TOSHIBA RC-5DSTUS(H) Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) is a mid-range 5.5 cup rice cooker that offers a good blend of features and performance for the price. This stainless steel rice cooker has a sleek, modern look with an easy-to-use digital control panel. The Toshiba rice cooker can make white rice as well as brown rice, quick rice, porridge, and keeps warm for up to 24 hours after cooking. Key features include the fuzzy logic technology, 4 cooking menu settings, and detachable inner cooking pan. This rice cooker delivers well-cooked fluffy rice and provides solid performance for household use. While not the most advanced model, the Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) offers good value as an affordable mid-range rice cooker with useful features.

Design & Appearance

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS rice cooker has a sleek and modern design with stainless steel construction. It measures approximately 10.2 x 13.4 x 11.4 inches, making it a compact size that doesn't take up too much counterspace.

The exterior finish is a brushed stainless steel that gives it a premium, elegant look. The LCD control panel sits on the front and provides a digital interface and display. The lid and inner pot are also stainless steel.

Some users mention the stainless steel shows fingerprints easily, so you may need to wipe it down frequently. But overall it has an attractive high-end look that would complement most modern kitchen decors.

The rice cooker is available in a stainless steel version with a black accent or an all-stainless model. So you have some options to best match your existing appliances and kitchen style.

In addition to the Toshiba model, consider the Cuisinart CRC-400P1, which features a brushed stainless steel housing and a 4-cup capacity, perfect for small families or individuals. Its ergonomic design includes a cool-touch handle and a glass lid to easily monitor cooking progress. This model also boasts an integrated steamer tray for healthy cooking options. Whether you're steaming vegetables or cooking rice, the Cuisinart offers versatility and style that enhances any kitchen environment.

Features

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) rice cooker comes with a variety of features to make cooking rice easy and convenient.

Cooking Modes

This rice cooker has several different cooking modes to suit your needs. It can cook regular white rice, brown rice, quick rice, porridge, stew, and soup. The white rice mode allows you to cook fluffy, restaurant-quality rice automatically. The brown rice mode adjusts the temperature and cooking time to perfection for nutritious whole grain brown rice. With quick rice mode, you can cut the cooking time in half but still get delicious rice. The porridge mode creates creamy porridge and the stew mode is great for cooking rice together with vegetables, meat etc. The soup mode lets you prepare hearty and nourishing soups.

Keep Warm Function

Once the rice is done cooking, the keep warm function automatically kicks in to keep the rice at an ideal serving temperature for up to 12 hours. This allows you to cook your rice in advance and have it ready when you need it. No more wasting time re-heating hard, dried out rice.

Timer

The built-in timer allows you to program delayed cooking up to 15 hours in advance. You can set it at night and wake up to freshly cooked rice in the morning. The timer is very convenient if you want to time your rice to be ready with the rest of your meal.

COSORI CRC-R501-KUS

The COSORI CRC-R501-KUS rice cooker is another excellent option, featuring a user-friendly design and multiple cooking functions. With its sleek appearance and efficient performance, it simplifies the cooking process. The one-touch operation allows you to make fluffy rice quickly and effortlessly. Additionally, it has a removable non-stick inner pot for easy cleaning and maintenance. Perfect for busy households, this cooker can also prepare oatmeal, quinoa, and other grains, providing great versatility in your kitchen.

Performance

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS rice cooker delivers excellent cooking performance for flawless rice every time. Its advanced fuzzy logic technology and triple heater ensure even heating and precise temperature control. This results in perfectly cooked rice with individual grains separated and a soft, fluffy texture.

The cooker's fast heating helps reduce overall cooking time. Rice is ready up to 35% faster compared to basic cookers. The quick cooking is very convenient while still yielding restaurant-quality rice.

Operation is straightforward with user-friendly controls and settings. Simply add rice and water, select your desired cooking function, and let the cooker do the rest. It reliably produces consistent results without needing to babysit it. The non-stick inner pot and steam tray also make serving and cleanup easy.

Capacity

This Toshiba rice cooker has a generous 5.5 cup capacity, able to cook up to 11 cups of cooked rice. This makes it a great option for families, allowing you to easily prepare meals for 4-6 people or make extra rice for leftovers. The inner cooking pan is nonstick coated and removable for easy cleaning. With the keep warm function, any leftover rice can be kept at an optimal serving temperature for extended periods. Those who frequently cook rice for gatherings will appreciate the larger capacity. You'll be able to cook rice for a crowd without needing multiple batches. Even as a single person or couple, having some extra capacity allows you to meal prep rice in advance. Overall, the 5.5 cup raw rice capacity provides versatility for a range of household sizes and cooking needs.

Accessories

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) rice cooker comes with a few handy accessories to help with meal preparation. It includes a rice paddle that makes it easy to scoop cooked rice out of the cooker without sticking to the bottom. The paddle has a long handle so you can reach all the way to the bottom of the pot safely.

A measuring cup is also included to portion out the correct amount of rice or water. The cup has fill lines marked inside to indicate the correct measurements. This takes the guesswork out of getting the right rice-to-water ratio. No more counting cups or eyeballing amounts.

The accessories included with the rice cooker provide an assist with some of the steps of the cooking process. Having the right tools contributes to this appliance's ease of use and performance. The accessories are designed specifically for this rice cooker, fitting the pot and capacities perfectly.

Ease of Use

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS rice cooker is designed for simplicity and convenience. The control panel is straightforward with easy-to-understand buttons for different cooking functions like regular white rice, brown rice, quick cooking, and keeping warm. The buttons have clear icons that indicate their function, so you don't have to guess or constantly refer back to the manual.

Cleaning up after cooking is also simple with the RC-5DSTUS. The non-stick inner cooking pan can be easily wiped down after use. The steam vent, lid, and body of the rice cooker can be cleaned with a soft cloth. The inner cooking pan and included accessories are dishwasher safe as well, making clean-up a breeze. Overall, the intuitive controls and ease of cleaning make this an exceptionally user-friendly rice cooker suitable for busy families and rice lovers.

Price

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) retails for $129.99 on Amazon. This model sits at the higher end of rice cooker prices. Simple rice cookers can be found for under $50, while high-end models with more features and higher capacity sell for over $200.

At the $130 price point, this Toshiba cooker offers mid-range features, capacity, and quality. The price is justified by the fuzzy logic technology, quick cooking, and convenient features like the timer and keep warm function. The stainless steel exterior also commands a slight premium.

While not the cheapest option, this reasonably priced cooker should meet the needs of most households without breaking the bank. The performance and durability make it a worthwhile investment for rice lovers who cook frequently. Overall, it's a quality cooker that delivers good value at the price point.

Pros & Cons

The Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) rice cooker has many benefits but also some downsides to consider:

Pros

• Large 1.5L capacity can cook up to 10 cups of rice
• Advanced fuzzy logic technology for consistent results
• Keep warm function keeps rice fresh for extended periods
• Easy-to-read LCD control panel with clock and delay timer
• Durable stainless steel inner pot with nonstick coating
• Comes with steam tray and rice spatula for added functionality
• Simple one-touch operation with automatic keep warm and reheating

Cons

• More expensive than basic rice cookers
• Bulky and heavy, not ideal for small spaces or portability
• Inner pot is not removable or dishwasher safe
• Lid does not lock for easy transport
• Delay timer limited to 15 hours
• No special settings for brown rice or porridge

Conclusion

Final Recommendation

Overall, the Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) rice cooker is a decent option for most home cooks looking for a mid-range model. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some higher-end rice cookers, but offers solid performance and useful features at an affordable price point.

The cooking functions work as expected to produce fluffy, tender rice every time. The digital controls with presets, delay timer, and keep warm functions add convenience. The non-stick inner pot is easy to clean and the retractable power cord allows flexibility in placement.

While not as versatile as pressure cooker combo models, the Toshiba still allows you to cook more than just rice. The steam tray insert can be used to cook vegetables, fish, or meat while the rice cooks below.

For most people's daily rice cooking needs, the Toshiba RC-5DSTUS(H) will deliver tasty results. Those wanting more advanced features or larger capacity may want to consider other options. But overall, this is a reliable mid-range cooker that makes cooking rice easy.

Summary

• Decent mid-range rice cooker with solid performance for regular rice cooking
• Produces fluffy, tender rice thanks to quality cooking functions
• Useful presets, digital controls, timer, keep warm and retractable cord add convenience
• Non-stick inner pot is easy to clean
• Steam tray allows cooking rice and main dish simultaneously
• Reliable and easy to use, but lacks versatility of higher-end models
• Good option for basic daily rice cooking needs, but not for batch cooking or fancier rice dishes
• Provides good value for money as an affordable mid-range rice cooker