Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD Cool-Touch rice cooker is a mid-sized 8-cup model designed for families or those who frequently cook rice. This stainless steel rice cooker features digital controls and specialized functions like steam cooking and slow cooking.

With a simple interface and specialized programs, the Aroma ARC-914SBD aims to make rice cooking convenient while also expanding beyond just rice to serve as a versatile, multi-functional cooker. Its cool-touch exterior ensures safety, especially useful for households with children. This review covers the key features, performance and pros and cons of the Aroma ARC-914SBD to help you determine if it's the right rice cooker for your needs.

Design & Appearance

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD rice cooker has an attractive stainless steel exterior that will look nice on any countertop. The stainless steel construction gives it a modern, sleek appearance.

At 9 x 13 x 12 inches, this is a compact rice cooker that doesn't take up too much space but can still cook up to 14 cups of cooked rice. It has a classic oval shape with a sturdy handle on top for lifting the lid. The control panel is smoothly integrated into the front of the unit.

The black plastic accents on the handles, buttons, and lid add contrast against the brushed stainless steel for an eye-catching two-tone look. The black inner cooking pot is made from durable, food-grade nonstick aluminum.

Overall, the design is contemporary yet simple, with a polished stainless steel body that will coordinate well with most kitchen decors. The compact size and oval shape allow it to sit neatly on the counter without dominating the space.

Another popular model, the Aroma Housewares ARC-363NG, offers great functionality for everyday cooking. This model is smaller, making it ideal for quick meal preparations and smaller households. It can accommodate up to 6 cups of cooked rice and features one-touch operation for ease of use. The removable nonstick inner pot ensures easy cleanup, and its compact design is perfect for kitchens with limited counter space.

Features & Settings

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD rice cooker comes with multiple cooking functions to handle all kinds of rice as well as steam vegetables, meat, and fish.

Cooking Modes:

• White Rice - Optimized to cook fluffy white rice perfectly every time. Simply add rice and water and press the button.

• Brown Rice - Custom setting to handle nutritious brown rice, requiring precise heat and time.

• Slow Cook - Cooks food slowly at a low temperature for several hours, perfect for making stews, soups, and tender roasts.

• Steam - Generate steam to gently cook vegetables, fish, meat and more. A healthy cooking method that preserves nutrients.

• Keep Warm - Automatically switches to keep warm when done cooking, ensuring food stays fresh and warm for hours.

Timer Function:

• Delay Timer - Use this to program the cooker to begin cooking up to 15 hours later. Convenient for planning meals ahead of time.

• Automatic Keep Warm - Food stays warm for up to 12 hours after cooking completes. Perfect for leaving food ready for your return.

Another excellent option is the ICOOK URC-5P07B. This model offers versatile functionality, including multiple cooking modes and a user-friendly interface. It is designed for various types of rice and grains, along with steaming capabilities for vegetables, meat, and fish. The ICOOK URC-5P07B also features a delay timer for meal planning as well as a keep-warm function to maintain the temperature and freshness of your food.

Ease of Use

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD rice cooker is designed to be very easy to use. The control panel is straightforward with simple buttons for cooking white rice, brown rice, steam, and delay timer. The buttons have clear icons that make the functions intuitive.

Setting up the rice cooker is quick and simple. The manual provides clear instructions for preparing the inner pot, measuring rice and water, and selecting the appropriate cooking function. Helpful tips are also included for getting the best results with different types of rice.

The delayed timer function allows you to prepare your rice in advance by setting the cooking time up to 15 hours in advance. This is convenient for having freshly cooked rice ready for meal time.

The buttons include lights to indicate which function is selected. An indicator light and audible beep let you know when cooking is complete. Overall, the intuitive controls and clear instructions make this an exceptionally easy-to-use rice cooker suitable for beginners and experienced users alike.

Cooking Performance

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD rice cooker delivers excellent cooking performance for most types of rice. The rice comes out with a light, fluffy texture and just the right consistency - not too wet or mushy, not too dry or hard.

Long grain white rice is cooked perfectly with each grain remaining separate and intact. Short grain rice like sushi rice achieves the ideal sticky texture. Brown rice and wild rice are evenly cooked through without any crunchy or hard bits.

The rice flavor is enhanced by the cooker steaming the rice rather than boiling. This brings out the natural sweetness in the rice, without making it overly soft or soggy. The end result is restaurant-quality rice with even more flavor.

One area for improvement is brown rice can take quite a long time to cook (up to 2 hours), so patience is required for best results. Overall though, the ARC-914SBD consistently produces delicious, fluffy rice with an excellent texture.

Capacity

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD rice cooker has a generous uncooked capacity of 20 cups of rice, which translates to 40 cups of cooked rice. This makes it well-suited for families or those who cook rice frequently and in large batches. The inner pot itself can hold about 6 cups of uncooked rice.

In terms of water capacity, the inner pot can hold up to 12 cups of water for cooking. This is an ample amount of water for most rice cooking needs. The water lines inside the inner pot also make it easy to measure the correct amount of water required.

Overall, the sizeable 20 cup rice capacity and 12 cup water capacity allow you to cook plenty of rice at one time. You can easily feed large gatherings or meal prep rice for the week without having to cook multiple small batches. The pot is large but still reasonably sized to wash by hand after cooking.

Cleanup

The Aroma Rice Cooker has a detachable inner cooking pot that makes cleanup a breeze. Simply remove the inner pot and wash it with soap and water either by hand or in the dishwasher.

The steaming tray and rice measuring cup are also removable and dishwasher safe. Wiping down the exterior stainless steel housing just requires a clean damp cloth.

There are no electronics or heating elements attached to the inner pot, so you don't have to worry about getting the base wet either. Just avoid submerging or splashing the base.

With no sticky residues or baked on messes, cleaning the Aroma Rice Cooker takes minimal effort. The nonstick cooking pot releases rice cleanly with little left behind stuck to the bottom.

Compared to pots and pans used for stove top rice cooking, the removable nonstick inner pot is much easier to clean after use. You won't have to deal with scrubbing and soaking to remove stubborn burned on rice.

Durability

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD rice cooker is built to last thanks to its stainless steel exterior housing and inner cooking pot. The stainless steel construction makes the rice cooker sturdy and dent-resistant.

Users mention this rice cooker still looks and functions like new after several years of frequent use. The inner cooking pot distributes heat evenly and retains heat well for perfectly cooked rice every time.

Some users do wish the lid was a bit sturdier, as the plastic lid can warp over time with exposure to heat and steam. But the stainless steel body shows minimal wear and tear. The buttons and digital display also continue working properly over many years of use.

Overall, the rice cooker's stainless steel cooking pot and housing hold up well against dents, scratches, and heat damage. With careful use, the ARC-914SBD has the durability to keep cooking rice perfectly for many years.

Price

When it comes to price, the Aroma ARC-914SBD rice cooker offers excellent value for money. This mid-range model costs around $50-60, making it very affordable compared to many other rice cookers on the market.

For the price, you get a high-quality appliance made by a reputable brand known for budget-friendly products. The stainless steel exterior gives it a stylish look that belies its low cost. Considering its ample 8-cup cooked capacity and wide range of functions, this rice cooker provides capabilities found in models costing two or three times as much.

If you're looking for an inexpensive way to cook rice perfectly every time without sacrificing features or quality, the Aroma ARC-914SBD hits the sweet spot. It cooks up to 4 cups of uncooked rice, enough to feed a family or gatherings, while keeping costs low. For shoppers on a budget who still want great rice cooking performance, this reasonably priced Aroma delivers excellent value.

Pros & Cons

A good rice cooker can be an invaluable addition to your kitchen, making meal preparation quick and easy. The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD rice cooker has many positive attributes but also some downsides to consider.

Pros

• Large 8-cup cooked capacity feeds families or makes meals ahead
• 15-hour delay timer is convenient for planning meals in advance
• Keep warm function holds rice at serving temperature up to 24 hours
• Easy one-touch operation with indicator lights
• Durable stainless steel exterior for long-lasting use
• Nonstick inner pot is easy to clean
• Compact size doesn't take up much counter space

Cons

• Lid does not seal tightly so liquids may leak out
• Rice on bottom can become overly done
• No dedicated settings for brown or sticky rice
• Steam vent on lid can clog up over time
• Buttons wear out fairly quickly with regular use
• Some durability issues reported over time

While not perfect, the Aroma ARC-914SBD offers a solid set of features and good value for an entry-level rice cooker. For most people's rice cooking needs, the positives seem to outweigh the negatives. But consider your priorities before deciding if it's the right rice cooker for your kitchen.