rice cooker vs. instant pot

[Morgana]

There's been some good discussion on these two items in the past, but I would like to ask again, in a slightly different way, updated for 2025, maybe different people weighing in, etc. etc. ...

If you could have either a rice cooker or an instant pot, but not both, which would you choose?
for versatility?
ease of use?
being able to cook a whole meal at one go?
electricity usage?
durability?
??

If you vote for "rice cooker", do you have any recommendations for actual non-rice recipes that go into more detail than "figure out for yourself how much water to add"?

Opinions welcome!

 

[Sky King]

I'm no expert but this seems helpful so I'd choose the instant pot. Should make a poll
A rice cooker is specifically designed to cook rice, while an Instant Pot is a multi-functional appliance that can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sauté, and also cook rice, making it more versatile but potentially not as specialized for achieving the perfect rice texture as a dedicated rice cooker, especially for high-end rice varieties like sushi rice;.

Key differences:

• Function:
  A rice cooker primarily cooks rice, while an Instant Pot can perform various cooking functions including pressure cooking, steaming, sautéing, and slow cooking in addition to cooking rice.
  
  
• Rice quality:
  High-end rice cookers may produce superior rice texture compared to an Instant Pot, especially for specific rice types like sushi rice.
  
  
• • Versatility:
  • • An Instant Pot is significantly more versatile due to its multiple cooking modes.
    Who should choose a rice cooker:
    • • People who primarily cook rice and prioritize perfect rice texture, especially for specialty rice varieties.
      • Individuals looking for a simple, dedicated appliance for cooking rice.
    Who should choose an Instant Pot:
    • • Cooks who want a single appliance for various cooking tasks like pressure cooking, steaming, sautéing, and slow cooking in addition to rice.
      • People looking for a more versatile kitchen tool.

 

[WanderingRose]

Instant pot, in which you can also cook perfect rice.

 

[vanbrat]

I have both at my house but don't use either one much. DIL introduced us to ready to eat rice and we both agree it is fine for what we do with rice. For just the 2 of us the instant pot is just to big. I already use the crock pot for most of my slow cooking and don't really care for the instant pot. Maybe if I had bigger meals to cook.. Or learned to do more with it.

If I had to choose though it would have to be the instant pot.

 

[Morgana]

I keep seeing all these headlines that say you can cook (almost) anything in a rice cooker ... but the more I look the more it seems that the other things you can do involve a lot of fiddling. Once you branch out, it seems to lose that "set it and forget it" quality.

The most I can do with a rice cooker is throw in some veg to cook with the rice and then add cheese or beans once it's clicked over to "warm". A gourmet cook I do not aspire to be, but if I can get more variety out of a similar device, I'd be curious.

I guess the instant pot has a bigger footprint (for the same cooking space)? I have to drive up to the big city tomorrow, I'll go window shopping at Waldemart.

Funny how downsizing can be made into an excuse to buy new toys lol...

 

[WanderingRose]

The small InstantPot is just right for me, and still makes enough for 2-3 meals.

I have cooked rice, polenta, and steel cut oats in mine, as well as meats and soups.

 

[eDJ_]

I have both of these.

Generally a 3 quart InstantPot will use 700 watts of power. But mine is 6 quart and uses close to 1200 watts. Most of what I cook in it requires an hour or less.

Similar with the rice cooker. It isn't too large and uses 375 watts. I understand the small ones use between 300 to 500 watts. Medium to larger ones can use from 500 up to 1500 watt.

I choose to use these devices for what they were designed to do.

If I were going on the road with one of these...again room....I'd choose the 3 quart instant pot. Since I have a two burner propane cook top and pots and pans I'd forgo the electric stuff and cook the old fashioned way.

There may be merit to buying pouches of precooked rice that can be heated in a skillet or suce pan. (Assuming you have a stove & utensils)

If I were going to splurge on my space, I would choose to have a good selections of herbs & spices to season what I'm cooking. Then choose foods that are already prepped and in sealed containers to keep a thin inventory of those things. Since, if I'm traveling I can always stop at supply stores daily while on the road to keep a day or two supply on board. (if I were boondocking I may do things differently keeping as much as I would have room for....and that decide how many days of supply I would have) Again, I would be traveling like a nomad....and not taking along enough gear to be homesteading.

Now, this is just my view of this.

 

[rruff]

Generally a 3 quart InstantPot will use 700 watts of power. But mine is 6 quart and uses close to 1200 watts. Most of what I cook in it requires an hour or less.

I'm guessing that is max wattage? Actual energy used will be much less than 1200Wh?

 

[eDJ_]

Yes that is max. Some settings don't require that much power.

But as far as using appliances for purposes other than what they were designed for......I used to have this ol poporn popper

I could also fry steak, hamburgers, bacon, hotdogs, on the heated base and the like on it. That wasn't what it was intended for but I could do it. But when I went to pop popcorn in it I had a somewhat "flavored" popcorn. Bacon flavored Popcorn ? So that is one of the reasons I try to keep kitchen tools to their stated purpose.