It sometimes happens that there are still some rice left over after everyone has eaten. You may want to keep the rice warm for a few hours to eat again at the next meal. Therefore, you need a rice cooker with a keep warm function.
Introduction
Keeping rice warm for multiple days in a rice cooker is not recommended because of the danger of bacterial growth and possible food poisoning. The keep warm function must keep the rice at a high enough temperature (higher than 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit) to discourage bacterial growth, but it must not be so warm that it dries out or burns the rice. Electric rice cookers can keep the rice warm for up to 12 hours without it becoming spoiled.
We have selected two rice cookers with an automatic keep warm function. Keep reading for an overview of the costs and benefits of these rice cookers with automatic warmers.
Zojirushi Rice Cooker With Keep Warm Function
The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 microcomputer rice cooker can cook up to 5.5 cups of uncooked rice to prepare about 10 servings of cooked rice.
It keeps the rice warm for a maximum of 12 hours after it has been cooked. It also has an extended keep warm function. The keep warm button is located on the control panel and the start/reheat button can also be pressed for reheating the rice.
The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 takes longer to cook rice when compared to a cheap single switch rice cooker. This is because a microcomputer controls the cooking process. The end result is tastier rice, even though you have to wait a little longer to taste it.
The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 has much more benefits than costs. We list a few benefits below:
- Built-in retractable power cord.
- Delay timer for delayed start cooking.
- Use the BPA-free plastic steaming basket for steaming food.
- Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating functions.
- Microcomputer (MICOM) Fuzzy Logic technology which adjusts cooking according to rice type.
You may read our NS-TSC10 review for a longer discussion of its features, likes and dislikes. If you want to buy this Zojirushi Micom rice cooker and warmer, then you may find online pricing or read more customer reviews at Amazon.
Aroma Rice Cooker With Automatic Warmer
The Aroma ARC-150SB rice cooker can cook a maximum of 10 cups of uncooked rice to prepare 20 cups of cooked rice. It automatically keeps the cooked rice warm after the cooking has been completed. However, do not keep the rice warm for more than 12 hours, for the reason that it might spoil. It does not have extended keep warm or reheat functions.
It can cook white rice, brown rice, steam vegetables or slow cook soups and stews. The delay timer can be set for up to 15 hours.
There are a few small problems to point out. The lid is not removable, so it is more difficult to clean. Furthermore, the nonstick coating of the pot can get scratched, but replacement cooking pots are inexpensive.
When it comes to benefits, here are a few to consider:
- Automatic keep warm function.
- 15-hour delay timer for delayed cooking.
- The nonstick cooking pot can be removed and cleaned.
You can get a more complete overview of this Aroma digital rice cooker by reading our ARC-150SB review. Otherwise, you can also read what other people are saying about it, or view online prices, by visiting Amazon.
Conclusion
The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 is the more expensive choice. However, it has extended keep warm and reheat functions, which might prove useful if you want to keep leftover rice in the rice cooker for up to 12 hours.
The Aroma ARC-150SB is a less expensive choice, but it does not have an extended keep warm feature. It probably will not work for keeping leftover rice warm for longer than a few hours at a time because it might burn the rice. Nonetheless, the Aroma ARC-150SB is the more affordable choice for a rice cooker with an automatic keep warm function.