This guide will help you find answers to the Instant Pot vs. Rice Cooker debate.
This guide uses the Zojirushi rice cooker and Instant pot Duo Plus to illustrate concrete differences.
Both have been used to create healthy, family-friendly meals. I am familiar with both countertop appliances. Both have their pros and cons, so there is no one-size fits all approach.
My Instant Pot and rice cooker are used with equal frequency. But, I’m a food blogger. I can make rice, or a stew from a piece of meat. I have no doubt that either one of these tools will do the trick.
Continue reading to find out if you should purchase an Instant Pot or rice cooker.
A Glance
Rice cooker vs. The Instant Pot vs. Rice cooker: Which one is best for you? It all depends on what type of dishes you cook.
The Instant pot is a great choice if you are a slow-cooker or a pressure cooker master. It can be used to make soups, stews, or slow-cooked meats such as briskets and pot roasts.
A rice cooker like Zojirushi can help you save time and effort if rice is a main dish in your household. It’s almost like magic to set your rice cooker and then return to perfect-cooked rice in 20 minutes.
You’re probably thinking, “Doesn’t Instant Pot have rice cooker function?” Instant Pot has pressure cooker. This makes it more versatile. A dedicated rice cooker is better if you cook a lot of rice.
The main functional difference between them is the Instant Pot’s pressure cooking function. The temperature and pressure of food must be increased. The Instant Pot allows you to increase both pressure and temperature, thereby significantly reducing cook times.
Below, we’ll go into more detail about how each appliance works. Let’s begin with the rice cooker.
How a Rice Cooker works
Impatience can be a dangerous drug when making rice on the stove. It is important to resist the urge to open the lid every time you stir the rice. This will prevent the rice from sticking to your pot. You will lose the steam that creates that fluffy texture.
Rice cookers keep most of the steam in place by sealing tightly. You could look inside to check your rice, but what’s the point of a rice cooker? It allows you to set it and forget about it.
The rice cooker is a great option for those who are a regular rice-maker. It can also be used for dry goods such as:
- Lentils
- Dry beans
- Couscous
- Quinoa
- Barley
- Steel-cut oats
- Risotto
If you don’t use rice cookers often or prefer to cook on the stove, then skip the rice cooker.
It can only be used to cook rice or any other dry food. It can’t be used for soups or stews, meats or vegetables.
How an Instant Pot works
Instant Pots offer many features, including:
- Slow cooking (like a Crock Pot)
- Pressure cooker
- Rice cooking
- Sauteing
- Warming food
The Instant Pot’s many features make it ideal for making soups, one-pot meals, and homemade yogurt.
The Instant Pot’s unique feature is pressure cooking. It cooks food faster than any oven, stove or slow-cooker by combining the power of pressure cooking and increased temperature.
This feature is extremely convenient for meats that can be cooked in less than 10 minutes using the Instant Pot.
An ideal Instant Pot user is someone who can master one-pot meals and has more time in their day. If you prefer to be in complete control of your meals, then the “set it, forget it” approach won’t suit you.
Remember that the Instant Pot takes several minutes to depressurize if you feel the sudden urge to stir your Instant Pot’s cooking. This pot is great for almost any type of food, including soups and slow-cooked meals.
Review of Product
Let’s look at some of the most beloved aspects of both Instant Pot and Rice Cooker.
Rice cooker
Rice cooker manufacturers boast precise heating control, lid sealing that allows for maximum steam containment and quick cooking times. The majority of rice cookers, such as the Zojirushi use an interior bowl coated with a nonstick coating. However, you can also buy stainless-steel rice cookers.
All of the above is reported by Zojirushi users. However, some users report that it might not save as much time.
Some Zojirushi settings are only for Jasmine rice. These special functions can take as long as 90 minutes.
Pros:
- Perfectly cooked, fluffy rice
- There was no rice sticking to the bottom of your bowl
- Cook times are generally faster than for stovetop rice
Cons:
- Reduced functionality in comparison to other countertop appliances (like Instant Pot).
- Long cooking times are required for special settings.
- Induction heating can be very noisy
Instant Pot
The Instant Pot Duo plus is more than just a pressure cooker. Manufacturers refer to it as a “multi-cooker”.
Users seem to enjoy all its functions. Users love the Instant Pot’s yogurt setting. They claim it makes cooling yogurt (which is essential for yogurt flavor development) very simple.
Pros:
- All functions are functional.
- Pressure cooking can be a quick alternative to stovetop cooking.
- It is easy to clean.
- It is a strong “set it or forget it” candidate.
Cons:
- It can take time for pressure to build up and then release.
- The lid is not visible so you can’t see the contents.
- The lid absorbs many cooking flavorings, which can sometimes lead to unpleasant odours.
Rice Cooker vs. Instant Pot
Rice cookers have the following main benefits:
- Making soft, fluffy rice hands-free
- Easy to clean – just wash the pot after you have removed the rice
- Fast cooking
- Stove real estate can be freed
An Instant Pot’s main benefits are:
- Many functions
- Capacity to Pressure Cook
- Easy maintenance – The Instant Pot is just like the rice cooker and has a washable lid
- Pressure cooking allows for ultra-fast cooking
- Space savings on the stovetop and in the oven
Both can promote healthier eating and are therefore healthier options. The rice protein-to-calorie ratio is high. The Instant Pot is ideal for making veggie-rich soups and stews.
The Instant Pot is the more functional option. The rice cooker does only one thing, while an Instant Pot does many things.
The increased functionality of the Instant Pot also means greater versatility. You can cook a variety of dry goods in a rice cooker but you can also make virtually any food in an instant pot.
How to Cook Rice
Although it only does one thing, rice cookers do it well. They make great rice every time.
However, the Instant Pot can also be used as a strong rice cooker. The rice cooker function can sometimes make the Instant Pot too hot. Users cannot control the temperature of each mode. If the heat is too high, rice can stick to the pot or undercook it.
A rice cooker is a great way to make perfect rice every time.
Slow cooking
The rice cooker may not be right for you if you require exceptional rice-making and slow cooking. The Instant Pot is able to slow cook soups, stews and meats that rice cookers cannot.
The Instant Pot’s Saute function is great for meats that need to be seared before slow-cooking. This makes the meal a one-pot dish. The Instant Pot will do the cooking for you without you even having to clean a saute pan.
The Instant Pot is the perfect choice for slow-cooking experts.
How to Cook Meats
You can add meat preparation to the list.
The Instant Pot cooks meat like a pro. The Instant Pot can do it all, whether you are slow-cooking a pork chop, pressure cooking chicken and then putting it in a casserole or making thin strips of beef.
The pot’s high walls also reduce the risk of splattering during the saute stage. Be gone grease stains!
This Instant Pot win is a win, but to be fair, the rice cooker doesn’t even compete here!
Making One-Pot Meals
Everybody has a different idea of what a meal should look like. A bowl of rice or couscous may be sufficient for you if you work at home and make hot lunches every morning. You can cook a simple meal in the rice cooker if this is you.
For a more complex one-pot meal, such as a pot roast, stir-fry, or saucy spaghetti dish, the Instant Pot can hold multiple ingredients simultaneously. You can also make multi-phase meals with different features.
While both can cook one-pot meals technically, the Instant Pot is superior.
Instant Pot vs. Rice cooker: Which one is right for you?
The Instant Pot is the clear winner in terms of versatility, functionality, and utility.
The Instant Pot is a great option for home chefs who love the ease of making one-pot meals. You might find your stovetop is obsolete.
The Instant Pot is a great tool for experimental and fearless cooks who are open to trying new recipes and techniques.
The rice cooker is the perfect choice for those who love fluffy rice.
You can have perfect rice, and you love the Instant Pot’s other functions. Why not get one?
Both appliances work well and are useful. The Instant Pot has many more functions than the rice cooker, but a good rice cooker is well worth every penny. Save up and buy both if you are still unsure.
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