Looking for the best stainless steel rice cooker means looking for those models whose inner pot is made of stainless steel.
There are actually 4 materials that the inner pot of a rice cooker can be made of: stainless steel, non-stick, ceramic, and clay.
Check out my reviews for the best ceramic ricer cookers if you want alternatives.
I can tell you that non-stick inner pots are not a favorite of mine, although they’re the most prevalent on the market. But the other 3 materials are all amazing.
One question that some people might ask after learning about these 4 options is: are stainless steel rice cookers better?
Given that we’re here looking for the best stainless steel rice cooker, we could automatically say yes.
On the other hand, we should offer a more complex answer.
Like pretty much everything in life, a stainless steel inner pot has its pros and cons. Stainless steel is an amazing material, known for its durability and a metal in which we can cook anything. It’s also known for its even cooking, especially if it has a tri-ply bottom.
On the other hand, if we were to mention a con, we might say that this metal might cook rice more unevenly than other materials. In my opinion, if an appliance is done correctly, that shouldn’t be a problem.
And, in fact, one of the most popular rice cookers at the moment has an inner cooking pot made of food-grade stainless steel. I’m talking about the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for cheap rice cookers, those models that cost around $20-$30, then you’ll have to settle on non-stick pots, like the Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD.
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Best Stainless Steel Rice Cooker Reviews
I mentioned that if we want a cheap appliance, we’ll have to settle for a rice cooker with a non-stick inner pot.
However, what I should also add is that a large majority of rice cookers come with a non-stick inner pot. Non-stick is a popular option for a wide range of bakeware and cookware so that’s not a surprise.
Even Zojirushi, which is among the most popular brands in this field, makes their rice cookers with non-stick inner pots. Thus, Zojirushi is out if we are looking for the best stainless steel rice cooker.
On the other hand, Zojirushi makes a stainless steel rice cooker, meaning that the construction is made of stainless steel, the machine is made from this metal. But the inner pot comes with a nonstick coating.
I’m referring to the Zojirushi Micom Stainless Steel Rice Cooker and Warmer. If you want more Zojirushi cookers, check out my reviews for the best rice cookers for brown rice.
I don’t know if that counts but maybe some people are actually referring to a stainless steel construction and not what the inner pot is made of when they’re looking for a stainless steel rice cooker. Could that be possible? Who knows.
Anyway, the truth of the matter is that if we want a stainless steel cooking inner pot, then we don’t have that many options to choose from. Most models absolutely come with non-stick inner pots, pots that are made from some sort of metal but that are coated with a non-stick coating.
Thus, it’s going to be a pretty quick choice if what you are looking for is for the inner pot to be made of stainless steel because we don’t get much to choose from.
1. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1: Overall the Best Stainless Steel Rice Cooker
If we’re looking for one of the most popular options at the moment, then we would immediately pick the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1. However, it remains to be seen if it qualifies as the best stainless steel rice cooker for most people.
In my opinion, it absolutely is one of the best. There are so many amazing things to discover about this Instant Pot so it’s going to be a pleasure to review it here.
While I admit that it’s one of my favorite picks, I should also tell you that a major reason for that is because the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is just so amazingly complex.
More than a rice cooker
The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is a:
I love appliances that can do multiple things for us. Like an air fryer & grill combo. Or a bread machine that can make dough, bake bread, make jam, desserts, etc. for us. Or a powerful blender that can be used for so many dishes and drinks. And even a Dutch oven since it can be used to bake bread and make so many delicious dishes in the oven and on the stovetop.
Thus, I’m excited about this Instant Pot because it’s amazingly complex, while not being the most expensive thing out there.
While we can buy a rice cooker for around $20-$30, those models will have a nonstick inner pot. As we’ve established, even the most expensive options, like the ones from Zojirushi, are also made with nonstick inner pots.
That doesn’t leave us with many options when we’re looking for the best stainless steel rice cooker.
Thankfully, we have the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 to the rescue.
And the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is certainly more than what people might expect since it comes with so many cooking functions, besides cooking the rice for us at the press of a few buttons.
Price
And all that is sold for a price around $100 or so for the 6 quart model.
The 3 quart size is even cheaper than that and the 8 quart is a bit more expensive.
Given all that, I don’t think we could get a much better deal from any other appliance.
There’s no wonder that the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is a best seller among rice cookers and it’s one of the most highly rated appliances I’ve ever come across when it comes to kitchen appliances of all kinds. Maybe not even KitchenAid mixers are as popular.
Components
The main component that interests us is the stainless steel (18/8) inner pot with tri-ply bottom for perfect sautéing.
Of course, we get to experience PFOA/PTFE-free cooking, which is wonderful. Not the same can be said about non-stick inner pots.
The lid has a steam release valve, which is needed for pressure cooking.
There’s also an included rack to steam veggies or use as a trivet for the inner pot.
All sizes include these components so it doesn’t matter if you choose the 3, 6 or 8 quart model.
You can download the free Instant Pot app to discover amazing recipes. Of course, there are also a ton of cookbooks written for Instant Pot meals.
Features
Let’s start with the control panel because it reveals quite a few things about the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1.
We get buttons for:
- Soup|broth
- Meat|stew
- Bean|chili
- Poultry
- Rice
- Multigrain
- Porridge
- Steam
- Slow cook
- Sauté
- Pressure level
- Delay start
- Keep warm
- Cancel
- Yogurt
- Pressure cook
This long list of buttons already reveals a lot about what this Instant Pot is capable of.
We can cook a lot of food with just this thing. And, obviously, it serves as the best stainless steel rice cooker.
We can choose between cooking fast, under pressure by selecting pressure level and the time, or we can cook slow, under the slow cook function.
Pressure cooking allows us to cook meals up to 70% faster.
We can choose to make yogurt but we can also choose to cook soups, stews, chili, to sauté, etc.
And, obviously, we can cook rice. Let’s talk more about cooking rice since that’s what we’re here for.
Size
In order to do that, we must first discuss the 3 sizes available for the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1. I absolutely love that there are multiple sizes to choose from.
We get to choose between:
- 3 quart – cooks up to 3 servings
- 6 quart – cooks up to 6 servings, and is described as being perfect for growing families, meal prep and batch cooking
- 8 quart – cooks up to 8 servings
All sizes have the same design and they have the same control panel and everything. They do the same thing just in different sizes.
We get finger-print resistant, stainless-steel sides. And dishwasher-safe lid, inner pot, and accessories.
How to cook rice in the Instant Pot
The rice setting is designed for parboiled or long grain white rice.
Obviously, we can only cook white rice. So it doesn’t work for brown rice. We’ll use another function for brown rice or wild rice.
There’s nothing stopping you from adding brown rice to cook it in a rice cooker or in the Instant Pot.
The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you’ll need to select cooking time for 45 minutes to 1 hour for brown rice in most rice cookers.
The Instant Pot is an exception because we get the pressure cook function.
If you’re cooking brown rice, use the pressure cook setting and not the rice setting. Use the rice setting only for white rice.
Set the time for 22 to 28 minutes for brown rice.
For wild rice, it will be 25 to 30 minutes.
Jasmine rice should take 3 to 5 minutes, using the pressure cook function.
As I’ve said, I recommend using the rice setting for white rice. Cook all the other different kinds under the pressure cook function.
No matter which appliance you use or if you boil rice on the stovetop in a saucepan, one thing always applies. We need to wash our rice before cooking it, always do that.
Add the rice to the pot and wash it quickly with plenty of water. Dispose of that water.
Wash it again 4-5 times to clean out the bran and then you can start cooking it.
How the rice setting works
The golden ratio in a rice cooker is 1:1. We add 1 cup of water for each cup of rice.
If we press the rice setting, we will notice the display indicating that pressure is low.
Then, we can select between: less, normal, and more.
The less, normal, and more settings are indicating the time it will take for the rice to cook to achieve a certain texture:
- al dente for less
- normal texture for normal
- and softer texture for more
The cooking time is automatically adjusted depending on the volume of rice. So you can let the machine do its thing.
But we can also adjust the cooking time and setting for achieving the desired texture.
The auto cooking time is:
- 8 minutes for al dente / white rice (less)
- 12 minutes for normal texture / white rice (normal)
- 15 minutes for softer texture / white rice (more)
For most dishes, most people use the normal, the 12 minutes, setting.
However, the Instant Pot will also adjust the time based on how many cups of rice we’re cooking so you can notice a cooking time adjustment if you’re cooking a larger quantity, like 6 cups.
Once the rice is done cooking, always stir it with a large wooden spoon to make sure the moisture is evenly distributed.
For more information, check out this YouTube video that teaches us how to cook 6 cups of rice in the 8 quart model.
2. Zojirushi Micom Stainless Steel Rice Cooker and Warmer
As I’ve mentioned in my introduction, the Zojirushi Micom is a pick for the best stainless steel rice cooker but in the same way as the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is.
This Zojirushi is named a stainless steel rice cooker because the appliance, the exterior is made of stainless steel.
However, the inner cooking pot is non-stick and not stainless steel.
All Zojirushi models come with non-stick inner pots.
Thus, you have to decide if a non-stick inner pot is something you actually want. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 ensures PFOA/PTFE-free cooking. We can’t say the same for non-stick pots.
However, most models, whether cheap or expensive, like the Zojirushi Micom, will feature a non-stick inner pot so those are the models that rule the rice cookers world.
Are non-stick inner pots good for cooking rice?
Non-stick inner pots, just like the name suggests, are popular because nothing sticks to them as long as the coating doesn’t have any scratches.
Thus, they’re also incredibly easy to clean.
The rice won’t stick to the bottom or the sides of the pot.
However, just like nonstick frying pans, the nonstick coating won’t last forever. In time, the coating wears off so you might need to replace the pan or replace the rice cooker entirely.
Moreover, if we get tiny pieces of coating into our rice, that’s certainly not good. So we must be careful with that.
Obviously, I prefer stainless steel, ceramic or clay inner pots. It’s just a pity that these are fewer in number and much harder to come across.
Price
Let’s talk about this important aspect. Basically, the Zojirushi Micom is about two times more expensive than the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 for the 3, 5.5, and 10 cups sizes.
The good news is that the Zojirushi NS-LGCO5XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer, 3-Cups is only a bit more expensive than the Instant Pot if you get it on sale. But only if we get lucky and we find it on sale.
Overall, Zojirushi makes some of the most expensive rice cookers. And you must also consider that the inner pot is non-stick. It can last a good while but it won’t last for years and years like stainless steel has the potential to.
Size
We get to choose between three sizes, which is truly amazing
The 10 cups option is nice for a bigger family who eats rice daily.
But the 5.5 cups model is awesome for small to medium families.
And the 3 cups model is great for people living alone or for 2 people.
Features
Let’s talk about the Zojirushi Micom and its capabilities for cooking rice.
The Micom is described as controlled computed cooking.
A microchip judges the amount of rice. Then, it surrounds the pan with controlled heat.
Soaking and Steaming are pre-programmed.
The maximum amount of cups of uncooked rice we can cook in the pot depends on the model we choose.
We get to choose between 3 cups, 5.5 cups, and 10 cups. These are all uncooked cups.
The Micom control panel will indicate exactly just how versatile the Zojirushi Micom is.
We get cooking functions for:
- white/sushi
- mixed
- quick
- long grain white
- steel cut oatmeal
- quinoa
- brown
- steam
There is also an automatic keep warm function.
And there’s a Convenient delay timer (2 settings).
You can find a wide array of rice cooker recipes from Zojirushi here.
How to cook rice with the Zojirushi Micom
If you are interested in some detailed info, Zojirushi actually has a really interesting guide about rice on their website. You can find it here.
Basically, we will find some helpful pictures showcasing rice types: short grain, medium grain, long grain, short grain brown rice, jasmine, quinoa, steel cut oats, rolled oats.
Cooking the rice implies measuring the rice with the cup that comes with the cooker.
Then, rinse the rice. Followed by measuring the water. 1:1 ratio.
Select the menu setting and press Start. It’s that simple and that’s why we use these appliances.
3. Cuckoo Twin Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker
If you thought that the Zojirushi Micom was expensive, then you weren’t aware that the Cuckoo Twin Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker existed.
The price varies based on size.
For example, the 3 cup model costs around $350-$400.
However, the 6 cups and 10 cups models cost around $500-$600.
Is it worth considering the Cuckoo Twin Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker as a pick for the best stainless steel rice cooker considering the price?
It’s absolutely not for me, that’s for sure. For that price, I’ll just boil my rice on the stovetop, which takes about 30 minutes in total with the washing and everything and I’m done.
Also, considering that the complex Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 costs around $100, then I don’t see why we would choose the models from Cuckoo instead. But that’s my opinion.
I only chose to review it because it has a stainless steel inner pot. And because I’m just so curious to see what such an expensive appliance could just offer.
I also recommended it as one of the best Korean rice cookers.
Features
Before going into the serious features, I will admit that I like the white design, it’s quite a pretty appliance to have in a kitchen, that’s for sure.
As the name suggests, we can actually choose between pressure cooking or non-pressure cooking.
The Instant Pot can do it for a fraction of the price.
For the Cuckoo Twin Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker, the high pressure option will yield deliciously made sticky rice. The Instant Pot can also make sticky rice, also using the high pressure function. You can find a recipe here.
The non-pressure will result in unbelievably fluffy rice.
The inner pot looks great and it’s made with 304 food-grade stainless steel.
However, the problem is the fact that it is coated with premium X-Wall nonstick coating. Thus, it’s a nonstick, stainless steel inner pot.
The menu covers everything.
We get 16 menu options, including GABA/brown rice, glutinous/white rice, veggie rice, scorched rice, baby food, sticky rice, high/non-pressure options, and a quick turbo model for rice in a pinch.
All in all, the Cuckoo Twin Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker is certainly fancy, high-quality, and it offers all the cooking options we might need but it’s still an incredibly expensive appliance.
It’s up to you to decide just how much you’re willing to spend when you’re looking for the best stainless steel rice cooker but the model from Instant Pot still remains my top pick.
4. Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker & Warmer with Uncoated Inner Pot
While all the models that I recommended above as some of the best stainless steel rice cookers are either moderately affordable or really expensive, there’s high time we checked out some cheap appliances, too.
Personally, I don’t totally love the Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker because it has a pretty high percentage of negative reviews.
On the other hand, I can totally recommend it as a nice choice for the best stainless steel rice cooker if our budget is under $50.
Check out my reviews for the best pots for cooking rice if you decide to forego appliances and go the stovetop route.
Features
The first thing you’ll notice about this Aroma is that it’s a basic rice cooker. It really doesn’t get more basic than that. The other cheap model that I will review just below is the Elite Gourmet Electric Rice Cooker. It has a similar basic design, which is a normal design among cheap rice cookers.
Another thing that I want to mention is that the 6 cup capacity is for cooked rice.
That means that we can cook 3 cups of rice and we obtain 6 cups of cooked rice. Or more like 4 cups of cooked brown rice. The amount of brown rice we can cook in a rice cooker will always be smaller than white grains.
I like the coating free inner pot. Even though it’s rather on the smaller side, the capacity could fit a small family, more like 2 people.
The good news is that they also have a 14-cup (cooked) model with the same design and the same stainless steel inner pot. The difference is that this one is great for medium and large families. The price is around $50 so it’s still cheap even if the capacity is considerably bigger.
The food-grade 304 stainless steel cooking pot is durable and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
It includes the following accessories: stainless steel inner pot, rice measuring cup and serving spatula.
How to cook rice with Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker
There is a button that activates the cook mode by simply pressing this button down. The keep warm mode is automatic. It’s a simple, one-touch operation without any complex design.
The user manual is very helpful.
We get tables for grain & water that include: white rice (1 cup rice – line 1, 2 cups – line 2, 3 cups line 3), brown rice (1 cup – 1 1/4 cups water), quinoa, pearl barley, kamut, amaranth, rye, millet, bulgur.
We can cook a wide variety of grains with the Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker & Warmer with Uncoated Inner Pot.
The cooking times for white rice depends on the quantity we cook: 1 cup (18-23 min), 2 cups (20-25 min), 3 cups (25-30 min).
Brown rice takes 40-45 min for 1 cup or 45-50 min for 2 cups. It’s pretty fast.
The manufacturer also mentions that it’s great for soups, jambalaya, chili, and so much more.
In the user manual we have instructions for cooking soup, chili or stew.
I also like that the user manual contains recipes for: jambalaya, green chili chicken rice, ham & swiss frittata, classic mushroom pilaf, apple cinnamon oatmeal, game day chili cheese dip, pineapple rice pudding, linguine your way.
You’ll also notice that their website has a bunch of rice cooker recipes but those recipe might be made with other Aroma rice cookers. You’ll have to see if they can be adjusted to be cooked with the particular Aroma model that you own.
5. Elite Gourmet Electric Rice Cooker
This one from Elite Gourmet stands out for two things. One might be awesome for those on a budget. The other is not good at all.
Let’s start with the price.
Basically, if your budget is under $50 and you want a cooker with a stainless steel inner pot, then Elite Gourmet is basically our second only option.
Nevertheless, I slightly prefer the model from Aroma than this one from Elite Gourmet.
Both have a high percentage of negative reviews, which is why neither is my favorite pick as the best stainless steel rice cooker. But they are worth considering if your budget only allows you to buy an appliance that costs less than $50.
You’ll find several Aroma Housewares models in the same price range. And the Dash Mini Rice Cooker costs around the same. But these ones have nonstick inner pots, while Elite Gourmet comes with a stainless steel one.
And so is the case for the Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker & Warmer with Uncoated Inner Pot, 6-Cup.
I seriously recommend checking out the negative reviews before making your purchase. It’s best to know what to expect.
Features
We get a 304 stainless steel cooking pot. It certainly doesn’t look expensive but that’s because the Elite Gourmet Electric Rice Cooker is pretty cheap.
There are 2 sizes to choose from:
- 3 cups uncooked rice (6 cups cooked rice)
- 5 cups uncooked rice (10 cups cooked rice) – 4 cups if we’re using brown rice
They’re good enough for single, small and medium families but they might not be enough for large families.
Obviously, there’s no fancy display.
There are two lights for Warm and Cook.
However, we can cook white, jasmine, basmati or brown rice.
We get the usual: rice measuring cup and serving spoon. These will come with all rice cookers, no matter how expensive or cheap they are.
How to cook rice with Elite Gourmet Electric Rice Cooker
Measure the rice with the cup that is included. Add it to the stainless steel pot. Wash the rice really well.
The user manual indicates how much water we should use.
Once the rice and the water were added, push the switch down to Cook.
The Cook button will illuminate indicating that it’s doing exactly what it says.
When the rice is done, the rice cooker will automatically stop the cooking process and it will enter the Keep Warm Function. The Warm light will turn on.
Once it’s done cooking, allow the rice to rest for 5-10 minutes without removing the glass lid.
6. Instant 20-Cup Rice Cooker
We already saw what the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 offers. It’s a complex, multi-cooker appliance that is quite amazing and it’s my top pick.
From the same manufacturer, we can also pick the Instant 20-Cup Rice Cooker, which is pretty much in the same price range.
The difference between the two is that this is solely a rice cooker with a few additional functions for some complexity and versatility.
The Instant 20-Cup Rice Cooker looks really nice, I love the design a lot. Let’s see what else it offers.
Features
The cooking pot is non-stick but it’s PFOA-free. Although, it’s not PTFE-free, where teflon belongs.
However, we also get a CarbReduce stainless steel steam basket. Thus, we get both stainless steel and non-stick.
We can cook the rice in the CarbReduce stainless steel steam basket. The rice will be cooked in the steam that evaporates from the water. Thus, Instant mentions that the carbs and sugar separate and drain into the pot below.
This Instant uses carb-reducing technology. Basically, CarbReducing technology reduces carbs and sugars in rice up to 40% without sacrificing taste and texture.
We also get 8-in-1 functionality so this one is also more than a rice cooker.
It can cook grains, quinoa, mixed grains, slow cook, sauté, steam, and keep warm.
There are 8 presets: white rice, brown rice, CarbReduce, mixed grains, quinoa, steam, slow cook, and sauté.
Plus functions like Keep Warm, Delay Start.
All in all, the Instant 20-Cup Rice Cooker is quite well rated and very popular but there still is a significant number of negative reviews that we should check out. Overall, we can say that it’s a top pick for the best stainless steel rice cooker for those with a medium budget.
Best stainless steel rice cooker FAQs
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions related to our search for the best stainless steel rice cooker.
1. Is stainless steel good for cooking rice?
There are 4 main types of rice cookers based on their inner pot, what they’re made of and whether they’re coated or not: stainless steel, non-stick, ceramic, and clay. The ones made from stainless steel and clay are not coated. Non-stick and ceramic are both coated. Stainless steel pots are definitely durable so they’re good in that respect. Ef we were to mention a con, we might say that this metal might cook rice more unevenly than other materials. In my opinion, if an appliance is done correctly, that shouldn’t be a problem.
2. Does Zojirushi have a stainless steel rice cooker?
As I’ve mentioned the Zojirushi Micom Stainless Steel Rice Cooker and Warmer is called that because the exterior is made of stainless steel. The inner pot is a non-stick inner pot because it has a non-stick coating. Even so, I still reviewed the Zojirushi Micom Stainless Steel Rice Cooker and Warmer as a top favorite pick for the best stainless steel rice cooker because their appliances are truly some of the best.
