Many rice cookers come with a timer, so you can put the rice and water in, then delay the start of the cooking cycle for up to 23 hours (depending on the model). Non-stick is easier to clean, but it's not as long-lasting and some people question whether or not it contains harmful toxins. It's harder to clean if rice gets burned onto the bottom – but this shouldn't happen if you use your rice cooker correctly. If you're no stranger to pots and pans, you probably have a preference already, but both materials have pros and cons.įor the sake of durability, you should use stainless steel. Rice cookers tend to have cooking pots made from either stainless steel or non-stick coated aluminum. However, rice cookers equipped with neuro-fuzzy logic are still far more effective than your average rice cooker. Induction heating is slightly superior, as the chip can even adjust for measuring errors and still give excellent results. Most rice cookers use either "neuro-fuzzy logic" or "induction heating" to achieve this. They adjust accordingly to give you perfect rice every time. High-end rice cookers aren't just glorified electric steamers they have microchips inside that check the temperature and other conditions inside the cooking pot. Think about what sort of capacity you need – for instance, if you have a large family, or like to batch cook and store leftovers, you'll require a much larger capacity than if you only want to cook one or two portions of rice at a time. This can be confusing because some companies go by "cooked cup" whereas others go by "uncooked cup." However, you may also be able to find capacity listed in gallons, which might make things a little clearer. Rice cooker capacity is often described by cup.
Many rice cookers have timers, so you can set yours in the morning and come home to a pot of fluffy rice, ready to eat.īestReviews Considerations for selecting a rice cooker Capacity You can set a rice cooker and leave it to do its work – no need for constant checking or stirring.
Using a rice cooker will free up space on your stove to cook other dishes.
You can use some rice cookers to prepare other dishes. Rice cookers tend to give you much better and more consistent results than most people get when cooking rice in a pot on the stove. If you cook rice frequently, a rice cooker will save you a lot of time and effort over the years. If you're still on the fence about whether or not you need a rice cooker, let's examine some of the reasons why you might buy one. Soon you can make your own perfect rice, too. Rice cookers range in price, from models perfect for the budget chef to feature-packed models for cooks with a heftier budget. Some rice cookers are a function of pressure cookers, which contain multiple other functions to saute, steam, and warm food.
Rice cookers can also prepare other foods like beans and oatmeal, and other grains including quinoa and risotto.īut before you decide on a rice cooker, you’ll want to consider its capacity, presence of a timer, preset functions and settings, and ability to cook other foods. Stovetop rice may not be the hardest thing to make, but when you’re in a pinch or cooking for many, a rice cooker will save much needed time and free up one of your stove burners.