Structural Advantages of Drum-Style Inner Pots in Large-Capacity Rice Cookers

In the global rice cooker market, capacity does not always equal performance. For large-capacity rice cookers—8, 10, 15 cups or more—the inner pot structure directly affects heating uniformity, steam circulation efficiency, and long-term stability.

Among various inner pot designs, drum-shaped (bell-shaped) inner pots have proven to be a mature and stable solution for large-capacity rice cookers. As an international kitchen appliance manufacturer, Elecpro uses drum-shaped inner pots across multiple large-capacity models to meet real cooking needs in different usage scenarios.

一. What Is a Drum-Shaped Inner Pot?

The drum-shaped inner pot features naturally curved walls, a slightly wider midsection, and a smoothly transitioning bottom, unlike the vertical walls of traditional straight-sided pots. In large-capacity cookers, as the rice layer increases, the distance from the heating source at the bottom to the top layer of rice becomes significant. The drum-shaped design alters heat and steam flow paths, improving overall heat exchange and ensuring more consistent cooking results.

二. Enhanced Steam Circulation

The curved profile of a drum-shaped inner pot guides steam more efficiently inside the pot rather than allowing it to escape upward directly. This repeated internal circulation ensures more uniform moisture distribution, which improves rice cooking consistency and texture.

三. Thermal Challenges in Large Capacities

As capacity increases, the rice layer height becomes significantly higher:

• 3–5 cup models: rice layer height ~60–80 mm
• 10–15 cup models: rice layer height ~120–150 mm

In straight-walled pots, this can result in a temperature difference of 5–10°C between top and bottom layers, affecting overall cooking uniformity. The drum-shaped inner pot’s curved walls guide heat upward, helping to reduce these temperature gradients and improve even cooking throughout the pot.

四. Reduced Risk of Local Overheating

Large-capacity cookers can experience heat concentration at the bottom and edges during prolonged cooking.

• Drum-shaped inner pots increase effective heat contact area and disperse thermal energy, reducing the risk of localized overheating.
• This minimizes burning or uneven texture issues.

Industry tests show that in large-capacity cooking conditions, drum-shaped pots can reduce top-to-bottom temperature differences by 15–25% compared to straight-walled pots, improving consistency and stability of the cooked rice.

五. More Efficient Use of Space

Drum-shaped inner pots provide 7–10% more effective cooking volume than straight pots with the same nominal capacity.

• A 15-cup drum-shaped inner pot can hold more food without increasing the external dimensions.
• Ideal for kitchens with limited counter space but high cooking demand.

六. Structural Durability and Long-Term Stability

The curved design helps distribute thermal stress, reducing material fatigue during repeated heating and cooling cycles.

• Improves long-term stability of the inner pot
• Suited for high-frequency or large-capacity cooking scenarios