CUCKOO CRP-ST1009FG Review: The Twin Pressure Master

The 30-Second Pitch ⏱️

Most rice cookers force you to choose: Pressure (fast, chewy) or Non-Pressure (fluffy, delicate). The CUCKOO CRP-ST1009FG says “why not both?”

This is the updated version of the classic RT1009 series, now featuring Open Cooking Mode which lets you add ingredients mid-cycle (like veggies or shrimp) without canceling the program. It’s Cuckoo’s best attempt at making a rice cooker that’s also a legitimate one-pot meal machine.

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What Is “Twin Pressure”?

It’s exactly what it sounds like — two distinct pressure modes in one cooker:

Ultra-High Pressure (1.8 atm / ~29 PSI)

Water boils at ~117°C instead of 100°C. The higher temperature:

• Forces moisture deep into grains for maximum stickiness
• Creates softer, chewier rice with a slightly sweet taste (extra starch breakdown)
• Cuts cooking time by 40-50% compared to non-pressure models
• Best for: Korean short-grain, glutinous rice, GABA brown rice

Zero Pressure (Standard)

Cooks without any pressure seal — the lid vents naturally. This produces:

• Fluffy, separated grains with more “bounce”
• Lighter texture ideal for frying or pilafs
• Best for: Jasmine rice, basmati, fried rice prep

Having both modes means you aren’t locked into one texture style. You can make sticky Korean rice for dinner and loose jasmine rice for fried rice the next day — same machine, completely different results.

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Open Cooking Mode: The Real Innovation

This is Cuckoo’s answer to “can I add things to my rice while it’s cooking?”

In traditional rice cookers, opening the lid mid-cycle ruins the cooking process — steam escapes, temperature drops, and the timer loses its calibration. Open Cooking mode solves this by:

1. Pausing the pressure cycle safely (venting steam first)
2. Unlocking the lid for ingredient addition
3. Resuming the cooking from where it left off, recalibrating temperature

Practical uses:

• Add shrimp in the last 10 minutes of a rice/vegetable cook
• Layer cheese on top of a rice casserole near the end
• Add fresh herbs that would wilt if cooked the entire cycle
• Drop in dumplings to steam above the rice

It’s genuinely useful for one-pot meals. Most other cookers require you to either pre-load everything or stop and restart.

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Performance Testing

Grain/Mode	Setting	Time	Result	Notes
White short-grain (Pressure)	Ultra-High	~25 min	⭐⭐	Chewy, sticky, restaurant-quality
White short-grain (Zero)	Standard	~40 min		Lighter, fluffier — great for bowls
Brown rice (Pressure)	GABA	~55 min		Remarkably soft; no hard centers
Jasmine rice (Zero)	Non-Pressure	~35 min		Fluffy, fragrant, well-separated
Mixed grain (Pressure)	Multi-grain	~45 min		Each grain distinct but tender
Porridge	Congee	~55 min		Silky smooth, no lumps

The 25-minute pressure white rice is a game-changer. The Zojirushi takes 45 minutes for comparable texture. For busy families, this time savings adds up to hours per week.

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The Voice Guide: Love It or Hate It

The CRP-ST1009FG speaks. In English, Korean, or Chinese. It tells you when it’s preheating, when pressure is building, when steam is venting, and when your rice is done.

For first-time users navigating the complex menu system, the voice guide is genuinely helpful. For experienced users, it gets old fast.

Fix: Settings → Voice → Volume 1 (keeps safety alerts, kills menu narration). Or Volume 0 for complete silence.

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Auto Steam Clean

After every pressure cook, the Cuckoo can run a high-pressure steam blast through the valve and nozzle. This clears starch residue that accumulates in the pressure release mechanism — a common failure point in cheaper pressure cookers.

It takes about 5 minutes and uses ~1/4 cup of water. We recommend running it weekly if you cook daily.

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Cuckoo vs. Zojirushi: The Big Showdown

Feature	Cuckoo CRP-ST1009FG	Zojirushi NS-ZCC10
Price	~$250	~$198
Technology	Fuzzy Logic + Twin Pressure	Neuro Fuzzy (no pressure)
White rice time	~25 min (pressure)	~45 min
Brown rice	~55 min (GABA mode)	~85 min
Texture control	2 modes (pressure/zero)	1 mode (adjusts via Neuro Fuzzy)
Unique feature	Open Cooking	Self-learning neural network
Capacity	10 cups	5.5 cups
Made in	South Korea	Japan
Noise	Fan during pressure release	Silent
Best for	Speed + versatility	Pure texture perfection

The verdict: The Cuckoo wins on speed and versatility. The Zojirushi wins on texture refinement and simplicity. If you cook for a family and value speed, get the Cuckoo. If you’re a texture purist who doesn’t mind waiting, get the Zojirushi.

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Who Should Buy This?

Buy it if:

• You cook for 3+ people regularly (10-cup capacity)
• Speed matters — 25-minute white rice is a legitimate selling point
• You want texture versatility (sticky Korean + fluffy jasmine in one machine)
• You like one-pot meals and want the Open Cooking feature

Skip it if:

• You cook for 1-2 people (this is large — consider the Bear)
• You want a simple “press one button” experience (the menu system is complex)
• Fan noise bothers you (it’s brief but noticeable during pressure release)
• Budget is the priority (the Tiger JBV at $85 is great for the money)

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Grainy’s Verdict 🍙

The Cuckoo CRP-ST1009FG is the most versatile rice cooker we’ve tested. Twin Pressure gives you texture options no single-mode cooker can match, and Open Cooking is a genuinely useful innovation — not just a gimmick.

The learning curve is real (budget 2-3 cooks to figure out the menus), but once you’ve got it dialed in, this machine handles everything from 25-minute weeknight rice to slow-cooked brown rice with GABA activation.

Bottom line: If you want speed AND texture options, this is the one to buy.

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