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Cooking enough rice for a large family or gathering can be awkward when a small cooker forces you to make several batches. The Proctor Silex 37555 Rice Cooker & Food Steamer addresses that problem with capacity for up to 30 cups of cooked rice, simple one-touch operation, automatic warming, and a basket that can also steam or rinse food. Its biggest strengths are capacity and simplicity, but you do give up digital presets, delay-start controls, and some flexibility when steaming food and cooking rice at the same time. This review explains those tradeoffs so you can decide whether its large size makes sense for your kitchen.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 8.5/10, Recommended with caveats
Best For: Large families, meal-prep households, gatherings, and anyone who prefers simple controls over digital programs.
Bottom Line: The Proctor Silex 37555 gives you unusually generous home-use capacity and useful steaming accessories without complicated controls. The tradeoff is a basic Cook/Warm interface, and simultaneous rice-and-steam cooking is most practical with smaller rice batches.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Proctor Silex |
| Model | 37555 |
| Product Type | Rice cooker and food steamer |
| Color | Black |
| Maximum Rice Capacity | 30 cups cooked / 15 cups uncooked |
| Dimensions | 12.4″D × 14.7″W × 10.6″H |
| Weight | Approximately 6.8 lb |
| Power | 1000 watts |
| Voltage | 120V |
| Controls | Cook switch with Cook and Warm indicator lights |
| Keep Warm | Automatic after cooking |
| Materials | Aluminum and plastic construction details; glass lid |
| Rice Measuring Cup | 6 oz (177 g), approximately 3/4 U.S. dry cup |
| Included Accessories | Steamer/rinsing basket, removable basket divider, rice measuring cup, and rice paddle |
| Best Use | Large household rice batches, grains, and steaming vegetables or other suitable foods |
| Intended Setting | Household use |
Key Takeaways
- The Proctor Silex 37555 can prepare up to 30 cups of cooked rice from 15 cups uncooked, giving you much more capacity than a small household rice cooker.
- Operation is intentionally simple: add rice and water, press the Cook switch, and the cooker changes to Warm mode automatically when cooking finishes.
- The included steamer basket doubles as a rinsing basket, and its removable divider lets you separate two foods while steaming.
- You can steam food while rice cooks, but the manufacturer’s instructions recommend a maximum of 3 supplied rice measuring cups of rice for that combined method.
- Removable components simplify cleanup, but dishwasher placement matters and the base, cord, and plug must never be immersed in water.
What Is the Proctor Silex 37555 Rice Cooker & Food Steamer?
The Proctor Silex 37555 is a large-capacity household rice cooker built around a basic Cook/Warm system rather than digital menus. Its headline capacity is up to 30 cups of cooked rice or 15 cups uncooked, making it most useful when you regularly prepare rice for a family, guests, parties, or meal prep.
The cooker measures about 12.4 inches deep, 14.7 inches wide, and 10.6 inches high and uses 1000 watts of power. You also get a removable cooking pot, glass lid, rice paddle, 6-ounce rice measuring cup, and steamer/rinsing basket.
The basket adds more versatility than the simple control panel suggests. You can use it to rinse food, steam food over water, or steam suitable foods while a smaller amount of rice cooks below. A removable divider can separate two foods in the basket.
Who Should Buy It?
Best For
- Large families that regularly need more rice than a compact cooker can handle.
- Meal-prep households that want to cook a large batch with minimal controls.
- Buyers who want a rice cooker that can also rinse and steam suitable foods.
Skip If
- You mainly cook one or two small servings and want the smallest possible appliance.
- You want digital rice presets, a programmable delay timer, or a display.
- You need commercial foodservice equipment rather than a household appliance.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Large 30-cup cooked rice capacity for family meals and batch cooking.
- Very simple Cook switch with automatic transition to Warm mode.
- Steamer basket also works for rinsing and includes a removable divider.
- Rice, grains, and suitable steamed foods can be prepared without a complicated control panel.
- Several removable parts can go in the dishwasher for easier cleanup.
Cons
- No digital timer, delay-start function, or dedicated rice-type programs.
- Simultaneous rice-and-steam cooking is recommended with no more than 3 supplied rice measuring cups of rice.
- The large capacity and 14.7-inch width may be unnecessary for a small household or crowded counter.
How to Use the One-Touch Operation for Better Rice
The 37555 does not ask you to choose white, brown, jasmine, or another rice program. Instead, you measure the rice, add water, set the cooking pot securely into the base, place the lid on top, and press the Cook switch.
The supplied rice cup matters here. One full Proctor Silex rice measuring cup is 6 ounces, or about 3/4 of a standard U.S. dry measuring cup. Add the desired number of level rice cups, then add water to the corresponding line in the cooking pot. If your rice package calls for a different proportion, follow the package directions rather than assuming every variety uses the same amount of water.
During cooking, the Cook indicator remains active. When cooking is complete, the appliance automatically changes to Warm mode. That keeps operation easy, but it is different from a digital cooker that uses separate algorithms or preset programs for individual rice varieties.
Pro Tip: Use the supplied 6-ounce rice measuring cup with the pot’s water lines. A standard U.S. cup is larger, so substituting one without adjusting the amount can throw off your rice-to-water ratio.
Cooking and Steaming Features
Large-Batch Rice Cooking
The main reason to choose this model is capacity. You can prepare as much as 15 rice measuring cups of uncooked rice, producing up to about 30 cups cooked. That is useful when a smaller 6-, 10-, or 20-cup cooker would require more than one batch.
Steamer and Rinsing Basket
The basket serves more than one purpose. You can use it when rinsing food and place it above the cooking pot for steaming. Its removable divider is useful when you want to keep two suitable foods separated during the same steaming session.
Steaming While Rice Cooks
You can cook rice in the pot while steaming food in the basket above it. This is convenient for simple one-appliance meals, but there is an important capacity limitation: Proctor Silex recommends using no more than 3 rice measuring cups of rice when cooking rice and steaming food at the same time.
Some foods can enter the basket at the beginning, while faster-cooking foods may need to be added after steady steam begins. Check doneness carefully and use oven mitts or hot pads when handling the hot lid and basket.
Before You Buy: Do not assume the full 15-cup uncooked rice capacity applies when you also use the steamer basket. For combined rice-and-steam cooking, the manual recommends a maximum of 3 supplied rice measuring cups of rice.
How It Performs in Real Use
For Large Family Meals
The 30-cup cooked capacity is the biggest practical advantage. When you regularly serve several people, being able to make one large batch can be more convenient than repeating the cooking cycle in a compact model.
For Meal Prep
The simple Cook/Warm design suits batch cooking when you do not need separate digital presets. Measure the rice and water correctly, start the cooker, and it moves into Warm mode after the cooking cycle finishes.
For Rice Plus Steamed Food
The steamer basket makes a basic rice cooker more flexible. A smaller rice batch can cook below while vegetables, fish, or another suitable food steams above. The removable divider can help keep two foods separated, but cooking times may differ, so you still need to check the steamed food for doneness.
For Small Kitchens
At 12.4 inches deep and 14.7 inches wide, this is not an enormous appliance relative to its capacity, but it still needs usable counter space. You also need open space above it because hot steam escapes through the lid vent. The manufacturer’s safety instructions specifically warn against operating the cooker directly under cabinets.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Unplug the rice cooker and allow it to cool before cleaning. The removable cooking pot and lid can be washed in a dishwasher. The steamer basket, rice measuring cup, and rice paddle are dishwasher-safe on the top rack.
Do not use a dishwasher’s high-temperature SANI setting on the removable parts. For residue inside the cooking pot, use a damp cloth or sponge and a mild, nonabrasive cleaner rather than harsh scrubbing that could damage the surface.
The electrical base requires different care. Never immerse the base, power cord, or plug in water or another liquid. Wipe the exterior as needed after the cooker has been unplugged and cooled.
Food and Electrical Safety
This model is intended for household use. Always cook food and water inside the removable cooking pot rather than placing either directly into the electrical base.
Steam is another important consideration. Open the glass lid carefully and keep your hands away from the steam path. Use handles, oven mitts, or hot pads when removing hot components, especially the steamer basket.
Give the cooker open space while it operates. Proctor Silex warns that the appliance produces substantial steam and should not sit directly beneath cabinets during use. Keep the cord away from hot surfaces and unplug the appliance when you finish using it.
Troubleshooting Common Rice Cooker Issues
Rice Is Too Soft or Sticky
Review the rice-to-water ratio first. Different rice varieties can need different amounts of water, so use the pot markings as your starting point and follow package directions when they specify another ratio.
Rice Is Firm or Undercooked
Check that you measured with the supplied rice cup and added enough water. Also make sure the removable pot sits securely and flat in the base. A bent or warped pot bottom can interfere with proper heat transfer.
The Cooker Does Not Start Cooking
Make sure the appliance is connected to a working outlet and press the Cook switch down. The Warm light can illuminate before cooking begins, so seeing that light alone does not mean the cooker is actively cooking.
Steaming Stops Before Food Is Done
When steaming with water only, the cooker can change to Warm after the available water evaporates. If the food still needs additional steaming, follow the manual’s directions for adding more water and restarting the Cook cycle.
Is It Worth the Price?
The Proctor Silex 37555 sits on the value-focused, basic-control side of large-capacity home rice cookers. Your money goes toward the 30-cup cooked capacity, 1000-watt heating system, automatic warming, and useful steaming accessories rather than a digital display or a long menu of cooking programs.
It offers the strongest value when you actually use that extra capacity. A household that regularly prepares several servings can benefit from fewer batches and the option to steam suitable foods. If you normally make only a cup or two of rice, a smaller cooker may use your counter and storage space more efficiently.
How It Compares to Alternatives
If you prefer digital controls and do not need 30 cups of cooked capacity, the Aroma ARC-1020SB 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer is worth comparing. Its smaller capacity may suit households that want more electronic control without the Proctor Silex’s larger output.
The Instant Pot 20-Cup Multi-Grain Rice Cooker and Slow Cooker is another alternative if extra cooking modes matter more than maximum rice capacity. The Proctor Silex 37555 makes more sense when you prioritize a 30-cup cooked capacity, straightforward controls, and a separate steaming basket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much rice can the Proctor Silex 37555 cook?
Its maximum capacity is up to 15 supplied rice measuring cups of uncooked rice, producing about 30 cups cooked. Remember that the supplied rice cup is about 6 ounces, or roughly 3/4 of a standard U.S. dry measuring cup.
Does it have separate settings for white, brown, jasmine, or basmati rice?
No. Model 37555 uses a simple Cook switch rather than separate rice-type programs. Adjust the water according to the rice package directions when its recommended ratio differs from the pot markings.
Can I steam vegetables or other foods while cooking rice?
Yes. The steamer basket can sit above the rice during cooking. For this combined method, Proctor Silex recommends using no more than 3 supplied rice measuring cups of rice.
Can the steamer basket be used for anything besides steaming?
Yes. It can also function as a rinsing basket. The included removable divider lets you separate two suitable foods in the basket while steaming.
Are the removable parts dishwasher-safe?
The cooking pot and lid are dishwasher-safe. The steamer basket, rice measuring cup, and paddle should go on the top rack, and the manufacturer’s instructions say not to use the dishwasher’s SANI setting.
Does the cooker automatically keep rice warm?
Yes. After the cooking cycle is complete, the cooker automatically changes to Warm mode and the Warm indicator light illuminates. You should still follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe use and unplug the appliance when appropriate.
Is the Proctor Silex 37555 a good choice for a small kitchen?
Measure your counter first. The cooker is about 12.4 inches deep and 14.7 inches wide, and you need clear space above it for steam. It can work in a smaller kitchen, but a compact cooker may be more practical if you rarely need its 30-cup cooked capacity.
Who should skip this rice cooker?
Skip it if you want digital presets, programmable delay cooking, or only make very small amounts of rice. It is also a household appliance, so buyers needing dedicated commercial foodservice equipment should choose equipment intended for that environment.
The Bottom Line
The Proctor Silex 37555 Rice Cooker & Food Steamer is a strong choice when you need large 30-cup cooked capacity, uncomplicated controls, automatic warming, and a useful steaming basket. Smaller households and buyers who want digital programs or scheduled cooking should consider a smaller or more programmable alternative.
Its biggest strength is straightforward large-batch cooking. Its main limitation is that the simplicity of the Cook/Warm system gives you fewer controls, and simultaneous rice-and-steam cooking is recommended only with a smaller rice batch.
