Aroma

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Aroma

21 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 31, 2025

  Looking for a rice cooker

  after much research, I just bought the aroma stainless rice cooker for 35$.

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• #2Dec 23, 2025

  What was the best purchase you made this year?

  I have an Aroma one that I got from Costco and it has held beautifully, I use it mostly once a month but during a few consecutive days when I meal prep. It's mostly a slow cooker but it cooks rice perfectly.

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• #3Dec 22, 2025

  What was the best purchase you made this year?

  I have an almost 23 year old rice cooker from Aroma that gets occasional use at my house but now my teens are convinced it cooks better rice so they have told me I need to stop using the regular pot to cook rice.

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• #4Dec 3, 2025

  considering the Toshiba mini rice cooker at $76, but unsure if it’s the right moment

  Do you rinse and drain the starch water at least 3 times? [This](https://a.co/d/3WmCKtw) is the Aroma 4 cup rice cooker that I've owned twice now (moved a year and a half ago) and it has never foamed over.

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• #5Dec 2, 2025

  considering the Toshiba mini rice cooker at $76, but unsure if it’s the right moment

  That's an unfortunate issue. I guess it can be said that quality control is better on more expensive ones, but I also tend to feel that issues are most likely to pop up within the return period. Obviously that might not always be the case. For me I'd still buy a cheaper rice cooker personally. If it's $20 or $30 and I have an issue down the road, it's still cheaper than buying the one op listed or something else. When I moved out I bought a cheap aroma cooker and it's been good for the last year and makes perfect rice. Hope whatever you got to replace it is working well though.

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• #6Dec 1, 2025

  Best Quality of life gift ideas under $150

  Instant pot rice is perfectly fine if you don’t want to do stove top (I don’t either), but even a cheap Aroma rice cooker makes it “better”. Hard to nail it down in minute detail, but texture wise Jasmine was much better in the rice cooker and sushi rice was better in almost every way in the rc (I used to do instant pot rice before I got a rice cooker at a thrift store. Saving up for a small Zojirushi)

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• #7Oct 9, 2025

  What's one kitchen appliance you've owned for 10+ years that still works perfectly?

  I keep saying I'd like to try a Zojirushi or similar fuzzy-logic cooker just to see what people are talking about when they gush over it. But I can't in good conscience so long as the Aroma I've been using still works.

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• #8Oct 9, 2025

  What's one kitchen appliance you've owned for 10+ years that still works perfectly?

  Same. Mu Aroma, bottom line quality was awesome. I finally started having trouble after about 23 years. I used it 4x a week for that long. Then bought a Zojirushi made in Japan about 10 years ago and it is going strong.

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• #9Sep 1, 2025

  What's one kitchen appliance you've owned for 10+ years that still works perfectly?

  My Aroma 6 cup stainless steel rice cooker. 15 years and going strong. I even take it camping.

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• #10Aug 7, 2025

  What is the best non teflon rice cooker?

  For reasons I am still not satisfied with Basmati rice on Instant pot. There is this cheap brand aroma with stainless steel cooker producing better rice

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• #11Aug 6, 2025

  What is the best non teflon rice cooker?

  Aroma brand has a stainless pot. Perfect for your BIL whom you said isn’t super careful about which utensils he uses in it.

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• #12Aug 6, 2025

  What is the best non teflon rice cooker?

  Aroma makes a rice cooker with a stainless steel pot that’s inexpensive and available on the Walmart website, though not sure it’s really BIFL. Instant pots can make rice and have a stainless steel pot. The only downside to stainless steel is that the rice is likely to stick

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• #13Jul 3, 2025

  What’s a purchase that’s not fun, not flashy—but now you swear by it?

  A nice rice cooker. My aroma rice cooker still making perfect rice 13 years later almost

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• #14Jun 9, 2025

  What’s one item you bought that way outperformed its price?

  Yes on the rice cooker! Got a mini Aroma on clearance from Target. Had been doing microwave rice for years but the Near East brand was getting really expensive and harder to find, as much as I liked it. Saw this rice cooker over 10 years ago for $6.58. There were over a dozen of them. I contemplated getting one for everyone in my family for Christmas but decided it could be a dud so didn’t. Still going strong and used weekly, at least. Every time my mom sees it…she says I should’ve at least gotten her one lol.

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• #15Jun 5, 2025

  What’s one item you bought that way outperformed its price?

  Several items: -Vasectomy, $900 (Without insurance) -Used 10th Generation Toyota Corolla, $3600 -Aroma Rice Cooker, $15 -Timbuk2 Messenger Bag, $75 -Manduka Yoga Mat, $65 All punch way above their weight in cost/benefit

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• #16Apr 11, 2025

  This is why I've always encouraged people to buy Japan made rice cooker - so satisfying to watch

  Shoutout to the Aroma rice cooker, I’ve had mine for 9 years and it’s still going strong. 

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• #17Apr 10, 2025

  This is why I've always encouraged people to buy Japan made rice cooker - so satisfying to watch

  Do you care about nonstick coatings?  I bought the Aroma Stainless Select to replace a 35+ year old National and I have zero regrets or complaints. It has one switch and that's it. Stainless steel inner pot, no PFAS and shit. I won't play cute tunes for you but it has earned its (small) place on my countertop. I got the one with a steamer basket, like $40 all in. Tatung would be my second choice if you want to spend hundreds 

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• #18Apr 10, 2025

  This is why I've always encouraged people to buy Japan made rice cooker - so satisfying to watch

  This might be an unpopular opinion but if all you want to do is cook rice I think the $20 rice cookers are perfect and last a long time (eg [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Housewares-cooked-Cooker-ARC-363NG-uncook/dp/B00N9N6GOY/)). If, instead, you want to be able to cook rice and then keep it hot on standby for a while then the more expensive Zojirushi becomes worth it. I've got a Zojirushi that I've had for over 10 years and I really like it - its easy to just put some rice on early and then later cook the rest of dinner and have rice done and waiting for you. But if you're on a budget the $20 one is great and reliable. Not to mention you can just cook rice in a normal pan also.

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• #19Apr 7, 2025

  Best Cooking Pans Now? Recommendation?

  I would consider what size pans you actually use. I would buy a Lodge skillet - simple cast iron - in whatever size you use. Personally, I like the 10.5” size. It’s a good balance between size and weight, imho. If you want a 12, go for it. I would buy the Lodge lid, that matches. I would go to IKEA. I would buy an IKEA 365+ stainless steel sauce pan, in the size that matches your need. I would buy a Dutch oven. I would buy a stock pot. Buying a steamer insert and / or a colander is a good idea. If you are on a budget, I would buy the cheap three pack of stainless steel pans - two sauce pans and a Dutch oven. They are not BIFL, but for $25 they hit way above their cost. The big thing keeping them from being BIFL is the handles. They just aren’t durable enough. You would still need a stock pot. I would get an Aroma stainless steel rice cooker, sized to your needs. I like the 3 cup. If you need the 14 cup, it is also good. Note that these are the normal, dumb rice cookers with a stainless steel insert. In addition to this, you will need: A can opener. EZ-Duz-it s currently considered the BIFL darling. I have one. It is worth it. A chef’s knife. Spend money here if you have it. I have a cheap 6” vegetable knife from IKEA. It’s their Santoku knife. I prefer the club foot design, and I like how thick and easy to control it is. I have the **VÖRDA** version because the nonslip handle is nice. It does not hold an edge very well, but it takes an edge fast. I would suggest a Santoku knife design. I have a cheap one because I am brutal and will throw it away and buy new as needed. Cutting board: these are disposable. Get cheap. I like plastic because you can abuse them by throwing them in the sink and disinfecting them with bleach and they don’t dull knives. Wood is harder to take care of, but still good. Do not get glass or marble. Ideally, you will have one for meat and one for veggies. NOT BIFL. Buy it, use it, when it gets bad, replace it. This is an expendable. A flipper, a spoon, a ladle : I have a grey plastic set from IKEA. Really, get any that you like. These, too, are not BIFL. Use them until they wear out, then buy new. I find that if you treat cast iron like nonstick in terms of utensils, the seasoning lasts better. Measuring cups: haven’t found any I really like yet. Mixing cup: I really like the Anchor Hocking Fireking. The open handle design makes them stack and nestle better.

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• #20Mar 8, 2025

  What's the oldest appliance you own?

  Not the oldest appliance but our little aroma rice cooker is beat up but still works great. It makes cooking a lot easier!

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• #21Feb 1, 2025

  Rice Cooker Recommendations

  I have a Tiger that I bought last year. It does a great job, but I don't know yet if it's buy it for life. However, the cheap Aroma I bought at Walgreens lasted for nearly 20 years (maybe I should have bought another Aroma).

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