Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB is an electric rice cooker that prepares well-cooked rice conveniently and efficiently. It features a simple, user-friendly design and a range of cooking functions that make it suitable for cooking different types of rice as well as steaming vegetables, meat and fish.

With a 20-cup cooked capacity, this Aroma rice cooker is designed to make large portions for large families or crowds. The exterior has a brushed stainless steel finish that looks sleek on the countertop. Inside, the inner pot has a durable nonstick coating for easy food release and simple cleanup. A tempered glass lid allows monitoring cooking progress.

Design and Build Quality

The Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker features a stainless steel exterior that is durable and easy to clean. The inner cooking pot is made of nonstick aluminum which allows rice to release easily and makes cleanup a breeze.

The overall construction feels solid and well-made. The stainless steel lid fits snugly onto the rice cooker. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback when pushed. The cord wrap on the bottom keeps the power cord neatly managed when storing.

There are no plastic parts that feel flimsy or weak. The materials used seem designed to withstand frequent use and should hold up well over time.

The simple design focuses on function rather than flashy aesthetics. The rice cooker has a classic look that would fit into most kitchen décor styles. Overall the construction quality meets expectations for an appliance in this price range.

In comparison, the Elite Gourmet ERC-003 also offers impressive build quality with its stainless steel body and ergonomic design. Its rubberized feet ensure stability during operation, minimizing the risk of slipping. Additionally, the non-stick inner pot makes both cooking and cleaning easy, similar to the Aroma model. Customers will appreciate the compact size of the ERC-003, making it suitable for tight kitchen spaces, while still delivering on performance.

Capacity

The Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker has a 20-cup cooked (10-cup uncooked) capacity. This allows you to cook up to 20 cups of cooked rice, which is enough to feed a large family or gathering.

The 20-cup capacity makes it easy to cook rice for an entire week's worth of meals in one batch. You can also use the cooker to make large quantities of oatmeal, stew, soup, steamed vegetables and more.

The inner cooking pot is made of surgical grade 304 stainless steel and is quite sizable with its 20-cup capacity. However, you don't have to fill it completely each time - the unit can cook as little as 2 cups of rice perfectly using fuzzy logic technology to adjust heating time and temperature.

In addition to the Aroma model, the Zojirushi NHS-06 is another excellent rice cooker option. It has a 3-cup capacity (cooked), perfect for smaller households. The NHS-06 uses advanced technology to ensure that rice is cooked to perfection every time. It's compact and ideal for those who need quick and efficient meal preparation without the need for large quantities.

Features

The Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker comes with a variety of helpful features for getting perfect rice and more every time.

Some key features include:

• 12 cooking functions - This includes options for white rice, brown rice, steam, cake, oatmeal, soup and more, giving you lots of versatility from one pot. You can cook anything from fluffy white rice to moist cakes.

• Digital controls with LCD display - The easy-to-use digital controls make selecting your settings a breeze. You can clearly see the cooking function selected as well as the time remaining.

• Delay timer - This allows you to delay the start of cooking up to 15 hours in advance, so you can set it whenever is convenient.

• Keep warm function - After cooking completes, it will automatically switch to keep warm mode for up to 12 hours.

• Steaming tray - The included steaming tray lets you steam vegetables, fish, chicken and more right on top of your rice.

• Serving spatula - A BPA-free rice paddle comes included to easily scoop and serve your rice.

• Recipe book - This contains 20+ recipes to help you get the most from your rice cooker. Recipes cover main dishes, soups, desserts and more.

With these features, the Aroma rice cooker truly goes above and beyond just cooking rice. You get a versatile multi-cooker that makes a variety of one-pot meals simple and delicious.

Ease of Use

The Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker has a simple control panel with basic buttons for cooking functions like white rice, brown rice, steam, slow cook, and keep warm. The buttons have clear icons that make the different settings easy to identify.

The inner cooking pot has a nonstick coating which prevents rice from sticking and makes cleaning easier. The lid, inner pot, and steam tray are all removable and dishwasher safe. After cooking, a quick wipe down of the heating element and inner housing is all that's needed to keep the rice cooker looking clean.

There are no complex settings or modes to figure out. Just add rice and water as directed, select the appropriate function button like white or brown rice, and let the cooker do the rest. The automatic keep warm function kicks in after cooking so rice is held at an ideal serving temperature without worrying about over or under cooking.

Overall, the intuitive control panel and dishwasher safe removable parts make this an easy to use rice cooker suitable for beginners. More advanced users may desire more customizable settings than the basic functions offered. But for basic rice cooking, this Aroma model delivers satisfactory performance with minimal effort required.

Cooking Performance

The Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker delivers excellent cooking performance for rice, steaming, and slow cooking.

Rice Cooking

This rice cooker cooks rice perfectly every time. It uses advanced microcomputerized Fuzzy Logic technology to adjust temperature and cooking time to ensure fluffy, delicious rice. The cooking algorithm is tailored for rice, quickly bringing water to a boil then lowering to a simmer during absorption. It can make up to 20 cups of cooked rice, ideal for families. The rice comes out tender with individual grains intact.

Steaming

The steam tray inserts directly over the cooking rice allowing you to steam vegetables, fish, meat or dumplings. Steaming is a healthy cooking method that preserves nutrients and flavor. The rice cooker steams food thoroughly and evenly. It's convenient to cook a complete meal by steaming in the rice cooker while the rice cooks below.

Slow Cooking

With the press of a button, this cooker can slow cook stews, soups, chilis and more up to 12 hours. The heating element adjusts temperature for perfect slow cooking. The tempered glass lid allows you to monitor the cooking process without releasing heat and moisture. Food comes out fork-tender and full of flavor after a long slow cook. It's great being able to prep in the morning then come home to a hot cooked meal.

Additional Functions

One of the great additional features of the Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker is its delay timer function. This allows you to prep your rice and ingredients in the morning, but program the cooker to start cooking at a specific time. This means you can come home from work to find perfectly cooked rice ready and waiting for you.

The delay timer is very intuitive to use. Simply add your rice and water as usual, but before pressing the cook button, press the timer button. This allows you to scroll through and select the number of hours you want it to wait before cooking. You can delay up to 15 hours which is perfect for those long work days.

The Aroma rice cooker also has a keep warm function that automatically switches on after cooking is finished. This keeps your rice or other grains at an ideal serving temperature for up to 12 hours. No more having to reheat rice or worrying about it getting dried out. The keep warm function ensures it stays fresh and moist for serving throughout the day.

With functions like the delay timer and keep warm mode, the Aroma rice cooker delivers added convenience beyond just simple rice cooking. You have full control to customize when it starts cooking to be perfectly timed with your schedule.

Price

When it comes to price, the Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker offers excellent value. At the time of writing, it can be purchased on Amazon for around $39.99. This puts it at the budget end of the market, making it very affordable for most households.

Despite the low price point, the Aroma still comes with an impressive array of features that you would expect to find on more expensive models. It has a generous 5-cup cooked capacity, which is enough to feed families or groups. There are also various cooking functions like regular white rice, brown rice, steam or slow cook.

Considering everything the Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB brings to the table, it offers fantastic bang for your buck. The combination of a sizable capacity, versatile cooking modes and sturdy construction make this an excellent choice for budget-conscious shoppers who still want quality and performance. It's hard to find another sub-$40 rice cooker that can match what this Aroma model provides.

Overall, the price tag represents tremendous value. It's budget-friendly while still being a fully capable rice cooker suitable for most households.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large 5-cup uncooked capacity makes it easy to cook meals for 3-4 people
• Stainless steel exterior with black accents looks modern and sleek
• Digital controls with LED display are easy to use and program
• 15-hour delay timer is convenient for scheduling meals ahead of time
• Automatic keep warm holds rice at perfect serving temperature
• Comes with steam tray, rice measuring cup, and serving spatula
• Prepares more than just rice - can also steam veggies, fish, poultry, etc.
• Cooks rice perfectly every time with specialized technology
• Affordably priced for a quality digital rice cooker

Cons

• Lid does not have a view window, so you can't see inside while cooking
• Exterior gets very hot during cooking due to stainless steel
• No preset functions for specific rice types like white, brown, basmati etc.
• Beeps loudly when finished cooking which could be annoying
• Inner pot is not removable or nonstick
• Smaller capacity than other models in this price range
• No one-touch cooking buttons

Conclusion

The Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB rice cooker is a compact yet powerful appliance perfect for individuals or couples who frequently cook rice. Its 5-cup cooked capacity makes it well-suited for smaller households. The digital controls and 15-hour delay timer add convenience, while the steaming tray allows for simultaneous cooking.

The nonstick inner pot and glass lid make the rice cooker easy to clean. Performance is solid, with the Aroma cooker delivering tender, fluffy rice batches after batch. The keep warm function ensures your rice stays fresh for hours. Additional features like the soup function increase the versatility.

With its reasonable price point, quality construction, and reliability, the Aroma ARC-5204SB is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable 5-cup digital rice cooker that consistently cooks rice to perfection. Its compact size makes it a great fit for smaller kitchens, dorm rooms, or RV living. This rice cooker is highly recommended for singles, couples, and small families who frequently prepare rice.