Elite Gourmet ERC006SS Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Elite Gourmet ERC006SS is a stainless steel electronic rice cooker that offers users a convenient and easy to use appliance for cooking rice and other grains like oatmeal or quinoa. It has a 6 cup cooked capacity, which is suitable for individuals or small families. The unit features a simple on/off switch and cook indicator light, with automatic keep warm functionality after cooking is complete. With a stainless steel exterior and nonstick cooking pot, the ERC006SS aims to provide reliable rice cooking performance with a sleek and modern aesthetic. It's compact and lightweight enough for easy storage and portability. This review will take a closer look at the design, features, performance, and pros and cons of the Elite Gourmet ERC006SS to help consumers decide if it's the right rice cooker for their needs.

Design & Build Quality

The Elite Gourmet ERC006SS rice cooker has a simple yet sleek stainless steel exterior that will look good on any kitchen countertop. It is compact in size at 9 x 12 x 9 inches, with a 6-cup uncooked capacity perfect for individuals or small families.

Despite its small footprint, the ERC006SS feels very sturdy and durable thanks to its brushed stainless steel housing. The inner cooking pot is also made of thick gauge stainless steel with an impact-bonded base that evenly distributes heat for consistent cooking results. The lid fits snugly and the handles stay cool to the touch even during cooking.

Overall, the materials and construction give you confidence in the ERC006SS's ability to stand up to regular use and provide many years of reliable service. The stainless steel offers durability while making cleaning easy, since food won't stick. For the size and price point, this rice cooker delivers excellent quality.

Features

The Elite Gourmet ERC-006SS rice cooker has a number of great features that make it a versatile and convenient appliance.

• Cooking Capacity: This rice cooker has a 6-cup cooked capacity, meaning it can cook 3 cups of uncooked rice resulting in 6 cups of cooked rice. This is enough to feed 4-6 people, making it a good size for most families. The inner cooking pot is stainless steel with a non-stick coating for easy cleanup.

• Keep Warm Function: Once the rice is finished cooking, the Elite Gourmet rice cooker automatically switches to keep warm mode. This keeps the rice warm and ready to serve for up to 12 hours without overcooking or burning the rice. The keep warm function is very useful for having freshly cooked rice available throughout the day.

• Delay Timer: The delay timer allows you to program the rice cooker in advance, up to 15 hours. You can add rice and water in the evening, set the timer before bed, and wake up to perfectly cooked rice in the morning. The delay timer adds a lot of convenience and flexibility to your cooking.

Ease of Use

The Elite Gourmet ERC006SS rice cooker has a straightforward control panel that is intuitive to use. There is a single switch to select the cooking function - white rice, brown rice, quick rice, porridge, steam or keep warm. The buttons have clear icons indicating their purpose.

The included instructions provide clear guidance on setting up, operating, and cleaning the rice cooker. For example, the manual explains how to properly rinse the rice before cooking and how much water to use for different functions. Pictures supplement the written instructions.

Keeping the ERC006SS clean is easy thanks to the non-stick cooking pot. Food residue does not stick as stubbornly. The steam vent, lid, and other parts can be detached for thorough cleaning. The cooking pot and accessories are dishwasher safe as well.

Rice Cooking Performance

When it comes to making rice, the Elite Gourmet Rice Cooker performs very well. The cooker produces fluffy, perfectly cooked rice with individual grains that are tender but not mushy.

The rice has a great taste since the cooker steams the rice and does not allow the flavors to escape out. The non-stick cooking pot also prevents the rice from sticking and scorching on the bottom.

This rice cooker cooks rice relatively quickly, with white rice taking around 20-30 minutes. The cooker automatically switches to warm mode once the rice is finished cooking so you don't have to worry about overcooking.

The moisture level of the finished rice is ideal, not too wet or dry. Overall, the Elite Gourmet Rice Cooker delivers delicious, fluffy rice with an excellent texture every time.

Versatility

The Elite Gourmet ERC-006SS rice cooker offers more than just white rice cooking. This versatile appliance can also handle brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, and other whole grains with ease. The specialized settings are optimized to steam and simmer these heartier grains perfectly.

Not limited to just rice cooking, the ERC-006SS can also act as a steamer. The steaming tray allows you to steam vegetables, fish, chicken, and more all while your rice is cooking below. This makes it easy to prepare complete meals in one pot.

Slow cooking is another handy feature of the ERC-006SS. While not a full slow cooker replacement, the warm setting can be used to simmer stews, chilis, soups, and more for hours. This expands the capabilities of the machine beyond rice into a wider realm of one-pot meals.

With settings specially designed for brown rice, steaming, and slow cooking, the Elite Gourmet rice cooker provides versatility to make far more than just white rice. The ability to cook whole grains, steam foods, and slow cook makes this a multifunctional appliance ideal for healthy home cooking.

Accessories

The Elite Gourmet ERC-006SS rice cooker comes with a few handy accessories to make meal prep easy. It includes a rice paddle that is specially designed to scoop fluffy rice without damaging the grains. The paddle has a flat surface with rounded edges, allowing you to serve rice neatly.

The cooker also comes with a removable steaming tray. You can place vegetables, fish, or meat in the tray to steam cook simultaneously as the rice cooks below. This is perfect for making complete, balanced meals with minimal effort.

A measuring cup is included to portion out the correct amount of rice and water for cooking. The measurements are easy to read on the inside of the cup. No need to dirty other measuring cups in your kitchen.

Finally, the rice cooker includes a soup ladle for easily serving soups, stews, and oatmeal. The ladle has a deep bowl and ergonomic handle to comfortably spoon food out of the cooker pot.

Overall, the included accessories enhance the functionality of the cooker and let you make meals with ease. From perfectly fluffy rice to steamed veggies and simple soups, you'll have what you need with the Elite Gourmet.

Pros

This rice cooker has several advantages that make it a great option:

• Well-designed stainless steel body makes it durable and easy to clean. The removable inner cooking pot has a nonstick coating that prevents rice from sticking.

• It's very versatile - can cook all types of rice perfectly including white rice, brown rice, basmati rice, sushi rice, etc. The specialized technology allows custom cooking for specific rice types.

• Simple one-touch operation with automatic keep warm and extended keep warm makes it easy to use. Just add rice and water, press the button, and it cooks rice to fluffy perfection every time.

• The built-in steamer tray and basket allow for healthy steaming of meats, fish, vegetables etc. right along with the rice. Very convenient for well-rounded meals.

• Generous 6-cup cooked capacity provides plenty of rice for families and gatherings. The compact size still fits easily on a counter without taking up too much space.

Cons

The Elite Gourmet Rice Cooker is not without its downsides:

• Despite the stainless steel construction, the lid is thin and prone to denting. It feels a bit flimsy compared to higher-end rice cooker lids.

• The cooker only comes with one paddle for steaming and cooking. An extra paddle or two would be useful for cooking multiple items in separate trays simultaneously.

• The keep warm function works, but does not hold rice at a hot enough temperature for more than around 4 hours. After that period the rice becomes too dry.

• While the cooker includes a steaming tray, it does not come with a steamer basket. You have to purchase this separately if you want to steam foods like vegetables, fish etc.

• The inner pot is not non-stick. This means rice can stick to the bottom and be harder to clean if you let it sit too long after cooking.

• There are reports of inconsistent cooking results from some users. It may take some trial and error to find the right water and rice ratios for your particular tastes.

Conclusion

The Elite Gourmet ERC-006SS is a capable mid-range rice cooker that delivers good performance for most rice cooking needs. It has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners. The keep warm function ensures your rice stays at an optimal serving temperature for extended periods.

The stainless steel construction gives it a sleek look and makes it easy to clean. It can cook up to 6 cups of rice, which should meet the needs of most families. The steam tray allows you to cook vegetables, fish, or meat along with the rice for complete meals.

Overall, the Elite Gourmet ERC-006SS hits a sweet spot between price and performance. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, but it reliably cooks fluffy, delicious rice every time. For most households looking for an affordable rice cooker that gets the job done, the ERC-006SS is a great choice worth considering.