After travelling around to three Aldi stores today to get the rice cooker on sale, I missed out. So off to Costco to see what they had on the Tiger cookers. For this model it seems to be an all time low. Currently for $679 at Amazon. Previous best at Costco was $499 back in 2021. So it seems a great price for this machine.
I pulled the trigger. Now to cook some rice and congee.
😆
Tora! Tora! Tora!
I'm still living off the high of 17, 19 & 20.
You ought to know your Tiger friends better
Hahahaha I was thinking the same, who in their right mind would pay this to cook rice? I cook mine in a pot with something called water and it comes out perfect each and every time.
Rice, it just ain't something to get that excited about 😂
rice quality will be noticably different if you cook with this.
No it wont.
Seems unlikely
Not sure about this particular one. But I went from a $10 cooker to a $70 cooker to a $200 cooker and you can taste the difference. I'm a person who eats it for 90% of my meals so if you eat it less frequently it might not be the same.
The functions that I've gained going from $10 to $70 was a pressure function and a timing/delay function with two-three different rice styles/textures. Going from $70 to $200 gained me a bigger and better quality pot, easier cleaning, induction cooking (more even cooking), finer time control, more than five different rice style textures (was able to give me slightly harder rice with a little crispness at the bottom for example).
@jiancoek: I'm not sure, it was a Chinese brand bought from China and given as a gift to us by very close friends as a wedding gift. I don't know how to read Mandarin so I cannot tell what brand it is. I'll try to ask them what brand and model it is. I would highly recommend it to anyone to be honest. Fuss free, taste good and durable pot. We have been using it for more than 4 years now and its still working and looking like its only 3 months old.
I have not used anything more expensive than that so I cannot say if its better or worse than a cuckoo, tiger or zojirushi. I'm under the impression that this was also a top tier local branded cooker in China but I could be wrong.
Yeah nah. I think if you buy quality grains it might be better. You can just cook in a pot easy.
Those automatic rice cookers are more for convenience and the time savings that can be had if you eat rice a lot.
Some people value their time and justify hundreds of dollars on a cooker but most the results are similar as rice is such an easy thing to cook anyway
i bet u r not asian
I have to wonder what is the difference between this and a smaller rice cooker from a supermarket?
We have the model which is one step down from this and it has been amazing. I have had friends call me weeks after having a meal with us and ask me how the rice was cooked as they enjoyed it that much.
It's hard to describe but feels like each grain of rice has been cooked on its own. There is nothing stuck on the bottom.
The tiger cookers take a lot longer than regular rice cookers.
Any thoughts on Tiger vs cuckoo? (10cup ih model)
I have a vague memory of watching a YT video where someone said the tigers outer coating starts to peel off after a couple/few years
The coatings won't come off if the bowl isn't washed in the dishwasher.
I think tiger and cuckoo are pretty much on par
@buckster: Cool thanks for letting me know. Might have to see if I can get my dad's Costco card and pick one up then
Edit: this is the video I was talking about. I'm not sure how she managed this but I noticed that the label says the lid can be put in the dishwasher, so maybe that's why.. https://youtu.be/tzOuJovxubA
@DeToxin: Leave anything plastic exposed to sunlight each day, and it'll go off to the point of putridity over the years. (Some windows allow a lot of UV through)
However, bear in mind the size. A 10 cup is more expensive than a 3 or 5 cup, but uses more power to cook (every day, it can really add up)
Also cheaper up-front to get one that is barely any bigger than you generally need, and risk having to cook two batches when you have people visiting.
Smaller ones take up less space, too.
Our 5-cup $120 Panasonic SR-CN108 has decent non-stick interior, and will probably outlast the Midea it replaced (also Chinese made), which was fine except for the coating going bad. It did cook faster however, not sure if that is what makes induction better… or which allows the teflon coating to last longer (if either do).
it sounds amazing, i'm jealous of your rice
R/thathappened
R/nothingeverhappens
Physical differences are usually:
-non stick coating for easier cleaning
-thermal insulation (rice will be warm even after you unplug machine)
-function to choose between type of rice and ways you want it cooked (eg: congee)
-electronic timing to cook the rice at a slightly lower temperature for longer
Honestly these features are not worth it, and you can achieve the same results if you use a good type of rice with the correct water amount in a cheepo kmart rice cooker.
I respectfully disagree that features like that aren’t worth it. It makes a big difference if you’re someone who eats rice almost every day (SE Asian household here) to have those convenient features. It’s not even just that - the rice comes out ‘fluffier’ and perfect with minimal effort for each different rice variety.
It makes a big difference if you’re someone who eats rice almost every day
I think it's the exact opposite. Generally speaking, people who don't eat rice every day are the ones who won't know how to cook rice.
I eat rice daily and I need none of these features as I know how to cook rice the way I want. By the way, I normally use a gas pressure cooker but also use an electric pressure cooker (Hella) from time to time both of which costs a fraction of this thing while it's on a "deal price".
Sorry to say this but you my poor friend are a victim of marketing and hype.
@mrvaluepack: @mrvaluepack
I disagree with your view but I won't look down on you.
as mentioned many times everyone has different passions for different things
I myself am not a coffee connoisseur hence for me I can't justify spending hundreds/ thousands of dollars for a coffee machine as an instant one is good enough already. However if one of my friend whose really passionate about coffee want to blow his/her hundred or thousand of dollars in saving for it, who am I to say that he is silly or victim of marketing or hype.
I would just tell him/her to invite me to enjoy the coffee together while I can bring my wonderfully cooked rice and some other food so we can enjoy our meal (and coffee) together. :)
@HmrW: Your analogy is somewhat flawed here. In this case we are the connoisseurs because we want our rice to be cooked absolutely perfectly. We are not arguing if this cooker can do that or not, but rather that I could cook it just as well using a proper pressure cooker (gas or electric), or even a heavy bottomed pot on the gas.
To express it in your analogy, we are not drinking instant coffee, but are saying that we will prepare coffee just as good as that expensive machine, but using our own techniques that involve relatively cheap instruments (mind you, I am not referring to the kmart junk but rather heavy stainless steel pressure cookers, and high quality electric pressure cookers or heavy bottomed pots).
@mrvaluepack: I'm not the one who negged you FYI, but it's not 'marketing and hype' if you've personally felt and tasted the difference to make up your own mind. If you're someone who has rice daily, then it's easier to see why a high end rice cooker is worth it. My father in law is the most frugal person I've ever met and even he thinks it's worth spending on a quality rice cooker.
This is really one of those things that's subject to diminishing returns. Most rice cookers will do the same thing — this just takes it to the next level. It's a lot of money for a rice cooker, but if you like your rice that much and can afford it, then it's a good buy.
@skittlebrau: Yes, I've felt and tasted rice off these cookers (tiger, zoji, Panasonic). That's why I acknowledged these things do a good job.
But my point is that you don't need these if you actually know how to cook rice. These cannot cook rice and better than what I do with my pressure cooker, but I understand that may not be the case for everyone else.
@CocaKoala: Yes, the convenience factor is the main thing. I’d also throw in consistency.
I can cook rice manually and to an equivalent standard. I just don’t want to do it every day.
Are these prices usually Australia wide?
I'd say so. Best check in store or ring prior. Showing as $509 online Costco.
Ah I'll be there on the weekend so I'll just go check it out in person. Thanks for the heads up!
so you couldn't get your hands on the Aldi $58.88 rice cooker,so you thought the $449.00 one from Costco looked good as a substitute 🙂
He did his own bait and switch it seems
Ozbargain style justification!
I couldn’t get a Toyota Prius so I got a Bugatti instead
This is the way
But the Bugatti isn't a hybrid.
Coles have one for $60 if you miss our on Aldi for Chinese New Year
Don’t worry, no need. Costco has one at an all time low price.
I used to laugh and joke about this "overpriced" rice cooker, at the end of the day it just produced the same thing right whether it's kmart brand or tiger brand?
Well… I must admit how wrong I was.
One thing to clarify, if you do not eat rice that often or rice is not your staple food then this deal is not for you.
However, if you are like me, where rice is pretty much the day-to-day staple food, then well this rice cooker going to change your view about it.
What makes Tiger, Zojirushi, Cuckoo rice cooker brand so expensive is the fact that they offer an "induction" technology on their rice cooker. (Not all of their rice cooker is induction by the way, so make sure it is one if you buying one)
Plus this device last for years (I have had mine for 6 years already), and can cook different types of rice as well as make good congee (Chinese style porridge)
Induction technology in rice cooker will make the cooker distribute even heat on the rice grain while it's cooking.
I used to use the old Kmart/Target brand to cook rice for years, and I still remember how wet/soft the rice can be especially at the bottom part of the pot. Well with this Induction technology, you can say goodbye to that wet soggy rice and say hello to more evenly cooked rice.
I can be bias for saying this since I own one, but if you happen to have a friend that own one of this "overpriced" rice cooker then ask them if you can try some of the rice that has been cooked by this wonderful device. Or perhaps if you pop in to Costco sometime they do free tasting, not sure if they will do one for this rice cooker though.
this. 😊
Have to say…having same brand of rice but Cooked in different cookers between Panasonic and a $299 tiger. It's so much different. Tiger can definitely bring out the fragrance, softness and texture so much more.
It's like beer tasting..lager, pilsner, IPA or pale? If you don't drink them everyday you will just say " taste so bitter and horrible" .
Btw Kmart rice cooker sticks so badly and won't cook the rice properly. Worst than my way if cooking rice in a pot on the camp fire.
I didn't realise you could use the Kmart cooker on a camp fire😉
I dono I must just be lucky, we include rice about 4 meals a week and my 15 year old Kambrook rice cooker does well. Always get a crunchy base.
I think you’re missing the point… no one is disputing whether cheaper cookers can cook rice fully.
But there is a difference in how well they cook.
Like a cheap wine vs. an expensive wine. Some may not be able to tell the difference, or not even care. But for those who know the difference, it’s hard to go back
No, they're downvoting you for (?deliberately) misunderstanding that a rice cooker is not directly equivalent to an induction cooker.
I'm not saying that a $450 rice cooker is excellent value. If you want that, maybe go look at the Xiaomi unit:
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/632679
@bienvenu: I went from using "Kmart/Target" rice-cooker (of 20+ years),
to an Induction Heating [IH] Xiaomi rice cooker a year ago,
and the difference is significant.
The rice is softer, fluffier and even 'stretchier' (this is long-grain rice).
I wonder if there are differences even amongst the IH cookers,
eg. Xiaomi, Cuckoo, Zojirushi, Tiger.
Also, the quality of the rice grain matters too.
Good quality grain = tastier rice
@whyisave: If it makes stretcher rice, does that mean you are now eating longer rice instead of long rice🤣
@whyisave: I agree with you - a proper rice cooker's longer cycle time really makes a difference over the $20 "rice cooker" from Kmart.
In terms of differences between brands - it's likely that some of those companies spent a lot of time in R&D, testing the cooking cycles and improving the firmware. Someone else may have just copied that process without understanding the impact of the size of the vent hole, for instance.
So do you just lay the rice and water out on the cooktop, and it works it's magic??
Don’t be ridiculous.
I’m replying to the person several posts above that said “What makes Tiger, Zojirushi, Cuckoo rice cooker brand so expensive is the fact that they offer an "induction" technology on their rice cooker.”
They are specifically stating that induction heating is the reason it is so expensive. What I’m saying is induction technology is not intrinsically expensive, so that does not explain why these cost so much.
@lunchbox99: If you know about economics, you might consider that there’s only a small market for these devices, and hence the price needs to be higher to recoup production time.
Anyway, it’s like buying a high end tv for better contrast ratios. Most people won’t notice a difference, but there’s a segment of the market that appreciate the ‘finer’ things and can afford it.
So ‘congrats’ on your false equivalence to the induction cooktop, but you’re missing the point.
@wormarts: It’s not false equivalence. I’m replying to someone’s specific claim. Induction heating doesn’t make this magically more expensive.
If you want to believe this is worth $700 then fine. Just dont invent bullshit reasons for it.
@lunchbox99: I don’t, so I won’t buy one. But I’m not going to sh!t on anyone who does.
Look at the reports online, and on here. People are consistently saying that these cookers are worth it because they cook better. So they see a value in getting these cookers.
Just because you don’t see value, doesn’t mean they can’t. Your comments add zero value to this post.
@lunchbox99: There are a lot of dumb people on here. Just be content you are not one of them. Your point that induction technology is cheap and should not be the main reason these are more expensive is valid. No need to reason with people who can’t read or don’t have enough comprehension to grasp your point.
@lunchbox99: Technically they offer both induction and non induction models.
Both models are more expensive than your cheapo rice cookers
Buckster…looking at the mess on my cooker, I reckon my kids are following your cooking tip.😀
Not to be a picky bastard, but the induction heating in a rice cooker will be of the order of 20 kHz. It'll vibrate (and make heat) in the steel of the pot, but not in the water/rice grain. If you want to vibrate water, you need a microwave (2.4 GHz).
It's a play at heating the pot more evenly.
I call bullshit, you probably didnt measure the water correctly in your kmart ones and just used the "finger" method or used a low quality brand type of rice.
Gone are the days when tiger rice cookers were ~$250, which I have been lucky to get my hands on about 13 years and still going strong.
You are correct. Taking into account inflation it should cost you $343
We bought a Tiger JKT-S10A 5.5 cup (slightly different from this model, smaller capacity) and it has been great. Tiger definitely has good stuff.
If you are shopping around, FYI not all of their appliances/models are made in Japan.
This is a decent price for this model. Well worth the buy if you can afford and you eat rice multiple times per week—- you'll get the best out of your rice with one of these compared to a $20 Kmart one or $150 <insert Japanese brand made in china> one.
My advice for anyone shopping around for a good one would be to pay close attention to the quality and material of the multi-layered (if it's not multilayered it's probably not evenly heating/cooking) insert pot… And know that 5.5L is great for two people or a small family who cooks rice often or likes to have it fresh- 10 cup capacity can make A LOT of rice in one go….
Good find OP
And know that 5.5L is great for two people
I assume you meant 5.5 cup.
Oops yes you are correct
Your right Jayblesz, 10 cups is a huge capacity. I have a 3 cup Cuckoo which can make enough rice for 6 people.
I bought this back in Jan at the same price, and as others have said it cooks very, very evenly throughout and is very consistent. I had a smaller, fairly simple Hitachi rice cooker before this and sometimes the rice would be too moist, even though I swear the same amount of water was the same as last time. It's also the first rice cooker that hums quite audibly while cooking which was a surprise to me. Rice tastes amazing each time so I'm not fussed.
Considering the 5 cup version elsewhere is more expensive than this 10 cup version, I'd say this is a deal if you like the idea of a reliable cooker you'll be using for years to come, and its suitable for most family sizes.
First cook up tonight and I get what you're saying. It's very satisfying on the mouth factor. Like eating tapioca pearls. Very fragrant too.
Better to boil the rice in a pot n drain the water once cooked. No $ spent + your removing the rice starch.
Does this turn rice into beef and water into wine?
anyone has good experience with Aldi ones?
How long does take to cook rice in the Tiger JKT-D18A on the 'Plain/White' settings?
1 cup or 10 cups?
Small family we usually cook 2 cups and depending on how much time we have, their express setting takes around 20 mins and plain white setting around 35 mins, +/- 5 mins. I reckon plain white setting turns out better. There is also an ultimate setting that takes around 45 mins? Even better tasting, especially if you mix diff rice types. These numbers from 10 cup tiger.
Tempted but I've also heard GREAT things about Zojirushi and Cuckoo…
Has anyone done a split test like this? I doubt…
- buy all three rice cookers (similar size with comparable features)
- pour the same amount of rice and water (same brand) into the cookers
- turn them on at the same time and just wait
- when ready, try samples from all three cookers and see which is the ultimate winner (or if there's any difference)
Uncle roger test!
FUIYOO
Nephew zsygym, not bad, not bad.
Once you complete test, you become uncle.
Functionally they are all probably very close. The price disparity most likely comes from country of manufacture and assembly.
A think a fair bit of the lower tier Zojirushi is Made in China stuff.
My family has lived in Australia for almost 25 years and we’ve only used Tiger brand. Only had to change out our rice cooker once because it was pink and looked outdated in our new house. It’s going strong for more than 10 years now. Only thing we’ve needed to do is replace the metal bowl but that’s like $40 on eBay and the rice spoon cause our dog keeps yoinking it and having a chew fest. I’ll be grabbing one for my brother as his housewarming gift!
Lucky for me, my local Aldi store has plenty of stock. I eat rice everyday as well and cannot justify spending 10 times the price for a Brand name rice cooker
The op is trying to help you dodge a bullet. You are trying to jump in front of the bullet. Aldi rice cooker is going to be garbage. And there is a huuuuge difference between rice cooked in a cheap cooker and rice cooked properly. I’m surprised you would even consider the Aldi one if I’m you eat rice daily
Each to their own i guess. I have tried rice from tiger cooker and can tell you that there is minimal difference when cooked from difference cooker.
In my opinion, what important is the type of rice, and the amount of water you put will make a huge difference to how the rice turn out, whether it is too soft, sticky, dry or fluffy.
Even though an expensive tiger cooker will be better built, and have more functions, it is does not matter to me as all i intend to use is only steam rice. And you have no evidence to say the aldi cooker is garbage, it have 3 year warranty and i am sure it will last longer than that, infact there are feedback from ozbargain member stating that the aldi rice cooker is of good quality and comparable with Tiger and the like.
Mate these muppets are trying to justify why something that just gently heats water is $700. ignore them
@lunchbox99: Meh, some people will say that they can't see the difference between their $400 TCL compared to the highest end LG OLED - but their opinion is also easy to dismiss
Although you have to admit the people that spent $500 on a rice cooker have a pretty good motivation to convince themselves and others it is better, even if it's not.
I have been using a ~$150 one for the last 5ish years. I have been using a $30 one for the last week. Night and day. The $30 one does a woeful job. Possibly the Aldi one is better, but at $60 I wouldn’t be holding out hope. Of course it would be nice to be surprised
If we didn't have a similar rice cooker as gift from a friend, we would have jumped on this. The cheap ones from Kmart/BigW were just flatout nasty as the grains were not cooked evenly and most of the time the rice came out either too wet or too sticky. These high-priced cooker can retain the heat after the cooking was done and it depressured properly so the rice grain was moist and cooked evenly.
Also they lasted for quite a while. My family in Vietnam had one for like 20 years (kid you not) and asides from a few mishaps here and there nothing a quick fix can't deal with.
I'm scared off spending money on a decent cooker now. I forked out something like 250 for a decent Panasonic one, I followed the instructions EXACTLY and I had unreliable results at best. Obviously one grain of rice of a certain type is different to another and will need more/less water etc, but still..
The cooking time was the worst thing. No less than 45 minutes minimum.
What's the cooking time for a couple cups of jasmine or basmati on this?
Does it cook rice and shit out golden eggs? $449 for a rice cooker seems excessive.