Cuisinart CRC-400P1 Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Cuisinart CRC-400P is a 4-cup compact rice cooker that offers basic functionality for cooking rice and keeping it warm. Part of Cuisinart's Chef's Classic line, it has a stainless steel exterior and plastic lid and handle. Weighing under 5 pounds, its small footprint takes up minimal counter space but still has enough capacity to cook up to 4 cups of any variety of rice. It's ideal for singles, couples, and small families who need an affordable cooker for making basic rice dishes. The CRC-400P doesn't have fancy preset programs or other bonus features beyond cook and keep warm modes. But its no frills operation, durable construction, and trusted Cuisinart name make it a solid choice for a simple, entry-level rice cooker.

Design & Appearance

The Cuisinart CRC-400 4-cup rice cooker has a sleek and modern silver and black design that will look great on any countertop. It has a rectangular shape and is compact, measuring about 9 x 8 x 10 inches, so it doesn't take up too much space.

The rice cooker is made of brushed stainless steel for durability and easy cleaning. The detachable inner cooking pot is nonstick and also constructed of stainless steel. The lid is made of glass with a stainless steel rim and handle. There are measuring marks inside the inner pot to clearly see rice and water lines.

On the front control panel there is a digital display with buttons to select cooking functions. The buttons have a smooth black plastic cover. There are also indicator lights to show when the rice cooker is cooking, keeping warm, or has switched to automatic keep warm when cooking is complete.

Overall the Cuisinart rice cooker has an attractive, stainless steel design with handy digital controls that will complement any modern kitchen. The compact size is perfect for apartments or smaller kitchens.

In comparison, the Aroma Housewares ARC-363NGB offers a versatile 3-cup uncooked to 6-cup cooked capacity, catering to various cooking needs. Its lightweight design and user-friendly interface make it easy to operate, while the stainless steel exterior ensures durability. The Aroma cooker also features a one-touch operation for steaming and slow cooking, making it a multifunctional addition to any kitchen.

Features

The Cuisinart CRC-400 4-Cup Rice Cooker has a number of useful features that make cooking rice simple and convenient.

• 4-cup cooked capacity - The 4-cup capacity is perfect for individuals or couples who don't need to cook large batches of rice. It can cook up to 4 cups of cooked rice, enough for 2-4 portions.

• Steam tray - The rice cooker comes with a steaming tray that sits above the rice as it cooks. This allows you to steam vegetables, fish, or meat at the same time as the rice.

• Keep warm function - Once the rice is finished cooking, the cooker automatically switches to keep warm mode for up to 12 hours. This keeps the rice steaming hot and ready to eat without overcooking.

• Built-in timer - There is a timer that allows you to program delayed cooking up to 15 hours in advance. You can set it before going to work or to bed and wake up to freshly cooked rice.

• Automatic shut-off - For added safety, the rice cooker will automatically shut off after cooking. There's no need to worry about accidents if you forget to turn it off.

• Tempered glass lid - The lid is made of tempered glass so you can check on the rice as it cooks without releasing heat and moisture.

• Nonstick inner pot - The nonstick cooking pot allows for easy cleanup and prevents rice from sticking or burning on the bottom.

Another excellent option is the Aroma Housewares ARC-914D, known for its versatility and larger capacity. Featuring an 8-cup cooked rice capacity, this rice cooker easily accommodates families and meal prep. It includes a steamer tray for simultaneous cooking and a large LCD display for easy programming. The ARC-914D also has a keep warm function that keeps your rice ready to eat for hours, making it a great choice for busy lifestyles. With its user-friendly features, this rice cooker is ideal for anyone who loves rice.

Ease of Use

The Cuisinart CRC-400 4-Cup Rice Cooker is designed to be very easy to use. It has simple, intuitive controls consisting of just two buttons - Cook and Warm.

The Cook button starts the cooking process. Once the rice is done, it will automatically switch to the Warm setting, so your rice stays hot and ready to eat. The Warm button can also be pressed manually at any time to keep cooked rice at the perfect serving temperature.

Both buttons have indicator lights that let you know at a glance what mode the rice cooker is in. The Cook light turns on while cooking rice, then switches to the Warm light when done.

The lid locks in place during cooking, and the cooker beeps when finished, so you don't have to keep watching it. The condensation collector on the lid helps prevent moisture from dripping onto your counters.

There is a removable, dishwasher-safe, nonstick cooking pot inside that detaches for easy serving and cleanup. The 4-cup uncooked capacity yields about 8 cups of cooked rice, plenty for 2-6 people.

Overall, the simple two-button operation and indicator lights make this an exceptionally easy-to-use small rice cooker. Just add rice and water, press Cook, and walk away until it's ready.

Performance

The Cuisinart CRC-400 4-cup rice cooker provides excellent performance when it comes to cooking rice. The cooker is very consistent and reliable in delivering perfectly cooked rice every time.

The triple heater ensures even heating and cooking of the rice. This results in rice that is light and fluffy with each grain cooked evenly with no crunchy or mushy pieces. The cooker brings rice to a boil quickly and then automatically switches to simmer mode to gently finish cooking the rice.

The cooker is able to cook both white and brown rice perfectly. The white rice comes out light and fluffy with separate grains. Brown rice is evenly cooked through without any crunchy bits. Most owners report being very satisfied with the cooking results of both rice types.

The 4-cup capacity is ideal for cooking 2-4 servings of rice at a time. The cooker can easily handle the stated capacity and does not overflow. It is quick at cooking rice, with most rice varieties finishing in 20-30 minutes. The automatic keep warm function keeps the rice hot and ready to eat for hours after cooking completes.

Overall, the performance of the Cuisinart CRC-400 rice cooker is impressive. It reliably cooks tender, fluffy rice time after time. The cooking process is fast and efficient. Owners consistently praise this cooker for how well it cooks rice.

Accessories

The Cuisinart CRC-400 Rice Cooker comes with a few handy accessories that help make using this appliance easier. It includes a rice paddle that is specially designed to stir and scoop cooked rice out of the pot without scratching the non-stick surface. There is also a measuring cup included that is marked with both cup and ounce measurements to make it easy to get the right rice-to-water ratio.

Some other accessories that come with this rice cooker are a steam tray that sits on top of the rice as it cooks, allowing you to steam vegetables or meat at the same time. It also comes with a recipe booklet that provides cooking times and instructions for making different rice dishes, along with some recipes to try out.

Overall, the included accessories add convenience and versatility to using this appliance. The rice paddle, measuring cup, steam tray and recipe booklet provide what you need to start cooking rice and more right out of the box.

Cleanup

Overall, the Cuisinart CRC-400 is very easy to clean. The inner pot and lid are nonstick and wiping them down is a breeze. After cooking, the condensation collector on the lid can be removed and rinsed or wiped clean.

One downside is that there are some nooks and crannies around the heating element that can be tricky to fully clean if any food splatters there. A soft brush helps clean those spots. The steam vent/cover on the lid should also be cleaned after each use.

Besides wiping down the housing, the rice cooker doesn't require much cleaning. There are no intricate parts that need scrubbing or soaking. Just avoid abrasive scouring pads on the nonstick surfaces, and clean the rice cooker promptly after each use.

Price

The Cuisinart CRC-400 4 Cup Rice Cooker currently retails for around $40 on Amazon. This is a very reasonable price for a high-quality rice cooker with a 4 cup capacity.

For the features and performance you get, the CRC-400 provides excellent value. The stainless steel construction and sleek brushed stainless steel exterior give it a premium look and feel that belies its affordable price point. The cooking functions and convenient pre-programmed settings make it simple to use. And it consistently delivers delicious, fluffy rice results.

Compared to other entry-level rice cookers in the $30-50 range, the Cuisinart CRC-400 packs in more cooking capacity, functions, and thoughtful design elements. It's an ideal rice cooker for 1-3 people without breaking the bank. While there are cheaper options, the CRC-400 hits the sweet spot of quality and value in its price range.

$40 is very reasonable for this rice cooker. You get great features, performance and durability at an affordable price point. It's excellent value for money.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact and lightweight design makes it easy to store and transport
• 4-cup cooked capacity is good for 1-3 portion meals
• Programmable for convenient "set it and forget it" operation
• Automatically switches to warm when rice is done cooking
• Nonstick inner pot is easy to clean
• Comes with steaming tray, rice measuring cup, and serving spatula

Cons

• Lid does not have a view window so you can't see inside while cooking
• Beeps loudly when finished cooking, no way to disable audio alert
• Max capacity is only 4 cups uncooked rice
• Exterior gets hot to the touch while cooking
• No delay start function

Conclusion

The Cuisinart CRC-400 is a decent mid-range rice cooker that gets the job done for most people. It cooks rice well and includes some useful features like delay start and keep warm. The plastic body feels a bit cheap but it doesn't affect performance.

Overall, this rice cooker is a good option if you make rice frequently and want something more advanced than an basic cooker. It provides flexibility with cooking options and yields consistent results. Just don't expect the build quality of a high-end cooker. For most home cooks this will meet their needs.

I would recommend the Cuisinart CRC-400 to anyone looking for an affordable rice cooker that still includes handy features like delayed start. It delivers tasty rice and has a compact footprint that saves counter space. Unless you plan to make rice extremely frequently or have specific needs, this model is a sensible choice.