Bar DFB-B20K1 Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Digital Rice Cooker Bar DFB-B20K1 is a medium-sized electronic rice cooker from Digital that comes with some handy features for preparing perfect rice or a variety of other meals. This 20-cup cooker has a sleek silver and black exterior and offers options for cooking white rice, brown rice, quick rice, steam cooking, slow cooking, and making cake.

The DFB-B20K1 includes Digital's proprietary cooking algorithms to help ensure your rice comes out with the ideal texture every time. This cooker can make up to 20 cups of cooked rice, so it's a good size for families, gatherings, or meal prepping. The inner pot has a triple-layered metal base for more even heating. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the design, features, performance, accessories, ease of use, cleanup, durability, and price of the Digital Rice Cooker Bar DFB-B20K1 to help you determine if it's the right cooker for your needs.

Design and Aesthetics

The Rice Cooker Bar DFB-B20K1 has an attractive and modern design with rounded edges that will look great on any kitchen counter. It comes in either a matte black or white finish that is fingerprint resistant to help keep it looking its best.

The cooker has a compact, rectangular shape that measures approximately 12.2 x 8.9 x 9.8 inches (LxWxH). It weighs around 5.5 pounds, so it's easy to move around and store in a cupboard when not in use.

The body is made of durable plastic while the inner cooking pan has a thick aluminum core with a non-stick coating for even heating and easy cleanup. The tempered glass lid allows you to monitor your food as it cooks without having to open it and release steam and heat.

Overall the design is sleek yet functional, blending in seamlessly with both traditional and contemporary decor. The size, shape and matte colors make it an attractive addition to any kitchen.

Key Features

The DFB-B20K1 rice cooker comes loaded with features to make cooking rice easy and convenient. Here are some of the notable features:

• Multiple cooking capacities - This rice cooker can cook anywhere from 1 to 10 cups of uncooked rice, accommodating small or large portions. The 1-5 cup inner cooking pot is removable, and it also comes with a 10 cup inner pot for larger batches.

• Keep warm function - After cooking is complete, the rice cooker automatically switches to keep warm mode for up to 12 hours. This keeps rice fresh and warm until you are ready to serve it.

• Digital timer - You can set a delay timer up to 15 hours so the rice is ready when you want it. The digital display shows the cooking time remaining. There are also preset timers for common rice varieties.

• Cook menu settings - The cooker has menu functions for common rice types like white rice, brown rice, sticky rice, soup, porridge, cake, and slow cook. This makes it easy to achieve the perfect texture for different foods.

• Reheat function - The reheating function evenly heats up refrigerated rice without drying it out. This lets you quickly prepare rice again.

Cooking Performance

The Bar DFB-B20K1 rice cooker delivers excellent cooking performance for a variety of rice types. Its advanced cooking technology allows you to cook white rice, brown rice, mixed rice, glutinous rice, and more, selecting from multiple texture options.

The microcomputer inside the rice cooker optimizes heating throughout the cooking process for perfect texture and taste. Sensors monitor conditions to make adjustments during cooking, ensuring your rice turns out fluffy and tender every time.

This rice cooker can cook up to 20 cups of rice relatively quickly. The speed settings allow you to cook regular white rice in just 20-30 minutes. For brown rice and other varieties, it takes a bit longer but still cooks faster than most other brands, with minimal waiting between batches.

Heating is very even in this model. The nonstick inner pot distributes heat evenly across the bottom, with no hot or cold spots. Rice cooks uniformly from top to bottom, so every grain comes out properly cooked. The keep warm function holds your rice at an optimal serving temperature for many hours without drying out or burning on the bottom.

Ease of Use

The DFB-B20K1 rice cooker has an intuitive control panel that makes it very easy to use. It has several preset cooking functions that allow you to cook different types of rice and grains with the touch of a button.

There are dedicated buttons for cooking white rice, brown rice, sticky rice, porridge, stew, soup, and cakes. The buttons have clear icons that indicate what type of cooking they are for. To start cooking, simply add your rice and ingredients, close the lid, and press the corresponding button.

The LCD control panel clearly shows which cooking function is selected and the cooking status. It displays the cooking time remaining so you know exactly when your food will be ready.

The inner pot has measurement markings on the inside that help you easily see the water lines for perfect rice cooking. There are also steam baskets and trays included for steaming vegetables, fish, and more all at the same time.

Overall, the well-designed control panel with presets, easy-to-read LCD display, and included accessories make this rice cooker extremely simple and convenient to use.

Accessories

The Rice Cooker Bar DFB-B20K1 comes with some handy accessories that help make using this appliance even easier. It includes a rice spatula that is specially designed to scoop out rice without damaging the nonstick cooking pot. The edges of the spatula are thin enough to get into the corners of the pot to remove every last grain.

A measuring cup is also included so you can perfectly portion rice or grains for cooking. The measurements on the cup make it easy to see the correct amounts. The cup is made from durable plastic that won't warp or melt when filled with boiling water for rinsing rice.

Having the right accessories bundled with the rice cooker means you have everything you need to start cooking without needing to purchase additional tools separately. The spatula and measuring cup integrate seamlessly with this appliance.

Cleanup

The DFB-B20K1 rice cooker has removable inner cooking pot and steam tray which make cleanup a breeze. Both the pot and steam tray have a durable nonstick coating which prevents rice and foods from sticking. This also makes washing them by hand easy. They are also dishwasher safe so you can toss them in the dishwasher for added convenience.

The exterior of the rice cooker is made of smooth plastic that wipes down easily. There are no crevices or holes to trap food debris. The inner lid also comes off completely for cleaning. Overall, the design lends itself well to easy cleanup with removable parts that are nonstick and dishwasher safe.

Durability

The Bar DFB-B20K1 rice cooker is built to last thanks to its durable construction. The inner cooking pot is made from surgical grade 304 stainless steel which is rust resistant and easy to clean. The exterior housing is made from brushed stainless steel which gives it a sleek look and makes it fingerprint resistant.

Bar is a reputable brand known for making quality kitchen appliances that stand the test of time. They've been making rice cookers and other small appliances for over 50 years. The Bar rice cooker comes with a 1 year warranty which protects against defects in materials and workmanship. This gives buyers peace of mind that the product will hold up under regular use.

The sturdy stainless steel construction allows the rice cooker to withstand the demands of regular cooking. The non-stick inner pot also makes food easy to release, preventing scratches over time. Overall the materials and reputation give the impression that this Bar rice cooker is a quality appliance that can be used for years of reliable rice cooking.

Price

The DFB-B20K1 has an MSRP of $60. For a rice cooker and warmer with these features and cooking capacity, this is an excellent value.

The majority of basic rice cookers in the 10-20 cup range cost $20-40. While they get the job done, most lack more advanced settings and technology.

Stepping up to rice cookers in the $50-100 range provides features like fuzzy logic, sous vide cooking, and better temperature sensors. This is where the DFB-B20K1 sits. It delivers great performance and versatility at a mid-range price point.

Compared to other cookers with similar capacity and cooking modes, the DFB-B20K1 holds its own on price. Brands like Zojirushi and Cuckoo sell comparable models for $120-180.

So for shoppers who want advanced functionality without breaking the bank, the DFB-B20K1 hits a sweet spot. It provides excellent value given its generous size, versatility, and generous feature set. The price makes it accessible for most households.

Conclusion

The Rice Cooker Bar DFB-B20K1 has some great features that make it an attractive option for rice cooking. The multi-function capability allows you to cook more than just rice, expanding the usefulness of the appliance. It also has some nice design elements like the easy to read LED display and retractable power cord that improve usability.

However, there are some downsides that should be considered. The non-stick coating may degrade over time, and the lid does not have a view window so monitoring cooking can be tricky. It's also a relatively basic model without some of the advanced features like fuzzy logic or pressure cooking that higher end rice cookers offer.

Overall, if you are looking for an affordable rice cooker that can also handle basic cooking tasks like steaming and slow cooking, the Rice Cooker Bar DFB-B20K1 is a solid choice. The multi-function capability provides good value. Just keep in mind the limitations of the basic design. For more serious rice cooking enthusiasts or those wanting high-end features, other models may be preferable.