Aroma Housewares ARC-914D Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914D is a basic rice cooker model intended for the home chef looking for an easy way to make fluffy rice and other simple grains. This compact unit offers simple operation with a 1-touch cook button, and includes basic preset cooking functions for white and brown rice.

While the Aroma ARC-914D lacks some of the advanced features and settings found in higher-end rice cookers, it delivers reliably on its core function of producing cooked rice. The addition of a steam tray allows for simultaneous cooking of rice and vegetables or meat. At around $30, this rice cooker represents an affordable option for those seeking basic rice cooking functionality without advanced features.

Overall, the Aroma ARC-914D is a no-frills rice cooker that gets the job done for basic rice cooking needs. It offers simplicity of use over customization and advanced functionality. For those wanting a budget-friendly device focused solely on cooking rice, the Aroma ARC-914D is a suitable option worth considering.

Design and Appearance

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914D rice cooker has a simple, yet modern design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It has a black plastic exterior with chrome accents on the buttons and handle.

The rice cooker is a compact size, measuring about 12 x 12 x 9 inches, so it doesn't take up a lot of space but can still cook up to 14 cups of rice. The interface is very user-friendly with simple buttons for cook, warm, and steam. There is also a digital control panel that displays the cooking functions.

The cooker has a tempered glass lid so you can monitor the cooking process without having to open the lid. The lid locks in place with a chrome latch when cooking. Inside, the inner cooking pot is made of durable, nonstick aluminum with a black finish that resists scratches.

Overall, the design is stylish yet functional for any home kitchen. The materials seem durable and easy to wipe down to keep clean. The compact size and simple interface also makes this an ideal rice cooker for anyone to use.

Additionally, the Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB is another excellent option for those seeking versatility in their rice cooking. This model features a larger capacity, cooking up to 20 cups of rice, perfect for families or gatherings. Its sleek stainless steel design adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen, while its multiple cooking functions allow for a variety of grains and dishes. For more information, check out the Aroma Housewares ARC-5204SB.

Cooking Features

The Aroma ARC-914D rice cooker has a generous 8-cup cooked capacity, enough to feed about 4-6 people. It has multiple cooking functions to handle white rice, brown rice, steam cooking, slow cooking, and cake baking.

The digital controls make it easy to select your desired cooking function and adjust settings like cook time or temperature. Specifically, it offers options for white rice, brown rice, steam, slow cook, flash rice, and cake. The white rice function cooks fluffy, restaurant-quality rice automatically. You can cook rice quicker with the flash rice mode.

For brown rice, it adjusts the time and temperature to achieve perfect texture. The steam function allows you to steam vegetables, fish, and more by placing them in the steam tray. Slow cook lets you prepare soups, stews, beans, and more with temperatures up to 200°F for up to 24 hours. Finally, the cake mode is great for baking cakes right in the inner pot.

Overall, the cooking functions are versatile enough for a wide variety of foods beyond just rice. The microcomputer technology and specialized modes take the guesswork out of preparing different dishes. Additionally, another excellent option is the Aroma Housewares ARC-363NGB, which is designed for smaller families or individuals, featuring a 6-cup cooked capacity and similar versatile functions, making it a great choice for easy meal preparation.

Ease of Use

Overall, the Aroma Housewares ARC-914D rice cooker is very easy to set up, program, and clean.

• Setup is straightforward - just open the box, remove all packaging, wash the inner pot and steam tray, add water and rice, close the lid, and plug it in. The digital controls make it simple to select the right program.

• Programming is intuitive with preset buttons for common rice varieties like white rice, brown rice, and steam. The LCD screen shows the cooking status and time remaining. You can also use the delay timer to have your rice ready up to 15 hours later.

• Cleaning is a breeze thanks to the nonstick inner pot and included plastic rice paddle and serving spatula that are dishwasher safe. The stainless steel exterior simply needs wiping down. The inner lid detaches to allow easy cleaning and the steam vent removes for thorough cleaning as needed.

Performance

The Aroma ARC-914D rice cooker delivers excellent cooking performance for flawlessly cooked rice every time. Its advanced microcomputer technology and menu settings are designed to cook all varieties of rice, including white, brown, jasmine and basmati, perfectly.

The triple heater ensures efficient, even heating that cooks rice thoroughly without any undercooked or burnt spots. This produces exceptionally fluffy, tender grains of rice with individual grains nicely separated. The cooker has specialized functions like slow cook and steam modes that work well for cooking tough grains like brown rice, producing tender grains while retaining nutrients.

With its push-button digital controls, the Aroma rice cooker allows you to easily select the right cooking function for the type of rice you want. It can cook rice relatively quickly, with white rice taking around 20-30 minutes. The keep warm function holds the temperature for extended periods to keep your rice fresh and warm for hours after cooking completes.

Overall, this rice cooker delivers fast, efficient cooking cycles with reliable, consistent results every time. The intuitive programs produce expertly cooked rice with the ideal texture and moisture. You can trust this cooker to perfectly prepare all the rice dishes you love.

Accessories

The Aroma Rice Cooker comes with a variety of useful accessories to help cook perfect rice and other dishes every time.

• The rice cooker includes a nonstick inner pot made of food-grade 304 stainless steel. This durable pot allows rice and foods to cook evenly without burning or sticking.

• A stainless steel steam tray is also included. This can be used to steam vegetables, fish, and more while the rice cooks below.

• To precisely measure water for cooking rice, a plastic rice measuring cup is provided. This helps ensure the proper rice-to-water ratio for fluffy, tender grains.

• For easy serving, a plastic rice paddle/spatula is included in the box. The paddle scoops rice neatly from the pot after cooking.

• To keep countertops protected, the rice cooker comes with stay-cool side handles and a heat-resistant mat to place under the cooker.

Overall, the Aroma Rice Cooker comes equipped with all the key accessories needed to help users easily cook a variety of dishes beyond just rice. The included tools help maximize this appliance's versatility.

Pros

• The Aroma Housewares ARC-914D rice cooker has many excellent features that make it a great choice. It has a digital control panel which allows you to select from multiple menu settings for perfect rice cooking every time. This includes settings for white rice, brown rice, steam or slow cook.

• The inner cooking pot is nonstick and the exterior has a brushed stainless steel finish for an attractive look. The steam vent on the lid allows you to release excess moisture after cooking.

• It has a convenient delay timer so you can set it to start cooking at a later time. The Keep Warm function will keep your rice or other dishes at an optimal serving temperature for 12 hours after cooking completes.

• The capacity is generous at 1.2L uncooked, which equates to 20 cups of cooked rice. This makes it suitable for families and those who like to meal prep.

• For convenience, the steam tray, rice paddle and measuring cup are included. The machine is easy to clean up afterwards too.

• With advanced microprocessor technology, Aroma Housewares are known for rice cookers that consistently prepare restaurant-quality rice. This model delivers on that promise with great results every time.

• It has useful safety features like automatic shut-off. The body remains cool during operation to prevent burns.

Cons

• The rice cooker is relatively large, taking up significant counter space. This may not be ideal for smaller kitchens.

• Some users report that the cooker struggles to properly cook small portion sizes, like 1 or 2 cups of rice. It seems optimized for larger batches.

• The exterior can get very hot during cooking. This poses a potential burn risk, so use caution.

• While it has some delay timer functions, it lacks more advanced programmable cooking features found on higher end models.

• The inner cooking pot is not non-stick. This means rice can occasionally get stuck on and be harder to clean off.

• There are some complaints about the steaming tray fitting loosely and rattling during cooking. This doesn't impact performance but can be annoying.

• The lid does not have a lock or latch. It can shift around when moving the cooker while full.

• Some users report issues with the cooker failing just after the 1 year warranty expires. Reliability over many years is questionable.

• At around $50, it's relatively affordable but still costs notably more than the most basic budget rice cookers.

Price

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914D 8-Cup Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer currently retails for around $30 on Amazon. This is an excellent price for a rice cooker that offers 8 cups uncooked or 16 cups cooked capacity. The digital controls and options like steaming also make it a very versatile appliance beyond just cooking rice.

For under $40 you get a decent-sized rice cooker that can make up to 8 cups of any variety of rice, has specialized functions for white and brown rices, and can steam vegetables, seafood, and other foods all in one pot. The rice cooker comes with a steaming tray, rice measuring cup, serving spatula, and recipe booklet. So you get everything you need to start cooking right out of the box.

Considering all the features, capacity, and accessories included, the Aroma 8-Cup Digital Rice Cooker provides excellent value. It's price point makes it accessible to most households. You get capabilities of fancier rice cookers at a very wallet-friendly price. For shoppers on a budget or cooks that only occasionally make rice, it hits a sweet spot of affordability and usefulness.

Conclusion

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914D rice cooker is a solid performer that delivers tasty rice cooking results. It offers a number of useful features like its digital controls, delay timer, keep warm function, and steam tray. The rice cooker is easy to use even for beginners. Simply add rice and water, select your settings, and let the machine do the cooking.

The cooker reliably produces tender, fluffy rice in perfect doneness. Its nonstick inner cooking pot also makes cleanup quick and effortless. The steam tray allows you to prepare healthy steamed meals at the same time. Accessories like the serving spatula, measuring cup, and recipe book add convenience.

In terms of drawbacks, the exterior is mostly plastic so it may not feel as sturdy or durable as other models with stainless steel. There are also some reports of the cooker emitting a plastic smell initially. Additionally, it only has a 1-year warranty which is quite short.

Overall, the Aroma Housewares ARC-914D is an affordable and capable rice cooker that delivers delicious rice and includes useful features like its digital settings and delay timer. If you're seeking an entry-level rice cooker that cooks rice well and offers handy extras like steaming and delayed cooking, it's a recommended option. Just keep in mind that the materials may not be as durable as pricier models. But for reliably preparing tasty rice on a budget, the ARC-914D is a great choice.