Best Rice Cookers in The Netherlands - Reviews and Comparison 2021

Capacity is of prime importance while it comes to buying a rice cooker. You need to be sure how many people are going to be served. If you are a family of two to three people, a small rice cooker with a capacity of around 0.6 litres will suffice. Whereas, there are also 3 litres rice cooker available serving te people. However, a large capacity cooker doesn’t mean you can’t use it for fewer people.

Also, keep in mind that a small cooker is easier to store than a large cooker.

The inner pan is present in the rice cooker. It is the thing in which you put the rice and pour water. When we talk about the inner pan, there are two things to discuss. The first is attachment and the second is coating.

Always go for a rice cooker that has a detachable inner pan because not only it will make the cleaning job easier, but also you will be able to serve the rice effortlessly. In addition, if the inner pan is attached to the cooker, be sure that it is a ''cheaper'' rice cooker.

Look for a rice cooker whose inner pa has a non-stick coating. The advantages are the same. It will not let the rice stick to the bottom, due to which serving the rice and cleaning the pan will be easier.

As the name says, this function is used for keeping the rice warm. This is useful when you turn on the rice cooker a little early for dinner. Once the rice is cooked, the feature will keep it warm for a long number of hours. So, once it is time for dinner, you will receive warm rice immediately. The best part is, this is an automatic feature. So, after the rice is cooked, the cooker will automatically switch to a keep-warm function.

Tip: There are rice cookers that can keep the rice warm for a day! However, the question is how useful that feature is because experts say that the quality of the rice decreases quickly once they are cooked. The bacteria start growing once rice gets below 60 degrees. Therefore, at max, you should leave the rice under the cooker for an hour. After that hour, not just the quality of the rice deteriorates, but also it loses its nutrients.

The automatic switch-off feature is handy. With this, you can leave the rice after switching the cooker on because once they are cooked, the device switch-off automatically. And you will know exactly when the rice is perfectly cooked. This feature often comes in combination with the keep-warm function. So, as soon as the device gets shut-off, the keep-warm function starts working to keep the rice warm all day long.

Rice cookers come with practical handles and safe lids, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous than other steam and heat appliances. Just like other kitchen appliances, you must handle a rice cooker with care. For example, avoid the steam vents and wear oven gloves while handling the lid or pot. Moreover, all rice cookers show the pot's rim while cooking, and the edge gets very hot. So, keep this also in mind.

Keep your child and pets away from the rice cooker when it is in use.

A rice cooker is often accompanied by accessories like a rice spoon, spatula, measuring cup and steam bowl/plate.

The steam bowl/plate is used to steam multiple food ingredients in the rice cooker, including veggies, fish, etc. All the ingredients that you put to steam, the flavours influence each other. Usually, a rice cooker comes with one steam bowl. However, if your cooker has room for multiple steam bowls, the bottom bowl gets the most steam. Therefore, place the ingredients that require the longest cooking time at the bottom. The more steam bowls your cook can have, the more ingredients you can steam with rice. A rice cooker with a steam basket is preferred by most as rice is cooked and vegetables are steamed simultaneously.

Rice cookers are available in both small and large sizes. However, respective of that, it needs a permanent space in your kitchen. Therefore, besides the capacity, you must also check the area in your kitchen and buy the rice cooker accordingly.

A rice cooker doesn’t need enormous power to cook a perfect rice meal. The greater the power it has, the more energy it will use. There are powerful models available with a low energy label. So, if you want to save energy, go for such a label and pay attention to the number of the cooker’s Watts. 

Like Yum Asia Panda on our list, expensive rice cookers have digital timers that update you when the rice is ready. But with other rice cookers, cooking times can vary widely. In the case of rice cookers without a timer, you can estimate the cooking time and set a timer yourself. After estimating the first few times, you will come to know precisely how long it takes for your rice to be perfect. After all, rice cookers can cook two cups of white basmati rice in 15 minutes, while others can take around three times as long. 

A rice cooker is a kitchen appliance that is used for cooking not just rice a few other things as well like porridge, pasta, noodles, bread, etc. In this, the rice is put in a pan that hangs above the boiling water, and then the rice is cooked by the steam produced by boiling water. This method ensures that the taste and nutritional value of the rice are retained.

The electric rice cooker consists of two parts, mainly, i.e. a large container for the rice and water, and another is a heating element with a thermostat.

The working of a rice cooker can vary from model to model. Most rice cookers have a layer of water at the pan’s bottom, while the basket above it contains the rice. The water is boiled which produces steam, and that steam cooks the rice.

Tefal, Crockpot, Russell Hobbs, Yum Asia Panda are some of the best brands of rice cookers.

You can cook different rice types in a rice cooker and various grains, porridge, barley and quinoa. You can even prepare breakfasts like oatmeal or pancakes in it. In addition to it, it is also feasible for making soup, bread, frittata, pasta, and noodles.

The price of a rice cooker varies as per its size and features. The expensive models have extraordinary features to offer, are better suited for long-term use and comes with a warranty. You can purchase a rice cooker for as low as 20 euros, and it can exceed 100 euros as well.

A rice cooker offers various benefits to its users, such as easy rice preparation, saving energy & time, healthy way of cooking rice. Whereas, there is primarily one disadvantage that it takes space in your kitchen.

The results vary with the type of rice you are cooking in a rice cooker, and it is essential to keep in mind when making a rice dish. 

• Short rice: It is used to prepare dishes like sushi. It contains a lot of starch, and you need rice that is not very springy, and that sticks easily.

• Medium Rice: Medium rice is softer than short rice, and also they are less sticky. This type of rice is the most commonly used in the Netherlands.

• Long rice: These are the softest and non-sticky rice types. They need maximum water out of all types and also take the longest time to cook. Basmati and Jasmine rice are two examples of long rice.

There are many reasons to buy a rice cooker, and some of them have been listed below.

• Rice cooker is an accessibly priced device. It helps you save energy and time.

• A rice cooker is available in different sizes. You can choose as per the number of your family members. Different sizes serve one to ten people.

• The kitchen appliance is not limited to cooking rice. There are so many models of rice cookers that can also prepare other dishes.

• It is one of the easiest kitchen devices to use.

• It keeps your rice warm for quite some time after they have been cooked.

A rice cooker, as the name suggests, can be used only for cooking rice. Also, you can easily prepare different types of rice in it - from plain white rice to brown rice, basmati rice and sushi rice.

Whereas a steam cooker can be used to prepare all kinds of ingredients. For example, the lower steam bowl can be used for the rice, you can put fresh fish or meat on top and tasty vegetables above it. You can even prepare a complete meal with it.

To cook perfect rice in a rice cooker, you either need equal parts of water (softer grain) and rice or need less water (hard grain). However, the most common ratio is 1:1 for white rice. For brown rice, the proportion remains 1:2. However, the water quantity can vary depending on personal preference, if you like relatively hard grain or softer grain.

In case of confusion, it is best to read the user manual accompanying the rice cooker. There are slight chances that the water and rice ratio might be different from what you are used to.

Of course, you can cook brown rice in a rice cooker. However, it will take slightly more time to cook than white rice.

This depends on the rice cooker and the type of rice you are cooking. Usually, it takes 15 minutes to 45 minutes for white rice to cook. Brown rice takes a longer time.

Cooking rice seems easy, but it is a difficult task for many people. If you add too much water to rice, it becomes a paste, and too little water burn the rice. But a rice cooker ensures all rice dishes are cooked perfectly.

Besides being a beginner at rice cooking, you can also get a rice cooker if you do not have time to check it constantly while it is being cooked.

The inner pan is placed on a heating element. It fits well there, and once the rice is cooked, the cooking element clicks the pan up. The mains voltage is connected to this heating element. 

The expensive model comes with a glass lid so that you can look inside. There is a small hole in the lid, which allows the steam to come out while the rice is cooking. 

As we said earlier, it is one of the easiest kitchen appliances to use. So, almost anyone can make rice in this cooker. Just follow the steps below:

• Start with washing the rice to rinse the starch from it.

• Put the rice, water and some salt in the rice cooker.

• Switch on the rice cooker and do the program setting.

• Once the rice is cooked. Give it rest in the cooker for a few minutes.

• Stir the rice and serve!

Rice cooker is a low maintenance product. As long as you use it in the right manner, it does not need much care. If the inner pan is removable and has a non-stick coating, your life becomes easy. And if parts of it are dishwasher safe, your life becomes easier.

Despite having a non-stick coating, if some rice grains stick on the inner pot and near the heating element, use a mixture of natural vinegar and water to clean it. 

If you have not used the pan in a long time, it is best to clean the heating element with water and a little natural vinegar. Make sure that you clean it well so that the rice doesn't taste like vinegar.

The outside of the rice cooker can be easily cleaned with a soft, damp cloth.

• Our comparison winner is nothing like the rest six rice cookers.

• It is a smart device with plenty of features, and they justify the cost of it.

• It has multiple settings, due to which you can use it to cook any type of rice- white rice / long grain, short grain/sushi and brown rice.

• It has a 3.5-cup capacity of uncooked rice (0.6 litres) which usually suffice for 1-3 people.

• It has an attractive Japanese style design.

• It takes 30-40 minutes to cook perfect white rice. And if you use the ‘Quick Cook’ feature, it will be done in 26 minutes.

• It has a cake baking function as well. You can even make porridge and steam various food items in it.

• It has 7 distinct stages to produce perfect rice and retain its nutrients. Moreover, it uses a unique 3D heating technology. Under this, the heat from the heating element is dispersed around the sides of the bowl, and also, the heat comes from the lid applying downwards into the inner bowl. This heating technology ensures the even cooking of rice and other dishes.

• The inner pan is detachable. It is a high-quality pan with 5 layers 2mm thick Ninja ceramic coated (BPA-free and PTFE-free) inner bowl.

• It is equipped with 24 hours to keep warm function and 24 hours timer feature.

• It has a last 10-minute countdown indicator that activates during the cooking cycle, and when the rice is cooked, you will hear a beep sound and the cooker automatically moves to keep warm mode.

• It easy to clean, thanks to the detachable inner lid, outer steam cap and condensation collector.

• A detachable power cord makes storage easier.

• The list of accessories includes a steaming basket, measuring cup, non-stick spatula, soup ladle, manual in English with recipes included.

• The product comes with two years warranty.

• Russell Hobbs rice cooker is of 1.8 litres capacity. It is well suited for one to eight people.

• You can cook a maximum of 10 cups of rice.

• It has stainless steel housing with a transparent lid.

• Its inner pan is removable as well as has a non-stick coating.

• Once the rice is cooked, it auto-switch to the keep-warm function.

• It consumes 700 W power to cook the rice.

• It switches off automatically once the rice is cooked.

• In accessories, it comes with a spatula, a measuring cup and an extra steamer basket for cooking vegetables and fish.

• The 1.2 litres of rice cooker is best suited for serving one to six persons.

• In fact, not just rice, you can even steam several food items in it.

• It automatically switches off once the rice is cooked.

• The pan included in the package is removable as well as have a non-stick coating.

• You can cook both white and whole grain rice in it.

• The keep-warm function keeps your rice warm for 8 hours.

• The box consists of accessories - inner pot, rice cooker spoon, measuring cup and steamer plate.

• It is made of stainless steel material.

• The product has two years warranty on it.

• If you are looking for a rice cooker to serve five members, Tristar Rk-6126 will do the job.

• Our review is for a 1-litre cooker. However, it is also available in 0.6 litres, 1.5 litres, and 2.2 litres capacity.

• It has stainless steel housing and a transparent lid.

• It is equipped with power indicator lights and anti-slip feet.

• It features a removable inner pan with a non-stick coating.

• The boil-dry and overheat protection features ensure neither your rice nor the device gets damaged.

• Once the rice is cooked, it auto-switch to the keep-warm function. The feature keeps the pan's temperature between 70°C to 75°C, which keeps the rice warm for hours.

• The box includes a Tristar rice cooker, spoon, measuring cup, spatula.

• Tefal brand presents you with 3-litre cooking rice - the maximum capacity cooker on our list.

• It is best suited for large gatherings like ten people.

• It weighs 2.45 kg and uses 500 W power.

• It has an automatic keep-warm function. So, once the rice is cooked, it will automatically switch to keep warm mode.

• It has a removable and non-stick coating pan.

• A steam bowl is also included. So, you can prepare rice and steam other food items simultaneously.

• It works on one click cooking system. Just press the power button, and you are good to go.

• It is easy to clean since parts are removable.

• Steam basket, spatula and measuring cup are included in the package.

• The product has one year warranty on it.

• If you do not need as many features as our comparison winner have, then in 0.6-litre capacity, the Sencor SRM 0600WH rice cooker is a great option.

• It is a simple rice cooker with basic and no extravagant features.

• It is made of stainless steel.

• The pan is detachable and has a non-stick surface.

• Its power usage is 300 W.

• You can use it for cooking, not just basic rice but also Sushi rice.

• Its glass lid has an opening for releasing excess steam.

• It has practical handles on both sides and anti-slip feet.

• The only downside is, the steam insert is missing, so you can only cook rice and not steam any vegetables, etc.

• The cooker is accompanied by special spatulas for rice and a measuring cup for rice and water.

• This rice cooker is different from our top six as this is not an electrical product.

• It is a microwave rice cooker.

• It is a phthalate & BPA free cooker made in New Zealand.

• Its capacity is 2.6 litres. You can use it for cooking rice for a maximum of 8 people.

• The cooker has practical handles and easy-to-close KLIP IT clips, offering safety.

• It can be sued not just to make rice but also polenta and couscous.

• It features a steam release vent in the lid for splatter-free heating.

• Due to being dishwasher safe (top rack), it is easy to clean.

• It is freezer safe as well. So, you can keep the leftover rice in it and then put the cooker in the freezer to use later.

• It is not safe to use it in the convection oven.

• The steamer comes with a pressure chamber plate, cool to touch lid, easy-lift tabs and a non-stick rice spoon.