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Small-batch rice is easy to overcomplicate when you do not want another electric appliance taking up counter space. The HARIO XRCN-2-B Glass Microwave Rice Pot gives you a 1 to 2 go format, or about 150 to 300 grams of uncooked rice, in a compact heatproof-glass body. You still need to measure, soak, microwave, and rest the rice, so it is not a push-button replacement for an electric rice cooker. This review helps you decide if its simple glass design and easy cleanup are worth the stricter 500 W to 600 W cooking process.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 8.5/10
Best For: One-person and two-person households that want small microwave rice batches without buying an electric rice cooker.
Bottom Line: The XRCN-2-B combines a transparent heatproof-glass body, dishwasher-safe cleanup, and a compact 1 to 2 go capacity. The tradeoff is that you must follow the soaking, wattage, heating, and resting instructions rather than simply pressing one button.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | HARIO |
| Model | XRCN-2-B |
| Color | Black |
| Product type | Microwave rice pot |
| Rice capacity | 1 to 2 go, about 150 to 300 g uncooked rice |
| Product size | 195 × 162 × 140 mm, about 7.68 × 6.38 × 5.51 in |
| Body weight | About 435 g |
| Boxed weight | About 600 g |
| Body material | Heatproof glass |
| Lid and handle parts | Polypropylene |
| Microwave setting | Use 500 W or 600 W; do not heat at 700 W or higher |
| 600 W heating time | 10 minutes for 1 go; 12 minutes for 2 go, followed by resting |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe; hand washing with a soft sponge and neutral detergent is also supported |
| Included item | Approx. 90 mL polypropylene measuring cup, equal to 0.5 go |
| Secondary use | The inner lid can be removed and placed inside the body for microwave steaming |
| Country of origin | Made in Japan |
Key Takeaways
- The HARIO XRCN-2-B is sized for 1 to 2 go of rice, roughly 150 to 300 g uncooked.
- The bowl is heatproof glass, while the lid assembly, handle ring, and measuring cup use polypropylene.
- At 600 W, HARIO’s white-rice method uses 10 minutes for 1 go and 12 minutes for 2 go, plus soaking and a 10 to 15 minute rest.
- The manual warns against microwave heating at 700 W or higher because boil-over can occur.
- The product is dishwasher safe, and the removable inner lid can also serve as a rack for microwave steaming.
What Is the HARIO XRCN-2-B?
The HARIO XRCN-2-B is a passive microwave rice pot, not an electric appliance. It has no cord, heating plate, digital panel, timer, or keep-warm mode. You add washed rice and water to the marked glass bowl, fit the lid, and use your microwave as the heat source.
The 1 to 2 go capacity is aimed at modest portions. In HARIO’s instructions, 1 go equals 150 g of uncooked rice and 2 go equals 300 g, so the pot is best suited to one or two people rather than family-size batches. The transparent bowl also lets you see the contents without opening the lid.
The design has one extra use beyond plain rice. HARIO states that you can remove the inner lid and place it inside the glass body as a rack for microwave steaming, which gives the pot more flexibility than a single-purpose rice bowl.
Before You Buy: This is not a 10-minute start-to-finish cooker. HARIO’s white-rice method includes soaking before heating and a 10 to 15 minute resting period afterward. You also need a microwave that can operate at 500 W or 600 W rather than 700 W or higher.
Who Should Buy It?
Best For
- One-person or two-person households cooking 150 to 300 g of uncooked rice at a time
- Small kitchens where you already rely on a microwave and want to avoid another powered appliance
- Buyers who prefer a transparent heatproof-glass body and dishwasher-safe cleanup
Skip If
- You regularly need more than 2 go of rice in one batch
- You want automatic keep-warm, delayed start, or push-button rice programs
- Your microwave cannot be set to 500 W or 600 W
Design and Build Quality
The main bowl is HARIO heatproof glass, while the lid assembly and handle ring use polypropylene. The body measures about 195 mm wide, 162 mm deep, and 140 mm high, and weighs about 435 g. Because there is no separate electrical base, you can store the pot away when you are not using it.
The transparent glass is practical because you can check the rice and water level from outside the bowl. HARIO also promotes its heatproof glass as resistant to lingering odors and color transfer, which is useful if you prepare seasoned rice as well as plain white rice.
Cooking Performance and Timing
The microwave heating step is short, but total preparation takes longer. For white rice at 600 W, HARIO calls for 10 minutes of heating for 1 go and 12 minutes for 2 go. After heating, you leave the pot in the microwave for 10 to 15 minutes so the rice can steam and finish resting.
The method also includes soaking. After washing the rice and adding water, HARIO instructs you to soak it for 30 minutes to 1 hour. In cold conditions, the manual gives a shorter option using about 50°C warm water for roughly 15 minutes. This makes the pot low-effort during active cooking, but not instant from dry rice to serving.
| Batch | Uncooked Rice | Water | 600 W Heating | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 go | 150 g | 250 mL | 10 minutes | 10 to 15 minutes |
| 2 go | 300 g | 450 mL | 12 minutes | 10 to 15 minutes |
How to Use the HARIO Rice Pot Correctly
- Measure and wash the rice. Use the included measuring cup or weigh the rice to confirm a 1 go or 2 go batch.
- Add the specified water. For white rice, use 250 mL for 1 go or 450 mL for 2 go.
- Soak before heating. Follow the manual’s soaking guidance instead of skipping straight to the microwave.
- Fit the lid securely. Use microwave mode only, not an oven, grill, steam-combination, or other automatic heating mode.
- Heat at the correct power. At 600 W, use 10 minutes for 1 go or 12 minutes for 2 go.
- Let the rice rest. Leave it in the microwave for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Pro Tip: Put the pot near the center of the microwave or turntable and use the marked water lines instead of estimating. Accurate water, wattage, and resting time matter more than simply adding extra microwave time.
Materials and Microwave Safety
The manual is clear about heating power. Do not use 700 W or higher because the contents can boil over. A microwave rated at 1000 W can still work only if it lets you select a lower 500 W or 600 W cooking level.
HARIO specifies heatproof glass for the body and polypropylene for the lid assembly and handle ring. The manual also says to use this product with microwave heating only, not direct flame or non-microwave heating modes. The lid, glass body, and handle area can become very hot after cooking, so use care when removing the pot.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The XRCN-2-B is dishwasher safe. If you wash it by hand, use a soft sponge and neutral detergent. Avoid abrasive cleansers, scouring pads, steel wool, and other tools that can scratch the glass.
Inspect the glass before each use. If you notice a chip, crack, or deep scratch, stop using the pot. Avoid hard impacts against a sink, faucet, metal utensil, or countertop because damaged glass cookware can break unexpectedly.
What Else Can You Cook or Steam?
HARIO promotes the XRCN-2-B for plain rice and seasonal mixed rice, and the manual includes recipe ideas. Added ingredients can change foaming and heating behavior, so it is safer to follow quantities intended for this pot instead of transferring a stovetop recipe directly into it.
You can also remove the inner lid and place it inside the glass body as a steaming rack. That gives you another microwave use for the pot, but you should still follow HARIO’s recipe and microwave guidance rather than improvising high-power cooking times.
How It Performs in Real Use
For a One-Go Weekday Meal
A 150 g batch matches the 1 go line, uses 250 mL of water, and needs 10 minutes at 600 W before resting. This is the most natural use case if you want enough rice for a small meal without storing a separate electric cooker on the counter.
For Two-Go Small-Household Cooking
The pot can handle 300 g of uncooked rice with 450 mL of water. At 600 W, the heating time rises to 12 minutes, so precise measurement and the correct power setting become especially important as you approach the pot’s maximum rice batch.
For a Small Kitchen or Office Microwave
The compact, non-electric format is useful when a microwave is already available. Before relying on it at work, in a dorm, or in a shared kitchen, confirm that the microwave lets you choose 500 W or 600 W and that local rules allow cooking rather than reheating only.
For Long-Term Routine Use
The low part count means there is no heating plate, battery, cord, or electronics package to maintain. The tradeoff is consistency: every batch depends on your microwave settings and your attention to measuring, soaking, heating, and resting.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Heatproof-glass body lets you see the contents while cooking
- 1 to 2 go capacity suits singles, couples, and other small households
- Dishwasher-safe construction simplifies cleanup
- Removable inner lid can double as a microwave steaming rack
- Made in Japan and includes a 0.5 go measuring cup
Cons
- Not suitable for batches larger than 2 go
- Soaking and resting make total preparation much longer than the microwave heating time
- You must use 500 W or 600 W rather than high-power microwave settings
Is It Worth the Price?
The XRCN-2-B is best viewed as specialty microwave cookware rather than a low-feature electric rice cooker. Its value comes from the heatproof-glass construction, compact 1 to 2 go format, dishwasher-safe cleanup, and the fact that the inner lid can also support steaming.
It makes the most sense in the budget-to-mid-range cookware category for someone who already owns a suitable microwave and usually cooks small rice portions. It is not the best value if you need larger batches, automatic keep-warm, delayed cooking, or a one-button process from start to finish.
How It Compares to Alternatives
If you usually cook only 0.5 to 1 go, HARIO’s ICHIZENYA XRCPN-1 Microwave Glass Rice Cooker is the smaller microwave-focused alternative. If you prefer stovetop cooking and want the same 1 to 2 go rice capacity, HARIO’s GOHANGAMA GNR-150-B-W uses a heatproof ceramic pot with a glass lid.
The XRCN-2-B sits between those choices. It gives you more rice capacity than the XRCPN-1 while keeping microwave cooking and a lighter, simpler format than the ceramic GOHANGAMA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HARIO XRCN-2-B dishwasher safe?
Yes. HARIO allows dishwasher use for the XRCN-2-B. For hand washing, use a soft sponge and neutral detergent, and avoid abrasive scrubbers that can scratch the glass.
How long does white rice take?
At 600 W, HARIO lists 10 minutes of microwave heating for 1 go and 12 minutes for 2 go. You also need to soak the rice first and rest it in the microwave for 10 to 15 minutes afterward.
Can I use it in a 1000 W microwave?
Only if the microwave lets you reduce the cooking power to 500 W or 600 W. Do not run the pot at a full 1000 W setting because HARIO warns against heating at 700 W or higher.
How much rice and water should I use?
For white rice, use 150 g of rice with 250 mL of water for 1 go. For 2 go, use 300 g of rice with 450 mL of water.
Can I use the pot on a stovetop, in an oven, or on induction?
No. The manual identifies this as microwave cookware and says not to use heating appliances or non-microwave heating modes. Keep it away from direct flame, induction, and oven or grill functions.
What does 1 go mean, and does it include a measuring cup?
For this pot, HARIO lists 1 go as 150 g of uncooked rice. The included measuring cup is about 90 mL, equal to 0.5 go, so two level cup measures make 1 go.
Can it make mixed rice or work as a steamer?
Yes. HARIO promotes the model for plain and seasonal mixed rice. You can also remove the inner lid and place it inside the body as a rack for microwave steaming, but follow HARIO’s quantities and heating guidance.
Who should skip the HARIO XRCN-2-B?
Skip it if you need more than 2 go at once, cannot select a 500 W or 600 W microwave setting, or want automatic keep-warm and programmable rice modes. In those cases, an electric rice cooker or larger dedicated pot will be more practical.
The Bottom Line
The HARIO XRCN-2-B is a strong choice when you regularly cook 1 to 2 go and want compact heatproof-glass microwave cookware with dishwasher-safe cleanup. Its biggest strengths are the simple construction, visible glass bowl, and small-batch format, while its main limitation is the need to follow specific soaking, wattage, heating, and resting steps. Skip it if you need larger portions or automatic rice-cooker features.
