Hot single-serve meals, fast — expect a few small trade-offs.
You want hot food without the drama. Your counter is tiny. You don’t want to babysit a pan.
The DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer answers that. It cooks a single-serving meal fast. One button. Removable nonstick pot. Keep-warm holds the heat. You trade volume and precision for speed and a low price.
DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer, .5 Qt
You get hot meals fast with very little fuss. You trade volume and precision for speed, small size, and a low price.
How to cook great-tasting rice with the DASH MINI Rice Cooker & Steamer
Quick take
You want a tiny cooker that works. You want heat, a lid, and a pot that comes out. This unit fits a counter or a suitcase. It cooks grains, stews, and quick soups. It keeps food warm. It cleans in minutes.
What this unit is built to do
You add ingredients. You press cook. The cooker runs and then flips to warm. The pot lifts out. You serve. That is the loop. It is not for a big family. It is for one person or quick sides. It uses 200 watts. It runs on a simple thermostat switch. That keeps the price low and the controls easy.
Design and build
The shell is plastic. The lid is tempered glass. The inner pot is metal with a nonstick coat. The pot is removable. The cooker is light. You can tuck it on a shelf. You can pack it for a trip.
Cooking performance — what to expect
It cooks one cup or less of grain well. You will see gentle steam and a soft boil. Rice, quick oats, and instant grains finish in under 20 minutes. Denser grains take longer. The keep-warm mode holds heat without burning.
Capacity and suitable meals
Half a quart is small. You can do one bowl of rice. You can make oatmeal. You can heat soup. You can steam a few veggies. You can even try small skillet-style bakes. Match the meal to the size.
| Use case | How it handles it |
|---|---|
| White rice (short/medium grain) | Good. Slightly moist finish but edible |
| Oatmeal & porridge | Good, but watch for boil-over |
| Quinoa & grains | Works, may need extra water |
| Steaming veggies | Fine for small portions |
| Soups & stews | OK for single bowls |
Daily care and cleaning
The pot comes out. That makes cleaning fast. The lid and pot need hand wash. The outer base wipes clean.
Tips to avoid boil-over and mess
Small pots foam quickly. You must watch oats and some grains. Use these rules and you will cut the mess.
What you will like day to day
You will like the speed. You will like the low fuss. You will like the removable pot. You will like the small footprint. It saves you time when you live alone.
Limits and realistic expectations
This is not a pro device. It lacks fuzzy-logic controls. It may leave rice slightly wetter than high-end cookers. It will not feed a family. It can boil over with foamy mixes. The included measuring cup is thin; you may prefer a sturdier cup.
Simple recipe ideas you can try
Specs at a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.5 quart |
| Power | 200 watts |
| Dimensions | 6.5″D x 8.5″W x 6.3″H |
| Weight | 1.39 lbs |
| Lid | Tempered glass |
| Pot | Removable nonstick |
Final word
You want a small, honest cooker. You want quick bowls and low cleanup. This fits that need. It keeps things warm. It saves counter space. It asks you to accept small portions and simple controls. If that suits you, it will serve you well.
FAQ
Yes. You can cook steel-cut oats, but they take longer and foam more. Use more water than instant oats. Watch the pot. Place a towel under the cooker to catch any boil-over.
Use care. Metal can scratch the nonstick coat over time. Use the provided paddle or a silicone or wooden spoon to extend the life of the pot.
Yes. You can steam small portions of vegetables. Chop them small. Add a few tablespoons of water. Check them often so they don’t overcook.
The included cup is small and meant for single servings. If you want more accuracy or durability, use your own measuring cup. One standard rice cooker cup is about 180 ml.
It is designed to switch to keep-warm after cooking. It will hold food at serving temperature for hours. For safety and quality, do not leave perishable foods at warm temperatures for very long. Aim to eat within a few hours.
Reduce the heat by adding slightly less liquid. Add a small knob of butter or oil to cut foam. Don’t fill the pot to the rim. Keep a towel or tray under the unit while you test recipes.
Random tip: for perfect one-cup rice, I use slightly less water than usual and let it steam on keep-warm for 7 minutes. Results are consistently good. This tiny cooker makes meal prep less annoying.
Thanks for sharing that technique — practical advice like this helps other readers get better results.
Nice tip — I’ll try your timing tomorrow morning!
Love the color (Aqua)! Little, cute, and actually useful. One weird thing: mine dripped a bit from the lid seam when making soups. Has anyone else had that? Might be normal for such a small cooker.
Also tilt the lid slightly while pouring to avoid spills — tiny life hack!
Thanks for pointing that out. The small capacity means it’s easier to overfill; the manual recommends leaving some headspace to avoid boil-over.
Mine did a tiny drip first time too. I think if it’s overfilled or bubbling vigorously it can escape. Don’t fill to the brim.
I wish it came in more colors, but aqua was fine. The nonstick removable pot is the real MVP — cleanup is literally 2 minutes. Also, it’s so lightweight I toss it in my travel bag for weekend trips. 😊
I brought mine to a friend’s cabin once — perfect for quick breakfasts.
Ha — interesting idea. As the article notes, it’s lightweight and compact which makes it portable, but check airline rules for any specific restrictions.
Traveling with it? Bold move. Do airlines allow packing a small cooker in checked luggage? 😅
For anyone worried about electricity use: it’s only 200 watts. So it’s pretty energy-efficient compared to a full stove or Instant Pot. Good for small, quick meals without cranking the electric bill.
Still gets hot fast tho. Perfect for ramen hacks and reheating leftovers.
200W? That’s lower than I thought. Nice for apartments where power is limited.
Correct — low wattage is part of why it’s fast and gentle but also why it’s best for small batches.
Not impressed with rice texture. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but it tends to be a bit gummy. Anyone else had trouble? Tried rinsing the rice first and adjusting water ratios but still inconsistent.
Try using a 1:1 ratio for white rice with this cooker. I found rinsing and that ratio fixed the gummy problem for me.
Good troubleshooting here. The review mentions limited precision — small cookers sometimes need adjusted water ratios and timing compared to full-size models.
I get fluffier rice if I let it sit on keep-warm for about 5 min after it switches off. Also fluff with a fork before serving.
I use mine for oatmeal and grains every morning. Super fast and easy. FYI: the recipe guide that comes with it has decent ideas. A tiny complaint: the cord wrap could be better.
Same — the guide got me to try quinoa porridge and it’s delish. Cord wrap is meh though.
Quinoa porridge? That sounds interesting — any quick ratio tips?
Thanks for the feedback, Grace. The included recipe guide is intended for simple inspiration; the cooker’s strengths are convenience and speed.
Quick, practical, cheap — checked all the boxes for me. A small complaint: no auto-shutoff indicator other than the keep-warm switch flipping. Would be nice to have a light or beep. But again, for $24.99 can’t expect a lot of bells and whistles.
Good point. The simplicity is a feature and a limitation; the review mentions minimal controls and manual operation as part of the design.
I set a timer on my phone — works fine and avoids overcooking.
A little beep would be nice, true. Still worth it for the convenience imo.
Works well for soups and stews too. I was surprised a 0.5 quart cooker could handle a small stew for one. Removable nonstick pot makes cleanup easy — but hand wash only, FYI.
I do 15-20 mins for chunky veg + pre-cooked meat. The low wattage (200W) means it’s gentle, so check it at 10 minutes to be safe.
Good to know. Hand wash is fine by me but would have loved dishwasher-safe. How long do you cook a small stew in it?
Thanks for the tip, Ethan. The review highlights versatility — rice, soups, stews and oatmeal — but emphasizes small batches due to the 0.5 qt capacity.
One minor annoyance: the exterior can get warm. Not dangerously hot, but enough that I wouldn’t touch it right after cooking. Otherwise, good little unit. Great value for the price.
Yep, same. I use a trivet or towel if my counter is sensitive.
Noted. The review mentions it’s corded electric and compact; the exterior warmth is expected given the small size and 200W heating element.
If you’re thinking of this as a ‘mini Instant Pot’, stop. 😂 Different tools. This one is simple and no-fuss, great for one-pot meals but lacks pressure cooking features and precision.
So true. Different use cases. I keep both at home.
Exactly — the expert verdict calls out that you trade precision for speed and size.
Love the size — bought one for my tiny studio and it’s a game changer. Perfect for single servings of rice and oatmeal. Quiet, heats fast, and the aqua color is cute. Only gripe: the keep-warm isn’t super long-lasting, but for the price ($24.99) I can’t complain.
Do you find you need to reheat after 1-2 hours? Thinking of getting one for the office.
Agreed. I use it for breakfast oats and it keeps things warm long enough until I get out of bed 😂
Thanks, Claire — glad it’s working for your studio! The review noted that the trade-off is volume for speed, so the keep-warm is more of a short-term feature.
Durability question: has anyone had theirs last more than two years? It’s light (1.4 lbs) so I’m curious about long-term use. Mine’s about a year and still going strong.
Anecdotal experiences vary, but many users report a couple years of reliable use if they follow care instructions (hand wash, avoid metal on nonstick).
Same here — 2+ years and still kicking. Treat it like a small appliance and it’ll stick around.
I’ve had mine ~3 years with regular use. Just be gentle with the nonstick and avoid metal utensils.
I kept the manual and it mentions basic care. Worth reading imo.
Bought this for my college kid. Cheap, sturdy, and heats up quickly. If you want to cook for more than one person, though, forget it. Also, the glass lid is great for watching the rice — fancy for under $30!
Exactly — review calls it a trade of volume for speed and price. Ideal for single servings or small tasks.
Yep, great for dorms. My roommate uses it as a second pot when we run out of burners. Multi-use for the win.