Best Rice Cooker Brand in India – Complete buying guide

Rice is a constant and favorite food of almost every Indian. South Indians & West Bengalis consume rice on a larger scale compared to other Indians. That’s why rice cookers have become must-have equipment for any Indian kitchen. There are too many types & brands of rice cookers available in the Indian market. Due to this, people get confused while choosing the right rice cooker brands for their kitchen. Here we have prepared a long article to help you choose the best rice cooker brand in India.

Here are some features of the best rice cooker brand in India. These are the features that you should consider before purchasing a top-quality rice cooker for Indian cooking. 

Easy controls

A basic rice cooker comes with a one-touch control option only. However, advanced rice cookers have digital displays. If you are going to purchase an advanced one, make sure you understand the controls quickly. Too many complicated controls can make you refer to the manual every time. 

Size

The size of the rice cooker depends upon the size of the family. If you have a small family of a maximum of 3-4 people, then a small rice cooker will be sufficient for you. But if you have a family of 4-10 people, then you need a cooker that can sufficiently cook 5 to 10 containers of rice.

Digital timer

Nowadays, all modern rice cookers come with digital timers. With this, you can set the cooking time after which you would get perfectly cooked rice, ready to serve. It will also prevent the overcooking of rice.

Easy-to-clean 

Some rice cookers come with stainless steel bowls that are durable but too challenging to clean. On the other hand, some cooker bowls that come with a non-stick coating are much easier to clean and wash. Before purchasing a rice cooker, make sure the container the cooker is safe & easy to clean.

Maintain a cool exterior

Make sure the rice cooker that you are going to purchase has an insulating body. This feature will protect you from burning when the appliance is on. 

Keep-warm setting

Almost all the modern rice cookers come with an automatic keep-warm setting that keeps rice warm even after the cooking process is over. It also allows the water to absorb into the rice to make it fluffier fully. 

Quick Cook settings

This feature of advanced rice cookers enables you to cook rice quickly. This feature will help you in fast cooking, especially when you are in a hurry.

Specific modes for different rice dishes

A regular rice eater does not require this feature. But if you are a rice lover and love to prepare too many rice dishes, then you would love this feature. This feature would be helpful to cook biryani, pulao, or other similar dishes. You can control the setting to ensure that you would get the right rice and water combination in the end.

Measuring cup and spatula

A rice cooker comes with extra equipment such as a measuring cup and a wooden spatula. Never use metal spoons or spatulas to stir the rice, especially when the appliance is on.

1) Prestige

Prestige is the first brand that we have in the list of best rice cooker brands in India. Undoubtedly, this brand is one of the most trusted & well-known brands for its fantastic kitchen appliances. The brand has earned a good reputation in its customers’ eye due to its good quality, highly reliable & durable products with unique features and amazing designs.

Our top pick from Prestige brand:

Cons 

• Sometimes food sticks to the bottom surface of the rice cooker.

2) Panasonic

Another most popular rice cooker brand on our list is Panasonic. The brand not only offers good quality rice cookers, but almost all of its kitchen appliances are of the best quality. Due to the modern design, unique features, and flexible pricing, Panasonic kitchen appliances win hearts for over 30 years. If you check about the best rice cookers on the Amazon India website, you will find that most of the best-selling rice cookers are from Panasonic.

Our choice of best rice cooker from Panasonic brand:

Cons

• The rice cooker does not have a digital timer.

3) Bajaj

Bajaj is also a reputed electronic & kitchen appliances manufacturing company in India. This brand is ruling the Indian market for a long time and is very well known for its post-sale services. Not only this, Bajaj is one of those brands which offers you high quality, reliable, and modern products without putting a hole in your pocket.

Our best rice cooker model from Bajaj brand:

Cons

• You may require to soak the water of boiled rice before cooking.

4) Butterfly

The butterfly brand is one of those kitchen appliances brands which have captured an outstanding market share in very little time. It offers budget-friendly rice cookers with unique design and functioning.

Here is our choice of best electric rice cooker from the Butterfly brand:

Cons

• Rice sticks to the bottom surface.
• The customer service facility is not good.

5) Geek Robocook

Last but not least, Geek Robocook is also one of the best rice cooker brands in the Indian Market. Many of you must not have heard about this brand, but they offer high quality, modern, and multi-purpose rice cookers. All of its rice cookers come with smart and latest technology. Although the price range is not so pocket friendly, if you invest your money in any of the Geek Robocook’s rice cookers, it will be worth your money.

We have picked the below product as one of the best electric rice cookers from Geek Robocook brand:

Cons

• Sometimes the lid doesn’t seal properly, and steam comes out from the sides. 
• Not so budget-friendly but worth the price.

Here are several reasons that make rice cooker worth to purchase : 

1. Rice cookers are easy to use and offer precise measurements for the rice/water ratio.
2. It helps to cook rice effectively without undercooking or overcooking it.
3. Some rice cookers come with a feature to cook different rice varieties, including brown rice and white rice.
4. Its “keep-warm functionality” keeps rice warm even after completion of cooking.
5. You wouldn’t be required to check whether the cooking process is over or not frequently.

Just like any other product, rice cooker also has some downsides, which are as follows:

1. Few varieties of rice, such as brown rice, remain undercooked in specific models of rice cookers.
2. Some models are too big and bulky, thus require too much space to be kept in the kitchen. 
3. Few users may find it difficult to determine the cooker’s exact size as per their family needs.

What are the key differences between a rice cooker and a pressure cooker? 

Some people still use a pressure cooker for cooking rice. That’s why it is important to learn the difference between the two. Here are the main points of differences: 

A pressure cooker is a versatile appliance where you can cook various food items except rice. Yes, a pressure cooker is not an ideal appliance to cook the perfect rice. However, the rice cooker is a specialist. A rice cooker can give you well-cooked rice with a perfect combination of rice and water.

On the other hand, pressure cooked rice will either undercooked or completely burnt, or overcooked. It is because the rice cooker gets automatically turns off after cooking the rice. Lastly, a rice cooker is an electrical appliance, while a pressure cooker needs an induction stove or gas to function.

What other food items you can cook in a rice cooker?

Apart from rice, many other food items can be cooked using a rice cooker such as steam dim-sums or momos. In addition to this, you can also make delicious dhokla or idly in a rice cooker. Similarly, there are several Asian and Indian dishes that you can be prepared in a rice cooker.

How long can we leave rice in a rice cooker?

Ideally, you should not leave rice in the rice cooker for more than 3 hours because, after that, the texture of rice starts drying out. But if you still want to leave it for a more extended period and if the weather conditions are suitable, you can leave it for up to 24 hours. If you have a more modern rice cooker model with a removable pot, you can store it in the refrigerator.

Now you must get familiar with the versatility & importance of a rice cooker in an Indian kitchen. As per our recommendation, Prestige PRWO 1.8-2 700-watts Delight Electric Rice Cooker is the best rice cooker brand in India. This electric rice cooker comes with all the necessary features that we have stated in this buying guide. But before making a final decision on the purchase of a rice cooker, compare all the brands and then select one best of your choices for your kitchen.