A rice cooker is a basic member of the kitchen appliances line-up and it is a huge help to simplify the cooking process of rice.

Rice cookers not only cook rice, but they can be great for steaming vegetables, desserts, hot cereals, and even cooking soups and stews.

Rice cookers generally don’t cook rice any faster than cooking it over the stove, but the convenient factor is that it is basically a set it and forget device, it wont require you’re your attention and it won’t burn the rice even if you forget about it.

Your only part is to make sure you add the right amount of water every time and you are assured of perfectly-cooked rice all the time.

Types of Rice Cookers

There are two main types of rice cookers…

• Basic Rice Cookers (also know as a On/Off rice cooker)
• Fuzzy Logic Rice Cookers.

The Basic has only two tasks, cooking and warming. These models automatically switch to the warming mode once rice is cooked. While devoid of features, for many, this is all that is needed or even wanted. They work great and or inexpensive.

However, if you’re looking to do more that just cook basic rice, then you may want to consider a fuzzy logic rice cooker.

These generally have digital settings for cooking many different types of rice such as hard rice, soft rice, brown rice, mixed rice, rinse-free rice, and even rice with different textures.

They can also be programmed to cook porridge, cereal and sushi. Fuzzy logic rice cookers are generally larger models, and are on the higher end of the price range.

Checklist in buying a rice cooker

What Size and capacity do you need?

Cooked rice fluffs up so you need to consider what size or capacity you need, and for how many people you are cooking for. The size is determined by the measuring cup. They can range from the small size of 4 cups to the very large capacity 18 cups.

Buy a size and capacity according to your needs because if you buy the biggest one just to save on a few dollars, you may find it too bulky and inconvenient to use.

Is it easy to clean?

Using a rice cooker could be a messy business since rice tends to stick to the bottom of the rice cooker, or spill out to the sides when rice water boils and bubbles. Look for one with a nonstick interior pan Pick out a model that can be wipe off easily. Cleaning up has never been an easy task and picking out the right model can help ease things.

Pick out a rice cooker with a detachable plug because you can clean it easily without having to worry about getting entangled in the cord.

What you should expect from any model

All rice cookers should have an automatic shut off timer, so when the rice is cooked, it will automatically switch to the warming mode. The best rice cookers keep the rice warm until you’re ready to eat–up to 12 hours. They should also come with measurement markings on the inner pan to indicate how much water to add as well.

Most rice keepers come with free measuring cups and a spoon with holder. This measuring cup is necessary to help you match the exact ratio of rice to the quantity of the water.

An instructional manual should be including with your purchase. You need one to help with the installation process, especially if this is your first rice cooker.

Features to Consider

Before you buy a rice cooker, see to it that you know what you need and you already have an idea what to look for.

• Look for Induction rice cookers. They have heating coils that conduct heat from the bottom of the pot upwards. This type of heating element will provide more evenly cooked rice. They are also more efficient, because most of the power is used for cooking instead of generating heat.

• Select a rice cooker that has insulated and easy to grip handles, including the handle of the lid. This is for your safety.

• Choose a rice cooker with warming controls to keep your food warm if you have to eat later.

• A rice cooker with a glass lid is more preferable because you can see right through it without having to lift the lid.

• Choose rice cookers with steamer trays. This is an added value but most of the rice cookers in the market provide this feature. Steamer trays are designed for steaming vegetables.

• An alarm or timer is also important when you buy a rice cooker. An alarm lets you know when the rice is cooked.

• Is there a product warranty and customer support? These are important elements because a manufacturer who provides warranty is sure of the quality of the product.

• Cooked rice is sticky, so a nonstick interior pan is best.

• A steaming rack or basket for vegetables

You can find rice cooker as low as $25 for the basic on/off models, and you could expect to pay upwards to $300 for the more sophisticated fuzzy logic models. Top brand include
Zojirushi, Sanyo, and Panasonic

Filed under: Buying Guides, Rice Cookers