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Nowadays, when we think of the best rice cookers, the most advanced ones are what come to mind — rice cookers with a wide range of pre-programmed cooking settings, fuzzy logic technology, and an extended delay timer. They can make rice, soup, cereal, meat, and so much more, which often gets them ratings of 5 stars from customers.
Unfortunately, modern rice cookers are often costly and unaffordable. This is why plenty of people compromise with a lesser rice cooker for a lower price. But what if we told you that you could own a sleek, multi-functional, rice cooker for a cheap price, without sacrificing the value you get? What if we told you this rice cooker deserves 5 stars, without costing a fortune?
That’s right. The Cuisinart CRC-400 Rice Cooker is one of the most affordable in the market. But don’t discount it yet. Despite its low price, you’re getting a bang of the buck with great features and of course, perfectly-cooked rice after every cycle. It can hold 4 cups of uncooked rice and 4-7 cups of cooked rice. Its stainless steel inner pot is easy to clean. Plus, it adds a sleek twist to any counter space. It doesn’t hurt that most of its reviews are all raving about it, too.
Ready to know more? We take a look at the CRC-400 to see if it’s the best fit for you!
Is Stainless Steel Rice Cooker Good?
In many reviews, we often see non-stick inner pots as the standard of a good rice cooker. And why not? They make cleaning up much easier for us, and they prevent the rice at the bottom of the pan from burning or browning. But the chemical that makes up a non-stick inner pot, teflon, can be dangerous. At high heat, the PTFE that coats the inner pot releases chemicals and gases that range from mild to toxic.
Stainless steel rice cookers offer a less risky alternative to non-stick cookware. As such, they’re much healthier for cooking food. However, if you are on the hunt for similar cookware, be sure that the inner pot is made up of shiny material. That’s how you’ll know it’s a real steel cooker and not a cop-out.
How Do You Cook Rice in a Cuisinart Rice Cooker?
Cooking in a Cuisinart unit is guaranteed to be easy, efficient, and quick from preparation to clean-up. To make perfectly cooked rice each time, here’s all you need to do:
- Rinse your rice in an inner pot or a designated rice washer. Make sure to submerge the grains in your pot, then take two handfuls of rice and rub your fingers together to get rid of any starch, dirt, or residue.
- Keep rubbing the grains until the water turns cloudy. Drain the water from the pot, ensuring the grains don’t slip out.
- Repeat steps 1-2 until such time that the water doesn’t turn cloudy after rubbing the grains. This means your rice is ready to be cooked.
- Add the water according to how many cups of rice you want to cook. Take note of the maximum cup capacity of your rice cooker in order to get the best results. Overloading it may result in undercooked rice.
- Here’s a quick cheat sheet for the ratio of water to white rice:
- Long grain white rice (Basmati rice/Jasmine) – 1 cup of rice = 1 ¾ to 2 cups water
- Medium grain – 1 cup rice = 1 ½ cups water
- Short grain (Sushi rice or Japanese rice) – 1 cup rice = 1 ¼ cups water
- Once the grains and water are all in the pot, all you have to do is place the lid and flick the switch located on the bottom of the rice cooker. You’ll see the indicator light move from warm to cook.
- Because this Cuisinart model contains a steamer basket, you can prepare vegetables, fish, dumplings, or other re-heatable food while the rice cooks.
- Once the cycle is over and your rice is fully cooked, the rice cooker will automatically switch back to the keep warm function to prevent burning.
- Let the rice sit for a few minutes. Fluff it gently with a fork, then serve!
How Can I Cook Brown Rice?
Having trouble creating the perfect batch of brown rice? With this Cuisinart model, your task might be easier than ever. We’ve even named it one of the best rice cookers for brown rice.
To make a nutritious and delicious serving of this grain with your Cuisinart, here’s what you have to do:
- Submerge your brown rice grains with water in an inner pot. Let soak for 5-10 minutes. Since brown rice is considered a whole grain, it’s much more firm in structure than white rice. Soaking it allows it to soften enough for cooking.
- Rinse the rice grains, then submerge them again in water. Take two handfuls of rice and rub them together. Once the water turns cloudy, drain it.
- Repeat the step until the water is clean and transparent.
- Once your brown rice grains are free of the excess starch, add the necessary amount of water into the pot using a measuring cup.
- To get the perfect ratio of water to brown rice, follow this guide:
- Long grain brown rice – 1 cup of rice to 1 ¾ cups water
- Short grain brown rice – 1 cup of rice 2 cups water
- Place the cover over the pot and flick the switch. Even without a designated cooking function, the rice cooker will be able to cook each grain perfectly.
- Wait around 30-45 minutes. The rice cooker will automatically switch from cook to the keep warm function once the rice is fully cooked through.
- Let your brown rice sit for a few minutes before serving.
How Do I Cook Jasmine Rice in a Cuisinart Rice Cooker?
Jasmine rice is a variety native to Thailand. It’s well-known for its pleasant floral and buttery scent, similar to that of the jasmine flower. This rice grain is particularly starchier and softer than regular white rice, and it requires a different ratio of water in order to cook perfectly.
The instructions for making this type of rice are quite similar to cooking any other variety except for the ratio. The job is even simpler with a rice cooker, as it requires very little to no supervision. Here’s what you need to do:
- Soak the rice for 5-10 minutes. Rub two handfuls of grains together, then drain the water.
- Repeat the first step until the water is no longer murky.
- Add water into the pot using a measuring cup. We recommend 2 ¾ cups of water for every cup of jasmine rice. You may lessen the amount depending on how soft or firm you want the texture of your rice grains to be.
- With your rice grains and water in the inner pot, all you have to do is cover it with the tempered glass lid. Flick the switch to start cooking.
- Wait around 40-45 minutes. Your rice cooker will automatically go to warm mode once the rice is done cooking.
- Let the cooked rice sit for 5 minutes. Fluff it gently using a fork, then serve.
How Do You Steam in a Cuisinart Cooker?
One advantage of owning a Cuisinart cooker is the steamer basket that comes with it. While reviews will tout a steamer basket as super handy, this one takes the cake. Unlike other steam baskets, this one is made of steel, not plastic. With the detachable tray, you can steam vegetables, meat, dumplings, and other side dishes to pair with your rice.
It’s time-efficient and healthier, too. Steaming vegetables retains more of the nutrients found in the veggies such as phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. Steaming also removes fat from meats such as chicken and fish.
There are two ways to use the steamer. One way is by steaming food while rice cooks below. All you have to do is place the steamer on top of the inner pot in lieu of the lid, removing it once the food is fully cooked.
The second method is by using the steamer alone. To do this, simply add 2-3 cups of water into the inner pot and press the button to switch the rice cooker from warm to cook.
How Do You Steam Vegetables in a Cuisinart Cooker?
Vegetables take a certain amount of time to steam, so you can’t just place it on top of your cooking rice and expect it to finish at the same time as, say, white and brown rice. To get perfectly steamed vegetables, take note of the following cooking times:
- Broccoli florets – 3 to 5 minutes
- Carrots – 8 to 10 minutes
- Cauliflower – 5 to 6 minutes
- Green Beans – 7 minutes
- Small Potatoes – 10 to 15 minutes
- Asparagus – 5 minutes
About the Cuisinart CRC-400 Rice Cooker
| Manufacturer | Cuisinart |
| Model Name | Cuisinart 4-Cup Rice Cooker |
| Model Number | CRC-400 |
| Color | Silver |
| Dimensions | 10.7 x 10.1 x 9.9 inches |
| Weight | 5.4 lbs. |
| Max Capacity (Uncooked Rice) | 4 cups capacity |
| Max Capacity (Cooked Rice) | 7 cups |
| Product Accessories | Stainless Steel Steaming Pot |
For a small price of less than $60, you get a very convenient and modern approach to cooking your healthy meals. The functions and features of this rice cooker are expertly designed to provide you with an easy cooking experience — from popping the ingredients in all the way to cleaning up after dinner.
Ready to find out if this rice cooker passes the test? Let’s take a look at its features and functions!
Cuisinart CRC-400 Rice Cooker Benefits
At first glance, you will immediately notice how the build of the Cuisinart CRC-400 is modern and elegant. But the purpose goes far beyond aesthetics; this steel coating ensures that this rice cooker cooks your grains and food without any exposure to harmful chemicals. It’s hard to think of a reason why it shouldn’t be part of your kitchen countertop. But if you need a little more convincing, here are the innovative features of this rice cooker.
Doubles as a Steamer
The Cuisinart CRC-400 can cook more than just rice, which is an incredible deal considering its affordable price. The cooker comes with a stainless steel steaming pot where you can pop your veggies, fish, or meat in and cook them simultaneously while your rice is being prepared underneath. We can see why some would name it the best rice cooker and warmer for their household.
Single Switch Control
Plenty of reviews will tell you that the fancier a rice cooker, the better. But at the end of the day, if you only use the device for cooking rice and nothing more, then you don’t need something too complicated. That’s exactly one of the biggest selling points of this device: it makes cooking rice simple and fuss-free. In other words, it takes the “cook” out of “cooking”.
The Cuisinart CRC-400 makes cooking such a breeze with its single switch control. The traditional lever can be pushed down to begin the cooking cycle and will automatically switch back up to prompt the keep warm feature. While this device lacks the usual cooking options found in a digital rice cooker, the ease of operation makes it a good catch nonetheless. Thanks to its one-touch operation, cooking restaurant-quality rice every time is easier than ever.
Makes Excellent Brown Rice
Did you know that you don’t need an advanced digital rice cooker to make great brown rice? In fact, a single-switch rice cooker such as this one can make the process even easier. As long as you get the ratio of rice to water right (we’ve created a quick guide above!), you can set it and forget it.
Just pop in the grains and water, flick the switch, and you’ll get warm, fluffy rice like never before. The secret to excellently prepared brown rice isn’t in the pressure cooker or rice cooker, but is in fact in the preparation.
8-Cup Rice Cooker
Want to create warm, fluffy rice for you and the whole family? This rice cooker makes anywhere from 4-8 cups of cooked rice perfectly each time, thanks to its ability to hold a maximum of 4 cups of uncooked rice.
Not only that, but it can make different kinds of rice grains, including white and brown as well as jasmine, basmati rice, and sushi rice. Its cup capacity makes it a great option for families with 4-5 members.
High Quality Material
The main selling point of the Cuisinart CRC-400 is the material it is made of. It’s constructed with brushed stainless steel housing, chrome-plated handles, tempered glass lid with stainless rim and chrome-plated knob.
Its build does not only make it sleek and sophisticated, but also helps make the cooking cycle more convenient. We put this rice cooker to the test and the results were as great as you’d think: the steel coating makes the cooker easy to clean. It’s also expected to be durable enough to sustain years of use.
Pros and Cons of the Cuisinart CRC-400
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Budget-Friendly ✔️ Doubles as a steamer ✔️ High quality, brushed stainless steel | ✖️ Lack of innovative functions and features ✖️ Lack of menu selections to cook different types of rice |
What People Are Saying About It
If you’re looking for a highly functional, modern, and handy kitchen appliance while on a budget, the Cuisinart CRC-400 is a great rice cooker to have! It boasts a single-switch operation and an automatic keep warm function as well as a durable steel coating. Performance-wise, it cooks rice well and without need for monitoring.
As a rice cooker and warmer, you can save precious time in the kitchen by cooking and steaming your rice and viand or side dish in a single cycle. Its 4-cup uncooked rice capacity makes it a viable option for medium-sized households. If you want to cook 8 cups of rice, you can easily do so in a single cycle. So, is this the best rice cooker for you? Let’s see what other reviews are saying about it.
Although this is a smaller version of the 8-cup cooker, it doesn't impact the functionality of the unit at all. This small cooker doesn't take up a lot of room on my counter top."
Where to Buy the Cuisinart CRC-400 Rice Cooker
A lot of users praise the Cuisinart CRC-400 because of its functionality that comes at such an affordable price. Widely considered as one of the best rice cookers in the market, this model ranks at #29 in the Rice Cooker category on Amazon.
Ready to put it to the test and see if it cooks perfect rice every time? Check the best prices on Amazon today!
Not quite ready to commit? No worries, we have reviews of other best-selling cooker brands and models might be the perfect fit for you. Take a look at our guide to the best rice cookers! You might just find the best rice cooker for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Zojirushi or Cuisinart Rice Cookers?
When it comes to rice cookers, Zojirushi is one of the bestselling brands. The Japanese company is known for their rice cookers, multi-cookers, and pressure cookers. We’ve even reviewed some of their induction heating cookers and fuzzy logic units.
The biggest selling point of these rice cookers is their cutting-edge technology. Zojirushi units usually employ fuzzy logic technology to add a human element to their devices. Being a large brand, their rice cookers range anywhere from 6 cups to 10 cups and even 20 in order to cater to all types of customers.
Apart from this, you’ll rarely find a Zojirushi cooker that doesn’t have multiple cooking functions. Almost every rice cooker comes with designated programs for white rice, brown rice, GABA rice, pressure cooking, steaming, soup, baking, and more.
You may even encounter rice cookers that double as a food steamer or a slow cooker. Cooking perfect rice every time has become a Zojirushi trademark, as well, thanks to the unique induction heating system often found in their units. The stars of the brand include the NS-YAC18 model and the NS-ZCC18.
Given the quality and technology that most Zojirushi rice cookers have, they’re also priced significantly higher than most rice cookers. If you’re on a tight budget and only need to cook rice on a regular basis, then a Zojirushi rice cooker might be a little expensive. However, those who don’t mind investing in a cooker that is known to stand the test of time would do well to put their money in a Zojirushi rice cooker.
Cuisinart, on the other hand, has a lineup more suited for those on a tight budget. Their rice cookers are coated in powerful, durable steel and do away with the flashiness of more modern rice cookers. Instead, their attractiveness lies in the simplicity of operation and quality of materials used in making rice. They’re also easy to clean, as most of their rice cookers only have a glass lid instead of the non-removable cover found in many modern cookers.
Cuisinart rice cookers often have an automatic rice warm function, durable coating, and a detachable steamer basket. Their cup capacity also ranges from 4 cups to 10 cups, introducing an option for everyone no matter the household size.
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