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Cooking rice for a large family or preparing several meals at once can become frustrating when your cooker is too small or requires constant attention. The West Bend Rice & Grain Multi Cooker RCWB20CSS13 tackles that problem with capacity for up to 20 cups of cooked rice, multiple cooking functions, and programmable timing. Its biggest strengths are batch capacity, straightforward controls, and versatility beyond basic white rice, while its larger size and nonstick inner pot will not suit every buyer. This review helps you decide whether its features match the way you actually cook.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 8.6/10
Best For: Families, batch cooking, meal prep, entertaining, and buyers who want rice, steaming, slow cooking, and other functions in one appliance.
Bottom Line: The West Bend RCWB20CSS13 offers unusually generous 20-cup cooked capacity with useful programmable functions and included steaming accessories. It makes less sense when you cook very small portions most of the time or specifically want a compact premium rice cooker with advanced computerized rice-control technology.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | West Bend |
| Model | RCWB20CSS13 |
| Product Type | Rice & Grain Multi Cooker |
| Maximum Rice Capacity | 20 cups cooked, about 10 cups uncooked |
| Cooking Functions | Rice and grain programs plus oatmeal, steam, slow cook, sauté, cake, keep warm, and programmable timing functions |
| Delay Timer | Up to 24 hours |
| Automatic Keep Warm | Up to 12 hours |
| Power | 860 watts |
| Voltage | 120 volts |
| Dimensions | 11.34″D × 10.87″W × 11.42″H |
| Weight | About 5.5 lb |
| Inner Pot | Nonstick removable inner pot |
| Exterior | Stainless-steel housing |
| Included Accessories | Rice spoon, measuring cup, and steamer |
| Cleaning | Inner pot and accessories can be top-rack dishwasher cleaned; hand washing the pot is recommended for longer coating life |
| Warranty | 1-year limited appliance warranty, subject to manufacturer terms |
What Is the West Bend Rice & Grain Multi Cooker?
The West Bend RCWB20CSS13 is a programmable countertop rice and grain cooker built around a large removable nonstick pot. Its listed maximum is 20 cups of cooked rice from about 10 cups uncooked, putting it firmly in the large-family and batch-cooking category rather than the compact cooker category.
It is also more versatile than a one-button rice cooker. You can prepare white or brown rice, oatmeal, multigrain dishes, steamed foods, slow-cooked meals, sautéed ingredients, and cake using the available controls. The included steamer gives you another practical option when you want vegetables or other foods cooked above the inner pot.
Key Takeaways
- 20 cups cooked capacity makes it best suited to larger households, entertaining, and meal prep.
- 860W power supports its large cooking capacity without requiring a specialized outlet beyond its specified 120V household connection.
- 24-hour delay start gives you flexibility when you want ingredients prepared in advance.
- 12-hour automatic keep warm helps keep finished rice ready for later serving.
- The nonstick inner pot is convenient to clean, although careful utensil use and hand washing can help protect the coating.
- The cooker is most appealing when you will actually use its large capacity. Small-portion households may prefer a smaller model.
Who Should Buy It?
Best For
- Families that regularly cook several cups of rice at once
- Meal preppers who want enough capacity for multiple servings
- Buyers who want rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, slow cooking, and other functions in one appliance
Skip If
- You normally prepare only one or two small servings
- Counter or cabinet space is extremely limited
- You specifically want a premium computerized or induction rice cooker
Before You Buy: The advertised 20-cup figure refers to cooked rice, not 20 cups of dry rice. The maximum is about 10 cups uncooked, so compare capacities carefully when shopping across brands.
Capacity and Batch Cooking
The standout feature is capacity. A cooker that produces up to 20 cups of cooked rice can handle family dinners, parties, potlucks, and several meal-prep containers without forcing you to run two cooking cycles.
The owner’s cooking chart also helps set realistic expectations. At full white-rice capacity, 10 measuring cups of uncooked rice produce about 20 cups cooked, with the manual listing an approximate cooking range of 38 to 44 minutes. Brown rice at that maximum quantity is listed at approximately 62 to 67 minutes.
That large capacity does not mean you should automatically buy the biggest model available. If most meals involve one or two people, a smaller cooker will usually require less storage space and may feel more convenient for everyday portions.
Cooking Functions and Controls
Rice, Oatmeal, and Multigrain Cooking
Dedicated settings remove much of the guesswork from common staples. White rice and brown rice have different cooking needs, so having separate functions is more useful than forcing both through the same fixed cycle. Oatmeal and multigrain settings extend the cooker beyond plain rice.
You should still follow the supplied measuring cup, water markings, and manual guidance. Grain type, quantity, humidity, and other conditions can change the final texture and cooking time.
Steam and Steam While Cooking
The included steaming tray allows you to steam foods above the inner pot. The manual also describes a steam-and-cook method that lets you prepare food in the tray while rice or grain cooks below.
This can save countertop space and reduce the number of pots used for a meal. Use caution when lifting the lid because hot steam escapes quickly, and use heat protection when removing a hot steaming tray.
Slow Cook and Sauté
Slow Cook expands the cooker into soup, stew, and similar meal territory. The manual provides low and high settings with adjustable cooking times, so this mode is more flexible than a fixed rice cycle.
The Sauté function is useful when you want to brown or heat ingredients directly in the inner pot before moving to another cooking method. When stirring hot food, use a wooden or suitable heat-safe utensil rather than the included rice paddle, which the manual does not recommend for stirring high-temperature soups, chili, or stew.
Cake Function
The cooker also includes a Cake mode. West Bend’s instructions limit cake batter to no more than 6 cups at one time, and the cooking time for the Cake function is not adjustable. This is a useful extra rather than a replacement for a full oven.
Programmable Timer and Keep Warm
The 24-hour delay timer is valuable when your schedule matters as much as cooking performance. You can prepare suitable ingredients ahead of time and program the cooker so the cycle begins later.
After supported cooking cycles finish, the appliance can switch to its 12-hour keep-warm function. This is useful when family members eat at different times or when rice finishes before the rest of dinner.
Use delay cooking only with ingredients that are safe to hold at room temperature for the programmed period. Perishable foods should be handled according to normal food-safety guidance rather than left unrefrigerated for long delays.
How It Performs in Real Use
For Family Dinners
The large cooking capacity is the main advantage here. Instead of preparing rice in repeated batches, you can make enough for several people in one cycle and keep it warm while other dishes finish.
For Weekly Meal Prep
Cooking up to 20 cups of finished rice gives you room to portion rice across several meals. The timer also helps when you want a batch ready around a planned prep session rather than starting the cooker manually at the last minute.
For One-Pot Meal Preparation
Steam, slow cook, and sauté functions make the cooker more useful when you want more than plain rice. You can brown ingredients, prepare slow-cooked dishes, or steam food without bringing out several separate appliances.
For Entertaining
The combination of large capacity and automatic keep warm is practical for gatherings where food is not served immediately after cooking. The tradeoff is that this is still a substantial countertop appliance, so plan where it will sit before buying.
Setup Tips Before First Use
- Use the supplied measuring cup. Rice-cooker measurements may differ from a standard household cup.
- Match the water level to the grain and quantity. Follow the inner-pot markings and the manufacturer’s cooking chart rather than estimating.
- Dry the outside of the inner pot. The manual says the pot should be dry and free of debris before you place it into the cooker.
- Use non-abrasive utensils. Metal tools can scratch a nonstick surface.
- Leave safe clearance around steam. Keep hands and cabinets away from escaping steam when opening the lid.
Pro Tip: For the most repeatable rice texture, measure rice with the supplied cup and use the matching water line or manual ratio. Changing both the rice measurement and water method at the same time makes troubleshooting soggy or dry rice harder.
Cleaning, Maintenance, and Safety
Cleanup is straightforward because the inner pot and accessories are removable. West Bend’s instructions allow the inner pot and accessories to be washed with warm soapy water or placed on the top rack of a dishwasher.
For longer nonstick-coating life, the manual specifically recommends hand washing the inner pot. It also advises against abrasive cleaners and scouring pads. Dishwasher use may cause slight cosmetic discoloration without necessarily affecting performance.
Wipe the cooker body with a damp cloth rather than treating the electrical base like a washable pot. Make sure all parts are thoroughly dry before reassembly, particularly the outside of the inner pot.
Steam deserves the same caution as with any hot countertop cooker. Open the lid carefully, keep your face and hands away from escaping steam, and use heat protection when removing a hot steaming tray.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Large 20-cup cooked rice capacity
- Rice, grain, oatmeal, steam, slow-cook, sauté, and cake capabilities
- 24-hour programmable delay timer
- 12-hour automatic keep-warm function
- Includes measuring cup, rice spoon, and steaming accessory
Cons
- More capacity than many one- or two-person households need
- Nonstick inner pot requires careful cleaning and utensil use
- Large batches of brown rice can take about an hour or more
Is It Worth the Price?
The West Bend RCWB20CSS13 makes the strongest value case when you will use both its capacity and its extra cooking functions. You are getting more flexibility than a basic rice-only cooker, including steaming, slow cooking, sautéing, programmable delay start, and automatic warming.
Rather than judging it by a changing sale price, compare it with other large 10-cup-uncooked rice cookers and multi-function models. It is a smart buy for everyday use when large batches and multi-purpose cooking matter more to you than premium computerized rice-control features.
It is not the best fit when you mainly cook very small portions. In that situation, paying for and storing a 20-cup cooked-capacity model may offer little practical benefit.
How It Compares to Alternatives
If the West Bend’s capacity feels excessive, a smaller 12-cup cooked West Bend variant is worth comparing because it follows the same general product family while taking aim at smaller households.
If your priority is more advanced computerized rice control rather than maximum multi-function value, a model such as the Zojirushi NS-TSC18A is another relevant comparison. The West Bend makes more sense when you prioritize a large 20-cup cooked capacity, sauté and slow-cook flexibility, and straightforward multi-purpose operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the West Bend RCWB20CSS13 really a 20-cup rice cooker?
Yes, but the 20-cup figure refers to the approximate maximum amount of cooked rice. The corresponding maximum is about 10 measuring cups of uncooked rice.
Can you cook brown rice and other grains in it?
Yes. The cooker includes settings intended for white rice, brown rice, oatmeal, and multigrain cooking. Follow the supplied water ratios and instructions because different grains can require different amounts of water and cooking time.
Can the West Bend cooker steam food while rice is cooking?
Yes. The manual includes instructions for using the provided steaming tray while rice or grain cooks below. Check food for doneness and use caution when opening the lid because hot steam escapes.
Does it have a sauté function?
Yes. The RCWB20CSS13 manual includes a Sauté mode with a default 30-minute cooking period. Use a suitable wooden or heat-safe utensil when stirring hot ingredients.
Is the inner pot dishwasher safe?
The manual allows the inner pot and accessories to be placed on the top rack of a dishwasher. West Bend also recommends hand washing the nonstick inner pot with warm soapy water to help extend its useful life.
Does it include a measuring cup and steamer?
Yes. The listed accessories include a rice measuring cup, rice spoon, and steamer. Using the supplied measuring cup is important when following the cooker’s rice and water charts.
Can you mix different types of rice in one batch?
You should be cautious about mixing rice varieties that require different water ratios or cooking times. For more predictable texture, use the program and measurement guidance intended for the main rice or grain you are cooking.
Who should skip this rice cooker?
It is less compelling when you usually make only a small serving or have extremely limited kitchen storage. Buyers who specifically want premium fuzzy-logic or induction technology should also compare specialized rice cookers before deciding.
The Bottom Line
The West Bend Rice & Grain Multi Cooker RCWB20CSS13 is a strong choice when you need large 20-cup cooked capacity, programmable timing, steaming, slow cooking, sautéing, and easy day-to-day controls in one appliance. Buyers who cook only tiny portions or want specialized premium rice technology should consider a smaller or more advanced alternative, but for family meals and batch cooking, the West Bend earns its 8.6/10 verdict.
