Review of the Buffalo 5-Cup BoilSteam Stainless Steel Rice Cooker

This article offers a detailed review of the Buffalo 5-cup BoilSteam Stainless Steel Rice Cooker, written by our cookware specialist, Kai. This guide will help you understand how the cooker works and whether its features meet your everyday cooking needs.

Browse all Buffalo stainless steel rice cookers here. Considering the induction (IH) models instead? Read our review of the Buffalo IH rice cookers (5-cup & 10-cup). Already own one? Our stainless steel rice cooker user guide covers ratios, cooking times and how to stop rice sticking.

Cooking Rice

The Buffalo 5-cup BoilSteam Rice Cooker features a colour touchscreen that is simple and intuitive. While the official user guide is basic and printed in black and white, a hands-on explanation often helps users get the most out of it.

There are three rice cooking modes:

• Normal Rice (Recommended)
• BoilSteam Rice (also called “Low Sugar” mode, although the difference in sugar or starch absorption is minimal in practice)
• Coarse Cereals – suitable for grain rice or mixed rice. If you mix grains with white rice, try both the Normal and Coarse settings to see which produces a better result.

After selecting your mode, you will choose a cooking speed:

• Fast Cook – approximately 30 minutes for Normal Rice, 40 minutes for BoilSteam Rice, and 60 minutes for Grain Rice
• Slow Cook (Recommended) – approximately 40 minutes for Normal Rice, 55 minutes for BoilSteam Rice

Note: The cooking time shown during function selection (e.g. 8 or 12 minutes) refers only to the final countdown stage, not the entire process. The actual cooking takes longer, and the countdown only begins near the end. This is a common source of confusion for new users.

The Slow Cook option is recommended. The rice texture is noticeably better, with less starchy water. This applies to most multi-function cookers—not just Buffalo.

DIY Function – A Breakthrough

One of the standout features of this model is the DIY mode. Unlike traditional rice cookers with fixed temperature settings, the Buffalo DIY mode allows you to:

• Adjust the temperature from 30°C to 160°C
• Set the cooking time from 1 minute to 12 hours

This function enables thawing frozen food (note: always follow safe food hygiene practices), slow cooking, making soup or stew, and preparing yoghurt that requires low temperatures over long periods.

You can also use DIY to keep rice warm at low heat for extended hours—similar to the extended keep-warm feature in Zojirushi and the adjustable keep-warm function in Cuckoo rice cookers. (We no longer stock Cuckoo — here is why.)

Specialty Functions

This rice cooker includes dedicated modes for:

• Porridge
• Congee
• Grain Rice
• Soup
• Steam
• Braise – an improvement over older Buffalo models that used the Steam function for stewing
• Warm – extended keep-warm for up to 24 hours (note: rice may harden over long periods)

Although the Braise mode performs well, DIY mode offers more control and flexibility, effectively covering all other functions.

Function Times and Temperatures

The following table outlines the timing and temperature settings across different functions. Use this table as a reference to maximise what each mode can do.

Stainless Steel Steamer and the “BoilSteam” Method

One of the most valued features is the stainless steel steamer. While most modern rice cookers now use silicone baskets, Buffalo’s steamer basket is stainless steel. Although silicone is safe and heat resistant (up to 230°C), stainless steel pairs better with the stainless steel inner pot, offering a consistent and durable experience.

The stainless steel steamer is not just a design preference—it is a functional necessity to support the BoilSteam cooking method.

One practical note: the steamer basket is quite deep, which makes it unsuitable for cooking more than 2 cups of rice with the BoilSteam method. For larger quantities, use a flat steam rack in place of the basket.

In many Asian countries, the BoilSteam method is marketed as “low sugar” cooking. It boils the rice in water, drains it, then steams it to completion. The science does not really support the claim: rice is primarily starch, and draining removes only some surface starch — it does not meaningfully change the carbohydrate content or glycaemic effect of the finished rice.

Consumer testing bodies in Japan and Hong Kong reached the same conclusion years ago: the method makes little measurable difference to the finished rice. If you are managing blood sugar, do not rely on a low-sugar rice function to make a difference — portion size matters far more.

The inner lid is also made of stainless steel. In contrast, some brands use anodised aluminium. Although anodised aluminium is safe and durable, many consumers prefer stainless steel for peace of mind.

What Do We Think?

Balancing its satisfactory performance, prompt service, and the high durability of its stainless steel bowl, we rate this model 4 out of 5 stars — half a star above the IH models, which lack the DIY function.

In terms of cooking performance, this Buffalo rice cooker delivers satisfactory results, though in our experience, brands such as Zojirushi and Tiger tend to produce more refined textures and flavour. On cooking quality alone, we would typically rate Buffalo three stars. However, its stainless-steel, non-coated inner bowl adds long-term value and durability, which justifies an additional star.

The stainless-steel construction is the most significant advantage of this rice cooker. Buffalo has been making stainless steel cookware in Taiwan since 1957 and, in our view, remains a pioneer in this category — the company produced the world's first stainless steel wok in 1961. As we often explain to customers, stainless steel transfers and retains heat differently compared to nonstick materials. Designing a rice cooker that performs well with a stainless steel bowl requires careful engineering, and not every manufacturer gets it right. Buffalo’s long-standing dedication to stainless steel gives this model a solid foundation.

That said, a few aspects of the user interface could be improved to support ease of use—particularly for new users. For instance, when navigating through the menu, the display shows a short countdown (e.g. 8 or 12 minutes) next to each function, such as Fast Cook. This can easily be misinterpreted as the total cooking time. In fact, the cooking process has not yet started; the time shown represents only the final countdown phase that appears much later in the cycle. This pre-set display can be misleading.

Following this, the inclusion of both a DIY mode and a separate Braise function raises some questions about interface efficiency. Since DIY already allows users to set precise temperatures and durations, the Braise mode may feel redundant and unnecessarily complicate the control panel.

Customer feedback since launch has been fair, and we have found that Buffalo’s warranty response is consistently prompt, which further improves the overall ownership experience.

Buffalo also makes induction versions of this cooker. If you are weighing them up, read our Review of the Buffalo IH Stainless Steel Rice Cookers (5-Cup & 10-Cup).

We Have a Helpful Team at My Cookware Australia®

If you would like to discuss what kind of rice cooker suits your household, please contact us at any time. We will provide individualised advice based on your preferences and cooking needs.

Remember, the most expensive option is not always the best. The right choice depends on your lifestyle and how you use your cooker day to day.

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