Customer Reviews

Aroma ARC-733G 3-Cup Rice Cooker & Food Steamer

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I wanted a cheap rice cooker and this fits the bill. I considered other brands but they either had poor reviews or a teflon type of coated interior. This rice cooker's pan is aluminum and while a bit of rice sticks after cooking, it is easily washed after soaking it for a time.

From http://www.thecancerblog.com/2006/02/16/fdas-teflon-carcinogen-warning-getting-stronger/

"In a continuing review of Teflon's safety, The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Science Advisory Board voted unanimously on Wednesday, February 15th, to recommend that PFOA be upgraded from the current "suggestive carcinogen" to a "likely carcinogen."

Why risk it? This Aroma is more than adequate unless you need a bigger amount of rice than three cups. I only cook one cup at a time and it works great. While any rice will work, I also recommend using jasmine rice for better taste.

Length:: 1:07 Mins

It's a cheap, nice little rice cooker that just works. Here are some tips from the instruction manual:
1. This appliance is NOT dishwasher safe. Inner pot and accessories are NOT dishwasher safe. (i.e. that stuck-on rice that happens to every rice cooker at some point? yeah, don't try using your dishwasher to get it out.)
2. Always make sure the outside of the inner pot is dry prior to use. If inner cooking pot is returned when wet, it may damage this product, causing it to malfunction.

Also, interestingly, it's pretty much a disposable appliance unfortunately. That is, for the fifteen bucks you buy it for here on Amazon (esp. if you have Prime shipping for free), if it breaks, you can return it to the manufacturer, but Aroma Housewares Company [...] for shipping and handling charges.

I also find one other instruction particularly interesting: "Do not use the appliance for other than its intended use." Take that, Jack Bauer.

I like the size and convenience of this little machine. It's also really easy to whip up a small batch of rice in a short time. However, try as I might, I simply cannot figure out a way to keep the rice from scorching on the bottom. I've tried spraying the pot with non-stick spray before using it. I've also tried using more water than is called for. However, there is always at least a little bit of rice stuck to the bottom when the cooking is done. I've just decided that my regular steamer/rice cooker that I have been using for years is a better rice maker, even though it takes longer to set up and clean than this one.

I made rice on the stove for years, but finally decided on getting a rice cooker for sake of convenience. My first instinct was to go find the Zojirushi with the most options...but I decided instead to get a really basic model to see if I would use it much. Needless to say, I haven't had rice on the stove since this showed up. I've used it roughly twice a week since I bought it 6+ mos ago.

It is a very handy appliance to have around if you make rice on anything like a regular basis, or would if it wasn't a hassle. This particular model was the cheapest I could find, so I didn't expect much. At less than the cost of some CDs, it is more or less disposable. If mine breaks, and I'm assuming it eventually will, I'll have gotten my money's worth many times over. It can either cook or warm...that's all it can do: 2 functions. To turn it off you must unplug it. The inner pot is just raw aluminum...lousy to cook on and clean up, but probably safer than Teflon in the long run. I find it easy enough to clean by soaking it for awhile in warm, soapy water. Also adding a little oil while cooking, thoroughly rinsing and soaking the rice--till the kernels are brilliant white and the water is clear, and not letting it sit on warm, post-cook cycle, for too long, usually eliminate burning the rice on the bottom.

I have never encountered the film underneath it that other reviews have alluded to...but that sounds plausible enough given how warm the outside of the cooker can get. This thing is a bargain...not a great piece of equipment. That said I probably wouldn't buy another one; I'd upgrade instead. However, I don't regret this little cooker at all and it wouldn't be fair to compare it to models costing 10-20x as much...I would still have been happy with this product at $30-50.

I have had a rice cooker for years, and needed a small second one. This price beat all local stores, and is just
the right size to make rice for 1-2 people. I made three cups, it's max and it worked fine. One cup was perfect as well. Keeps rice warm when it is done, and easy to clean when you use Pam spray first. Be sure you use their measuring cup, a cup is not the same as a regular cup!

This is a great rice cooker. It is simple to use, easy to clean and does NOT make a sticky spray mess like many other types do. It is also a nice size if you have limited counter space.

We mostly use sticky Japanese rice, and are very happy with the way it turns out in this cooker. It is great for our family - by making full capacity we can feed up to 6 people at one meal, but on special occasions we do sometimes like to make 4 instead of 3 cups (they say that 3 cups dry makes 6 cups cooked - I haven't double checked this), so the capacity is right at the edge for us.

Still, great rice cooker for a good price - I highly recommend it.

I have had this cooker for more than a month. Paid $15 when I bought it.
It easy to use and works great.
Rice does tend to stick to the bottom but can be removed easily.
Also if you switch off the cooker just before it is going to finish nothing sticks. Other option would be to keep a second vessel inside the cooker, but that leaves the rice "wet" with excess water.
Using more water that required to cook the rice won't help because the way the cooker operates.

Overall it a good first buy and worth the price. Would definitely recommend it.

college student here: nothing like running in from class throwing some rice, chicken, and vegies in the cooker and BING! 20 mins later im out the door with solid meal. great for on the go. one of those appliances you can find several uses for outside of rice cooking...LIKE FONDUE!! =D protip? wash your rice before cooking, trust me. been using for 1-4 people, and even that is cutting it close. NOT MEANT FOR BIG PARTIES!!!!

Pros:
(1) Used correctly it will make rice perfect every time--no more crunchy, burnt, or soggy rice!
(2) Cleanup is easy easy easy!

Cons:
(1) its so easy use, just don't forget you turned it on! doesnt readily burn rice, but it will dry out after ONLY JUST A FEW hours on the counter?! O.o (common sense?)
(2) soak it overnight if you dont clean out right after use, dried rice is tougher than concrete!
(3) definitely only a 3 cup

I bought this with the idea that I would avoid the hazards of nonstick pots (what I have used previously)by using a rice cooker with a good, old-fashioned aluminum pot. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I cannot get a batch of rice where the entire bottom of the pot doesn't have rice fused to it. I've experimented with washing the rice, using cooking spray, coating the rice with oil, stirring it once, you name it. In each case most of the rice has turned out acceptably, except for that darn, rock-hard layer at the bottom. After each batch the pot needs to be soaked for hours, then scrubbed--hard. It doesn't seem to me that this rice cooker is more convenient than cooking rice on the stove.

This is my first rice cooker I have ever bought. I am single and cook rice about 2x a week. My rice comes out nice and fluffy and much better tasting then using a pan. I also like the fact that after cooking it will keep it warm, so when I finish with my main dishes my rice is warm and ready to eat.

The only downer is that both white and brown rice will stick to the bucket. No problem for me as all I need to do is soak some water in the rice bucket and it comes out after about 15 minutes of soaking...

Great if cooking for 1 to 4 people.