Rice cookers are, in my opinion, just about the most useful device anybody could have in their kitchen. However, there are still many people who have never used a rice cooker, nor do they see why they should ever start. But on the opposite side of that coin there are many others who have used rice cookers and swear that they will never go back to the pot-on-the-stove technique.
Due to many varying reasons, rice is becoming ever more popular in the west, but cooking rice can be time consuming and if you mess up you can easily ruin an entire meal. Using a rice cooker is incredibly simple and makes cooking rice all but foolproof.
In addition to their simplicity, rice cookers make near-perfect rice, every single time, all you have to do is put in the correct amount of water. For those individuals and families that make rice a regular part of their meals, buying a rice cooker will save you an incredible amount of time and hassle.
But before you go out and buy your new rice cooker there are a few things that you need to keep in mind:
1) Cost of rice cookers
There is a huge difference in price between the low-end, basic rice cookers and the premium ones. In fact the cheaper rice cookers tend to cost right around $15-$30 whereas the high-end cookers will run you $150-$200 or even more. For those who are simply interested in cooking plain rice and that's it, generally speaking the less expensive rice cookers will suffice. But for those who need to be able to cook a wide variety of types of rice, and cook them well, and who want all the different options available, only the higher priced ones will do.
If you are willing to spend a little more you can usually get a rice cooker that can keep your rice warm after it's finished cooking and has a couple different settings. Some of the settings for the middle-range rice cookers provide the ability to properly cook a few different types of rice, this allows those brown rice lovers to get a higher quality product. Some of these also come with timers. Timers work wonders for busy people or those that need their rice ready when they get up in the morning or get home in the evening. Some of the better ones will allow you to set the time that you want the rice to be finished!
2) How much rice you're planning on cooking
Rice cookers come in many different sizes, from 1 cup to well over 10 cups. Anything smaller than 3 cups isn't recommended as you shouldn't ever want to cook less than two cups at a time. Cooking only one cup can make the rice come out a little dry or even slightly burned.
Normally, if you're single then I would recommend a 5 cup rice cooker, I personally don't like the 3 cup sizes as you never know when more rice my be necessary. The 10 cup sizes are perfect for that larger family or the small family that cooks for two meals at a time.
3) Miscellaneous options
There are other options that should be paid attention to when you're looking around for a new rice cooker, some include:
A non-stick bowl (I would never buy a rice cooker without one)
A removable inner lid for sanitation reasons (this only applies to rice cookers with flip-top lids)
Ability to cook multiple types of rice properly
Measuring lines on the bowl itself (this allows for the proper amount of water even if the rice is wet or has been soaking)
Rice cookers make a wonderful addition to any kitchen that rice is cooked in. Definitely pick one up if you don't already own one, it'll be one of the best kitchen item purchases you'll ever make.
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