Commercial Rice Cooker Buying Guide
A commercial rice cooker is one of the most-used pieces of equipment in any Asian restaurant, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Buy too small and the kitchen runs out of rice in the middle of the dinner rush; buy the wrong type and you're stuck with a cooker your outlets or gas line can't support. This guide walks through how to size a commercial rice cooker, how to choose between electric and gas, how to hold rice through service, and which models fit which kind of restaurant. For the rest of your kitchen, see our full guide to Asian restaurant equipment.
Step 1: Figure Out How Much Rice You Need
Commercial rice cookers are rated in cups of uncooked rice, but what matters in a restaurant is bowls. Based on the manufacturer listings for the cookers we carry, a 30 cup electric cooker makes about 60 bowls per batch, a 33 cup cooker about 66 bowls, and the 55 cup Rinnai gas cooker about 100 bowls.
Start with your busiest hour, not your daily total. Estimate how many bowls of rice you serve in that hour, then divide by the bowls per batch. Electric cookers take roughly 25 to 30 minutes per batch, so one cooker realistically delivers about two batches an hour, or around 120 bowls. If your peak hour needs more than that, you need either a second cooker or a gas cooker, which finishes a 100 bowl batch in about 22 minutes.
A quick rule of thumb:
Up to about 60 bowls in your busiest hour: one 30 cup electric cooker, cooking ahead of the rush
About 60 to 130 bowls: one 30 or 33 cup electric cooker cooking back to back, plus a rice warmer so the cooker is always free
More than about 130 bowls: two electric cookers, or a Rinnai 55 cup gas cooker
Step 2: Choose Electric or Gas
Electric rice cookers
Electric cookers plug into a standard 110-120V outlet, need no gas line or hood, and can sit anywhere you have counter space and power. They are the right choice for most small and mid-size restaurants, sushi bars, food trucks with generators and catering. The tradeoff is batch size and speed: electric models top out at 30 to 33 cups and take about 25 to 30 minutes per batch.
Gas rice cookers
The Thunder Group Rinnai 55 cup gas rice cooker makes about 100 bowls in 22 minutes at about 35,000 BTU per hour. It has a piezo pilot ignition and a flame failure safety device, connects with a 1/2 inch NPT gas fitting, is CSA and NSF listed, and is made in Japan. Choose the natural gas (RER55ASN) or propane (RER55ASL) version to match your supply. Gas makes sense for high-volume Chinese restaurants, buffets and takeout operations that already have gas on the line.
Step 3: Compare Pots, Controls and Listings
Pot material: a bare aluminum pot (SEJ50000) is the value option. A non-stick Teflon coated pot (SEJ50000T, SEJ3201, SEJ60000) releases rice more cleanly and saves scrubbing time.
Controls: basic models use a simple switch. Digital models like the SEJ3201 and SEJ60000 add a control pad and an automatic warm mode that draws about 100 watts.
Power draw: most 30 to 33 cup cookers draw 1,780 watts. The SEJ3201 draws 1,460 watts, which helps if several appliances share a circuit.
Footprint: the SEJ3201 is the most compact at 14-5/8 inches square. The SEJ60000 is about 18 by 15 inches.
NSF listing: many health departments look for NSF listed food equipment. The SEJ3201 and SEJ60000 are NSF listed; the SEJ50000 and SEJ50000T are not. Check with your local health department before you buy.
Step 4: Plan How You'll Hold Rice
A rice cooker's keep-warm setting is meant for short holds; the SEJ50000 series, for example, keeps rice warm for up to 3 hours. If you cook in batches through a long service, move finished rice into a dedicated warmer and start the next batch right away.
Rice warmers: Thunder Group warmers hold 30 cups (SEJ20000, SEJ18000) or 50 cups (SEJ22000, SEJ21000) for up to 12 hours on 100 watts, at up to 162°F.
Sushi rice containers: insulated, non-electric containers in 40 cup (SEJ72000, SEJ71000) and 60 cup (SEJ74000, SEJ73000) sizes keep seasoned sushi rice at serving temperature at the sushi bar without a plug.
Commercial Rice Cookers We Carry
Thunder Group SEJ50000: 30 cups (about 60 bowls), aluminum pot, 1,780 watts, value-priced
Thunder Group SEJ50000T: 30 cups, non-stick pot, 1,780 watts, keeps warm up to 3 hours
Thunder Group SEJ3201: 30 cups, digital, non-stick, NSF listed, 1,460 watts, smallest footprint
Thunder Group SEJ60000: 33 cups (about 66 bowls), digital, non-stick, NSF and ETL listed, our largest electric cooker
Rinnai RER55ASN: 55 cups (about 100 bowls) in 22 minutes, natural gas
Rinnai RER55ASL: 55 cups, propane
Shop all commercial rice cookers, rice warmers and sushi rice containers
Example Setups
Small takeout or fast casual
One NSF listed SEJ3201 cooking ahead of each rush, plus a 30 cup warmer to hold rice so the cooker can start the next batch.
Busy Chinese restaurant or takeout
Two 30 or 33 cup electric cookers on alternating cycles and a 50 cup warmer, or a single Rinnai 55 cup gas cooker if you have gas capacity on the line.
Sushi bar
A digital electric cooker sized to your sushi volume, with an insulated sushi rice container at the bar for seasoned rice.
Buffet or high-volume hot line
A Rinnai gas cooker for fast 100 bowl batches, feeding 50 cup warmers or a steam table on the line.
Care and Maintenance Tips
Use the plastic or wooden rice paddle, not metal utensils, on non-stick pots to protect the coating.
Wash the inner pot after every batch and keep the lid and steam vent clean so the cooker seals properly.
Measure rice and water the same way every batch so results stay consistent across shifts.
For gas cookers, keep the burner area clear and have the gas connection checked during routine maintenance.
Commercial Rice Cooker FAQ
How many bowls does a 30 cup commercial rice cooker make?
About 60 bowls per batch, according to the listings for the 30 cup Thunder Group cookers we carry.
How long does a commercial rice cooker take?
Electric models take about 25 to 30 minutes per batch. The Rinnai 55 cup gas cooker takes about 22 minutes.
What's the difference between a rice cooker and a rice warmer?
A rice cooker cooks raw rice and can keep it warm for a short time. A rice warmer only holds cooked rice, for up to 12 hours on the models we carry, which frees the cooker for the next batch.
Is a gas or electric commercial rice cooker better?
Electric is simpler to install and fits most restaurants. Gas makes bigger batches faster and suits high-volume kitchens that already have a gas line.
How do I order?
Shop online at The Restaurant Warehouse, call 206-419-5801, or email info@therestaurantwarehouse.com.