Rice cooker?

I bought a cheap 20 quid rice cooker off the bay and although it took a few tries and writing down measurements etc it does basmati pretty ok.

Tho i will say that typically 2-3 cups of rice generally takes about 16 mins to cook and dont rely on the auto shut off feature which switches it to warm, because it doesnt cool down quick enough so you can get slight burning. Best to generally take the pot out of the cooker about 16-18 mins mark to avoid over cooking. So if the cooker doesn't auto switch after say 16-20 mins max i would turn off the cooker and take the pot out and put it on the side somewhere.

Some ppl say just get one from a Asian store as there better and cheap so. I mean the typical Japanese i think uses the cheap ones so if its good enough for them its good enough for anyone.
 
I went with a Zojirushi (£194) from yumasia.co.uk (they import Zojirushi from Japan, fit UK mains, test and certify them).

Well work the money - perfect rice every time, total set it and forget it. Also has a 'be ready by' feature, and a clever keep warm function which doesn't overcook. Can also be used as a steamer and has various settings for different kinds of rice.
 
I personally cook my rice in a Le Creuset pan. Not too much or too little water. Just enough water to cook the rice and there be none left at the end. The heavy lid helps. A rice cooker can make things easier but is a big cost.
 
delta0 said:
I personally cook my rice in a Le Creuset pan. Not too much or too little water. Just enough water to cook the rice and there be none left at the end. The heavy lid helps. A rice cooker can make things easier but is a big cost.
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Not just easier, but the best rice ever. I don't think it is possible to reproduce the kind of cooking under pressure and regulated temperature over 40-60minutes in a pan (which usually takes 15-20).

Now I know the restaurant's secret to fluffy rice, perfectly starched (for savoury/sweetness balance).
 
Rice cooker can be as cheap or as expensive as you like - similar to Slow Cooker. It all boils down to what you want from it (pun intended!)

I was givena Toshiba Rice Cooker from my Aunt in Singapore when I first moved out...
http://www.harveynorman.com.sg/toshiba-rc-18nmf.html

Expensive for a student budget in mind, where I had a £20 'nonstick' rice cooker that lasted 6 months before it became pan sticky at every batch. The Toshiba I've owned for 3 years now, still perfect. It also had extra features which cooks congee to perfection everytime - something which takes a lot of stirring and effort in a pan. This is rice, water, button walk away for 40mins.

Some crazy features include baking(!!), proofing of bread, perfect soft eggs and any other things rice cooker hackers tried with their cooker.

For me, this is the most used item in my kitchen, including the hob. Rice + Water, steamer tray on top with a plate of meatloaf, fish and/or veg, timer for it to finish cooking when I'm home from work. Perfect for couple, easier for busy family IMO.
 
I'm guessing those people claiming to be able to make rice in a pan yet still buy a rice cooker can't make very good rice. Giving excuses of convenience. How much easier do you want it?

Is it only rice you're making to eat on it's own? Aren't you already standing at the hob making a curry or something similar to accompany the rice?

People who buy rice cookers can't make rice, you're bluffing!
People who drop £200 on one needs they're heads checked.
 
Buchanan0204 said:
I'm guessing those people claiming to be able to make rice in a pan yet still buy a rice cooker can't make very good rice. Giving excuses of convenience. How much easier do you want it?

Is it only rice you're making to eat on it's own? Aren't you already standing at the hob making a curry or something similar to accompany the rice?

People who buy rice cookers can't make rice, you're bluffing!
People who drop £200 on one needs they're heads checked.
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Horses for courses. I've made rice in a pan for more than 5 years, successfully, but wanted asian restaurant quality... which you just won't get cooking it in a pan (and will only get under regulated pressure cooked over 40-60 minutes).

Further, I wanted to be able to set it and forget it, whether that's for the evening's meal or when I make batches and then fridge cool the rice to make fried rice the next day.
 
Millions of people cooking rice in a rice cooker - be it cheap or expensive, fanciful or quality, does it make them all rubbish at making rice? No. There are other things more important to do.

Besides, a typical family cooked meal is 3 dish and a soup with rice as staple.
Having something that does it perfect everytime saves your mind to concentrate on other dishes.
 
I got one of the £15 tesco ones, definatly one for the bottom of the pile as it just burns the rice at the bottom regardless of the volumes involved. I just use my steamer these days..
 
Hatter The Mad said:
Horses for courses. I've made rice in a pan for more than 5 years, successfully, but wanted asian restaurant quality... which you just won't get cooking it in a pan (and will only get under regulated pressure cooked over 40-60 minutes).

Further, I wanted to be able to set it and forget it, whether that's for the evening's meal or when I make batches and then fridge cool the rice to make fried rice the next day.
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I get "asian rice quality" from my pan. I use Korean rice and use just enough water. It comes out super sticky and cooked just right.
 
I don't know why people need rice cookers, they aren't an essential. Rice is so easy to cook once you learn the correct technique. I have thought about them before just for ease of use, but it would take up too much space.
We only eat basmati or jasmine at home (I come from an Indian background and my wife is Filipino, so we eat rice at least 2-3 times a week). Equal parts of water and rice, bring the water to the boil, add rice, then turn to very low, half way through add a splash of water and cook until the water had evaporated.
Having said that I can see the appeal if rice is your daily staple, as it is for millions of people round the world.
 
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