Commercial rice cookers run from 6 cup countertop models for staff meals to 55 and 60 cup units that make about 100 bowls a batch. Pick the size from your busiest service, check whether the page lists raw or cooked cups, and plan a separate warmer if rice has to be held for hours.
Shop commercial rice cookers and warmers. Freight is included on every order.
The sizes below come from the cookers and warmers in our range.
Raw cups vs cooked cups
This is the most common source of confusion. Some pages list the uncooked rice a cooker takes, others the cooked rice it makes, and on our pages the cooked figure is roughly twice the raw one. The Prepline ERC60 page, for example, lists 60 cups cooked and 30 cups uncooked. The Thunder Group SEJ60000 lists 33 cups raw, which its page says makes about 66 bowls. Compare like with like before you decide one cooker is bigger than another.
Small: 6 to 10 cups
- L&J QS-A03G: 6 cups (3 L) cooked, with 16 programs including congee, soup, steam and stew, and a 24 hour preset.
- L&J QS-A05G: 10 cups (5 L) cooked, with the same 16 programs.
These suit cafes, small kitchens and staff meals, or a restaurant that serves rice as an occasional side.
Mid size electric: 30 to 50 cups
- L&J WRC-30S and WRC-1060W: up to 30 cups cooked, with automatic switch to keep warm; the WRC-1060W has a 3 mm heavy duty inner pot.
- Thunder Group SEJ3201: a 30 cup stainless cooker that cooks at 1,460 W, then holds at 100 W.
- Thunder Group SEJ60000: 33 cups raw, about 66 bowls in 25 minutes, then holds at 158 F.
- L&J WRC-1050W: 50 cups cooked with a heavy duty nonstick pot.
- L&J WRC-50: an 8.5 liter cooked capacity cooker and warmer with electronic control.
This middle range suits a restaurant with rice on the menu. Some kitchens run two units so one cooks while the other serves.
Large gas: 55 cups
- Thunder Group RER55ASN (natural gas) and RER55ASL (propane), made by Rinnai: 55 cups, about 100 bowls in 22 minutes, with automatic simmer and a flame failure safety device.
Gas cookers make the biggest batches in the shortest time and suit high volume Asian restaurants and sushi bars. They need a gas connection and a place under the hood; check with your installer and local code.
Warmers only
A warmer holds cooked rice but does not cook it. It frees the cooker for the next batch.
- Thunder Group SEJ20000 and SEJ18000: hold 30 cups of cooked rice for up to 12 hours at 100 W.
- Thunder Group SEJ22000 and SEJ21000: 50 cup versions.
- L&J WRC-22000S: a 25 liter electronic warmer.
- L&J TFW-8000: a 15 liter insulated warmer that needs no power and keeps rice warm for up to 24 hours according to its page.
Hot holding and cooling: the Food Code side
Cooked rice is a time and temperature controlled food. Under the FDA Food Code it must be held hot at 135 F or above, or cold at 41 F or below. A warmer that holds at 158 F, as the SEJ60000 page states, is above that line, but check the rice itself with a thermometer, especially in a non-electric warmer, which loses heat over time. Rice you plan to keep must be cooled from 135 F to 70 F within two hours and to 41 F within six hours in total. Spread it thin in shallow pans to cool. Your local health department has the final say.
Many busy kitchens run a cooker and a separate warmer, so the cooker starts the next batch while the warmer serves at the line. Label each batch with the time it was cooked so the oldest rice is used first.
How to size your rice cooker
- Estimate bowls of rice at your busiest hour, not your average day.
- Check the bowls per batch on the product page; the gas cookers list about 100.
- Add the cook time to the time it takes to serve a batch, and see whether one cooker can keep up.
- If not, use two cookers, or a cooker and a warmer, so there is always a batch ready.
Mistakes to avoid
- Comparing raw cups on one page with cooked cups on another.
- Holding rice in the cooker all day instead of moving it to a warmer.
- Leaving rice in a warmer without checking its temperature.
- Buying a gas cooker without planning the gas line and hood space.
Frequently asked questions
What size rice cooker does a restaurant need?
Start from bowls at your busiest hour. In our range, the 30 to 50 cup electric units are the middle sizes, and the 55 cup gas cookers, at about 100 bowls a batch, are for the highest volume.
How long can rice stay in a warmer?
As long as it stays at 135 F or above, measured in the rice. Our warmers list holding times of 12 to 24 hours, but the temperature check is what counts.
Why does my rice cooker burn rice on the bottom?
See our guide to a rice cooker burning rice.
Next steps
Compare every model in our rice cookers and warmers range, and see related food warmers, countertop equipment and warming equipment. Rice cookers are powered equipment with a 7 day return window, and freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price.
Models in this guide at a glance
The models linked above are listed here with the main points from each product page, so you can compare them side by side before opening the full listings.
L&J QS-A03G 6-Cup Commercial Rice Cooker and Warmer, 16 Settings (model QS-A03G)
- Brand: L&J
- 6 cups / 3 liters cooked capacity
- 16 cooking settings including fast rice, congee, soup, steam, stew, braise and fry
- Full touch LED digital display on a glass panel
L&J WRC-1050W 50-Cup Commercial Rice Cooker and Warmer (model WRC-1050W)
- Brand: L&J
- 50 cups cooked capacity
- Automatically switches to keep warm
- Non-stick extra heavy-duty inner pot
Prepline ERC60 Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer (model ERC60)
- Brand: Prepline
- 60 Cups Cooked
- 30 Cups Uncooked
- Stainless Steel Build
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Thunder Group RER55ASN Rinnai 55-Cup Gas Rice Cooker, Natural Gas (model RER55ASN)
- Brand: Thunder Group
- 55 Cups, 23″ x 18-1/2″ x 17-3/4″.
- Makes 100 bowls of cooked rice in 22 minutes (270 servings at 3 oz).
- Automatic simmer, piezo pilot ignition, flame failure safety device, built-in regulator.
Thunder Group SEJ20000 30-Cup Electric Rice Warmer, Stainless (model SEJ20000)
- Brand: Thunder Group
- 30 Cups, 15-3/4″ Diameter x 11-4/5″ Height.
- Mirror-finished stainless steel hinged lid, base and body.
- Aluminum Teflon-coated inner pot, 1.
Thunder Group SEJ22000 50-Cup Electric Rice Warmer, Stainless (model SEJ22000)
- Brand: Thunder Group
- 50 Cups, 15-3/4″ Diameter x 15″ Height.
- Mirror-finished stainless steel hinged lid, base and body.
- Aluminum Teflon-coated inner pot, 1.
Before you order
- Measure the space and every doorway on the delivery path, and compare them with the dimensions on each product page.
- Check the spec sheet for power, gas or water requirements and match them to what your building has.
- Compare capacity with your busiest day rather than your average day.
- Read the warranty terms for the brand before you order.
Delivery, warranty and payment
- Delivery: delivery within the continental US is included in the price on the product page, and freight orders include liftgate service.
- Warranty: each product carries its manufacturer warranty. Terms by brand are on our warranty page.
- Financing: lease-to-own financing through Clicklease is offered on items of $500 and up. See how financing works.
- Quotes: buying for a business and need a written quote? Call +1-877-558-2253 or use our contact page.
Not sure which model fits?
Call +1-877-558-2253 with your space, power supply and daily volume, and we will help you narrow it down.