There are currently two Cuisinart rice cookers: the 4-cup Cuisinart CRC-400 and the 8-cup Cuisinart Rice Cooker CRC-800. They look identical, only differing in, well, size. I like the stainless steel finish on the exterior of the CRC-400 and the CRC-800. They also have a nonstick bowl and a stainless steel steamer, ideal for steaming your favorite vegetables, poultry, or seafood.
The 4-cup and the 8-cup rice cookers allow you to cook your rice with much ease. They come with measuring cup, plastic rice spoon, and glass top lid (removable). Each also includes a manual with easy to follow recipes. But there’s lacking about the CRC-400 and the CRC-800: Fuzzy Logic and sophisticated settings for different kinds of rice. Another lacking is the programmable timer. Despite the lack of features, these rice cookers can cook a nice bowl of rice. However, many rice cooker experts say that Cuisinart rice cookers do not give that much value.
4-cup CRC-400
The CRC-400’s stylish design is a plus. It has the size of a small two-slice toaster, so you don’t have to worry about it taking a lot of space on your counter. Overall, it matches almost all kitchen designs. Another thing I like about it is the fact that it’s super easy to clean and many of its parts are dishwasher-friendly. It also allows you to cook your rice in no time.
The Bad: There are some consumer complaints about spill over. But you can avoid this by rinsing the water. And then add a teaspoon of vegetable oil for each cup of rice. It usually works.
The 4-cup CRC-400 has a small steaming tray that can only steam limited quantity of vegetables and seafood. It’s only good for a single person or a couple. Another issue is the water-to-rice learning curve. But once you deal with this issue, this unit does a good job at cooking fluffy rice. This cooker catches up with other rice cookers available in the market.
Cuisinart 8-cup CRC-800
The Cuisinart 8-cup CRC-800 looks stylish and smooth feel. It’s exterior has a smooth stainless steel finish. It’s a good looking cooker to have in you kitchen.It also features a touch friendly chrome plated handles. They don’t get hot, which allows you to move the rice cooker anytime you want.
The Cuisinart 8-cup CRC-800 has standard lever control and warming settings. It also has retractable cord storage. You’ll also get a measuring cup and a rice paddle. It has a three-year warranty.
The Bad: While the cooking pot has a nonstick coating, many consumers nag about the sticking rice. The manual says you’ve got to spray the bottom to prevent sticking. If a rice cooker promises it’s nonstick, then there should be no sticking of rice. Still, many consumers say they have no problem with rice sticking.
Many consumers complain that the 8-cup CRC-800 has some minor splattering issues like the 4-cup CRC-400. Sure, it has a steam vent designed to prevent spilling. But only if you cook 6 cups ore less. Spilling becomes an issue with much rice, say 8 cups.