Buffalo Rice Cooker: Is It Worth Buying?

Rice cookers are one of the most common and useful appliances in many kitchens, especially for those who love to eat rice regularly. However, not all rice cookers are created equal, and some may have features and advantages that others do not. One of the brands that claims to offer high-quality and innovative rice cookers is Buffalo, a company that has been in the cookware industry for over 60 years. In this post, we will review the features, pros, and cons of Buffalo rice cookers, and compare them with some of the other popular rice cookers on the market.

Features of Buffalo Rice Cookers

Buffalo rice cookers have several features that make them stand out from other rice cookers. Here are some of them:

  • Stainless steel inner pot: Unlike most rice cookers that use aluminum or nonstick-coated inner pots, Buffalo rice cookers use stainless steel inner pots that are scratch-resistant, nonstick, and non-toxic. This means that they do not contain any harmful chemical coating that may leach into your food or cause adverse reactions. They also prevent the rice from sticking or scorching, and make it easy to clean and maintain.
  • Patented Buffalo Clad: Buffalo rice cookers use a patented technology called Buffalo Clad, which is a multi-layered unibody construction that ensures even heat distribution and superior heat conduction. This results in faster and more efficient cooking, as well as better-tasting rice. Buffalo Clad also eliminates the need for attached base plates, which are often uneven and hard to clean.
  • Multiple settings: Buffalo rice cookers have various settings for different types of rice and dishes, such as white, brown, mixed, sushi, porridge, soup, cake, and steam. You can also customize the texture and flavor of your rice by using the menu settings. Some models also have a low-sugar mode that reduces the sugar content of your rice by separating the rice water from the cooked rice.
  • LCD display and timer: Buffalo rice cookers have a clear and easy-to-read LCD display that shows the current status and remaining time of the cooking process. You can also use the timer function to set the cooking time up to 13 hours in advance. This is convenient if you want to have your rice ready when you come home from work or wake up in the morning.
  • Keep warm and reheating functions: Buffalo rice cookers have an automatic keep warm function that keeps your rice at the optimal serving temperature for up to 12 hours. You can also use the reheating function to reheat your rice without drying it out or burning it.
  • Accessories: Buffalo rice cookers come with various accessories, such as a measuring cup, a spatula, a spatula holder, a soup ladle, a steaming basket, and a cleaner. The steaming basket allows you to steam vegetables, fish, or meat while cooking rice. The spatula and spatula holder are handy for serving and storing your rice. The soup ladle is useful for making soups or porridge. The cleaner is specially designed to remove stains and odors from your inner pot.

Pros and Cons of Buffalo Rice Cookers

Buffalo rice cookers have many advantages, but also some drawbacks. Here are some of them:

Pros:

  • They produce fluffy and delicious rice every time, thanks to their stainless steel inner pot and patented Buffalo Clad technology.
  • They are versatile and can cook different types of rice and dishes, such as porridge, cake, and steam.
  • They are easy to use and have a clear LCD display and timer function.
  • They have a keep warm and reheating function that keep your rice at the ideal temperature and texture for hours.
  • They come with useful accessories, such as a steaming basket, a spatula, and a soup ladle.

Cons:

  • They are expensive compared to other rice cookers on the market.
  • They are bulky and take up a lot of counter space.
  • They may take longer to cook some types of rice than other models.

Comparison with Other Rice Cookers

Buffalo rice cookers are one of the best brands on the market, but how do they compare with some of the other popular models on the market? Here are some of them:

Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker And Warmer:

This is one of the best smart rice cookers on the market. It can cook up to 5.5 cups of uncooked rice (11 cups cooked), which is enough for a medium-sized family or group. It uses fuzzy logic technology to adjust the cooking time and temperature according to the type and amount of rice. It has 10 preset functions for different types of rice and dishes, such as white (regular/sushi/soft/hard), mixed, porridge, sweet, brown, cake, steam, and quick cooking. It also has a large LCD display and a 13-hour delay timer function. It has an automatic keep warm function and a reheating cycle that keep your rice at the optimal temperature and texture for hours. It comes with a measuring cup, a spatula, a spatula holder, and a steaming basket. The inner pot has a nonstick coating that makes it easy to clean. The lid is removable and washable. However, it is more expensive and complicated than Buffalo rice cookers, and may not be as durable or non-toxic as stainless steel.

Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD Digital Cool-Touch Rice Grain Cooker And Food Steamer:

This is one of the best value rice cookers on the market. It can cook up to 4 cups of uncooked rice (8 cups cooked), which is enough for a small family or group. It has 7 preset functions for white rice, brown rice, steam, quick rice, delay timer (up to 15 hours), keep warm (up to 12 hours), and sauté-then-simmer (STS). It also comes with a steaming tray that lets you steam vegetables or meat while cooking rice. It has a digital control panel and a tempered glass lid that lets you monitor the cooking process. It is easy to use and clean, and has a nonstick inner pot and a dishwasher-safe lid and accessories. However, it does not have Buffalo Clad technology, and may not cook some types of rice as well as Buffalo rice cookers. It is also less durable and may not last as long.

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker:

This is one of the best multi-purpose rice cookers on the market. It can cook up to 5 cups of uncooked rice (10 cups cooked), which is enough for a medium-sized family or group. It has 15 preset functions for pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, rice, porridge, yogurt, cake, egg, sterilize, soup/broth, bean/chili, meat/stew, multigrain, and warm. It also has a pressure release button that makes it safer and easier to use. It has a large LCD display and a 24-hour delay start function. It comes with a stainless steel inner pot that is durable and easy to clean. It can cook rice faster and more evenly than other models, thanks to its pressure cooking function. However, it is more expensive and complicated than Buffalo rice cookers, and may require more maintenance and troubleshooting. It is also heavier and louder than other models.

Conclusion

Buffalo rice cookers are one of the best brands on the market, according to our review. They have many features that make them smart, versatile, easy to use, and reliable. They can cook different types of rice and dishes with perfect results every time, thanks to their stainless steel inner pot and patented Buffalo Clad technology. They also have a keep warm and reheating function that keep your rice at the optimal temperature and texture for hours. They come with useful accessories, such as a steaming basket, a spatula, and a soup ladle. The only drawbacks are their high price and large size, which may not suit everyone’s budget or counter space. If you are looking for the best smart, value, multi-purpose, or small-capacity rice cooker, you may want to check out some of the other models we compared in this post. We hope this review has helped you find the best rice cooker for your needs.