Rice cookers and pressure cookers may seem like similar kitchen appliances albeit they do serve different purposes. The common thing is that they both can make great rice.
I will help you out on which product is suitable for your needs, and the most important functions.
This quick read will make your decision making simpler because there are a lot of choices to choose from.
If you are short in time, then a quick answer to your question will be:
A Rice cooker will cook rice and steam some vegetables. A pressure cooker can be used to cook multiple varieties of dishes.
So, if you only need to cook rice and steam some vegetables, then go for Rice cooker.
Here is a quick table to help you out.
| Parameters | Rice Cooker | Pressure Cooker |
| Cooking Mechanism | Steam | Heat, Pressure and stem |
| Energy Source | Electricity | Electricity or Gas |
| Usage | Some Verities of Dishes | Different varieties of Dishes |
| Time | Moderate | Fast |
| Mode | Fully Automatic | Automatic or Manual |
| Average Price ( MRP) | Rs 2.800 ( for 1.8L) | Rs. 1500 ( 2 L ) |
What is a Rice cooker?
A rice cooker is a thermostat kitchen appliance, a cooking tank, and heating power inside it. Its automatic functionality makes it convenient to use and to steam or cook rice.
The thermostat is designed to direct the heat source and determine the heat temperature of the cooking bowl. A rice cooker is also known as a steamer for rice. There are several other rice cookers, with different complex technologies, available on the market.
What is a Pressure Cooker?
A pressure cooker is a steamed vessel used with water or other liquid for cooking food. Compared to cooking in an open tub, the pressure cooker takes less time and requires less water to cook food because of its lid lock mechanism.
Basically, there are two types of pressure cookers:
- Electric pressure cookers.
- Pressure cookers for stovetops.
The Stovetop pressure cooker cooks quicker than the electric pressure cooker and takes comparatively less time to release pressure.
Basically, the Stovetop pressure cooker has high pressure, low pressure, and normal pressure levels, whereas, depending on the various models and the different manufacturers, the electric pressure cooker has a maximum pressure level.
You need to lower the heat when the pressure reaches its limit while using the stovetop pressure cooker. But you can get rid of this hassle with an automatic electric pressure cooker.
The stovetop cooker’s vessel can be used separately in slow cooking by leaving its lid open.
But, while many modern electric pressure cookers have sauté, boil, and multi-dimensional characteristics, an electric pressure cooker does not have this function, and cannot be used as a regular cooking.
There are different capacities of pressure cooker. You can choose according yo your needs which one you need.
You can Check out our Recommendations of the Best pressure Cookers according to your needs.
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Best Pressure Cookers
Now let us take a closer look if the Rice Cookers are similar or are different than Pressure cookers.
Does it look similar?
Selecting between a good rice cooker and a flagship pressure cooker may be difficult for a consumer who only has room enough for one more kitchen appliance or someone who has a tight budget.
The two devices look pretty much the same after a passing glance. Most of the time, both do look similar.
Not only that but compared to traditional methods, they both cook rice very well and have amazing speeds.
However, I’m here to inform you that there’s a major difference, and it’s one that might make you think of using a rice cooker twice.
Pressure cookers can cook rice better and quicker than rice cookers can, and in doing so, they have a lot more flexibility.
You must be curious to know the difference between the two and their cooking style, so without further ado let’s get to the point.
What makes them Differ?
By using steam, both appliances cook food. The resemblance does, however, end there.
The external case with the heating pad, a pot, and a lid is included in a rice cooker. Add-on, such as a steaming basket, can or may not come with it.
On the contrary with the rice, the heating element heats up the liquid in the rice cooker, allowing it to evaporate and turn to steam(steam is what cooks the rice).
Then the rice absorbs the warm liquid and becomes fluffy. This explains the disappearance of liquid once the rice is cooked in the rice cooker.
On the other hand, a pressure cooker does come with parts similar to a rice cooker, but with some disparities. A pressure cooker has a pressure sensor and a sealable or lockable lid.
In order to prevent steam from escaping, the lid usually has a rubber covering. This makes it possible for the cooker to increase and sustain the amount of pressure within the pot.
Due to the combination of heat and pressure, it cooks the food more rapidly than traditional pots.
One is Mono function other is Multifunction
A rice cooker is best used for cooking rice and a small number of related dishes, as its name suggests.
Some rice cookers, however, are made in a multifunctional manner and may be used as slow cookers for meat or fish stews and soups, or as steamers for cooking eggs, vegetables, fish, thinly sliced meat, and even dumplings. Isn’t that great?
On the other side, a pressure cooker is best used for tenderizing hard or large meat chunks for dishes such as beef stew and pot roast.
It often more easily cooks vegetables such as whole corn and squash.
There are, however, multi-function pressure cookers which can also be used as slow cookers and rice cookers.
Can a Pressure cooker cook better rice?
Let us discuss single-function rice cookers and small pressure cookers, for the sake of comparison. Here are their benefits and constraints which you should know:
Rice Cooker Pros
In terms of texture , taste and aroma, a rice cooker is the best appliance to cook various types of rice perfectly.
It has automatic shut-off and hot functions and is considered to be a more energy-efficient way of cooking rice than a stove-top pot.
On the other side, a pressure cooker cooks food quicker and needs less water/cooking liquids.
It is effective in killing microorganisms that may be found in food because it can lift temperatures above the usual boiling point of water.
Cans, glass bottles, and baby bottles may also be used to sterilize it. A pressure cooker can also preserve food flavors more easily since the cooking pot is sealed. Therefore, it needs less extra flavorings and seasonings.
Cons
A rice cooker will not cook anything else other than rice unless it is a multi-function cooker. While other forms of foods such as oatmeal, fish, and thinly-sliced vegetables and meats can still be used to cook, it can take longer to complete the task.
The pot itself is not sealed and only the boiling point of water reaches the temperature within the cooking chamber. Hence, for tenderizing meats or sterilizing items, a rice cooker is not as effective.
Pressure cookers are typically bulkier, heavier and more costly.
There are safety issues associated with them, as they can hit higher temperatures and pressure levels.
Because of the rubberised sealing ring and their weight, they are also very inconvenient to clean.
Here are some questions which you should ask before buying.
Should You Buy a Dedicated Rice Cooker or a Multi-Function Pressure Cooker?
For cooking rice and steam vegetables, Rice Cooker will be good. For cooking multiple other dishes you will need a pressure cooker.
Eventually, what makes one better than the other is the requirement.
If you must choose between a pressure cooker and a rice cooker, consider the purpose you want an appliance to perform, and what types of recipes you want to prepare.
It may sometimes make sense to own a rice cooker if you plan on making rice at nearly every meal like so many people do.
Are Stove Pressure Cookers as Good as Electric When Making Rice?
One final question is whether you would want to get a top pressure cooker or an electronic pressure cooker from the stove or not.
The electric pressure cookers and electric rice cookers will cook rice at the click of a button. The stovetop pressure cooker will give you more flexibility at a lower cost and will also make your kitchen cabinets less cluttered.
The thing for me is scale, though. I come from a family where in a pan on the stove we cook rice by hand. All the time, it is hands on.
It’s easy to go from that to a stovetop pressure cooker. I’m not used to pressing button rice. I also have a small kitchen and I would like my kitchen cabinets to have smaller “stuff”.
That’s why I like to use some of these 2-quart stovetop pressure cookers to make rice, but if you enjoy the ease of the push button, an electric pressure cooker will be perfect and taste just the same as the final product.
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Final words
Rice cookers are the best appliance in terms of texture, taste, and aroma to cook various types of rice perfectly.
The automatic shut-off feature and warm functions in a rice cooker are considered a more energy-efficient way to prepare rice than a stove-top pot.
However, a rice cooker should not be used to cook anything other than rice.
On the other hand, pressure cookers have multi-functional characteristics that can also be used as slow cookers and rice cookers.
Getting a multi-functional pressure cooker in your kitchen means you don’t have to purchase a separate rice cooker.
To conclude, the cooker you want to purchase depends entirely on your requirements. Check what kind of functions you need in a cooker and what kind of dishes you want to prepare when selecting a cooker.
However, if you cook rice in most of your meals, it is perfectly good to buy a rice cooker.