By Mike Szostech Last updated
We’ve rounded up these stainless steel rice cookers from online retailers and stores across Canada. If you need an expensive or cheap, large or small rice cooker, we’ve got you covered. Rice cookers are fairly common, and since they are not a very specialized product, they are pretty easy to find at an online Canadian retailer.
This product comparison list is specifically for rice cookers with a stainless steel outside – if you are looking for a rice cooker with a stainless steel inner pot (we strongly recommend it), click here or read our review for the best rice cooker overall in Canada. If you want a rice cooker with an inner stainless pot, and an outer stainless appearance, you have 2 options: the Tayama Rice Cooker, or the Instant Pot (that has a rice cooking feature)
How to choose the best stainless steel rice cooker
Since the outside of the rice cooker is stainless steel, it’s simply a personal preference or design preference to get a rice cooker that looks that way. However, beyond the color choice, here are some main things to consider when choosing a rice cooker:
- Consider the size of cooker you will need. If you will only be cooking rice for yourself or your family, then you know exactly what size rice cooker you need. However, if you plan on hosting dinner parties where rice will be on the menu, you’ll want a stainless steel rice cooker that can cook enough for everyone to get their fill.
- Are you the type to only cook rice? Or would it be helpful to have the option to steam vegetables at the same time? Some of the rice cookers in our list have an extra steaming pot to allow something to be steam cooked at the same time the rice is cooking.
- If you like to micro-manage in the kitchen, look for a rice cooker with a glass lid so you can monitor the cooking process and peak at the rice without letting the steam out. Lids with a steam-vent hole also prevent bubbling and allow for easier cleanup.
Instant Pot Zest Stainless Steel Rice Cooker
With a price that matches the cheaper looking Hamilton Beach version, we're marking the Instant Zest as our best choice for a stainless steel rice cooker.
Instant Pots are stainless steel on the outside, and have multiple cooking features including pressure cooking. If you are ok with spending more money on your rice cooker to have additional features, then we'd recommend looking at the full-featured Instant Pots available in Canada.
This stainless steel rice cooker is a feature-bare version that is limited to rice, quinoa, oatmeal etc. There is no yogurt or pressure cooking settings - but that is reflected in the price!
It has an 8-cup capacity, and can also quickly steam vegetables. The inner pot is a non-stick style pot.
And, in a slightly confusing way, it is called the Instant Zest. It turns out that Instant is the brand, and the Pot is a product line, and now so is the Zest.
Get the best price Best Stainless Steel Rice Cooker: Instant Pot 8-cup Rice Cooker in Canada from:
Hamilton Beach 14 cup Stainless Steel Rice Cooker
This stainless steel rice cooker is cheaper than the Cuisinart one, but it looks cheaper too. Perhaps it's the shiny black plastic top and bottom.
What I like about this option, however, is that it has a 5 year warranty and digital controls that allow you to cook white rice, quick rice, whole grains like quinoa, hot cereal setting, and a steam cook option.
Cooking capacity is 2-14 cups (1-7 cups uncooked), and it comes with a steamer basket. If you need more cooked rice, Hamilton Beach has a larger 20 cup version too.
Get the best price Hamilton Beach Digital 14 cup stainless rice cooker in Canada from:
Hamilton Beach Digital 14 cup stainless rice cooker Reviews
Wirecutter ranked it as the #3 on their list claiming it was the 'Budget Pick' in their product review. [April 2020]
Wirecutter called this a speedy, affordable rice cooker that cooks pretty well considering the price. And it cooks fast!
theStrategist ranked it as the #7 on their list [March 2020]
Cuisinart 4-cup Stainless Steel Rice Cooker
Cuisinart has a 4-cup rice cooker that has a stainless steel body as well as chrome plated handles that stay cool to help you move the whole cooker. The inner pot is a non-stick style, with a stainless steel steaming basket. It also comes with a glass lid, and plastic rice paddle.
This one's a little more expensive, but I think the modern square design really makes it worth the extra cost. Even the Cuisinart logo is embossed onto the stainless housing giving it a commercial luxury look.
Get the best price Cuisinart 4-cup stainless steel rice cooker in Canada from:
Cuisinart 4-cup stainless steel rice cooker Reviews
theStrategist ranked it as the #4 on their list claiming it was the 'Best stainless-steel rice cooker' in their product review. [March 2020]
Easy to clean, and looks great in the kitchen
Where to buy your stainless rice cooker in Canada
Buying online makes things easy, and there are a ton of choices for rice cookers. However, some of them are pretty cheap looking. If that’s a concern for you, consider going into a local store and looking at some in person. Canadian Tire has a great selection, and often has one or more rice cooker on sale – if you live near a store location in Canada, swing by and touch and see before you buy.
In case you were wondering, it’s harder than you might think to find stainless steel rice cookers in Canada. A simple search on Amazon or any other Canadian retailers reveals a dizzying array of white and grey, cheap, plastic looking rice cookers. Perhaps that’s because rice cookers are cheap, or perhaps it’s because rice is usually white. Whatever the case, rest easy knowing we did the hard work for you!