If you are wondering whether to use instant or rice cooker, you are in the right place. In this post, we will show you everything you want to know about instant pot vs rice cooker.
What Is an Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, a multi-purpose appliance used for cooking rice, steaming vegetables, and more. The Instant Pot has made cooking faster and easier than ever before.
The Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker with several attachments for preparing different types of food. Dr. Fergus Henderson invented it as part of his cookbook The Whole Fish, which became an instant bestseller and launched the instant pot craze.
The main benefit of using an Instant Pot is that it requires no fussing over stovetop or oven temperatures. You set your desired pressure level, wait for the cooking time to finish, and then let the machine’s steam release naturally until the pressure releases naturally on its own.
Pros for Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is a fantastic kitchen appliance. The appliance has been around for over a decade, so many people have purchased it. The Instant Pot has main pros:
- Instant Pot Makes Food Taste Better
- It’s Quick And Easy To Use
- It’s Energy Efficient
- You Can Cook More Food at Once
- It’s Easy to Clean Up
Cons for Instant Pot
- Instant Pot is an outstanding appliance that can make many different things, but it’s not perfect. Here are the three cons:
- Inaccurate pressure. Instant Pot has various programs and settings, but some use approximate pressure measurements to determine if something is done or not. This can cause your food to be overcooked or undercooked and even burnt.
- Not enough power for large appliances. Instant Pot does not have enough energy to properly cook foods that require large amounts of heat and pressure, such as roasts and stews.
- No ability to slow down cooking time by adding more heat manually from the bottom of the Pot (like stovetop boilers).
What Is a Rice Cooker
A rice cooker is a device that cooks rice, but it is not the same as a steam cooker. A rice cooker does not require hot water to cook the rice and does not cook the rice in one Pot. Instead, it uses a heating element to heat each cup of uncooked rice so it can be quickly cooked.
Rice cookers come in many shapes and sizes, from small to large. They are usually made from stainless steel or plastic. Some models have electric heaters that can be turned on or off to cook different foods. Other models have separate compartments for various grains, such as brown rice or long-grain white rice. Many models also have settings for porridge, soups, and other dishes that require longer cooking times than regular white or brown rice.
Pros for Rice Cooker
Here are some of the pros of a rice cooker
- Easy to use
- Clean-up is easy
- No overcooked rice
- Safer than stovetop cooking
- No need to watch the Pot on the stove or even turn down the heat when it starts boiling over
Cons for Rice Cooker
Here are some of the cons of rice cooker
- None actually. Rice cooker is the most convenient way to cook rice.
Differences Between Instant Pot and Rice Cooker
While the Instant Pot and Rice Cooker are similar in that they cook rice and other grains, there are a few significant differences between these kitchen appliances. Here are three essential differences between the Instant Pot and Rice Cooker:
Cooking Capacity
The first difference is that rice cookers have a smaller capacity than an instant pot, allowing you to make only one serving at once (or less). For example, if you want to make just one cup of rice, then a rice cooker would suffice as it has a minimum capacity of 1 cup, meaning you can only make one serving from it at any given time. The other factor here is that since they have smaller capabilities, they also tend to be more expensive than ones that have bigger ones.
Power Supply
The power supply for both devices is electrically isolated and will keep them from damaging each other when they’re plugged into the same outlet. However, suppose you plan on using both at once. In that case, you may consider purchasing an extension cord that allows you to plug them together or buy individual power supplies for each appliance (or use multiple outlets).
Functionality
The two appliances have different capabilities when it comes to functionality as well as design aesthetics. The Instant Pot offers more functionality than a traditional rice cooker because it can steam vegetables, pressure cook meals, make yogurt, and even sauté vegetables while they cook the grains inside.
Size
The Instant Pot is much larger than a regular rice cooker, but that doesn’t mean it can’t fit into your kitchen cabinets or countertop. The Instant Pot has more features than just being a rice cooker, so it’s best to look at the entire machine instead of just its size when deciding whether or not to purchase one.
The Temperature Control
In addition to the safety features of both products, their temperature control settings are also different. While both have the same function of allowing users to cook at higher temperatures for shorter periods (up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit), they also have their set temperatures for different foods (such as chicken broth).
Versatility
Instant Pot is a versatile kitchen appliance that can prepare many different foods. This is because it has a variety of functions. It can be used to make rice, other grains, meat, vegetables, and seafood dishes. By using the programmable feature, you can control the cooking process with your own hands.
Rice Cooker, on the other hand, is not so versatile. It only cooks one type of food at a time. The programmable feature allows you to choose how long it will take for your food to cook without having to watch over it yourself. You are also able to adjust the temperature settings according to your specifications.
Ease of Use
Instant Pot makes cooking and handling of food easy. The appliance has a pressure cooker which cooks the food faster than traditional cookers. The Instant Pot is also known as a slow, pressure, and rice cooker. The appliance has several settings to choose from when cooking different types of food.
The Instant Pot has an easy-to-read digital display and features auto-keep warm, keep warm and manual settings for quick heating or keeping the food hot for hours. You can also set an alert on your phone so you know when it’s done because with this feature, you don’t have to babysit your meal while it cooks in the Pot.
Durability
Instant Pot is a durable and long-lasting kitchen appliance. It is made of stainless steel and nonstick ceramic material, which makes it safe to use in high temperatures. The main difference between the traditional rice cooker and Instant Pot is that Instant Pot has a stainless steel inner pot and aluminum base, while the rice cooker has an aluminum pot and a metal base. These materials make it resistant to high heat and heavy-duty pressure cooking.
The outer shell of Instant Pot is made of Teflon, which allows food to slide off the surface quickly. This feature helps you clean up easily since you can wipe down the surface with a damp cloth or sponge. You don’t have to worry about your food sticking to the cooker’s inside, as it will come off quickly with minimal effort.
The entire body of Instant Pot is constructed from glass, making it easy for users to monitor their cooking process without having a glass lid. This means you can see exactly how your food is cooking without having an additional cover on top.
Wrapping Up
Though there are many similarities between these two cookers, there are a few differences worth discussing. The general rule of thumb is that the best choice for you will likely depend on your specific needs in a cooker. If you’re looking for more information before making a final decision, keep an eye out for the upcoming Instant Pot vs Rice Cooker comparison article to be published soon.
