How Many Watts Does a Rice Cooker Use?
ZacharyWilliamQuick answer Most countertop rice cookers draw ~300–800 watts while cooking (small 3-cup models on the low end, 5.5–8-cup micom models mid-range). Premium IH/pressure cookers can draw ~1,000–1,300 watts. Keep-warm is typically a small fraction of cooking wattage.
1) What affects a rice cooker’s wattage?
- Capacity: More cups → more heating power.
- Technology: Basic hot-plate < Micom (fuzzy logic) < Induction Heating (IH) < IH + Pressure (highest).
- Cycle: “Cook” draws full rated watts intermittently; Keep-Warm is far lower (often tens of watts).
2) Brand & Model Wattage Table
All links below go to official brand pages/manuals for verification.
| Brand | Model | Capacity | Type | Rated Watts | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zojirushi | NS-LGC05 | 3-cup | Micom | 450 W | Spec page |
| Zojirushi | NL-AAC10 | 5.5-cup | Micom | 610 W | Spec page |
| Zojirushi | NS-TSC10 | 5.5-cup | Micom | 610 W | Spec page |
| Zojirushi | NP-NWC10 | 5.5-cup | IH + Pressure | 1,240 W | Spec page · Manual |
| Tiger | JNP-S10U | 5.5-cup | Conventional | 505 W | Spec page |
| Panasonic | SR-DF101 | 5-cup | Micom | 750 W | Product page |
| CUCKOO | CR-0631F | 6-cup | Micom | 580 W | Spec page |
| AROMA | ARC-914SBD | 4-cup (uncooked) | Digital | 350 W | Product page |
| BLACK+DECKER | RC516 | 16-cup (cooked) | Conventional | 500 W | Product page |
3) Instant Pot & multi-cookers used as a “rice cooker”
Many U.S. kitchens use an Instant Pot’s Rice program. Its power draw equals the unit’s heater wattage:
| Brand | Model | Capacity | Rated Watts | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot | Duo 6-QT | ~6 servings | 1,000 W | Product page |
| Instant Pot | Duo 8-QT | ~8 servings | 1,200 W | Product page |
Note: Multi-cookers draw full power in short bursts; average draw over a cycle is usually lower than the nameplate value.
4) Energy use & cost: quick math
Estimate kWh
kWh ≈ (Watts ÷ 1000) × hours
Example: a 600 W cooker for 40 minutes → 0.6 × (40/60) ≈ 0.40 kWh.
Cost
Cost ≈ kWh × your $/kWh. If your rate is $0.20/kWh, the example above costs about $0.08.
Your utility bill lists the exact rate.
5) How to pick the right size/wattage
- 1–3 people: 3-cup micom (≈300–500W) is efficient and compact.
- Families 3–5: 5.5-cup micom (≈500–700W) is the U.S. sweet spot.
- Enthusiasts: IH/Pressure (≈1,000–1,300W) for texture control and speed.
- Keep-warm: If you hold rice for hours, prefer models with low keep-warm draw and good insulation.
6) Powering a rice cooker off-grid (UDPOWER picks)
UDPOWER S1200 (recommended)
- Capacity: 1,190Wh; AC Output: 1,200W (1,800W surge)
- Runs most 3–6 cup cookers and many IH units.
- Rough runtime while actively cooking a 600W cooker:
≈ (1190Wh × 0.85) / 600W ≈ 1.7 hours.
UDPOWER C600 (for small cookers)
- Capacity: 596Wh; AC Output: 600W (1,200W max)
- Best with 3-cup units like 350–450W models (e.g., AROMA ARC-914SBD, Zojirushi NS-LGC05).
- Rough runtime at 450W:
≈ (596Wh × 0.85) / 450W ≈ 1.1 hours.
Tip: Leave 20–30% headroom between cooker watts and inverter rating for on/off cycling and startup spikes.
