I don't understand the capacity of Panda
Panda has two different capacity specifications, because it is both a dedicated rice cooker and a versatile multicooker.
Its capacity is stated as 0.6 litres / 3.5 rice cups for rice cooking, while its larger 1.3-litre capacity refers to the maximum volume of liquid the inner bowl can accommodate when using Panda's multicooking functions.
Understanding the difference between these two measurements is important, as rice cooker capacity and multicooker capacity are not measured in the same way.
0.6 Litres / 3.5 Cups – Rice Cooking Capacity
Panda has a 0.6-litre rice cooking capacity, which is equivalent to 3.5 Yum Asia rice measuring cups.
Our rice measuring cups have a capacity of 180ml, so:
1 cup = approximately 180ml / 180g of uncooked rice
2 cups = approximately 360ml / 360g
3 cups = approximately 540ml / 540g
3.5 cups = approximately 630ml / 630g
Therefore, Panda can cook up to 3.5 cups (approximately 630g) of uncooked white rice.
For example, if you want to cook just one cup of white rice, you would measure approximately 180g of uncooked rice using the supplied measuring cup.
Brown Rice Capacity
Brown rice behaves differently during cooking because it absorbs water differently and expands more than white rice.
For this reason, Panda's maximum recommended capacity for brown rice is 2.5 cups, rather than the full 3.5-cup white-rice capacity.
So the rice capacities are:
Rice type | Maximum uncooked capacity |
|---|---|
White rice | 3.5 cups / approx. 630g |
Brown rice | 2.5 cups / approx. 450g |
This additional space allows the brown rice to absorb the required water and expand during cooking without exceeding the intended cooking capacity.
1.3 Litres – Multicooking Capacity
The 1.3-litre capacity refers to Panda's multicooking capacity, rather than its rice capacity.
This means that when using Panda for functions such as slow cooking, porridge or other multicooking applications, the inner bowl can accommodate up to 1.3 litres of liquid.
It is therefore important not to interpret the 1.3-litre figure as meaning that Panda can cook 1.3 litres of uncooked rice. The 1.3-litre specification relates to the bowl's maximum multicooking/liquid capacity.
Why Are There Two Capacities?
Panda is designed to perform two different roles:
Rice cooker:
0.6 litres / 3.5 cups maximum white-rice capacity
Multicooker:
1.3 litres maximum bowl/liquid capacity
Rice expands substantially as it absorbs water, so the amount of uncooked rice that can safely be cooked is necessarily much lower than the bowl's total liquid volume.
This is why a rice cooker can have a 1.3-litre multicooking capacity but a 0.6-litre rice cooking capacity.
More Information About Rice Cooker Capacities
For a more detailed explanation of how rice cooker capacities are measured, including the difference between rice capacity and multicooking capacity, see our regional capacity guides:
🇬🇧 UK – Rice Cooker Capacity Guide
🇪🇺 Europe – Rice Cooker Capacity Guide
🇺🇸 USA – Rice Cooker Capacity Guide
In short: Panda is a 3.5-cup rice cooker for white rice, a 2.5-cup rice cooker for brown rice, and a 1.3-litre multicooker.