Aroma rice cookers are not only capable of cooking rice but they are also capable of making one dish meals all in the same pot. These days with busy lifestyles it can be difficult to cook healthy meals quickly for our families. The aroma rice cookers with the steaming baskets take the hassle right away.
What Can Aroma Rice Cookers Make?
The aroma rice cookers can make multiple things, they are good for so much more than just rice. Below are just some of the things you can prepare with your rice cooker/steamer in one:
- Both brown & white rice
- Steam veggies
- Entrees that are in pouches (such as frozen that typically would go in the oven)
- Chicken
- Fish
- Pork
- Seafood
- Beef
- Risotto
- Soups & Stews
How Do The Aroma Rice Cooker/Steamers Work?
- The rice cookers have a pot inside the units that set on top of a hot plate. When the water is added to the inner pot, the heated plate brings the water to the boiling point.
- The boiling water becomes absorbed into the food, rice etc., and excess water that isn’t absorbed into the foods is turned into steam.
- The pots have a sensor on them that automatically shuts off when the water rises above the boiling point, 221* fahrenheit.
- When the pot senses that it is above the boiling point, it automatically reduces the temperature to the “keep warm” temperature.
- This keeps your foods from burning and keeps it warm until you are ready to serve.
Things to Remember When Cooking With The Aroma Rice Cooker/Steamers:
When you are cooking brown rice, it is recommended that you soak it in warm water before it is cooked. With the cool touch Aroma rice cookers, you can put the brown rice into the inner pot with water and it will soak it for you before it starts to cook. After it is done soaking in the boil bath, it will automatically turn on and start the cooking cycle.
The measurements for cooking your rice with the Aroma rice cookers is 6oz of dry rice for 1 cup of cooked rice.
In the pot style Aroma cookers, your white rice will take about 10 minutes for every 6oz that you add. Brown rice will take about 20 minutes for every 6oz of dry rice to make 1 cup of cooked. The brown rice takes longer because of the boil bath before starting to cook. With the Aroma cool touch rice cookers, the rice will take about 2 hours.
Another question that many people have is whether to add the rice or the water first to the rice cookers. You will add your rice first, there are lines of measurements inside of the pots. After you add your rice, fill to the line, (depending on how much you are making), with the water. This will make sure that your rice is cooked perfectly and doesn’t come out soggy.
How Does The Aroma Rice Cooker Make Rice & Steam Food at The Same Time?
To be able to cook both rice and steam your foods at the same time, you will need one of the units that have the steamer tray with it. Not all of the Aroma rice cookers come equipped with the steamer tray.
To cook both your rice and steam your veggies and/or meat at the same time is fairly simple.
- Add your rice and then your water into the inner pot.
- When the time comes to add your veggies or meats to the rice cooker, place them onto the steamer tray, open the rice cooker and place the steamer tray into the unit. Close the top of the unit and it will continue to cook/steam your food.
- Unplug your Aroma rice cooker and remove your foods when it’s time for you to eat.
- Unplug your Aroma rice cooker and remove your foods when it’s time for you to eat.
- The Aroma rice cookers do not have an on/off switch, so you will need to always unplug them when you are done cooking.
Cooking Guides For The Aroma Rice Cookers & Steamers:
Depending on the pot that you are purchasing, the pot style or the cool touch, the cooking times will vary. The cooking times for the brown rice will differ but the white rice cooking times are the same with both units.
Aroma does not recommend that you cook less than 2 cups of rice in your rice cooker at a time. This will ensure that you get your fluffy rice every time.
Below is the cooking guides for white rice. Remember that you are using 6 oz of rice or 3/4 of a cup when it states 1 cup of rice. I know it sounds strange, but this is how it is measured and honestly I really don’t know why. If anyone else knows, please leave a comment below and share with us!
Below are the cooking times for steaming your veggies and meats
using the steamer tray that is included with some of the Aroma rice cookers. You will put the steamer tray into the unit while your rice is cooking. Remember that the rice will generally take longer than your rice to cook so it typically will need to be added after your rice has started cooking.
Let’s Take A Look At The 5 Best Aroma Rice Cooker/Steamers
Below I will show you the different sizes of the Aroma rice cookers. I will also let you know if they have a steam basket, how much rice it can cook and the prices of them.
There are sizes ranging from the ability to cook 3 cups of rice to the option of cooking as much as 20 cups of rice with the Aroma rice cookers. I’m going to start with the smallest ones and work up to the largest styles.
This is the smallest rice cooker that is made by Aroma.
This model does not have a steamer tray available but it is capable of cooking more that just rice.
You can make chili, soups, stew and even cook frozen meals that are in a pouch, instead of turning on the oven.
You will find a programmable digital touchscreen with this model that offers an automatic keep warm function.
The cooking pot is removable and is dishwasher safe along with the top to make cleaning a breeze.
- Digital touchscreen to set your cooking time
- Cooks more than just rice
- Automatically switches to keep warm after cooking time has been reached
- Insert and top are dishwasher safe
- Does not come with a steamer basket for multiple cooking abilities
This Aroma model rice cooker can cook up to 3 cups of rice at a time, (3 cups uncooked = 6 cups cooked).
You can also cook soups, stews, chili, oatmeal, risotto and even heat frozen pouch meals in this unit.
This has a one touch button to press after all your ingredients are in and will cook your foods perfectly with no worries.
The automatic warm setting will turn on after your foods are finished cooking.
This unit does not have a steaming tray in it for steaming foods while your rice is cooking.
This does not come with a steamer basket so you can only cook one thing at a time.
- Cooks more than just rice
- Has one touch button to start & cook foods
- Automatic warming setting
- Insert and top are dishwasher safe
- Does not come with a steamer basket
- Not programmable has one set cooking
The Aroma housewares 8-cup rice cooker comes with a steamer tray.
This is the cool touch model so there are longer cooking times for the brown rice.
This model is capable of cooking both rice and your meats and veggies in the steamer trays so you can make an entire one pot meal.
This model also has a quick rice function that will cut cooking time by half if you need your rice cooked quickly.
There is also a 15 hour delayed timer so that you can have your food start cooking and have it ready when you get home.
This model is also dishwasher safe so cleanup is a breeze on those busy nights.
- Comes with a steamer tray to cook other foods while your rice is cooking
- There is a quick rice function to cook rice quicker
- White rice & brown rice push button automatic cook
- Up to a 15 hour delayed start to cook foods when you want even if you're not home
- The insert, steamer tray and top are all dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
- Doesn't come with a recipe book
This digital rice cooker steamer offers preset cooking modes to make cooking multiple foods easy with the press of a button.
The Preset Options Are
- white rice
- brown rice
- risotto
- quick rice (allows you to cook rice in 1/2 the time)
- multi-grains
- oatmeal
- saute' to simmer
- steam
- slow cook
- soup
- cake
- eggs
- reheat
There is also a delayed starting timer that can be set to start 10 hours later so your foods are perfect when you're ready to eat.
With all the preset options available there is nothing that this rice cooker steamer can't do to make meals easy and delicious along with cooking your rice perfectly.
You can cook up to 20 cups of rice at a time along with cooking meats and veggies in your steamer basket for a complete meal.
The insert is dishwasher safe
- Multiple preset options to cook rice, soups, stews and so much more
- Included steamer basket
- Delay start
- Automatically switches to keep warm after cooking is done
- Dishwasher safe
- Does not come with a recipe book
The Aroma professional rice cooker steamer can make up to 20 cups of cooked rice at one time. This comes with 8 preset cooking options allowing you to use it as a slow cooker, saute', steam and so much more.
The 8 Preset Cooking Options Are:
- rice
- grains
- oatmeal
- cake
- soup
- yogurt
- saute' then simmer
- steam
Along with the 8 presets there is also a keep warm setting that will turn on as soon as foods are done cooking and a delay start allowing you to start cooking your foods at the perfect time so that they are done when you're ready to eat.
The steam tray allows you to steam your meats, veggies at the same that the rice is cooking.
Both the removable insert and the steaming tray are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
- 8 preset functions to cook a multitude of foods even desserts and yogurt
- Automatically switches to warm when foods are done cooking
- Delay start to start cooking when you want
- Steam tray allowing for meats and veggies to cook at the same time as your rice
- dishwasher safe insert and steamer basket for easy cleanup
- This doesn't come with a recipe book
What You Should Look For Before Purchasing An Aroma Rice Cooker/Steamer
What do you want to use it for?
A basic rice cooker/steamer has the capabilities of cooking the rice to the perfect light fluffy consistancy along with steaming your meats and veggies to the perfect doneness for your liking at the same time.
The more advanced rice cooker/steamers offer so much more than just cooking rice and steaming your foods. Many rice cookers offer the same abilities as a slow cooker allowing for you to cook soups and stews. They also can offer sauteing and even baking.
Decide how many options you would like on your rice cooker/steamer before buying so that you can get the most out of not just another kitchen appliance but the most out of your money.
How large do you need it to be?
Rice cookers come in a variety of sizes from the small that cooks up to 3 cups of rice at a time to 20 cups of cooked rice at a time. The larger rice cookers typically offer the abilities of a slow cooker, sauteing abilities and baking abilities as well.
Having all the extra capabilities with the larger rice cooker can make a main staple in your kitchen and not just a rice cooker/steamer.
What extra cooking availabilities do you want it to have?
If you are limited on space in your kitchen and want something that can do multiple functions in your kitchen then look for a rice cooker that is also a multicooker. You will save space on your countertops and get a lot more for your money with one that does multiple kitchen tasks.
Is a rice cooker/steamer worth it?
If you really enjoy rice as a main staple to your meals, then a rice cooker will give you the beautiful fluffy rice easily. You won’t have that sticky rice, undercooked rice or overcooked rice anymore. The extra features that you can get with a rice cooker such as, steaming your meats and veggies at the same time or using the appliance as a slow cooker gives them a lot more uses in your kitchen as well.
I hope I was able to help you make an informed decision before purchasing an Aroma rice cooker/steamer. If you have any questions at all or would like to tell us about one that you have purchased, please leave it in the comments below, we would love to hear from you! 🙂
