Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP rice cooker is a versatile multi-cooker designed for making perfect rice as well as steaming vegetables, meat and seafood simultaneously. This 20-cup capacity rice cooker features advanced Neuro Fuzzy Logic technology that allows it to think for itself and make fine adjustments to temperature and heating time to cook rice precisely the way you like it. With specialized functions for a wide range of foods including porridge, soup, cake and slow cook, the ARC-390NGP aims to be the only cooker you'll need in your kitchen. Its streamlined design and intuitive digital controls make it easy to use, while the non-stick inner pot and steam tray simplify cleanup. With the ability to keep cooked food warm automatically, this Aroma rice cooker promises reliable performance and delicious results for families or large gatherings.

Design and Appearance

The Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP rice cooker has a sleek and modern design perfect for any kitchen. It features a stainless steel exterior with black accents that give it a sophisticated look.

Despite its large 20-cup cooked capacity, the rice cooker has a compact and rounded shape measuring approximately 14 x 12 x 8 inches. This makes it easy to store on a countertop without taking up too much space.

The stainless steel lid and steam vent on top give the appliance a nice polished touch. The easy-to-read LCD control panel also adds to the modern aesthetic.

Overall, the rice cooker's combination of stainless steel, black accents, and digital display give it an elegant but user-friendly appearance. Its shape and size also make it ideal for any home kitchen.

Capacity

The Aroma ARC-390NGP is an impressively large 20-cup rice cooker that can prepare meals for many people. This capacious cooker is well suited for cooking rice or steaming foods for larger families, dinner parties, potlucks, and other gatherings.

While the primary function is cooking rice, the 20-cup inner pot can hold and cook a wide variety of grains, beans, soups, stews, and more. With this much room, you can make one-pot meals layered with rice, protein, and vegetables. Or you can cook a main dish in the inner pot while using the steamer tray to prepare side dishes simultaneously.

The generous capacity enables you to cook up to 12 cups of uncooked rice, producing 20 cups of cooked rice. That’s enough to serve around 10-15 people as a side dish. For even more versatility, the included steam tray doubles the available cooking capacity. So you can steam vegetables, fish, or meat in the tray while the rice cooks below.

Overall, the substantial 20-cup capacity makes this an excellent rice cooker and multi-cooker for feeding large groups or meal prepping multiple dishes at once.

Features

The Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP 20-Cup Cooked Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer has an array of features that make it a versatile addition to any kitchen.

The rice cooker has several different cooking modes to choose from including white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice, and more. It can make up to 4-20 cups of any rice variety to customize based on your needs. There are also specialized cake, steam, and slow cook settings.

A delay timer allows you to set cooking to begin automatically at a specified time up to 15 hours in advance. This way you can wake up to freshly cooked rice or have a meal ready after work.

Once cooking is done, the rice cooker automatically switches to keep warm mode which will hold the temperature for 12 hours. This prevents overcooking and drying out, allowing you to enjoy meals at your convenience.

The Aroma Housewares model also includes a steam tray. You can steam veggies, fish, and more simultaneously with rice cooking below to make complete meals in one pot.

Ease of Use

The Aroma ARC-390NGP rice cooker features an intuitive control panel with simple buttons for cooking functions. The main buttons include white rice, brown rice, steam, reheat and slow cook. There's also a delay timer button to set delayed cooking.

The buttons have clear icons and light up to indicate when a setting is selected. The white and brown rice buttons have cook settings for regular or softer textures. The steam function allows steaming vegetables, fish and more by using the included steam tray. Slow cook has low or high settings up to 20 hours.

The rice cooker includes a detailed user manual with cooking time charts and tips. There's also a quick reference guide on the inside lid with basic operating instructions. The non-stick inner pot has measurement markings and comes out for easy cleaning. Overall, the simple interface and included resources make the Aroma easy for anyone to use right out of the box.

Performance

The Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP delivers excellent cooking performance for a rice cooker in this price range. It cooks rice quickly and efficiently, with restaurant-quality results every time.

The rice comes out tender, fluffy, and flavorful thanks to Aroma's proprietary cooking technology. It evenly distributes heat to cook rice perfectly from top to bottom. The cook times are fast too - white rice takes only 20-30 minutes while brown rice is ready in 40-50 minutes.

This rice cooker also has specialized functions like slow cook and steam, allowing you to prepare a variety of one-pot meals beyond just rice. The steam function gently cooks vegetables, fish, and more by using the power of steam heating. Slow cook makes it easy to prepare flavorful soups, stews, chilis and more with the touch of a button.

No matter what you're cooking, the Aroma rice cooker delivers consistent, delicious results every time. The advanced microprocessor technology monitors time, temperature and steam to adapt the cooking cycle for perfect rice and meals. You don't have to hover over the pot or constantly check the rice, just set it and let the rice cooker do the work for flawless results.

Accessories

The Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP comes with some nice accessories to enhance your cooking experience. It includes a nonstick inner cooking pot, a steam tray, rice measuring cup, and serving spatula.

The inner cooking pot is made from durable aluminized metal with a PFOA-free nonstick coating on the interior. This allows rice to release easily and makes cleanup a breeze. The 8-cup pot has graduated markings on the interior so you can easily track rice and water levels.

For steaming, a BPA-free steam tray inserts atop the cooking pot. You can steam vegetables, seafood, and other ingredients while rice cooks below. The holes allow steam to circulate freely and ensure evenly cooked food.

A BPA-free rice measuring cup is also provided. This makes it easy to get the perfect rice-to-water ratio for fluffy, perfectly cooked rice every time. No more guessing!

Finally, a BPA-free serving spatula is included for easily scooping out portions of rice. The soft-grip handle provides comfort while the squared edges help remove all the rice, reducing waste.

Overall, the included accessories enhance functionality and make using this rice cooker even more convenient. You get everything needed for easily cooking restaurant-quality rice and steamed dishes at home.

Durability

The Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP rice cooker is very well-made and durable, with a stainless steel exterior that resists chips, scratches, and dents. The inner cooking pot is also stainless steel with a nonstick coating that helps prevent rice from sticking.

Reviewers mention that even after years of frequent use, their Aroma rice cooker still looks and functions like new. The sturdy construction holds up to daily use without any cracks, chips or breaks.

The ARC-390NGP comes with a 1 year manufacturer's warranty, providing added peace of mind. While most owners don't end up needing to use the warranty given the impressive durability, it's nice for such an affordable appliance.

Many attest to the longevity of this Aroma rice cooker, with some customers reporting they've used it nearly every day for over 5 years without any decrease in performance. The solid build quality ensures it can handle repeated use for years to come.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Large 20 cup cooked capacity
• Durable stainless steel exterior
• Intuitive digital controls with 15 cooking functions
• Delivers consistent, restaurant-quality rice
• Keeps rice warm automatically up to 12 hours
• Includes steaming tray, rice measuring cup and serving spatula
• Easy to clean nonstick inner pot

Cons

• Large footprint may not fit smaller kitchens
• Lid can be tricky to remove when hot
• Price is on the higher side
• Steam vent lacks adjustable opening

Overall, the Aroma Housewares 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker is one of the best options for cooking restaurant-quality rice at home in large batches. It offers an array of cooking functions and accessories while maintaining durability and ease of use. The large capacity and keep warm feature make it convenient for families or entertaining. Downsides are mainly the large size, hot lid, and high price point compared to more basic models. For those wanting advanced rice cooking performance, it's a worthy investment.

Conclusion

The Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP 20-Cup Rice Cooker is an excellent option for anyone looking for a versatile, high-capacity rice cooker. It cooks up to 20 cups of any variety of rice as well as steaming meat and vegetables at the same time.

The digital controls make it easy to use with pre-programmed settings for white and brown rice. And the delay timer is a handy feature that lets you have freshly cooked rice ready whenever you need it. The inner pot is durable and has a nonstick coating for easy cooking and cleaning.

While it may be pricier than some other models, the quality, performance and extra features like the steam tray and serving spatula make it a worthwhile investment. This rice cooker would be an ideal addition to any home that regularly cooks rice for family meals or meal prepping.

Overall, the Aroma Housewares ARC-390NGP delivers delicious, fluffy rice and provides the versatility to steam meats and veggies simultaneously. For anyone seeking a high-capacity, multi-function digital rice cooker, this model is highly recommended.