What is so great about a rice cooker

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jjones
Wow, apparently a lot of people need help with their rice. I've been cooking rice for more than 30 years and never had to use anything but a pot. Hell, I don't even use a lid any more. I get perfect, or near perfect rice every time.

But hey, if you like using a rice cooker, that's fine with me too. I just don't like having extra gadgets taking up space. Now a crock pot? That's an entirely different story. Crock pots rule!

Agreed. Crock pots are invaluable. A rice cooker is a needless gadget.

Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

Stop. A rice cooker for many people is an invaluable tool.

Using your argument, you can use a sauce pan in place of a crock pot.

 

[amoeba]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jjones
Wow, apparently a lot of people need help with their rice. I've been cooking rice for more than 30 years and never had to use anything but a pot. Hell, I don't even use a lid any more. I get perfect, or near perfect rice every time.

But hey, if you like using a rice cooker, that's fine with me too. I just don't like having extra gadgets taking up space. Now a crock pot? That's an entirely different story. Crock pots rule!

Agreed. Crock pots are invaluable. A rice cooker is a needless gadget.

Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

Just stop it man. First of all, you start out with an unrealistic price of $200 for a rice cooker when nobody has one of those unless if its an industrial one used for restaurants. Secondly, in one of your later posts, the price climbs to $300.

The highest price I have seen in this thread as well as real life is $50 and many rice cookers cost much less than this. Rice cookers in the $50 range are family size ones and often you can find many very good rice cookers in the $20 range.

I can set my rice cooker and leave the house for hours and I don't have to worry about it whereas you can't. If I am cooking multiple things and I don't have the stove space, the rice cooker is invaluable.

We all know how to make rice on the stove top. The rice cooker offers convenience at very affordable prices.

 

[GasX]

All you panty-waists who have stoves and indoor plumbing and walls are just wasting resources. All you really need is a pot, a match and a stack of wood.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
All you panty-waists who have stoves and indoor plumbing and walls are just wasting resources. All you really need is a pot, a match and a stack of wood.

/thread

 

[NL5]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Billb2
Rice steamer = cooking nOOb

I don't know about that...most of the asian families I know have one...but I guess they're all noobs at rice...right?

I think it's more a matter of convenience than anything else...

Bingo.

Every Asian family I've ever known had one, and they had hot rice 24/7. It a conveniemce thing, that is all. If you don't need or want hot rice all the time, as JM said, it cooks just as well in a saucepan.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jjones
Wow, apparently a lot of people need help with their rice. I've been cooking rice for more than 30 years and never had to use anything but a pot. Hell, I don't even use a lid any more. I get perfect, or near perfect rice every time.

But hey, if you like using a rice cooker, that's fine with me too. I just don't like having extra gadgets taking up space. Now a crock pot? That's an entirely different story. Crock pots rule!

Agreed. Crock pots are invaluable. A rice cooker is a needless gadget.

Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

Just stop it man. First of all, you start out with an unrealistic price of $200 for a rice cooker when nobody has one of those unless if its an industrial one used for restaurants. Secondly, in one of your later posts, the price climbs to $300.

The highest price I have seen in this thread as well as real life is $50 and many rice cookers cost much less than this. Rice cookers in the $50 range are family size ones and often you can find many very good rice cookers in the $20 range.

I can set my rice cooker and leave the house for hours and I don't have to worry about it whereas you can't. If I am cooking multiple things and I don't have the stove space, the rice cooker is invaluable.

We all know how to make rice on the stove top. The rice cooker offers convenience at very affordable prices.

People have been posting links to $300 rice cookers in this thread. Is you blind man?

 

[amoeba]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jjones
Wow, apparently a lot of people need help with their rice. I've been cooking rice for more than 30 years and never had to use anything but a pot. Hell, I don't even use a lid any more. I get perfect, or near perfect rice every time.

But hey, if you like using a rice cooker, that's fine with me too. I just don't like having extra gadgets taking up space. Now a crock pot? That's an entirely different story. Crock pots rule!

Agreed. Crock pots are invaluable. A rice cooker is a needless gadget.

Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

Just stop it man. First of all, you start out with an unrealistic price of $200 for a rice cooker when nobody has one of those unless if its an industrial one used for restaurants. Secondly, in one of your later posts, the price climbs to $300.

The highest price I have seen in this thread as well as real life is $50 and many rice cookers cost much less than this. Rice cookers in the $50 range are family size ones and often you can find many very good rice cookers in the $20 range.

I can set my rice cooker and leave the house for hours and I don't have to worry about it whereas you can't. If I am cooking multiple things and I don't have the stove space, the rice cooker is invaluable.

We all know how to make rice on the stove top. The rice cooker offers convenience at very affordable prices.

People have been posting links to $300 rice cookers in this thread. Is you blind man?

thats 1 or 2 people. Most people in this thread don't have the high end Japanese Rice cookers.

I could actually see railing against $300 rice cookers but you seem to be anti rice cooker in general.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea go to an asian supermarket or china town and they'll sell you a decent cooker. much selection, few if any 300 dollar cookers most cookers are under $100. i've not met another asian family that doesnt use a cooker. and yes i'm chinese as well.

 

[konakona]

I have a fancy expensive one I got as a gift. It is a marvelous device apart from the annoying "rice is done" tune and dit was free!

yes, the beep is rather embarrassing, and I wish there is a way to turn it off or at least change it to something more "acceptable"

After all, why spend $5 on a pot with a lid when it basically does the exact same thing as a clay pot that you've made? Or how about an empty milk jug you found in the garbage with a lid - cook the rice in that and cut it open to serve.

best response as of yet, gotta love the logic

This thread awfully reminds me of the "why you need <inferior and obsolete> tools like chopstics", filled with unwillingness to accept diversity and cultural superiority complex..

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yea go to an asian supermarket or china town and they'll sell you a decent cooker. much selection, few if any 300 dollar cookers most cookers are under $100. i've not met another asian family that doesnt use a cooker. and yes i'm chinese as well.

What's weird though is I thought the same thing, but all the biggest asian market around here had was a cheapy sunbeam. Hell, even BB and B had better ones. I just asked all my Chinese friends and most swore by Zojirushi.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

So what's your technique for eating that same rice you just cooked a couple of hours later? What I do is... open the lid and scoop it out.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jjones
Wow, apparently a lot of people need help with their rice. I've been cooking rice for more than 30 years and never had to use anything but a pot. Hell, I don't even use a lid any more. I get perfect, or near perfect rice every time.

But hey, if you like using a rice cooker, that's fine with me too. I just don't like having extra gadgets taking up space. Now a crock pot? That's an entirely different story. Crock pots rule!

Agreed. Crock pots are invaluable. A rice cooker is a needless gadget.

Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

Just stop it man. First of all, you start out with an unrealistic price of $200 for a rice cooker when nobody has one of those unless if its an industrial one used for restaurants. Secondly, in one of your later posts, the price climbs to $300.

The highest price I have seen in this thread as well as real life is $50 and many rice cookers cost much less than this. Rice cookers in the $50 range are family size ones and often you can find many very good rice cookers in the $20 range.

I can set my rice cooker and leave the house for hours and I don't have to worry about it whereas you can't. If I am cooking multiple things and I don't have the stove space, the rice cooker is invaluable.

We all know how to make rice on the stove top. The rice cooker offers convenience at very affordable prices.

People have been posting links to $300 rice cookers in this thread. Is you blind man?

thats 1 or 2 people. Most people in this thread don't have the high end Japanese Rice cookers.

I could actually see railing against $300 rice cookers but you seem to be anti rice cooker in general.

Meh, I just find it amusing that people find it necessary to buy these gadgets to do something as simple as cook rice. Posting in these threads is kind of like poking a bee hive with a stick but without the danger of being stung.

Maybe I'll invent a high tech butter slicer or a butter melter. :laugh:

It's not that I'm above buying gadgets to make my life easier around the kitchen. Hell, I have a garlic roaster (it was a gift from my Father-In-Law and I scoffed at it as useless when we got it but we actually use it at least 2-3 times a week).

Cooking rice isn't rocket science, and the last thing I need to clutter up my kitchen cabinets is another appliance.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Meh, I just find it amusing that people find it necessary to buy these gadgets to do something as simple as cook rice. Posting in these threads is kind of like poking a bee hive with a stick but without the danger of being stung.

Maybe I'll invent a high tech butter slicer or a butter melter. :laugh:

It's not that I'm above buying gadgets to make my life easier around the kitchen. Hell, I have a garlic roaster (it was a gift from my Father-In-Law and I scoffed at it as useless when we got it but we actually use it at least 2-3 times a week).

Cooking rice isn't rocket science, and the last thing I need to clutter up my kitchen cabinets is another appliance.

Yet you find a crock pot invaluable. To each their own.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: sniperruff
you need something at least like this if you cook rice every day:

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirush.../ref=pd_sbs_k_title_24

BS-I cook rice 2-3 times a week and all I use is a covered sauce pan.

Why do people buy expensive mixers when a bowl and wooden spoon works just as well?
What about automatic can openers, fancy wine bottle openers, crock pots, microwaves and any number of cooking devices?

Why bother having anything more than a spartan kitchen with all manual tools?
Because it's easier, takes less work and is commonly affordable. Of course a $200 rice cooker is rather silly for most people, but most rice cookers I see are less than $50.

Pretty much. We love our $35 rice cooker. If I truly ate rice every day, multiple times a day, I could see the value of a $100+ cooker though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: konakona

I have a fancy expensive one I got as a gift. It is a marvelous device apart from the annoying "rice is done" tune and dit was free!

yes, the beep is rather embarrassing, and I wish there is a way to turn it off or at least change it to something more "acceptable"

After all, why spend $5 on a pot with a lid when it basically does the exact same thing as a clay pot that you've made? Or how about an empty milk jug you found in the garbage with a lid - cook the rice in that and cut it open to serve.

best response as of yet, gotta love the logic

This thread awfully reminds me of the "why you need <inferior and obsolete> tools like chopstics", filled with unwillingness to accept diversity and cultural superiority complex..

I can and do use chopsticks.

I'm curious, how did your ancestors cook rice without these gadgets? I guess their rice just sucked. :laugh:

Oh, and before anyone else implies that I'm a racist, I'm also against bread makers. I bake my own bread because making it is part of the joy.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: sniperruff
you need something at least like this if you cook rice every day:

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirush.../ref=pd_sbs_k_title_24

BS-I cook rice 2-3 times a week and all I use is a covered sauce pan.

Why do people buy expensive mixers when a bowl and wooden spoon works just as well?
What about automatic can openers, fancy wine bottle openers, crock pots, microwaves and any number of cooking devices?

Why bother having anything more than a spartan kitchen with all manual tools?
Because it's easier, takes less work and is commonly affordable. Of course a $200 rice cooker is rather silly for most people, but most rice cookers I see are less than $50.

My argument is that it takes almost the same amount of effort to cook rice on a stove top. Put rice in a pot, put water in, turn burner to low and set a timer for 20 minutes (this obviously varies a bit depending on the rice used).

A mixer replaces mixing by hand which is very labor intensive. That's a really poor comparison. A rice cooker doesn't make rice making that much easier, you are essentially doing the same thing as when you cook it on the stove with a covered saucepan.

But hey, if you want to spend $300 for a rice cooker be my guest.

again, you are just not reading ANYTHING anyone else is posting, as you've already made up your mind. btw, you are flat out wrong. cooking short grain rice is very different from cooking long grain rice.

cooking short grain rice, you put the water and rice into the pot, set the temp on high, as soon as the water starts to boil, you have to turn the heat all the way down, to it's lowest setting. then you wait. if you let it boil too long you will burn it.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: amoeba


thats 1 or 2 people. Most people in this thread don't have the high end Japanese Rice cookers.

I could actually see railing against $300 rice cookers but you seem to be anti rice cooker in general.

He is anti-rice cooker just like he is anti-SUV.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Injury
Reasons why I want a rice cooker:

- Even if you stir it constantly, rice always scorches to the inside of a pot on the stove.

- If I'm cooking a decent sized meal, I don't have the free hands or attention span to constantly keep the rice moving and prevent it from scorching to the pan.

- Constantly stirring rice in a pan seems to destroy it and turn it to mush.

- I can never make restaurant-like rice in a saucepan. It's not sticky enough or not quite firm enough.

- Foods taste better when you cook them for a longer time over lower heat. This makes rice take a ridiculously long time to cook. I'd love to be able to just leave it to cook itself.


I have never used a rice cooker and I'm certainly not a rice pro, but I think even getting a semi-decent one for about $40-50 would be grand. I love rice but it always seems like a big pain in the ass.

your problem is, you are stirring it. with rice, you put the water and rice into the pan, put it on the stove, turn the heat on high, as soon as it starts to boil, you turn the heat either way down or completely off. then let the rice cook.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jjones
Wow, apparently a lot of people need help with their rice. I've been cooking rice for more than 30 years and never had to use anything but a pot. Hell, I don't even use a lid any more. I get perfect, or near perfect rice every time.

But hey, if you like using a rice cooker, that's fine with me too. I just don't like having extra gadgets taking up space. Now a crock pot? That's an entirely different story. Crock pots rule!

Agreed. Crock pots are invaluable. A rice cooker is a needless gadget.

Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

Just stop it man. First of all, you start out with an unrealistic price of $200 for a rice cooker when nobody has one of those unless if its an industrial one used for restaurants. Secondly, in one of your later posts, the price climbs to $300.

The highest price I have seen in this thread as well as real life is $50 and many rice cookers cost much less than this. Rice cookers in the $50 range are family size ones and often you can find many very good rice cookers in the $20 range.

I can set my rice cooker and leave the house for hours and I don't have to worry about it whereas you can't. If I am cooking multiple things and I don't have the stove space, the rice cooker is invaluable.

We all know how to make rice on the stove top. The rice cooker offers convenience at very affordable prices.

no, the $200 to $300 rice pots are not industrial, they are usually pressure cookers with timers etc. they are invaluable for all kinds of cooking other than rice. pressure cookers cook faster than just a pot also. when cooking whole grain rice, pressure cooker is the only way to go.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: amoeba

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: jjones
Wow, apparently a lot of people need help with their rice. I've been cooking rice for more than 30 years and never had to use anything but a pot. Hell, I don't even use a lid any more. I get perfect, or near perfect rice every time.

But hey, if you like using a rice cooker, that's fine with me too. I just don't like having extra gadgets taking up space. Now a crock pot? That's an entirely different story. Crock pots rule!

Agreed. Crock pots are invaluable. A rice cooker is a needless gadget.

Again, a rice cooker is fine but it is not necessary to make decent rice every time. It is quite simple and easy to make great rice on the stove top.

Just stop it man. First of all, you start out with an unrealistic price of $200 for a rice cooker when nobody has one of those unless if its an industrial one used for restaurants. Secondly, in one of your later posts, the price climbs to $300.

The highest price I have seen in this thread as well as real life is $50 and many rice cookers cost much less than this. Rice cookers in the $50 range are family size ones and often you can find many very good rice cookers in the $20 range.

I can set my rice cooker and leave the house for hours and I don't have to worry about it whereas you can't. If I am cooking multiple things and I don't have the stove space, the rice cooker is invaluable.

We all know how to make rice on the stove top. The rice cooker offers convenience at very affordable prices.

People have been posting links to $300 rice cookers in this thread. Is you blind man?

thats 1 or 2 people. Most people in this thread don't have the high end Japanese Rice cookers.

I could actually see railing against $300 rice cookers but you seem to be anti rice cooker in general.

Meh, I just find it amusing that people find it necessary to buy these gadgets to do something as simple as cook rice. Posting in these threads is kind of like poking a bee hive with a stick but without the danger of being stung.

Maybe I'll invent a high tech butter slicer or a butter melter. :laugh:

It's not that I'm above buying gadgets to make my life easier around the kitchen. Hell, I have a garlic roaster (it was a gift from my Father-In-Law and I scoffed at it as useless when we got it but we actually use it at least 2-3 times a week).

Cooking rice isn't rocket science, and the last thing I need to clutter up my kitchen cabinets is another appliance.

I think the biggest problem is that you point at a rice cooker that costs $300 and say "Ah-hah, most people are paying $300 for a rice cooker" when just a minute ago you were claiming that most people are actually paying $200. In actuality most people are paying $50 or less for the cheaper cookers because they get the job done.

You think a garlic roaster is awesome but you claim a rice cooker is a useless gadget. Seriously? Roasting garlic without extra tools is faster and easier than cooking rice in a pot! You have a gadget that simplifies a task that already takes no effort, but you rail against a similar gadget that does the same thing? Would you praise a rice steamer as a great kitchen tool if your father-in-law bought you one and you actually tried using it? Is that what this is about? You've never used one, so it can't possibly be useful, yes?

You can't possibly be serious. You have to be a troll, and I commend you on hiding it so well. Well done. I can't imagine why someone would troll about rice steamers, but if that's how you get your kicks then by all means, continue. I just wanted to let the other ATOTers know that you can't possibly be serious.

 

[Jhill]

This is a pretty intense rice cooker thread. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a more in depth rice cooker discussion.


Can we tackle toasters next week? I'll have some good input on them.

 

[Pocatello]

My dad eat rice everyday. His $100 rice cooker does a decent job.

 

[Howard]

I don't know if it's just me, but it sure sounds like a rice cooker fell off a shelf and cracked JM's dad's head open or something.

 

[cherrytwist]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
non-stick and fuzzy logic baby

QFT!

I <3 mine.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Meh, I just find it amusing that people find it necessary to buy these gadgets to do something as simple as cook rice. Posting in these threads is kind of like poking a bee hive with a stick but without the danger of being stung.

I find it amusing that you continue to state that the only purpose it serves is to cook rice. You seem incapable of acknowledging that there are benefits beyond simply cooking rice such as keeping the rice warm and fresh for extended periods of time.

Maybe I'll invent a high tech butter slicer or a butter melter. :laugh:

If you did, you would apparently leave out all the features that would make it a useful device and declare, "it melts butter no better than a microwave. enjoy"

Cooking rice isn't rocket science, and the last thing I need to clutter up my kitchen cabinets is another appliance.

Instead you clutter your stove top with an extra pot any time you need rice. I'm glad to give up the space above my cabinets that otherwise is empty if it means an additional burner on the stove when cooking any meal that goes with rice.