Best Idli Cookers to Make Fluffy Idli at Home in India

Idli – one of the most popular snacks in India.

You will find that not only every household is familiar with idli but it is equally served with love from small street vendors to the royal rasoi’s and premium restaurants across the nation.

Though it is widely popular in India, food historians believe that it is originated in Indonesia, a country that popular for its fermented food tradition.

During the period of 800 to 1200 CE, this brought to India in the form of steamed rice cake and some believe that the word idli is originated from ‘Iddalige’ or ‘Iddarika’.

Manasollasa, an ancient Sanskrit book mentions that it is made from the urad dal. So, it is clear that from early days idli has close relation with rice, urad dal, and fermentation process.

But the soulful taste, real fluffiness to this rice batter is brought by the process of steaming.

A specially designed cooker that helps to steam this savoury rice cake is commonly known as idli maker and makes the whole process easy. Some people call it puddu maker.

Though there is a number of idli makers in the market, choosing the right one is a daunting process. You need to consider the size, quality, types, material, and price.

With so many things to look for and having multiple options to choose from, you may get overwhelmed. To make the thing easier for you, we have outlined several tips that will help you buy the best idli maker.

In this article, we will discuss the several points that you need to consider while buying the idli cooker and will review the best choices that you can buy online.

Top 7 Best Idli Makers to Buy Online in India

Best Idli Cooker Reviews

Here are some top picks of idli cooker in India that you can buy online.

1. Pigeon Stainless Steel Idly Maker

Best for medium-size families can steam veggies & momos (Does not come with dhokla plates)

Highly popular, elegantly designed stainless steel idly cooker with a whistle. It is made from the thick gauze and a sturdy product.

This idli maker has 6 plates that can cook 24 small sized (approximated 4 inches) idlis in one go.  It does not come with dhokla plates but can be used to steam veggies and momos.

It’s corrosion-free, the rust-proof design is easy to wash and has a warranty of 6 months duration. The whistle provides better control over the steam pressure.

Pigeon idly maker has decent quality material but has less space between two idli plates and cook small-sized idlis. It is a good option for families of 4 to 6 people who love to eat small to medium-sized idlis.

Specifications –

Best for: Cooking idli, momos & veggies
Idly Size: 4.5 inches
Types: Whistle cooker with induction and standard use.
No of idli cooked in one go: 24

Reasons to buy:

1. Made of high gauge stainless steel
2. Easy to clean
3. It can be used with an induction cooktop and gas stove.
4. Lightweight, multipurpose idly maker
5. Comes with a whistle and better steam pressure control
6. Corrosion resistance, rustproof design

Reasons to avoid:

1. Less space between two plates.
2. Cook small size idly
3. Plates have a sharp edge at the bottom below the hole
4. Not for big families

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2. Alisha Stainless Steel Steamers and Idli Maker

Another stainless steel idli maker on this list is this one from Alisha. If you are looking for a idli maker that is compatible on gas as well as induction, then this one is a great option to consider.

You can make a variety of dishes other than idli like Khaman Dhokla, momos, noodles, aur even steam vegetables.

This Idli cooker is compact in design which takes up minimum space on your shelf and countertop.

It is made from superior quality SS202 stainless steel that ensures durability and the mirror finish makes it look good on your shelf. The idli maker is super easy to clean too.

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3. iBELL Idly Cooker Stainless Steel Idli Maker

Durable, versatile, lightweight idli maker for small & medium size families.

iBell, a truly desi company that began in 2007 in Ernakulam district now becomes one of the topmost companies that consistently provide a wide range of quality products.

This idly maker is no exception to the mission of the company to provide customers with quality products.

iBell idly cooker comes in two variants, first has 4 plates that can cook 16 idly and the other has 6 plates that can cook 24 idly. This way, it becomes a great fit for the family of 4 to 6 people.

It is made from high-quality stainless steel using the thicker gauge. It can be used with a gas stove and induction cook-top.

It is observed that the iBell idly cooker can steam the idli within 5 to 6 minutes when used with an induction cook-top which makes it an energy-efficient idli maker.

Specifications –

Best for: Cooking idli
Size: Available in 4 and 6 plates
Types: Whistle idly maker
No of idli cooked in one go: 16 idly, regular size and 24 idly small size

Reasons to buy:

1. Stainless steel, whistle type idly cooker
2. Easy to clean
3. It can be used with an induction cooktop and gas stove.
4. Energy efficient

Reasons to avoid:

1. Not sturdy enough.

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4. Pristine Stainless Steel Mini Multi-Purpose Kadai

Best for a small family and can cook idli, dhokla, momos and Patra

One of the versatile cooker that can steam not only the idly but various food including veggies, momos, and dhokla. It has two idly plates that can cook the 8 idly at a time.

The cooker is made from stainless steel that has fair durability and can work with the gas stove and induction cooktop.

The total capacity of kadai is 2.5 liter which is not so great for large families but can be ideal for small families with 2 to 3 people.

It is almost equivalent to the traditional idly cooker and does not have a whistle or automatic cooking mechanism so you need to check manually whether the idly is cooked or not.

Specifications –

Best for: Cooking idli, dhokla, momos & Patra
Size: 2.5 liters
Types; Traditional idly maker
No of idli cooked in one go: 8

Reasons to buy:

1. Made of stainless steel
2. Easy to wash
3. Work with induction cooktop and gas stove.
4. Multipurpose cooker

Reasons to avoid:

1. Plate handles not insulated & may cause burn
2. May get a crack after multiple use.
3. Not for large families
4. Often idli sticks to the plates (use a clean cloth to avoid this)

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5. Ideal Nonstick Idly Maker

Can steam cook idli, momos, and veggies.

Made from aluminum with non-stick coating and comes with 4 and 6 idly plates, each plate cook 4 small sizes idly.

The ideal nonstick idly cooker is compatible with an induction cooktop and gas stove. The handle and lid holding knob are coated with insulating material to avoid the hand burn.

The base of the cooker is thin and inside of the cooker is not coated but the stand comes with non-stick feature.  The cooker can steam cook the 16/24 small size idly and also useful to cook the momos.

The cooker is made with skip-proof design and is lightweight to handle. It is not coated inside and like other idli makers, it has some shortcoming like minimum space between two idli plates.

Specifications –

Best for: Cooking idli, momos, and steaming veggies
Size: Available in 4 and 6 plates
Types: Whistle idly maker
No of idli cooked in one go: 16 and 24 idly, small size

Reasons to buy:

1. Aluminum with coating outside, whistle type idly cooker
2. Skid-proof design
3. It can be used with an induction cooktop and gas stove.
4. Lightweight

Reasons to avoid:

1. Small space between two idli plates.

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6. Pristine 4 Plates Idli Cooker

Made from the high-quality material, the Pristine idli cooker is a traditional type of idly maker which comes with an elegant, and sturdy design. It is not a fancy cooker and built with to serves the one purpose i.e making idli.

Pristine is a well-known brand for quality products and deals in a wide range of kitchen appliances. Some of the products even exported internationally and have ISO certifications.

This 4 plate idli maker also one of those products that received the ISO certification for its quality.

The cooker has 21 cm diameter and is made using high-quality stainless steel material for longevity. It has a thick pressure gauge that helps to maintain the pressure while cooking the idly.

The cooker has 4 plates, each one cooks the 4 idlis. Though the cooker has good quality, it doesn’t come with any warranty while writing this review.

Specifications –

Best for: Cooking idli
Size: 21 cm diameter and has 4 idli plates
Types: Traditional idly maker
No of idli cooked in one go: 16 idly, small size

Reasons to buy:

1. Stainless steel traditional idly maker
2. Has bakelite handles
3. Induction compatible
4. ISO certified organization

Reasons to avoid:

1. No warranty.
2. Cook small size idli

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7. QSEC Stainless Steel Idli Cooker

This stainless steel idli maker has a heavy gauge copper bottom. It is made using high quality stainless steel which makes it super durable.

The stainless steel is leak proof, food grade and rust proof. The cooker is designed in a way that ensures minimum cooking time.

The best part is that this one is a multifunctional cooker as it has stainless steel dhokla and patra plates too. You can use these plates to steam vegetables too.

You can also remove the plates and use the kadai to fry foods.

The joints of this kadai are rust-proof and leak-proof. It is only compatible to be used on gas which means you cannot use it for cooking on an induction.

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How to Choose Idli Maker – Buying Guide

Though all idli maker serves the same purpose, they can vary in the features, price, size and may be made using a variety of material.

To ensure that you get your hands a top quality product, consider the following points while buying the idli maker.

Consider the Features

There are several idli makers in the market and each one has some distinct features that differ from others. So, you should first understand the major features before deciding what suits you better.

First, decide the material 

Idli makers are available in a variety of materials, ranging from steel to the ionized materials.

In such a case, it is better to decide what material you want your idli maker to be. Are you looking for steel made? or you are good with the one that made from aluminum?

Each material exhibits different characteristics. Cooker made from the aluminum tends to spread the heat evenly while steel made makers fails to spread the heat evenly.

Idli makers made from steel tend to lightweight, easy to wash, durable and keeps shining even after regular and prolonged use.

Idli makers made from the aluminum are quick to cook idli as compared to the steel but bit difficult to wash and less durable. The aluminum cooker is cheaper than that of steel.

Idly makers made from the aluminum are a traditional one and often lack the whistle and may require a soft cloth to cover the plates before adding the idly batter to them.

If you don’t want to use the cloth then you can go for the non-stick idli makers. Also, some idly makers are made from ionized material or ceramics making it more versatile. These can be used with the microwave.

So, if you are looking for a cost-effective version then go for the aluminum maker and if you require shiny, durable, and easy to wash maker then buy one that made from steel.

Check the versatility

Idli makers can be versatile these days.

They don’t just make idli’s but can also steam cook other food like momos, vegetables, idli dhokla, etc. Some people even consider them as an idli dhokla maker.

Here are some features you need to consider –

The number of idli cooked in one go – Usually, idli maker has 4 to 5 pits in one plate and can have 3 to 4 plates. Before buying consider how many plates this idli maker has and how many idli one plate can steam at a time.

Compatibility with stove type – Some idly maker can cook with induction cooktop while some with gas stove. There are some brands that go well with both. Select whatever suitable for you.

Multi-purpose idly maker – As discussed earlier, some idly makers are versatile and can cook idly dhokla, momos, and vegetables. check with the seller and see if need such multi-purpose idly maker or not.

Insulating handle – Check if the handle of the idli maker is insulated or not. Insulating handles are good to avoid the heat burns while handling the idly cooker.

Weight of idly cooker – Weight can vary as per the brand. Usually, an idli cooker can weigh around 1.2 to 3 kg.

Number of plates

The number of idly making plates can vary as per the brand and size of idli maker. The total number of plates will decide how many idlis you can make in one go.

If you have a small family of 3 to 4 people then you can buy an idly maker with 4 or fewer plates while medium to the large size of the family should always buy idly maker with the maximum number of plates.

Each plate has 4 to 6 provisions to cook the idlis. Again, it can differ from brand to brand. But usually, you will find one plate has 4 to 6 pits for idly batter.

Check durability & strength

It goes without saying that durable kitchen equipment is the one that gets more attention from ladies.

No matter whether you choose plastic, aluminum, steel or ionized one, your idly maker should always be made with the durable material.

In case it is made from steel, it should have heavy gauge stainless steel while aluminum idly makers should have high-quality aluminum.

Whether you buy plastic, stainless steel, aluminum or ionized cooker, the high-quality material should be used to make an idly maker and it should avoid the chemical reaction when heated or while cooking idly.

Idly maker should have rustproof features and should come with a properly secured, insulated and unbreakable handle.

Check safety measures

Anything that deals or works with steam should be checked for safety measures for users.

idly maker cook idly using the steam during the use, pressure builds up within the cooker due to constant creation of heat.

Nowadays, some idly cooker comes with the whistle to release this pressure while traditional cookers do not have such provision to release excessive steam but may have a small let-out.

Idli makers with whistle should have a heavy and thick lid to avoid the possible damage by steam. Often, they are made of glass to allow the user to have a view of the inside of the cooker.

The idly plates holding stands should also be checked for strength and safety. They should be thick enough to withstand the heat and should hold the plates together.

The space between two idly plates should be good enough to allow the steam to pass over all the plates. This will ensure that all the idly are cooked well.

Some idly maker comes with only two plates and does not have stands. Instead, each idli plate comes with a thick, spherical knob which supports the plates.

Quality & warranty

Whether you buy an idli maker or a dhokla maker, never skip a check on quality and warranty of the product.

Go for the well-established and reputed brand while idly maker because often buying such kitchen equipment is a one-time affair and you need it to be of the best quality.

We have observed that different brands come with a different warranty which ranges from approximately 6 months up to 2 years. The more the warranty, the better it gets.

If you satisfy with the quality and warranty of the product and believe that the brand you are buying is worth your money then you should go for it.