and a cook function.
Capacity is also something that Oyama’s rice cooker struggles with. It only yields 16 cups, and this is a lot less than the average capacity of the average commercial rice cooker. While its glass lid looks elegant, it does not seal on as tight as other commercial rice cookers.
7. 30 cup capacity commercial rice cooker by Aroma Housewares
The average capacity of a commercial rice cooker is around 20 cups of cooked rice. While this is indeed an impressive capacity, it might not be enough for anybody who needs a rice cooker for their establishment or a small home or something similar. Further, it can be really difficult to find a rice cooker that has a capacity that is greater than 20 cups.
Any and all of your capacity worries will go away with Aroma Housewares’ commercial rice cooker. It yields an impressive 60 cups of cooked rice. Yes, you read that right; 60 cups. This will decisively solve any issue you have with capacity. If you need a rice cooker for an establishment or even for a really big social gathering or something, you’ll get a lot out of Aroma Housewares’ rice cooker.
You shouldn’t expect much else from Aroma Housewares’ rice cooker, however. It is a “one trick pony” kind of rice cooker in that the only thing you can really make with it are rice and steamed vegetables. It will be really difficult to make anything else with it.
Something else about Aroma Housewares’ commercial rice cooker that you’ll need to watch for is how much space it takes. This is due to its massive capacity. While this might not be an issue if you are storing it in an establishment, it will definitely be an issue for home use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do you use a commercial rice cooker?
A: What a commercial rice cooker does is cooks things that you put in it with steam. Most of them have a thermocouple switch that will signify when the rice is ready. If you want, you can add certain ingredients to the rice or vegetables that you are making in the cooker. Just like when cooking rice on a stove, this will affect the texture and flavor of the rice or vegetables.
Q: Can you boil eggs in a rice cooker?
A: While it is possible to boil eggs in a rice cooker, you need to be careful. Do not forget that the pot inside of rice cookers reach really hot temperatures, and if you leave eggs inside of the rice cooker for too long, it will explode. If you have made the decision to boil eggs in a rice cooker, take your time and be patient.
Q: What can you make in a rice cooker?
A: If you are creative enough, experienced enough, and if your rice cooker has certain capabilities, you can make practically anything in a rice cooker. Again, this depends on what capabilities your rice cooker has. Some rice cookers do not have the options that you might need to make other kinds of dishes. This is something that you need to keep in mind.
Q: Can you cook raw chicken in a rice cooker?
A: The surprising answer to this question is yes. However, this is only true of some rice cookers, not all rice cookers. Even if the rice cooker that you own is able to cook raw chicken, it doesn’t mean that you can place an entire bird inside of the cooker. It would be best if you cooked the chicken piece by piece if you have elected to use a rice cooker.
Q: What else can you cook in a rice cooker besides rice?
A: There are a lot of other things you can cook in a rice cooker besides rice. A lot of people use rice cookers to steam vegetables. This is a lot easier than letting vegetables stand in boiling water for 40 minutes. The fact that a rice cooker can not only steam vegetables in 10 or so minutes but can also have the vegetables retain most of their nutrients is a popular reason to own a rice cooker. This is just one example.
Q: Can you put olive oil in a rice cooker?
A: It is possible to put olive oil in a rice cooker, but you need to beware. If you put too much olive oil in your rice cooker, you’ll risk damaging the inner pot of the cooker and it might even cause an explosion. This is because of how hot the inner pot gets when it is in operation. If you want to put olive oil in your rice cooker, err on the side of putting too little inside.
Read more: Best Commercial Countertop Convection Oven
Conclusion
Rice cookers are a really nice addition to any kitchen, whether it is a kitchen in your home or whether it is a kitchen in an establishment. Not only do they make cooking rice a lot easier than using a stove top, they also allow you to steam vegetables really quickly.
You can also make other kinds of food items with a rice cooker if the rice cooker is equipped to do so.
There is really no limit to what can be made in a rice cooker, and there really is no excuse not to have one. It will make nearly everything more convenient for you when it comes to cooking.
Resources:
- https://www.webstaurantstore.com/reviews/commercial-rice-cooker-reviews.html
- https://www.yumofchina.com/commercial-rice-cookers/
- https://mcdonaldpaper.com/blog/best-commercial-rice-cookers
- https://bestricecookerreviews.org/best-commercial-rice-cooker.html
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FAQ:
Q: Is it worth buying a rice cooker?
A: Is it worth buying a rice cooker? Buying a rice cooker could be a good investment because of the advantages and comfort that it offers in the kitchen, the main advantage of preparing rice in a rice cooker is comfort. Only the ingredients have to be introduced into the electrical appliance.
Q: What kind of rice to use in a rice cooker?
A: Brown rice can be cooked in a rice cooker just as easily as white rice, but it does need a little more water than white rice does. You can also use your rice cooker to make brown rice medleys and brown rice porridge.
Q: What is the smallest rice cooker?
A: The Black and Decker RC3203 is one of the smallest sized rice cookers on the market with 1.5 cups of dry rice to yield about 3 cups of cooked rice. It’s perfect for singles or a couple.
Q: Can you cook rice with a pressure cooker?
A: Because a pressure cooker cooks rice so fast, you can stop eating horrible factory-processed instant rice. Along with cooking most foods, a versatile new generation pressure cooker cooks rice quickly and easily. The pot-in-pot method of cooking rice in a pressure cooker makes tasty rice that isn’t sticky.