How many people own a rice cooker?

[bssc]

Back home so I can tell you that our favorite brand of rice is Matsuri, a short grain rice.

 

[GusLevy]

We eat rice approx three times per week as we often order Thai or Chinese take out and make our own rice. Zojirushi cooker with Daipoong brown rice for meals. Shirakiku white rice for Korean style sushi snacks.

The Zojirushi (and prob other "fuzzy" cookers) are great for their ease of use, cleaning and ability to keep rice heated for prob up to a day.

 

[photoguy]

Do any of you rinse the rice before using your rice cooker? If so, does it really make a difference in cooking or is it just to diminish the frothing?

If you are using domestic rice that has been enriched (e.g. most white rice) you should not rinse the rice as the starchy coating contains the added nutrients.

 

[lhamo]

We use our rice cooker almost daily. It is a Chinese brand you probably can't get in the US, but my experience has been that there is not too much difference between rice cookers. I usually rinse lightly with tap water and then add water using the "knuckle method" -- level out the rice on the bottom of the cooker, and then add enough water to reach from the tip of your index finger to your first knuckle. Pretty much turns out perfect rice every time. I think one reason that rice cookers are so popular in Asia is that in many Asian homes you only have a two-burner stovetop to work with, and most dishes need to be cooked on the stovetop. You may have something stewing on one burner while you make a couple of stir fries on the other burner. If you had to use one of those burners to cook your rice, too, making dinner would be much more complicated and take longer. with a rice cooker, your stovetop is freed up for cooking the rest of the meal, and the rice can be started in advanced and held warm for some time.

lhamo

 

[Major Tom]

I think one reason that rice cookers are so popular in Asia is that in many Asian homes you only have a two-burner stovetop to work with, and most dishes need to be cooked on the stovetop. You may have something stewing on one burner while you make a couple of stir fries on the other burner. If you had to use one of those burners to cook your rice, too, making dinner would be much more complicated and take longer. with a rice cooker, your stovetop is freed up for cooking the rest of the meal, and the rice can be started in advanced and held warm for some time.
lhamo

Thanks for that bit of info lhamo. It might well explain it.

 

[ERD50]

I think one reason that rice cookers are so popular in Asia is that in many Asian homes you only have a two-burner stovetop to work with, and most dishes need to be cooked on the stovetop. ... with a rice cooker, your stovetop is freed up for cooking the rest of the meal,...

lhamo

Ahhh, that makes a lot of sense. And I suppose people just stuck with that, even when moving to larger kitchen in the US.

From the comments here, I can see the advantages of a dedicated rice cooker, more predictable results, longer hold times, free up a burner, etc - but for me personally, only cooking rice maybe ~ 1/week, I can't see dedicating cabinet space to it. That changes if you cook rice every day, and/or have trouble getting your rice cooked the way you want.

I recall now, DW had a 'steamer' device for vegetables and it had a rice basket. It worked well, she used it any time she made rice or steamed veggies, but it crapped out (and I couldn't fix it ) and we were not motivated to replace it.


I always wondered about the rinse-no-rinse. I follow directions, and they vary from one package to the next, but the rice always turns out, so I just go with it.

-ERD50

 

[Major Tom]

I always wondered about the rinse-no-rinse. I follow directions, and they vary from one package to the next, but the rice always turns out, so I just go with it.
-ERD50

The Filipinos I hung out with would always rinse the rice, but then they'd use the starchy water to make soup, so no nutrients were thrown away.

 

[haha]

We had one and used it almost daily, but rice is not part of low carb eating so it is gone now. Probably 3-4 nights a week dinner was red beans and rice, with chopped raw onion and cheddar cheese on top.

They do work great, no more burned rice once you use one of these.

Ha

 

[W2R]

<sigh> I knew I should not have clicked on this thread. I love rice. I make rice in a pan and every time it's a challenge of being too sticky, not done, and sometimes - just right.

I just bought a basic little 3.3 Cup Panasonic off Amazon. It will probably be here the first part of next week.

I am tempted! I just went to Amazon and that Panasonic rice cooker is attractive. The one I am looking at is inexpensive, small, and it can cook just one cup of rice if desired. Reviewers say it is easy to clean. I may order it also if I can think of someplace to store it.

 

[bssc]

We always washed our rice but my wife doesn't. Here is a more detailed explanation.

 

[bright eyed]

Growing up we always had a rice cooker in the house, it was constantly on - as it was always being eaten by someone - like someone else mentioned - can't do that with stove top rice. Most of the asian brands have a "warmer" setting so you can cook it and leave it in the cooker - after about 24 hours it is a bit browned on the bottom but usually it is already eaten!

I only cook rice a couple times a month at most! But last year my parents bought the rolls royce of rice cookers - I was laughing - it is like a robot. It talks to you, can cook 20 or more kinds of rice (levels of sticky-ness, brown rice, sushi rice etc)...it scares my kids when it talks or releases steam... i think it was over $500...

Here's a commercial for it - look how happy it will make you!

YouTube - cuckoo rice cooker

 

[Sue J]

I cook rice in a saucepan and it comes out fine. I love brown rice and wild rice. For white I use Jasmine rice.

I have a steamer and it came with a rice cooking basket. I tried it once but didn't continue to use it because it took up counter space when I can easily use the stove.

Now that I've read everyone else's comments I may dig out the rice basket and instruction book and give this another try. The steamer is kept handy in a cupboard and I use it all the time for vegetables or clams or shrimp, just not for rice.

 

[modhatter]

Uh Oh, I think I'm responsible for Amazon selling a few extra rice cookers in the last 24 hours.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Woman Killed By Rice Cooker

Woman Killed By Rice Cooker:

Pattaya Police were notified on the 20th February that a woman had been died from receiving an electric shock at a store on Walking Street.

Officers went to the convenience store to find the body of 24 years old Miss Sureerat, who worked as assistant manager. Her co-worker, 32 year old Sureeporn told the police that they were cooking rice in the electric rice cooker when Sureerat pulled the plug out of the socket and received a shock. On examination, officers found the lead around the plug was very frayed and potentially dangerous. The body was taken away for an autopsy and relatives will be notified of the sad incident.

 

[MasterBlaster]

If you don't have the best, at least you can accessorize !

 

[Fireup2020]

Mine is a little cheapo that is now about 15 years old - closest I could find on Amazon is this one: Amazon.com: Salton RA3A 3-Cup Rice Cooker: Kitchen & Dining

Been so long since I cooked rice on a stove, I might mess it up! I had a roommate who had one, and it was so handy for all rice varieties, I had to get one once no longer living there!

 

[Meadbh]

I am tempted! I just went to Amazon and that Panasonic rice cooker is attractive. The one I am looking at is inexpensive, small, and it can cook just one cup of rice if desired. Reviewers say it is easy to clean. I may order it also if I can think of someplace to store it.

Here is a review of the one I have. I can't find a picture of it online, so perhaps it's not made anymore. I've had it for probably 16 years. It's extremely easy to use, can be used to cook eggs, fish, vegetables, or rice, and is perfect for one person. So Sunday I cooked veggies in it (mmmm!) and tonight, basmati rice.

Proctor Silex Vegetable Steamer/Rice Cooker is simply versatile! - Proctor Silex Vegetable Steamer/Rice Cooker Model C36507 - Viewpoints

 

[Mmm Rrr]

I've been using the same cheapie for 20 years --- I have a ball of aluminum foil stored inside it that I use to prop up a missing leg! I use it at least once a week.

The thing I love about a rice cooker is that it makes cooking rice a no-brainer. I'm usually putting my energy and thought into cooking whatever is going with the rice. To know that perfect rice is waiting (and not deteriorating) lets me enjoy the cooking more.

 

[W2R]

Here is a review of the one I have. I can't find a picture of it online, so perhaps it's not made anymore. I've had it for probably 16 years. It's extremely easy to use, can be used to cook eggs, fish, vegetables, or rice, and is perfect for one person. So Sunday I cooked veggies in it (mmmm!) and tonight, basmati rice.

Proctor Silex Vegetable Steamer/Rice Cooker is simply versatile! - Proctor Silex Vegetable Steamer/Rice Cooker Model C36507 - Viewpoints

Thanks, Meadbh! That sounds like a really good one, and it's nice to know that it will work for one person. So many kitchen appliances seem to be better suited to cooking for a small army.

 

[BigMoneyJim]

I used to own a cheap rice cooker, but it only made plain rice. If I put stock or anything else in, the bottom would burn. Also it was more of a pain to clean than a pot. And it took up too much room in my apartment kitchen.

Tip: It doesn't hurt to put too much liquid in. When it's done, drain the rice like pasta, fluff it, and it will steam off the rest for perfect rice.

Can't maintain proper heat on the stovetop? Preheat oven to 350 degrees F while bringing liquid to boil, add rice, bring to boil again, put in oven covered. leave the pot in the warm oven if for the "stay warm" function. (Turn oven off or turn down to, say, 200F.)

I peek. With white rice you can see the difference between the translucent cooked parts and the white uncooked part in the center when it's not yet done.

 

[ERD50]

I reported earlier that my white rice on the stove top always comes out great. I don't cook brown rice very often, but wanted it for a meal tonight, and googling brought up this:

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Perfect-Brown-Rice

Tip: It doesn't hurt to put too much liquid in. When it's done, drain the rice like pasta, fluff it, and it will steam off the rest for perfect rice.

And that is what this recipe does, to an extreme. It seemed strange to me, but you boil the rice in a LOT of liquid (3 Quarts water for 1 cup dry rice). It says boil for 30 minutes, I lost track so tasted/tested as I went along, and drained it when it was just slightly less than fully done (probably 30 minutes though). Drain, put back covered but unheated for 10 minutes, then I stirred in saute'd mushrooms, scallions, and some toasted pecans, no salt or other seasonings and it was really good.

The rest of the meal was even better, like high-end restaurant good (according to DW, and even myself and I'm my worst critic), cheap ingredients and pretty easy. Maybe I'll post to the recipe thread later.

-ERD50

 

[Moscyn]

I have a Philips rice cooker for 15 years but before that I cooked rice in a normal pot and then graduated to cooking in microwave. I now use the rice cooker at least twice a week. I boil white rice or once in a long while, I do a chicken rice. I can boil congee with it but prefer to use a thermos pot with the congee.

 

[lhamo]

I am tempted! I just went to Amazon and that Panasonic rice cooker is attractive. The one I am looking at is inexpensive, small, and it can cook just one cup of rice if desired. Reviewers say it is easy to clean. I may order it also if I can think of someplace to store it.

Come over to the dark side of rice-cooker-ownership, WR2 -- you know you want to!

[insert evil darth vader breathing sounds when reading that...]

lhamo

 

[Dimsumkid]

For those of you looking to buy one, check out Costco, they carry one made by Aroma for only $29.99 (Chicago area price). It's pretty nice, the color is white, has a setting for brown rice, steams and has a non stick coated inside for those of you that don't cleaning out the leftover hardened rice. Best of all, it's backed by Costco's guarantee.

 

[modhatter]

You beat me to the news Dimsumkid. I just got back from Costco and saw them. I bought one as a gift. Great deal.
They were my second choice for cooker. Could not resist getting one at that price and it is very versatile. Has all the goodies on it.

I have used my Samsung ($110 ) twice now. I steamed some eggs, and cooked some great short grain white rice I got from Asian store. It was fantastic.

The cooker made it easy as pie. I just bought some more challenging long grain brown rice tonight. Anxious to see how that comes out. Also going to make bread pudding in it. Then steam some vegetables. Such fun. My life must be dull.