Are rice cookers actually worth it?

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MrSquished

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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Or are they just for people that can't cook or are lazy?

I have started to eat rice a lot with meals now - it's really simple to make obviously. 1 part rice to 2 parts liquid, rinse the rice, boil the salted water or broth, add a tiny bit of oil, bring to a boil, add the rice, bring back to a boil, then cover and simmer for 18 minutes. Fluff with a fork and then cover and let sit for 5 more. It always comes out perfect at this point. I cook Jasmine, Basmati and Jasmati rice types pretty much. Not interested in brown rice.

Not really about cost, but about taking up counter/cabinet space.
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
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MrSquished said:
Not really about cost, but about taking up counter/cabinet space.
Click to expand...

I am not a fan of single use gadgets. That said I have a good breadmaker because my family eat a lot of baked goods and I cant keep up with demand by using the oven.
I'd argue that a breadmaker is more flexible than a rice cooker but if you eat a lot of rice its probably worth it. You can set them on timers and they have keep warm settings so you can always have well cooked rice at hand.

On a more important issue. Steamed sticky rice >>> than any boiled rice!

Also...

e0a9a3d82274827346dad8eea5339e6517244be9b44299fd6a5d5da2372e2a96-300x227.jpg
 
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MrSquished

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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WelshBloke said:
I am not a fan of single use gadgets. That said I have a good breadmaker because my family eat a lot of baked goods and I cant keep up with demand by using the oven.
I'd argue that a breadmaker is more flexible than a rice cooker but if you eat a lot of rice its probably worth it. You can set them on timers and they have keep warm settings so you can always have well cooked rice at hand.

On a more important issue. Steamed sticky rice >>> than any boiled rice!

Also...

View attachment 35038
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of unitaskers either, as Alton Brown calls them. My toaster oven is the closest thing to a unitasker - it does three things mainly - make toast, warm up leftover pizza, and make frozen pizza. Occasionally something else does go in there.

I'm single and never want kids so some crazy family schedule is not in my future, a timer is useless. I just cook the rice while I make the accompaniments for it.
 
Captante

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
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Repost_4bfc8b_2471934.jpg



8CuMHaq.jpg
 
PowerEngineer

PowerEngineer

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2001
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BoomerD said:
yeah, seems like this topic comes up about once per year.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess I am glad I didn't miss it this year! 😂

I did get a rice cooker a few years back. Maybe I am just "lazy", but it is nice to just set it and forget it (especially with brown rice). Beside steaming vegetables, mine also does a nice job on steel cut oats.

More recently I received an Instant Pot, and most sources tell me that it also does a decent job of cooking rice. So in the interests of preserving counter space, I would suggest getting an Instant Pot (or whatever pressure cooker you prefer) and skipping the rice cooker.
 
Zeze

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
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Jesus Christ. Let me put this to rest... you white.. suburban...'This is Us'-watching... Americans.

Entire nations of Korea, Japan, and China all have rice cookers at home. That's 70 mil Koreans, 120 mil Japanese, and 1.2 bil (LOL) Chinese.

Why? Because unlike you, we eat rice for almost EVERY MEAL. This dedicated unitasker does an amazing job of making good rice and keeping it warm.

Just like pasta, there are properly cooked rice and crappy rice. If you buy a fancy pressure rice cooker with the vault-lock (Jap & Korean brands $250-300+) you get these amazingly springly/chewy/yet soft rice.

There are probably more rice cookers than microwaves in the world.


Qoo10 - [KOREA CUCHEN] Rice Cooker:CJH-PA1000iCCN for 10 people : Kitchen / Dining
Rice Cookers High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy

japan-hoshu-tokyo-akihabara-yodobashi-akiba-store-display-of-rice-cookers-MB0NY8.jpg



I own this one - it can cook crispy/toasty rice (similar to rice in paella).
 
Last edited:
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
32,413
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Zeze said:
Jesus Christ. Let me put this to rest... you white.. suburban...'This is Us'-watching... Americans.

Entire nations of Korea, Japan, and China all have rice cookers at home. That's 70 mil Koreans, 120 mil Japanese, and 1.2 bil (LOL) Chinese.

Why? Because unlike you, we eat rice for almost EVERY MEAL. This dedicated unitasker does an amazing job of making good rice and keeping it warm.

Just like pasta, there are properly cooked rice and crappy rice. If you buy a fancy pressure rice cooker (Jap & Korean brands $250-300+) you get these amazingly springly/chewy/yet soft rice.
Click to expand...
Yeah but the OP that asked the question doesn't eat rice every meal so maybe wind your neck in?

Also get some more variety in your starches!
 
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WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
32,413
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MrSquished said:
I'm not a fan of unitaskers either, as Alton Brown calls them. My toaster oven is the closest thing to a unitasker - it does three things mainly - make toast, warm up leftover pizza, and make frozen pizza. Occasionally something else does go in there.

I'm single and never want kids so some crazy family schedule is not in my future, a timer is useless. I just cook the rice while I make the accompaniments for it.
Click to expand...
If its just you and you don't need to keep a families worth of rice warm all day I wouldn't bother tbh.
 
Zeze

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
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WelshBloke said:
Yeah but the OP that asked the question doesn't eat rice every meal so maybe wind your neck in?

Also get some more variety in your starches!
Click to expand...

Last thread people couldn't wrap their heads around why there were rice cookers. That's all.
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
32,413
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BoomerD said:
Technically, a good rice cooker is multi-function...ours also functions very nicely as a vegetable steamer. (can also steam meats, but..... :x )


We've had that one for 8 years. I never liked rice before a rice cooker...now...I make better jasmine rice than I've ever had in any restaurant.

Up next is a decent breadmaker.
Click to expand...
I bought a Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC about 7 years ago and its still going strong and gets used every day. Its nice waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread without having to get up early to make it!
It does a good job of fruit breads and brioche as well as pizza dough.
I'd say that its only worth it if you eat a lot of bread though (I have a teenage son so its pretty handy in that respect).
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
32,413
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Zeze said:
Last thread people couldn't wrap their heads around why there were rice cookers. That's all.
Click to expand...
You sound very angry about it is all!
Mind you a diet of white rice can be quite constipating so that might explain it!

:p
 
E

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,553
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Zeze said:
Jesus Christ. Let me put this to rest... you white.. suburban...'This is Us'-watching... Americans.

Entire nations of Korea, Japan, and China all have rice cookers at home. That's 70 mil Koreans, 120 mil Japanese, and 1.2 bil (LOL) Chinese.

Why? Because unlike you, we eat rice for almost EVERY MEAL. This dedicated unitasker does an amazing job of making good rice and keeping it warm.

Just like pasta, there are properly cooked rice and crappy rice. If you buy a fancy pressure rice cooker with the vault-lock (Jap & Korean brands $250-300+) you get these amazingly springly/chewy/yet soft rice.

There are probably more rice cookers than microwaves in the world.


Qoo10 - [KOREA CUCHEN] Rice Cooker:CJH-PA1000iCCN for 10 people : Kitchen / Dining
Rice Cookers High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy

japan-hoshu-tokyo-akihabara-yodobashi-akiba-store-display-of-rice-cookers-MB0NY8.jpg



I own this one - it can cook crispy/toasty rice (similar to rice in paella).
Click to expand...

Started out with a decent rant but the ugly URLs left in detracted from overall quality. 4/10
 
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zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
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Zeze said:
Jesus Christ. Let me put this to rest... you white.. suburban...'This is Us'-watching... Americans.

Entire nations of Korea, Japan, and China all have rice cookers at home. That's 70 mil Koreans, 120 mil Japanese, and 1.2 bil (LOL) Chinese.

Why? Because unlike you, we eat rice for almost EVERY MEAL. This dedicated unitasker does an amazing job of making good rice and keeping it warm.

Just like pasta, there are properly cooked rice and crappy rice. If you buy a fancy pressure rice cooker with the vault-lock (Jap & Korean brands $250-300+) you get these amazingly springly/chewy/yet soft rice.

There are probably more rice cookers than microwaves in the world.


Qoo10 - [KOREA CUCHEN] Rice Cooker:CJH-PA1000iCCN for 10 people : Kitchen / Dining
Rice Cookers High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy

japan-hoshu-tokyo-akihabara-yodobashi-akiba-store-display-of-rice-cookers-MB0NY8.jpg



I own this one - it can cook crispy/toasty rice (similar to rice in paella).
Click to expand...

We get it: Asians eat a lot of rice.

I'm not sure you needed to exegesis the shit out of that axiom, but whatever.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,725
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Lol I have one old style rice cooker that I mostly use as a steamer, one with tons of buttons and an instant pot. I may end up using all three at the same time.

I tend to put the rice into the rice cooker, then start prepping the dishes and when I am done cooking rice is ready. Two pot would be something like beef curry in the IP and rice cooking in rice cooker. Three if I feel like steaming something as well.

Like a fish or this

www.justonecookbook.com

Chawanmushi (Japanese Savory Steamed Egg Custard) (Video) è¶ç¢è¸ã

Chawanmushi is a Japanese steamed egg custard served in a cup. Serve this savory appetizer before the main course of a classic Japanese meal.
www.justonecookbook.com www.justonecookbook.com
 
Last edited:
Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,004
2,748
136
Zeze said:
Jesus Christ. Let me put this to rest... you white.. suburban...'This is Us'-watching... Americans.

Entire nations of Korea, Japan, and China all have rice cookers at home. That's 70 mil Koreans, 120 mil Japanese, and 1.2 bil (LOL) Chinese.

Why? Because unlike you, we eat rice for almost EVERY MEAL. This dedicated unitasker does an amazing job of making good rice and keeping it warm.

Just like pasta, there are properly cooked rice and crappy rice. If you buy a fancy pressure rice cooker with the vault-lock (Jap & Korean brands $250-300+) you get these amazingly springly/chewy/yet soft rice.

There are probably more rice cookers than microwaves in the world.






I own this one - it can cook crispy/toasty rice (similar to rice in paella).
Click to expand...
Funny you didn't mention the Hindus...I mean Indians.

Most likely, the cheap cookers are what gets bought by the majority of them. Asians eat rice, but they also count beans very well.

And I have no doubt the made in China ones have more than a few potential shock hazard or fire hazard in some units.

Besides, the Chinese are very discerning between provinces...since after all...different, unintelligible languages between provinces leads to not-so-subtle cultural differences.

I'm Chinese too.
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
Multi-function rooms garner need for single-use appliances. Countries where you have lots of population density and very little space for a kitchen, these kinds of appliances allow for cooking real meals with limited space and no permanent major appliances. When you already have a massive appliance, like a 4-6 burner stove top, it's counter productive adding a small electric appliance to cook rice. Yes, they may work well...but so does a pot and a heat source. I just posted a rice thread stating I never did well cooking enriched white rice. Basmati is an awesome rice and cooks VERY easily. Brown rice does well, but takes a very long time to soften.

I've actually seen Chinese restaurants use rice cookers on their buffet to provide fresh, cooked white rice easily to customers. Some cookers are very good and have the perfect temp settings to nail it every time. It's just not necessary if you make rice often. My issue is that I never did well with enriched white rice, so I didn't make it often enough to nail the process. With Basmati, I've never messed it up.
 
Iron Woode

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,150
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136
PowerEngineer said:
Well, I guess I am glad I didn't miss it this year! 😂

I did get a rice cooker a few years back. Maybe I am just "lazy", but it is nice to just set it and forget it (especially with brown rice). Beside steaming vegetables, mine also does a nice job on steel cut oats.

More recently I received an Instant Pot, and most sources tell me that it also does a decent job of cooking rice. So in the interests of preserving counter space, I would suggest getting an Instant Pot (or whatever pressure cooker you prefer) and skipping the rice cooker.
Click to expand...
the IP does a great job on rice since that was it's main function.

It does great brown rice. I cook 3 cups and it takes 15 mins on high pressure and I give it a 10 min natural release. Flawless brown rice.
 
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