Instant Pot vs Rice Cooker: Which is Better?

Not sure whether to get an Instant Pot or rice cooker to make rice at home? This post will help you understand the differences (and similarities) between the two and pick the one better suited to your cooking needs.

If you’ve been looking at cooking appliances to add to your arsenal of kitchen equipment, you may have considered this debate: Instant Pot vs rice cooker. It can be hard to choose products and accessories that will work best for you, especially when many options are available.

 

Instant Pot vs Rice Cooker: Which is Better?

Before we look at which is better — Instant Pot vs rice cooker — we first need to understand both and what they do and what you want to get out of the appliance.

As you already know, an Instant Pot is so much more than a rice cooker, because it can perform many more duties, and cook many more things than just rice. Though it also cooks rice well, it’s not meant solely for rice cooking, as a rice cooker is.

If your main reason for buying the appliance is to make rice, then you will be better served by a rice cooker because it’s simple and straightforward, and was designed for rice. If you want to add more functionality, an Instant Pot can be a great tool, but it’s more difficult to learn to use, and it wasn’t designed specifically for rice so it can take more practice to get it right.

What is an Instant Pot?

An Instant Pot is a cooking appliance that combines slow cooking, rice cooking, pressure cooking, warming, sautéing, and steaming into one convenient multicooker. You can (almost) do it all with this nifty kitchen appliance.

Instant Pots consist of three parts: a cooking element at the bottom of the housing of the pot, an inner pot made of stainless steel, and a lid with a sealing ring and steam-release valve.

They speed up the cooking process by using heated liquid in an enclosed chamber to produce high pressure. Because the pot is sealed, only a tiny amount of liquid escapes, and the food keeps its nutrition and delicious taste. This, plus their versatility, is why many cooks love Instant Pots.

Another great thing about them is that you don’t need to make frequent trips to the kitchen to check on your food. Just set, press, and relax.

How To Cook Rice In An Instant Pot

Cooking rice in an Instant Pot is quick and convenient. Here’s what you need and how to cook the rice:

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice (long-grain, short-grain, or basmati)
• 1 cup of water (for most types of rice) (Add more water for softer rice or less for firmer rice)
• A pinch of salt (optional)

1. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear.
2. Place the rinsed rice into the instant pot and add the water and salt. If you like your rice soft, add more water. If you like it firm, reduce the water.
3. Close the instant pot, ensuring the release valve is set to the right position, and select the rice setting or pressure cook function
4. For white rice, set the time to 3 – 8 minutes; for brown rice cook for 20- 28 minutes and basmati rice, set to 4 – 7 minutes.
5. The instant pot will tell you the cooking process is done with a beeping noise. Allow it to release the pressure for about 15 minutes naturally. Then turn the valve to release any steam before attempting to open.
6. Once all steam and pressure has been released you can open the instant pot and fluff your rice.

What is a Rice Cooker?

On the other hand, a rice cooker is a kitchen appliance used to cook rice much quicker than stovetop cooking. Rice cookers are gadgets that perfectly cook rice automatically.

They come with a pot connected to a heating source and thermometer that monitors and changes the pot’s temperature, similar to slow cookers and pressure cookers. In addition, they have solid handles and a set of controls on the front of the appliance.

You won’t need to supervise the rice cooker while cooking — just like an Instant Pot.

How To Cook Rice In A Rice Cooker

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice (long-grain, short-grain, or basmati)
• 1.25 cups of water (for most types of rice) (Add more water for softer rice or less water for firmer rice)
• A pinch of salt (optional)

1. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear.
2. Place the rinsed rice into the instant pot and add the water and salt. If you like your rice soft, add more water. If you like it firm, reduce the water.
3. Close the lid securely, plug in the rice cooker, and turn it on. The rice cooker will let you know once the rice is fully cooked with a beep. Do not open the lid immediately. Let the rice rest for about 15-more minutes as it steams to cook through fully.
4. After resting, open the lid ad fluff your rice or serve.

The Difference Between a Rice Cooker and Instant Pot

The main difference between rice cookers and Instant Pots is that a rice cooker is really only meant to cook rice. Yes, you can do other things with it, and cook other foods in it, but it is made to cook only rice. It’s not a pressure cooker, slow cooker, or sauté pan.

You can use an Instant Pot as a rice cooker and to cook in various other ways. It can be a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, etc. Thus, the latter is more versatile.

On the other hand, rice cookers are safer to use than Instant Pots since they don’t come with the dangers and risks of a pressure cooker. However, Instant Pots have many safety features like release valves. These help users prevent accidental burns.

While both rice cookers and Instant Pots save you time in the kitchen, rice cookers are a bit slower since they don’t have pressure building up inside them. It will take between 25 and 35 minutes to cook rice in a rice cooker, whereas an Instant Pot takes just 20 minutes (including the pressure build and release time) when cooking at high pressure.

Why Use An Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. If you don’t have one, check out our guide on which one to buy. Also see our guide to How to Use an Instant Pot and the many accessories you can buy for it.

Advantages of Using Instant Pots

• Instant Pots cook foods a lot faster. It’s been reported that you can prepare hearty meals in less than 30 minutes.
• They combine various cooking appliances into one gadget, so you don’t have to purchase multiple expensive kitchen appliances.
• Instant Pots are incredibly versatile.
• Their modern interface (compared to the traditional stovetop pressure cooker) offers many different cooking options.
• Instant Pots are available in various series and models, allowing you to choose ones with more functionality (like the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, which is also an air fryer).
• Instant Pots are more energy-efficient compared to rice cookers or pressure cookers.

Disadvantages of Using Instant Pots

• They are more costly than rice cookers.
• Instant Pots are bulky and harder to clean.
• There’s a bit of a learning curve when using them.
• Small Instant Pots may not cook enough for a large family.
• Simpler Instant Pot models can’t fry or crisp food.
• Customers have reported that food smells remain on sealing rings, even after cleaning them properly. You may want to consider purchasing an extra sealing ring to circumvent this. One can be used to cook savory meals, and the other can be used to make desserts.
• When looking at Instant Pot rice vs rice cooker food, rice cooked by the latter is perfectly soft and fluffy. With an Instant Pot, you risk either undercooking or overcooking your rice.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Rice Cooker

There are some pros and cons to evaluate when looking at a rice cooker vs. an Instant Pot.

Advantages of Using Rice Cookers

• Rice cookers automatically cook your rice for you.
• Many rice cookers are easy to clean.
• They are easier to use due to their simple buttons and instructions.
• Even some of the best rice cookers can be cheaper than Instant Pots.
• Most modern rice cookers come with a warming feature to keep your rice warm after cooking, so you can dish up a serving of warm and fluffy rice.

Disadvantages of Using Rice Cookers

• Although modern rice cookers can cook oatmeal, quinoa, and steam vegetables, they primarily cook rice.
• You have to use specific utensils (usually plastic) to avoid scratching their surface.
• You may have to stir the rice every 2-3 minutes while cooking to avoid burning the rice’s bottom layer.
• Entry-level rice cookers may not automatically turn off once completing a cooking cycle. You’ll have to turn your unit off by removing it from its power source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot? Make the Right Choice

While the rice cooker versus Instant Pot debate has been popular on the Internet, there’s nothing worse than purchasing a cooking appliance only to find that it’s not quite what you expected. We suggest you carefully research your options, so that you won’t be disappointed.

The Instant Pot is the better choice if you’d like to cook delicious rice and experiment with other dishes in the kitchen. Why not follow this recipe to make perfectly fluffy Instant Pot jasmine rice once you’ve purchased your Instant Pot?

🥧 If you’re interested in more great recipes, I share all my favorite recipes over at A Food Lover’s Kitchen, and you’ll find air fryer recipes at Air Fry Anytime and cocktails and drinks at Savored Sips. Check it out today!

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