Rice Cookers

[stolly]

We have been eating so much rice since DD was diagnosed, it seems that a rice cooker might be a good option for me. I often use a crockpot for the main dish, but then have trouble timing the rice just perfectly with all of the other things going on with the kids in the meantime. So, for those of you who have rice cookers...do you recommend them? Any particular feature that is important, or brand to trust or avoid? Do you just cook plain rice with water/broth, or any other recipes? Thank you!!

[tarnalberry]

it's kind of ridiculously expensive, but we went with a zojirushi (the expensive one with "fuzzy logic").

it can cook any kind of rice, to perfection, no burnt bottoms, no sogginess, no undercooking. just perfect rice, no thinking required. kinda totally awesome.

[MaryJones2]

I have a Open Original Shared Link and love it.

[missy'smom]

We have a National/Panasonic that is over 10 years old and still going strong. The ones like Zojirushi and National are well made and worth the extra cost. You may want to look at the settings. Ours has settings for various kinds of rice as well as a quick cook option and a programable timer so we could set it to have fresh rice in the am. or ready when you get home. We don't use that feature but it's there. One tip for buying one is if you live in a large city that has asian markets check them out. In NY and LA the Japanese rice cookers were often cheaper at the Korean markets or electronic stores but some Japanese markets that had large selections often had very good sales from time to time. We make alot of pilafs. The other day we added some sake, soy sauce and mirin, according to a given recipe,to flavor the rice and mixed mushrooms and a bit of fried tofu(age). We often use those same seasonings and vary the veg/meat like uncooked chicken, carrots. You can add diced uncooked sweet potato to plain rice.

[cruelshoes]

I know it's not what you asked, but...

I use my pressure cooker to make rice. I can cook perfect brown rice in 20 minutes, and perfect white rice in 8 minutes. It is fantastic and quick, and always cookis out great made with either broth or just plain water. So if you have a pressure cooker (also great for all kinds of meats, beans, etc) you might give it a try.

I have thought about a rice cooker, but my kitchen is really too small. Hope you find one that works for you!

[purple]

Mine is a Black & Decker RC400, 7-cup. It works great. I usually use a can of broth and the rest water.

[Hummingbird4]

I got a fairly inexpensive 4-cup Cuisinart model at Bed, Bath and Beyond. It works great, and makes just enough rice for our family.

[Lisa16]

We eat a rice-based diet-- my love is from Sri Lanka. We use the tiger brand from Japan. It is by far and away the best we have tried. Plus it is fairly compact for a larger machine and doesn't eat a lot of counter space.

You can get them online. With daily use they will go about 5-6 years.

[mftnchn]

I agree about the Asian sources. They are very common in Asia. However, when I went to buy one recently in the USA they were much more expensive in the Asian store I checked. I bought mine at Target for about $30. It works great.

I think most of them work very well, and in my opinion you don't need all the various settings for different rice as long as you learn how much water to put in. I do like the programmable timer though.

[knitaddict]

Love, love, love, love, love my rice cooker. Did I mention that I LOVE that thing?!?!?! I got it a few years ago before my dx and, of course, I use it like crazy now...but I've always loved it. It's too easy! It's a microwave rice steamer from Pampered Chef...I got it for free for hosting one of those parties...(which I used to do all the time before I had a kid...LOL). I use it for white rice...but I also use it to make pilafs...I use it for that Mahatma rice (love the saffron...yum!)...I use it to make Spanish rice....everything! And it's so easy to clean...you can wash it by hand, or put it in the dishwasher...the WHOLE THING is dishwasher safe. Awesome....wouldn't trade it for anything....when I die, they'll have to PRY it from my dead and lifeless hands!!!!!!!