We cooked three cups of white basmati in the COSORI 5L rice cooker, following the water quantity in its instructions. The rice came out fluffy and did not stick to the bottom of the pot. The cycle took about 40 minutes by our estimate — a little longer than our usual saucepan method — but the appeal was being able to leave it alone. We used the rice for Nasi Goreng, which the family loved, and we expect to reach for this cooker whenever we make rice. We have since used its steamer basket for new potatoes, with a good result too.
What we cooked
Our test was a three-cup batch of white basmati on the white-rice setting. We used the water quantity recommended in the instructions rather than experimenting with different ratios. We did not time the cycle with a stopwatch, so about 40 minutes is our estimate, not a fixed cooking time for every rice or batch size.
The result mattered more to us than the speed. The rice was fluffy, with no layer stuck to the bottom. We could prepare the rest of dinner while the cooker handled the rice; there was no saucepan to watch or adjust. It took slightly longer than cooking rice in a pan on our hob, but was easier to fit around the rest of the meal.
Steaming new potatoes in the basket
We used the supplied steamer basket for a 750g bag of new potatoes, filling the lower pot with water to its Steam mark. We selected the Steam programme for 25 minutes. The cooker needed roughly another five minutes to heat up, so the meal took longer than the 25 minutes we first expected.
The potatoes came out soft and fluffy, just as we wanted them, and cleanup afterwards was easy. That is one household batch, not a guaranteed timing for every potato size or quantity; check yours before serving.
The timer takes some getting used to
At the start, the display showed 50 minutes. It appeared to change in five-minute steps, which initially confused us because the whole cook took closer to 40 minutes. Treat the opening display as an estimate rather than a stopwatch reading. Once we knew that, it was easy to let the programme run and check on the meal later.
The Steam programme worked well for our new-potato batch, but its heat-up time was easy to overlook. We have not tested Keep Warm or Slow Cook enough to judge either one.
Cleaning and cupboard space
The inner pot cleaned up easily after our batch, helped by the fact that no rice stuck to it. Although this is sold as a 5-litre cooker, we could fit it into a small cupboard in our kitchen. Measure your own space before ordering: COSORI states that it is 31.2cm deep, 26.9cm wide and 23.4cm high. The pot is ceramic-coated, not solid ceramic. We have not used it long enough to judge how the coating or lid seal wears.
Our photographs show the cooker, inner pot, steamer basket, measuring cup, serving utensils and potato-steaming batch. We have not tested how well it steams vegetables or handles a full-capacity rice batch.
How our result compares with other owners’ experiences
Several customer reviews for the black COSORI describe fluffy rice and a pot that wipes clean after small batches. That matches our three-cup result. Some owners also mention cooking cycles around 40 minutes; the longer wait can be a downside if you normally use a fast saucepan method.
One owner reported uneven rice when making a much larger eight-cup batch, despite better results at six cups. We have not tried either quantity, so we cannot say whether that would happen in our cooker. For comparisons with other models, see our best rice cookers guide.
Verdict: worth the space for hands-off rice
For the way we cook, the COSORI has earned its place. Three cups of white basmati came out fluffy, none stuck to the pot, and cleaning was easy. About 40 minutes is not faster than our hob method, but being able to leave the rice while making dinner is the reason we will keep using it. The 750g new-potato batch also steamed beautifully, though its 25-minute setting needed roughly five minutes of heat-up on top. Start with the instructed water quantity, allow time for each cycle, and do not assume these results prove how every programme or maximum-size batch will perform.
Frequently asked questions
How long did three cups of basmati take?
About 40 minutes in our cook. That was an estimate, not a stopwatch measurement; the opening display showed 50 minutes.
Did the rice stick to the pot?
No. Our three-cup white-basmati batch came out fluffy and did not stick to the bottom.
Was it easy to clean?
Yes. We found the inner pot very easy to clean after making rice. We have not yet judged long-term wear.
How long did the new potatoes take to steam?
We set the Steam programme for 25 minutes, and it took roughly five more minutes to heat up. Our 750g batch came out soft and fluffy; allow for variation between potato sizes.
Have you tested Keep Warm or Slow Cook?
Not enough to judge either function. Our hands-on results cover white basmati rice and one batch of steamed new potatoes.