Rice cooker, is it worth it?

[Elixer]

What is so hard about making rice?
Pot works fine, and never had any complaints about rice being over/under cooked, always comes out the same, nothing burned on the bottom, not sticky.

If however you want to use the rice cooker for other things besides rice, like if you eat steamed veggies or whatever, I suppose it would be a time saver.

 

[AMDisTheBEST]

hell yeah. I am an Asian and rice cooker is a must. Every Asian family I know has one.

 

[AMDisTheBEST]

What is so hard about making rice?
Pot works fine, and never had any complaints about rice being over/under cooked, always comes out the same, nothing burned on the bottom, not sticky.

If however you want to use the rice cooker for other things besides rice, like if you eat steamed veggies or whatever, I suppose it would be a time saver.

Pot? Really? Get a rice cooker. Rice is 100% more delicious in a rice cooker.

 

[Zeze]

What is so hard about making rice?
Pot works fine, and never had any complaints about rice being over/under cooked, always comes out the same, nothing burned on the bottom, not sticky.

If however you want to use the rice cooker for other things besides rice, like if you eat steamed veggies or whatever, I suppose it would be a time saver.

Read my post much

 

[Capt Caveman]

The Instant rice in a normal pot turns out great. No need for a silly rice cooker.

Thanks for the good laugh!!!

 

[eng2d2]

Pot? Really? Get a rice cooker. Rice is 100% more delicious in a rice cooker.

Pot is all you need and it taste the same. Rice cooker just takes space

 

[Captante]

Pot is all you need and it taste the same. Rice cooker just takes space

You are correct ... rice cooked in a pot does taste the same and nobody needs a rice cooker.

Having said that, texture-wise a good rice cooker is better and also easier especially for large amounts.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I eat rice a couple times a week and have a $70 rice cooker and it makes restaurant quality rice. Had one of those cheap $15 rice cookers for a long time and they are ok but you do have crusty burnt rice at the bottom with those. I'm lazy and it is nice to just be able to dump some rice and water into the thing and come back whenever to eat without have to keep an eye on the rice.

 

[eng2d2]

You are correct ... rice cooked in a pot does taste the same and nobody needs a rice cooker.

Having said that, texture-wise a good rice cooker is better and also easier especially for large amounts.

yup texture for ricw cooker but if you monitor the pot it will achieve the same texture.

 

[ponyo]

If you eat rice at least twice a day, 365 days a year, and don't own a rice cooker- you're a big dummy. Only a dummy would spend time cooking rice 2x a day.

 

[Ns1]

yup texture for ricw cooker but if you monitor the pot it will achieve the same texture.

Why monitor the pot when you can go live your life for 4 hours and come back to perfectly cooked rice.

 

[DigDog]

i agree with Zeze's general statement. You only need it if you need it, rice can be made in a pot if it's a once-a-year deal, but if you make sushi at home or are otherwise a rice freak, a good cooker is a great investment. I bought a zojirushi-clone for about $250 and i'm super-happy, the rice is consistently excellent (otherwise, rice in a pot will suck one out of four times) and it's really zero effort to make enough for a few days. Yes, i said days. I close the lid on the cooker and the rice stays moist and usable for 4+ days.

 

[William Gaatjes]

I love rice dishes, so of course i have a rice cooker. Rice is easier to digest than potatoes, at least for me. And i like potatoes as well.
Rice cookers are ideal. Put some rice in it, add water and a dash of olive oil. Powerup the cooker (Red light on and orange light off) and wait until it clicks after about half an hour.
Red light off and orange light on.

 

[JoeyM]

I need a pasta cooker that I can throw spaghetti in and have delicious pasta all day. When I was a kid, we had spaghetti every single day.

 

[William Gaatjes]

I need a pasta cooker that I can throw spaghetti in and have delicious pasta all day. When I was a kid, we had spaghetti every single day.

That is a great idea, I think i will order a lasagna from the local Egyptian/Italian restaurant tomorrow.

 

[madoka]

Always thought it was silly but I'm sure someone here has one. What are the pros/cons?

I only eat at home 2-5 times a year, but I remember buying the highest end Zojirushi rice cooker I could find at the time just in case I had to make rice. So yes, it's totally worth it.

 

[Chaotic42]

Does anyone else eat their rice with butter? It's how I was raised and people look at me like I'm crazy when I mention it.

 

[Kaido]

I need a pasta cooker that I can throw spaghetti in and have delicious pasta all day. When I was a kid, we had spaghetti every single day.

If it's for a single-serving, I use this all the time:

https://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Pasta-Cooker-Original-Sticking/dp/B00WHCIEPW

Specially-designed microwave pasta cooker. Looks goofy, works legit. 100% recommend it if you don't need to feed an entire family. 10 to 15 minutes per batch, put on the lid & strain into the sink, voila - al dente pasta.

Alternatively, an Instant Pot does a good job of cooking noodles IN the sauce, and optionally WITH the meat.

afaik there is nothing that can keep pasta available all day like a rice cooker can...just turns to mush after awhile

 

[sdifox]

Does anyone else eat their rice with butter? It's how I was raised and people look at me like I'm crazy when I mention it.

Yes you are crazy

 

[ponyo]

Does anyone else eat their rice with butter? It's how I was raised and people look at me like I'm crazy when I mention it.

No, I like plain short or medium grain white rice. However, my wife adds different healthy grains to the white rice for health benefit which I'm not a big fan of. But I shut up and eat it.

I had some smoked skinless and boneless chicken thigh, spare ribs, and rice last night. What's nice about having a rice cooker is you always have a side ready 24/7. Makes dinner preparation super easy when all I have to do is grill or smoke something and not worry about sides.

 

[lxskllr]

Does anyone else eat their rice with butter? It's how I was raised and people look at me like I'm crazy when I mention it.

That's how it was done when I was a kid. I like it ok, but prefer it without butter.

 

[ponyo]

If it's for a single-serving, I use this all the time:

https://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Pasta-Cooker-Original-Sticking/dp/B00WHCIEPW

Specially-designed microwave pasta cooker. Looks goofy, works legit. 100% recommend it if you don't need to feed an entire family. 10 to 15 minutes per batch, put on the lid & strain into the sink, voila - al dente pasta.

Alternatively, an Instant Pot does a good job of cooking noodles IN the sauce, and optionally WITH the meat.

afaik there is nothing that can keep pasta available all day like a rice cooker can...just turns to mush after awhile

You know you can cook pasta noodle in a pot and then cold shock rinse it. And then individually plastic wrap portion sizes you want and keep it in the fridge. It will keep for about a week. Whenever you want pasta, unwrap the plastic and simply dip the noodle in hot water for about 10 seconds and you have your noodle.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Oddly I grew up not really liking rice, turns out it's the way my mom does it - and I still don't really like it, but don't have the heart (or guts) to tell her. LOL. Everyone else likes it, so it's not that she does it bad, just that I particularly don't like it. Something she puts in it. A sushi place opened here and while I don't like sushi they do have some other dishes that are nice including rice and I loved their rice. That's actually what made me want to get a rice cooker and I love the result. It's just so nice and fluffy. I typically mix it with some kind of sauce, like Teriaki or pretty much anything really. Sometimes even hot sauce. When I make a stew I typically dump a whole mason jar of rice into it too, makes it thicker and that much more filling.

When I make a batch in the rice cooker I put the rest in mason jars and freeze it and typically have one in the fridge ready to go for any meal.

 

[Moonbeam]

Yes you are crazy

This thread is full of people who know things but actually know not so much. As any wise person knows the minute you spend money of something useless it becomes the most valuable thing in the world. If you have a rice cooker and use it you will think yourself the most intelligent person in the world. If you cook with a pot you will think yourself an economic genius for the money you save. The one who said he was a lazy bastard was slightly more honest, because when you use a pot you have to turn it off when it's done which for some must clearly be exhausting.

Also, almost all of the rice cookers you can buy and many a pot people cook rice in is non-stick lined which means for a whole class of other fanatics an early grave.

I would go with an honest self examination. Do you have a lot of room for a rice cooker and are a slug by nature. Get one. If you like to cook, already have a good pot with a lid and can pay a slight bit of attention, save the money and counter space. You can pat your egos on the back for being in the right camp here on the forum, but you won't earn any gold stars in the spiritually development department one way or the other.

 

[Moonbeam]

That is a great idea, I think i will order a lasagna from the local Egyptian/Italian restaurant tomorrow.

I made one yesterday that turned out to be delicious, but the next one I make will be even better. Even with 8 fresh organic tomatoes and a cup of Pasata and some tomato paste, it needed more tomatoes. I put some fennel seeds in the sauce I made and served roasted fennel bulbs as a side dish. Fennel seed taste is lasagna in my opinion.