
In this era of outdoor partying and picnics, it is not strange for us to prepare food and wish it stays fresh and hot for hours. However, moving cooking equipment from your home to picnic venues can be very stressful and pretty expensive. You’d probably end up spending so much (cash and energy) in the process.
Thankfully there is a way out that won’t stress you as much. That solution is thermal cookers. Perhaps we have heard of these beauties, or maybe not. Whichever the case may be, by the end of this post, we’ll have a solid idea about thermal cookers, their uses, and why we would need them.
Besides, we would also be looking at how you can get the best thermal cooker available for purchase in the market. For this reason, we would be looking at the 7 best thermal cookers and why you should buy them. So, let’s delve right in.
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What Is Thermal Cooker?
Thermal cookers refer to pieces of cooking equipment that functions by trapping heat inside it. So, you can continue cooking your food without the need for an external source of heat. However, most thermal cookers do more than just trapping the heat, they also reflect the heat into whatever food is being cooked. They can also store cold food by maintaining a slow and reduced heat loss.
Furthermore, they can either be electric or non-electric, having only an inner pot or an inner and outer pot; recognizing these pots is easy because their look (form and shape) is more like your regular pots and food cookers. However, they are well equipped with insulating mechanisms which help to trap heat. As a result, you can use them to keep your food hot or cold for as long as 6 hours. And guess what? They retain the freshness and quality of that food until you need them.
Benefits Of Thermal cookers
For every product you purchased, enjoying its benefits is vital. In the case of thermal cookers, the benefits include
- Food stays hot/cold for longer.
- Food stays fresh and new for longer.
- It saves you the stress and cost of warming or microwaving.
- You can use them both indoor and outdoor.
- It doesn’t need electricity.
- It is easy to handle and use.
- It needs no extra maintenance costs.
- Food never gets burnt or overcooked.
Having looked at these benefits, you’re probably wondering what product will be better to purchase. Well, in the next section, we’ll be answering your question.
Reviews of The 7 Best Thermal Cookers In The Market
Here are top rated Thermal Cookers for sale
Top 1. Tiger NFI-A600 Thermal Cooker

This first on our list is a beautiful piece of cookware produced by Tiger Corporation. It is thermal cookers that can keep your already cooked food fresh for a long time. This is because of their well-insulated body fitted around the inner pot to ensure heat conservation.
Besides, the product has two well-fitted ergonomic plastic handles that encourage easy handling. Additionally, the bowl has a capacity of 6 Liters, with a stainless inner pot and a tempered glass lid to help keep the heat trapped. Washing of both parts (inner and outer) is easy too, using your hands.
Pros
- The inner pot is large.
- Well insulated inner pot.
- Removable lid.
- Stainless steel material.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- Short handle.
Top 2. Zojirushi RDS-600 Thermal Cooker

Next is the Zojirushi RDS 600 thermal cooking pot. This system is a cooker that is designed with a sleek outer covering. The outer part of it is made of plastic; hence, complementing the heat-trapping functionality of the stainless-steel internal body. Therefore, it is highly durable with two handles to help hold it firmly when being carried. Besides, the product has a capacity of 6L, large enough to hold more food.
Therefore, if you are camping, this thermal cooker can provide uniform thermal retention, ideal for catering or transporting. It also works well against acidic liquids. With the technology employed in its manufacture, they ensure your food stays hot and fresh for up to six hours without altering consistency. Finally, storage after use is easy because you can stack one on top of the other.
Pros
- 6L capacity.
- It is non-electric.
- Durable stainless steel.
- Has a removable lid.
- Easy to clean.
Cons
- Handles are short.
Top 3. Thermos RPC-6000 Thermal Cooker

This product manufactured by Thermos is a piece of cooking equipment that aids the conservation of heat in food for an extended time. It is made in such a way that food never loses heat for about 6 hours. The thermal cooker has a vacuum insulated with stainless steel and comes with two stainless steel pots to deliver quality service.
For convenience, this thermal cookerhas a bail handle that can be locked thus making transport easy and secured. Its inner pot has a 6 Liter capacity, with two outer pots, each of 3 Liters-capacity. It is perfect for out-of-home gatherings or picnic.
Pros
- Good Thermos quality.
- Made of stainless steel.
- Handling is easy
- Additional 3 liter pots inside
- 6L (6.3Qt) capacity
Cons
- Feels pretty heavy
4. Thermos KBG-4500 CS Thermal Cooker

This is another thermal cooker made by the Thermos brand. It is a piece of cooking equipment that aids the conservation of heat in food for an extended period. Its insulated inner pot ensures the pot retains heat for a pretty long time.
Besides, the product has a 4.5L inner pot made with stainless steel. It also has a tempered glass lid that keeps in the heat generated from evaporating out. As a result, food stays hot for longer, so you can try out all your favorite thermal cooker recipe as time goes on.
Pros
- A strong lid for food cover.
- Large container.
- Stainless steel inner pot
- A tempered glass lid.
Cons
- The handle is short.
Top 5. Sunpentown ST-60B Thermal Cooker

This handy piece of cookware by Sunpentown stores is one of the best thermal cookers you can find. This is because it doesn’t just leave your food hot but helps you finish cooking. It continues to cook for 10-30 minutes after heating.
Therefore, with this product, you are not worried about over-cooking or getting your food burnt. Its insulated inner pot ensures food stays hot and fresh for as long as 8 hours. Besides, it is an aesthetic beauty to behold in your kitchen with its beautiful external plastic.
Pros
- 6 Liters Capacity
- Stainless steel inner and outer pot
- Non-electric cooker.
- Works for about 8 hours.
- Completes your cooking for you.
Cons
- The handle could get damaged easily.
- It breaks easily from falls.
6. Narita NVC-7020 Thermal Cooker

Next on our list of best thermal cookers is the handy piece of cookware by Narita stores. It helps your food stay fresh, either hot or cold. This is because of the insulated inner pot and outer body that ensures food stays hot and fresh for as long as 6 hours.
Furthermore, the product has an inner pot with 1.5L capacity, while the outer pot is 7.0L and large enough to cater to several people. Therefore, this piece is a fantastic option for family or picnics and other outdoor activities.
Pros
- Large capacity of 7Liters
- Non-electric
- It is handy.
- Stainless steel inner pot.
Cons
- The lid gets damaged easily.
- It is heavy.
7. Thermos Cook-and-Carry Thermal Cooker

Finally, we’ve gotten to the last but certainly not least product. It is yet another thermal cooker made by the Thermos brand, and as always, it lives up to expectations. The product has an insulated inner pot. This feature ensures food stays hot and fresh for as long as 8 hours. This way, your food items remain in the same condition until you are making use of it.
Furthermore, this thermal cooker is perfect for packing food for long distances and extended periods. This advantage is because of the insulation mechanism featuring a double-wall vacuum. The product can, therefore, keep food at the proper temperature for hours. Even without electricity, it locks in the temperature and preserves the food’s flavor and freshness.
Pros
- Easy to handle.
- Keeps hot for over 8 hours.
- Highly effective.
- Energy-efficient stainless steel
- The inner pot is dishwasher safe.
Cons
- The handle isn’t strong enough.
- Capacity is small (4.5L)
How Do I Choose?
Before you buy thermal cookers, there is a need to consider different features. These features include
- Size
The sizes of thermal cookers differ, and with a bigger size comes more capacity for the inner pots. As a result, we have capacities ranging from 4L-6L. When buying a new one, you have to consider the number of people you are packing food for. You want to make a decision that would comfortably be enough for your family and friends.
- Handle
The handles are equally essential; you should consider them too when buying. They could be short plastic handles or long bail handles, whichever you prefer. However long handles are better to purchase as they are easier to work with when moving food from different locations.
- Body Type
Thermal cookers are either made of stainless steel or plastic. Do keep this in mind as the body type material can affect the durability of the product. Plastics, for instance, get damaged easily when they fall. However, stainless steel tends to lose heat faster than plastics.
FAQ’s
- Do thermal cookers really work?
Yes, they do. Thermal cookers have an in-built insulation technology that enables food items to keep their heat radiated in the thermal cookers due to the insulated stainless steel inner pots. So, yes, thermal cookers do work.
- Can I cook rice in thermal cookers?
Yes, you can. This feature is another advantage of thermal cookers; you can use it to complete rice cooking. However, this is after the rice must have been half-cooked on the stove. Some thermal cookers are highly effective and can keep your food cooking for another 30 minutes.
Conclusion
So, today we have successfully looked at the best thermal cookers that we can find in the market. I’m sure by now you probably have a product in mind to purchase. Fantastic. Always remember that the final decision is yours to make. But before you do that, we recommend you look carefully at the product descriptions and put in mind the features we discussed above.
Therefore, based on your needs, rest assured that whichever of these 7 best thermal cookers you choose to buy is as good as the rest on the list; capacity and material are probably the difference. So, hurry and get your thermal cookers, and get the fun cooking started.