This was posted 6 years 9 months 21 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Tiger Rice Cooker JBA-T18A (Made in Japan) $270 at Costco (Membership Required)

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This seemed to be a very popular rice cooker last year. It is back at a lower price this year. Usual price $299.99. Now $269.99

The JKTS18A is also on special at $30 off

"Get your fluffy, toothy, delicious rice on, OzBargainers."

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closed Comments

  • Mercs have leather seats, lights, keyless start etc.

    What does this have besides just cooking rice?

    • +42

      It's a rice cooker!…Does your Merc cook rice too?

    • +2

      I’m pretty sure this rice cooker has lights and keyless start too..
      But if you are after leather seats just get the Jaguar

      • +3
      • +1

        I can assure you this rice cooker beeps and has an LED light when you select a cooking mode. I can't afford a Jaguar yet so will just settle for the Lexus soft leather. No complaints :).

    • Doesn't cook rice like leather.

    • -1

      Not sure why it was popular. A pressure cooker can millions of things including rice for quarter of the price. I guess for those who can’t cook

      • +1

        Just google it. There are reasons for cheap and expensive rice cooker, knife, pan, oven, pressure cooker, etc…

        • can see ity can cook rice :)

        • +14

          @naru6705:

          You may not see it unless you cook rice every day (as many, many people do).

          With this, you just add the rice, add the water, and then go about your business cooking other things. Even if you forget the rice, and leave it sit there for hours after it's done, it stays warm and fluffy.

          Many people even cook a big batch, leave it on "keep warm", and just keep coming back to it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

          Basically, it's rice on tap. Put the rice cooker on some time before dinner, forget about it, and the rice is there, waiting, the same every time.

          I really can't imagine having to actually think about cooking rice. It would make dinner so much more hassle every day.

          As for why to get a good one… cheap ones often spit water, the rice at the bottom gets overcooked and burnt, the rice dries out if you leave them on "keep warm" for more than an hour, they're often hard to clean with starch gumming up parts of the machine, and the rice isn't as "fluffy" as a good model. Sometimes the rice in a cheap one is barely edible (unless you're used to poorly-cooked rice).

          For something that cooks the base of your meals every single day, then getting a good model that will probably last you a decade is a sane investment.

          We don't even put our rice cooker away. It stays out permanently. It's as integral a part of the kitchen as a microwave or kettle.

        • @marlor:
          Oh well, and then that risk of diabetes type 2 arises…
          I personally try to use pasta, potato and rice simultaneously within a week, but some of my colleagues eat only rice for years…

        • +2

          @Michael1983:

          It's a cultural thing.

          I know Koreans who literally eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A meal without rice is absolutely unthinkable. Without rice, it's not a meal, it's a snack.

          I mix it up a bit, but rice is still the default option.

      • thanks for reminding me!
        my rice cooker is trash, was pondering this deal.
        just made a batch in my pressure cooker - turned out awesome.
        cheers.

    • +8

      the rice cooker is probably more reliable than a merc…

    • fluffy rice!

    • +5

      If you have to ask that means you are not a riceophile

    • Does xiaomi have a rice cooker? Does Tiger have Bluetooth?

    • It's like a kitchen-aid mixer versus a mixer. Korean and Japanese rice cookers are fast and very reliable.

  • +1

    My parents has one of these for years and still going, however the Breville RiceBox that we got on sale for $85 has been serving us really well and don't have the need to upgrade.

    • -6

      we got on sale for $85

      Our rice cooker was only $20 from Target !!!

      • +1

        Uh……It's a Stainless Steel 15L Stockpot - 31cm !

        • -1

          Stainless Steel 15L

          Yep, much bigger than the 10 cup one above !!!

        • +2

          @jv: but a shitty thin bottom ;)

        • @Slippery Fish: For those who don’t want to spend the money for a Tiger, Aldi has got a $23 one next week ;)

        • +2

          @GregFiona:

          Just stock up on paper towels too for when it spits starchy water all over your kitchen counter.

        • @marlor: Just don’t use water then :P

  • +1

    I'm pretty sure this was $240 at Bing Lee eBay back to school.

  • +11

    Tiger/Zojirushi/Panasonic IC/IH rice cookers are the best on the markets.

    • +3

      My Zojirushi is still going strong…18 years old this year. Bought it in Japan and used it there everyday and now in Oz with a step up transformer.

      • Where did you get your transformer from?

      • I have one from the US. Been using it for 7 years also with a step-up transformer — but for the past year it's been drying out rice when left on (it goes back to warm rather than long term warming) — and I have to turn off the warming after about a day unless I want dry ass rice. I swear it wasn't like that before. Yours still good?

        • +1

          No problem with mine. However, I only cook what I need and don't leave any rice in the cooker for any length of time.

        • Good idea! Though it's hard to manage the right size to cook with a family of 4 eating various times of the day

    • +5

      I might add the made in korea cucko also pretty good.

      • +1

        Cuckoo is great.

        • +1

          Cuckolds are the best, by far.

      • What model do you have?

    • +1

      I am a huge fan of Tiger and Zojirushi rice cookers, but I actually now prefer cuckoo rice cookers due to their extra versatility. IMO rice quality between Cuckoo/Tiger and Cuckoo is the same.

  • +1

    I want one but don’t eat enough rice to warrant buying one.
    Having no Costco near me will help me dodge the bullet this time

    • +1

      Once you eat rice that has been properly cooked, you might enjoy it more.

      But if you still don't feel like buying an expensive rice cooker, a really good steamer makes a difference to rice.

      • +4

        After working I some of QLD’s best kitchens I can honestly say I can cook rice, but other than Indonesian Nasi goreng or the occasional Japanese rice bowl dish I don’t much enjoy the flavour of rice.
        I’m a bit the same with wheat… a croissant or a seeded sourdough with the right meals is great but I wouldn’t buy a bread maker because I don’t enjoy bread that much.
        If I was going to go for a no brainer rice cooker i’d Buy a Tiger without hesitation

  • I use a homemaker (Kmart) one that seems ok, why is this one any better?

    Is there like a half decent one for $30-80?

    • +2

      I can cook rice in a $1 pot… Same as your kmart cooker… But its not as convenient… If you care about nice rice.. You would get a decent cooker.

    • +2

      https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/07/why-some-rice-cookers-…
      https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/01/rice-cooking-showdown-…

      For a not-too-expensive alternative you may want to try a Breville BRC460

      I personally use a Phillips All in one pressure cooker, which does a 'decent' job, but not to the same results of a Tiger rice cooker.

      • For a not-too-expensive alternative you may want to try a Breville BRC460

        That one is good, especially for the price.

        Not sure that the overwhelming majority of people require anything fancier, it will do perfect white and brown rice every time.

    • Maybe pressure cooking rice (assuming this is the correct model), may yield a certain taste experience?
      Also a sticky sensation for sushi rice?

    • +2

      There's a HUGE taste difference from a 12 mins plain jane rice cooker to 45 mins 'fluffy' rice cooker. If it's TIGER, it's GOOD!

      • -3

        Tiger rice cookers do not take 45mins.

        • +3

          Not going to debate how long it actuall takes. Mine TIGER https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-JAY-A55U-CU-Uncooked-Cooker-Sta… takes 40+ mins on Normal cooking.

        • -1

          @pork chop: Have you got an old one or something? That's ridiculous. Actually even my old family one didn't take 40+ mins…

          Oh it's a mini one. How cute.

          Edit: for clarity, I've never come across the smaller sized ones (that's what she said).

        • Yeah, mine is quite a cute mini 3-cup rice cooker which is perfect for 2-3 people. I only cook 1 cup of jasmine rice each nite so this cooker is the perfect size for 2.

        • -1

          @pork chop: does this need a transformer or is it 100-240? I’ve wanted one of these for the longest time but couldn’t find that info

        • +1

          @Munki:
          Mine also takes 40+ minutes unless i use the quick settings, which probably will take 30 mins
          It’s not that old, i think the same model still gets sold in asian grocery stores

        • +1

          Yes they do, i have the t18a

        • @turkz1:

          It's 100-240.

        • -1

          @harro112: I guess yours aren't real tigers then. More like kitties. :P

    • +1

      Tiger have cheaper versions without the frills. You may need to get these overseas when visiting Asian countries. Kinda of like $1000 coffee machines and $300 machines. Still great

      • Which are the frills, and what do all models do the same? Eg, are all models able to keep the cooked rice good for a long time?

        • +1

          Do you want to know how minutes left to go? Different modes for different rice? Temperature control? Size of pot? What do u want to control? The list goes on. Mine is tiger but can't control those things.

          If you like coffee specifically a certain way, then you understand.

        • mine uses induction as opposed to heating coils… for example

    • Bought a cheapo kambrook one for 40 bucks which was useless. The rice came out uncooked and not fluffy since water spits out of the steam outlet.
      Upgraded to a Panasonic one from kambos for 99 which is solid. There's a quick cook and brown rice function.

  • +2

    Have been using one of these for a few years now, can heartily recommend it!

    Makes flawless rice every time, keeps it warm and fresh, and super easy to clean.

  • +2

    I think the secret to a good rice cooker is a heavy pot base. Those cheap thin bases just don't cut it and ruin the rice.

    • +2

      The secret to a good rice cooker is a GOOD rice cooker. Not a heavy pot base.

      • I've been eating the same brand for a while and had it ruined by cheap cookers when I was living on lesser means.

    • +1

      The secret to a good rice cooker is fuzzy logic

    • Heavy base and strong element (and higher price) means smoother (faster too) cooked rice. imo

  • full costco catalogue?

      • i appreciate some honest help, but i was actually referring to the one OP has from 2nd of Feb to 18th of Feb

        • -5

          sorry, I deleted that email. it was just full of frozen chinese food and the rice cookers. nothing exciting.

        • +4

          https://costcoau.blob.core.windows.net/cmsstorage/media/costco/media/images/14980-p6-lunar-2-18-feb-4pp-a4_v7-(3)_final-rw.pdf?ext=.pdf

          Enjoy..

        • @bowtiehoon:

          cheers mate

  • +1

    I wish they would sell a smaller one :( 10 cups is just overkill when there's only 2 of us. I've heard it's not so good making only 1 or 2 cups with the really large ones.. could be wrong but eh.

    • 10 cups is just overkill when there's only 2 of us

      can't you half fill it?

      • +1

        I usually make a maximum of 2 cups at a time, sometimes just 1. I've read a few reviews in the past where people mentioned that they don't cook 1 or 2 cups as well. I only have a vague memory of them and don't remember the exact issue with it but considering i've seen 3 and 6 cup machines i'd rather buy a smaller (and possibly cheaper) version as it's really all I need.

      • I am currently using this rice cooker which is designed for 2-3 people
        https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-JAY-A55U-CU-Uncooked-Cooker-Sta…

        I've had this for approx. 5 years. I can assure you this is The Last Japanese-Made 3 Cup rice cooker model to date. Interestingly, the pan for this cooker is now made in Shenzhen, China (outsourced) so I've managed to buy the exact replacement non-stick brand new pan (cooking pot). The non-stick pan (pot) will deteriate over time and sooner than later you will have to either replace the pan (hard to source) or replace with a new rice cooker :) , but if you are travelling to China, it's worthwhile to stock up a replacement pan for your jap rice cooker. No need to buy a new replacement cooker :)

        • Hi Pork Chop. A friend of mine badly needs to replace her pan but hasn’t been able to find it. Could you tell me exactly where in Shenzhen China please?

        • +1

          @Chookte:

          I got mine in Guangzhou. They are a distributor for TIGER and Panasonic brand. I bought a replacement pan for my cooker 3 yrs ago for RMB$80. Bought another one last year but they have jacked up the price to RMB$180 which is still worth it. The pan is authentic Made by TIGER.

          A tip from the store is not to wash your rice in the pan as this will scratch the coating.

        • @pork chop: thanks!

      • +1

        For two of us, we just cook one cup of rice for dinner.

        In a 10 cup machine, it often ends up a bit dry, because most of the rice stays in contact with the heated base the whole time.

        Even with a good rice cooker, you don't really want to cook less than one fifth of its capacity. In a cheaper one, you often need to fill it at least half-way.

        Of course, you can just cook in bulk and come back to it over a day or two, but I'm reluctant to waste electricity leaving the machine on "keep warm" indefinitely.

    • I believe there's a 5.5 cup version of these rice cookers - probably not at Costco though if these ones are there

  • Just leave this here

    https://youtu.be/h8FkbFoRCzc

  • +3

    Ahh, Tiger Rice Cookers. The Dyson of rice cookers. This one is actually worth the asking price though. I wish I can afford to buy one.

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