Breville Smart Rice Box Rice Cooker

JimB on 20/10/2020 - 12:23
Last edited 02/04/2024 - 04:38 by 1 other user

I'm looking to get a new rice cooker and was looking at the Tiger or Zojirushi rice cooker but choked on the price.

I was wondering has anyone who has had a decent rice cooker before used a Breville the Smart Rice Box Rice Cooker ?

FWIW, I've grown up with the old style National/Tiger 10 cup rice cookers.

The Breville seems to get good reviews, but I wonder what the reviews have compared it to. For $150 it seems decent value.

Has anyone used one before?

Currently using a $13 Kmart 7 cup rice cooker.. wife doesn't like the bowl so prefers something higher quality. We got the Kmart as it was cheap and in stock. It replaced a $20 Kambrook 5 cup rice cooker lol.

We only cook Jasmine and Japanese rice between 2 cups and 4 cups so don't need a large one. We would cook rice maybe 2-3 times a week. Just need a quick rice cooker that will compensate if we put too much water in there. Don't need any fancy functions or to keep warm from morning to night.

I've borrowed a new style Panasonic one before from the relo for a party, and jesus it took over an hour to cook 8 cups of rice. Not sure why it was so slow.

Ideally I would get a stainless steel bowl with induction, but it's not going to happen on my budget.

Happy for suggestions for the Breville or other brands.. budget say $200.

Electrical & Electronics Breville Rice Cooker

Comments

  • kusama on 20/10/2020 - 12:37
    +2

    There's 2 from Breville, make sure it's the one with fuzzy logic LRC480WHT. I only use it once a week or so, it's great and easy to clean. Also use it to steam dumplings sometimes. I haven't had a Tiger or more expensive one to compare to.

    I tested the keep warm overnight, the rice didn't really survive that function, so would only use that for a few hours.

    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B077HX4W5W?ref_=pe_2361882_2952…

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 13:29

      Yes, sorry, I should have put the model number in but it is the LRC480WHT.

      The cheaper BRC460WHT is the Rice Box Rice Cooker without the 'Smart', however I think it has been discontinued as it's not on the Breville website anymore.

      Great to know you like it.. keeping rice overnight isn't important for us.

      • kusama on 20/10/2020 - 13:41

        On rice cooker times, I've never really checked but it is longer than a kmart cheap one. Manual says:

        White rice
        2 cups: 34 mins / Fast cook 29 mins
        4 cups: 37 mins / Fast cook 33 mins
        10 cups: 45mins / Fast cook 40 mins

        Brown rice:
        2 cups: 65 mins / Fast cook 35 mins
        4 cups: 68 mins / Fask cook 37 mins
        10 cups: 74mins / Fast cook 45 mins

        It beeps at a certain point where you go fluff the rice a bit, and I'm sure I read it's good to let it sit for 10 mins warming.

        • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 13:53
          +1

          Thanks.. half an hour for 2-4 cups is reasonable..

          I think all rice should rested after fluffing up to distribute the moisture.

          I tried a new style Panasonic and it was very sloooow.

  • Starlight8 on 20/10/2020 - 13:03

    Highly advise a Tiger, it will last for years! Also, i heard the temperature of cooking is more suitable for jasmine rice opposed to other brands.

    I'm actually thinking of upgrading to cuckoo rice cooker :P

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 13:34

      Yeah, maybe I should get a Tiger.. they are not cheap though

  • Starlight8 on 20/10/2020 - 13:05

    https://www.binglee.com.au/tiger-jnp1800flz-electric-rice-co…

    https://www.binglee.com.au/tiger-jnp1000flz-electric-rice-co…

    Not sure which ones you were looking up, but these are a bit over your budget - just go in a negotiate or wait for a sale?

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 13:32

      Unfortunately my wife doesn't like that old style rice cooker.. lol.

      Throwback to my youth!

      There's a couple at the $300 range. Thanks

      Can't walk in… I'm in Melbourne and we're stuck to 25km from home!

      • Starlight8 on 20/10/2020 - 15:38
        +1

        Lol,

        My mum did a lot of research and she said the older model lasts longer compared to the newer model so i opted for the older model.

        But yes, definitely a throwback to my youth too lol

  • mwarshall on 20/10/2020 - 13:21

    We had the Breville rice box for 5 years, it was pretty good, definitely a step up on a standard rice cooker. We recently upgraded to the tiger and are not looking back. We got it on a 20% off ebay sale ($470). We cook rice most days and its been a great investment but you won't be unhappy with the Breville if you are using a cheapier now. Pleasingly we still managed to sell our Breville one for $60 after 5 years of use, it was still going strong.

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 13:31

      Yeah Tiger is great, but not sure I can justify the costs.

      For that price is it induction?

  • AuzzieGumtree on 20/10/2020 - 13:23

    Recently bought the Panasonic with fuzzy logic and it works perfect every time and was ~ $80 from a deal on here. It does seem to take a long time to cook but i just start it going before i make the rest of the meal and it is ready when i need it. Had it for over 12 months use it weekly and it still looks / feels brand new. i had to throw my last breville out as the non stick pan was non-stick no more and that was after they replaced the first one for the same thing.

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 13:30

      Great, do can you let me know exactly which one you have? Also how long does it take to cook say 4 cups?

      $80, bargain.

      I think from all reports, it's the non-stick that gets damaged from all brands.. hence why my wife wants me to upgrade our $13 Kmart rice cooker.

      • iampoor on 20/10/2020 - 15:21

        I've used this https://www.breville.com/au/en/products/cookers/brc460.html for awhile now, definitely over 5 years and the non-stick is still perfect? Cook rice at least 2-3 times a week and congee maybe once a fortnight.

        Are you using a wooden or plastic rice scoop and washing it with a non scratch scourer?

        One other option you might have is an Instant Pot, comes with a stainless steel bowl and regularly on sale for below $200. The rice was decent but I really hated the amount that was wasted being stuck to the stainless steel bowl so I went back to the Breville.

        • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 16:25

          Great to know.. I'm using the plastic rice scoop. Doesn't hurt when it's $13, a bit more when it's $300.

      • AuzzieGumtree on 20/10/2020 - 16:52

        pretty sure it was this one. It says 10 cups but these are not cups as in the regular cup measurement its cups as what comes with the machine which is a lot smaller. i usually do 5 or 6 cups for a family of 6 and there is enough rice left over to make chicken fried rice a couple of days later.

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/412995

        • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 21:01

          Absolute bargain. I recently missed out on the Amazon sale.

          How long does it take to cook 5-6 cups?

  • pantsparty on 20/10/2020 - 14:33

    I can also highly recommend the Panasonic rice cookers. I purchased mine a few years ago but this is similar to what I have:

    https://www.binglee.com.au/panasonic-sr-cn108wst-5-cup-rice-…

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 16:20

      Great, how long does it take to cook?

      • pantsparty on 21/10/2020 - 08:05
        +1

        White rice is about half an hour. Brown rice is about an hour.

        I’ve had mine for about 5 years and it still looks brand new.

  • 87percent on 20/10/2020 - 14:34

    i've got that Breville. Was looking at the Tiger, but couldn't justify the price. Got it $99 from Myer.

    ONLY issue I have with it, is that it only tells you when there's 15mins left for the rice to cook.. i wish it had a countdown from when you start cooking

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 16:19

      The 'Smart' one or standard one..

      $99 is a bargain if it's the 'Smart' one.

  • Hybroid on 20/10/2020 - 16:29

    If you only use it couple times week for 1-2 people, the Breville Set and Serve for $50 is pretty good and even has steaming plate insert for veggies.

    My opinion is save the cash on another gadget, would recommend an Airfryer if you haven't got one!

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 21:00

      I had a couple of cheap and cheerful rice cookers, time to get grow up and get a proper rice cooker.

      Have an airfryer!

  • this is us on 20/10/2020 - 16:43
    +2

    I have the BRC460, bought in 2016 ($89). I'm not Asian and this was my first rice cooker, and sometimes I wonder why it took so long for me to buy one. I use probably once a week, mainly for rice, sometimes vegetables, did dumplings a few times… I like it very much.

  • bazingaa on 20/10/2020 - 16:46

    quick rice cooker that will compensate if we put too much water in there

    You can't really compensate that in any way. This rice:water ratio slightly depends on the variety of rice as well.

    First wash the rice 3 times before placing in the cooker. Place it in the cooker and then just fill water upto the first knuckle of your index finger from the rice level (I usually fill less than that but that's the way I like). You will be able to put enough water just by looking at it with practice. Right after changing from "Cook" to "Keep Warm", switch off the rice cooker and remove the lid for few minutes to make steam escape and keep it back for few minutes. Then stir the cooked rice well to make it fluffy. This method works perfectly with that K-mart $14 one.

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 20:58
      +1

      Thanks for the tips, I find the better rice cookers more forgiving on the water. Seems to come out less soggy.

      Yup, Asian here so I rinse my rice (before, not after cooking).

      • bazingaa on 21/10/2020 - 12:08

        I used to have a smart cooker but result was same. But it was more useful to boil other grains such as "Mung".

    • SlickMick on 21/10/2020 - 11:21
      +1

      I know that is the Islander way of measurng water, and I usually respect that they know what they're doing, but I'm really curious whether maths backs this one…
      does that really work regardless of the size of the pot and how much rice is being cooked?
      I can't work it out in my head, am am resisting the urge to go experiment.

      • bazingaa on 21/10/2020 - 12:01
        +1

        hehe I actually don't know but people all over the world and even chefs are using that method. I think water:rice ratio for most of the varieties is 3:2. I have seen this mentioned on some packets of rice. For some it is 2:1. May be the most correct way is rice up-to the first knuckle and then water up-to the second knuckle. I've seen that method in some places as well. Anyway, I actually don't practice this method and what I really do is "eye measurement".

        What I really don't understand is that "brown rice" available on supermarkets. They are not similar to the "red rice" which has bran as well. I tired few times just to see how it tastes like, but it always bubbles everywhere and makes a mess.

  • Marcsie on 20/10/2020 - 17:35

    You get what you pay for, I would stick to Tiger,Panasonic,Toshiba etc …

  • Quantumcat on 20/10/2020 - 21:44

    Just out of interest what do you get with the more expensive rice cookers that you don't get with a $20 kmart one?

    Eg
    Nonstick coating lasts longer?
    Don't get the hard layer at the bottom?
    Cooks faster?
    Preset recipes on a screen in case you forget?
    Auto weight detection of rice and the screen tells you how many serves you have put in and tells you how much water to add now?
    Can cook things other than rice?
    Auto fluffing?
    Something else?

    • JimB on 20/10/2020 - 23:03

      I think
      - Nonstick coating lasts longer. The coating isn't like a cheap non-stick pan.
      - Don't get the hard layer at the bottom
      - more even cooking
      - keeps warm longer without drying out

      And also longevity.

      I've had a couple of cheap ones so not going to knock them.. they are brilliant for the money, but don't last.

  • TiLLiCoMe on 21/10/2020 - 12:28

    You can always ask Uncle Roger.

  • kiitos on 21/10/2020 - 16:16

    For those comparing this rice cooker to lower priced ones, are you comparing to the ones with a glass lid where steam escapes around the lid? Or are you comparing to the ones that have a hinged lid that seals around the pot?

  • oswade on 23/10/2020 - 15:33
    +1

    Yeah i have one and it's great value. Breville is a solid brand.

    • JimB on 23/10/2020 - 15:43

      Great.

      I think I will pick one up when Myer reopens. Have lots of credit card points I can redeem at Myer.

      Yeah, had a Breville smart oven pro in my old house.. was brilliant.

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