what kind of rice cooker to buy?

troytime

Golden Member
Jan 3, 2006
1,996
1
0
our 6 year old $30 rice cooker is finally ready to be replaced (nonstick coating on inside is pretty much gone and digested)

my wifes asian, and she cooks a lot.
mostly 2 cups a day, but it'll need to go up to 6 cups at least

i know there's some *awesome* brand...but i can't think of it at the moment
 

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
136
Most asian families swear by the Zojirushi brand (or sometime referred to as the Elephant brand).
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
you don't need to buy one that's $70, that's ridiculous. Buy the one with the least amount of buttons. The only function you need from a rice cooker is to cook rice.

Simple $20 rice cooker.
 

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
136
Originally posted by: Gibson486
just go to a chinese supermarket and get one that costs over $70.

No need to spend that much if you don't need cookers with fuzzy logic. Some Zojirushi rice cookers can be had for less than $50 without the fuzzy logic.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: Baked
you don't need to buy one that's $70, that's ridiculous. Buy the one with the least amount of buttons. The only function you need from a rice cooker is to cook rice.

Simple $20 rice cooker.

And what do you know about rice cookers my friend? I've had a National steamer, Tatung steamer/rice cooker. Those are the old fashioned ones that steam and you have to add water to the outside pot too. Those were mediocre at best.

My 2nd year of college my roommate had a $60 Zoji cooker. Wow, best rice I've ever had in my life.

3rd year my roommate then had a $30 no name electric rice cooker. It was ok although rice burned at the bottom a lot. Jasmine rice cooked ok but not sushi rice (Japanese/Korean rice types).

4th year I bit the bullet and I spent $130 on a Zoji cooker. The fuzzy logic ones. OMG. GODLIKE. I cooked rice so much, and it was night and day difference. Even better than my old roommate's $60 Zojirushi rice cooker.
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Make it in a pot.......... it's a lost art form to cook rice in a pot :)

Cheers,
Aquaman [689.5 pounds]
 

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
11,088
2
81
The only thing I like about the pressure cooker vs. the pot is the 'keep warm feature' - I have to time the meal 'perfectly' with the pot - with the rice cooker, it'll hold it for a while.

Now if you want to cook nice rice in a pot, I swear by Zatarain's Parboiled Rice - it comes out PERFECT - every time. It is cheap, so I have not been swayed by any other parboiled rices.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Baked
you don't need to buy one that's $70, that's ridiculous. Buy the one with the least amount of buttons. The only function you need from a rice cooker is to cook rice.

Simple $20 rice cooker.

And what do you know about rice cookers my friend?

I happen to eat rice every fucking night for close to 30 years. We never buy the uber expensive rice cooker. All our rice cookers looks similar to the one in my link. All the rice came out fine, thank you very much. Buying a uber expensive rice cooker is like driving a hummer to the supermarket 2 blocks away. Smug.
 

TipsyMcStagger

Senior member
Sep 19, 2003
661
0
0
Get a Zojirushi, the rice is perfect every time. They even use it on the original iron chef (the show in japan).
 

shopbruin

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2000
5,817
0
0
Originally posted by: Baked
you don't need to buy one that's $70, that's ridiculous. Buy the one with the least amount of buttons. The only function you need from a rice cooker is to cook rice.

Simple $20 rice cooker.

Don't buy this one - or any model with the glass, removable lid. They make a huge mess during cooking, not only all over the rice cooker, but all over the counter. you can try to counteract it by using less water, but your rice will come out drier.

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirush...30ESY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?*****&s=home-garden&qid=1214805826&sr=8-2

It may seem expensive, but I like my rice cookers built to last. This one also doesn't have that "vapor cook off cup" thing that you always have to clean out. Plus it plays a little song when it's done cooking. :p

5.5 cup version:

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirush...30ESY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?*****&s=home-garden&qid=1214805826&sr=8-2

but to fulfill Baked's minimal button requirement:

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirush...00009K3TC/ref=sr_1_29?*****&s=home-garden&qid=1214806048&sr=8-29

I also had one of this brand:

http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Am...000BFPD2E/ref=sr_1_16?*****&s=home-garden&qid=1214806133&sr=8-16

and it also cooked the rice well. Nothing fancy, cook the rice when you need it, don't let it sit more than a few hours.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
do you really need a rice cooker to cook rice? is it pretty much an asian thing since you guys seem to eat a lot of rice?

and wtf is fuzzy logic
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: Baked
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Baked
you don't need to buy one that's $70, that's ridiculous. Buy the one with the least amount of buttons. The only function you need from a rice cooker is to cook rice.

Simple $20 rice cooker.

And what do you know about rice cookers my friend?

I happen to eat rice every fucking night for close to 30 years. We never buy the uber expensive rice cooker. All our rice cookers looks similar to the one in my link. All the rice came out fine, thank you very much. Buying a uber expensive rice cooker is like driving a hummer to the supermarket 2 blocks away. Smug.

Are you even Asian?
 

ICRS

Banned
Apr 20, 2008
1,328
0
0
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Baked
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Baked
you don't need to buy one that's $70, that's ridiculous. Buy the one with the least amount of buttons. The only function you need from a rice cooker is to cook rice.

Simple $20 rice cooker.

And what do you know about rice cookers my friend?

I happen to eat rice every fucking night for close to 30 years. We never buy the uber expensive rice cooker. All our rice cookers looks similar to the one in my link. All the rice came out fine, thank you very much. Buying a uber expensive rice cooker is like driving a hummer to the supermarket 2 blocks away. Smug.

Are you even Asian?

Guess no had good rice until zoji brand came out. Rice was a horrible thing to eat before zoji.:roll:
 

dbk

Lifer
Apr 23, 2004
17,685
10
81
Yes the elephant jank. Get it! Throw some green peas and that japanese seaweed seasoning on it!
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
Originally posted by: slayer202
do you really need a rice cooker to cook rice? is it pretty much an asian thing since you guys seem to eat a lot of rice?

and wtf is fuzzy logic

^ +1
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
12,895
1
0
i'm cheap, i got a $20 dollar rice cooker from target...so far so good... i don't make rice that often... my parents have the elephant brand thou.