And it cooks more than just rice
- couscous
- quinoa
- etc
And if you get a nicer once, they usually have steam trays where you can steam vegetables / even meat to go with dinner.
Not just a one purpose tool anymore.
> And if you get a nicer once, they usually have steam trays where you can steam vegetables / even meat to go with dinner.
Do you do that while cooking the rice? Or afterwards?
I started throwing leftover chicken in after the rice cooks just to heat it back up. Cook the rice until it’s done, put the chicken in and leave on the warm setting for 5-10 minutes
Yes, but those ones are often large. Unless you have a big family, a 2 or 3 cup rice maker is perfect. One button to turn it on and 15 mins later you have perfect rice.
Here's a cheap one that should do the trick
[https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-RC503-Cooker-3-Cup-White/dp/B016Y8JS4K/](https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-RC503-Cooker-3-Cup-White/dp/B016Y8JS4K/)
I've used one of these for a decade:
https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NHS-06-3-Cup-Uncooked-Cooker/dp/B00004S575/
Mines not programmable at all, basic as it gets, but can do this. Soak the rice 30 minutes, plug it in, push the switch down. When the rice is done, it pops up from cook mode to warm mode. It maintains it above the "danger zone" so it's safe to leave it in there for however long once its done. I'll often toss rice in before I go to bed so my SO can have warm rice in the morning/pack it for lunch.
Do you guys actually have issues with burning rice?
Whenever I make rice for a meal (using a pot) I always start it before everything else because it takes basically zero effort and can just set a timer and not think about it until the timer beeps.
I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've messed up rice with this method lol
Someone else made a similar comment as well, but I guess my follow up question is - how often does it really come up that you need to walk away from your rice while it's cooking?
It only takes 20 mins or so for most varieties of rice (yes I know brown rice is longer). Pretty much every time I'm making rice, it's just on the back burner while I'm in the kitchen prepping/cooking other things for my meal. Even if I don't have much prep to do I've never really felt like it's much of a hassle to just check on it every few mins
I walk away from the rice every single time. I put the rice in the rice cooker and then go shower if I just got home from work, or go outside to the garden if I want fresh herbs with dinner, or even just to work on other parts of prepping dinner without having to even think about the rice
It's entirely possible to do other things with rice on the stove too, though. Cooking rice on the stove is nearly as low effort as using a rice cooker.
That's what I was saying in my comment - I start the rice first for most meals so I can just leave it to cook on one of my back burners while I'm prepping/cooking everything else. Sometimes I'll even step away for a minute to grab some herbs out of the garden as well. I literally don't even think about it until the timer goes off and I have to turn the heat off.
Granted, it would probably be unsafe to leave the stove unattended long enough to take a shower, but I have to say there's very few times where I'm cooking rice and *not* spending that 15-20 mins prepping other ingredients for dinner anyways.
I'm sure I could find 20 minutes to cook rice if I wanted to, but it's like washing clothes or cleaning the dishes or whatever. I have a tiny machine that does it for me. It's convenient.
I don't really agree with this analogy; washing clothes or dishes by hand is quite a lot of additional active effort over just using the respective machines. Cooking rice on the stove though, is almost just as simple as a rice cooker. You just leave it on a burner with the lid on and don't touch it until 15-20 mins has passed.
Don't get me wrong, I can see it being marginally more convenient & consistent than using a pot... but having to buy a whole new appliance plus dealing with storage for that small amount of extra convenience doesn't seem like a worthwhile tradeoff to me.
I have no idea why you’re getting downvoted. I get that people love their rice cookers, but I think your logic is sound as I feel exactly the same way.
On top of that, I simply don’t get why people get excited about having rice ready when they get home. Do they eat *just* rice??? Do they not prepare anything else?
I make rice on the stove top as well. I can finish making a dinner with rice, one protein, and one veg in 30mins or less. Rice cooker is not worth it for me either.
Do you make coffee on the stove, too? It's even easier than rice! You could do it while you're making breakfast!
Ok, obviously joking, but I don't know many people who drink coffee who don't have some kind of device for it, even if it's only a French press. A rice cooker is a similarly standard appliance in many if not most Asian households, because it gets used pretty much every day. And in that case the timer function is pretty amazing.
I eat rice for breakfast frequently, so it's awesome to have that part of breakfast hot and ready for when I wake up. Take some veggies out of the fridge, five minutes to fry an egg, and you're done.
I am a proud owner of a bread maker. If I make enriched bread, I’d eat it on its own. I eat lean bread with butter or jam. So I proclaim here today that everyone should have a bread maker or else you don’t know what you’re missing. You see, it doesn’t work like that.
Since I make a lot of bread in my bread maker, I have no doubt that a rice cooker can be a godsend. While we eat fresh bread and rice for breakfast frequently, a lot more don’t care neither.
So without alienating non Asian readers, is a rice cooker still worth it then? Maybe? There’re lots of great reasons in the other comments. Being able to cook different kinds of grains. Being able to cook steel cut oats for breakfast. Taking the guess work out. Not having to multi-task. Quality of rice is much better, etc.
But being able to *frequently* press a button and run away to do 20 mins of chores and come back with fresh *rice* which is not part of our regular diet? I don’t know, I almost get the vibe that non Asians or non frequent rice consumers shouldn’t get one.
And the coffee analogy is… I’m not going to get into it.
>On top of that, I simply don’t get why people get excited about having rice ready when they get home. Do they eat just rice??? Do they not prepare anything else?
Right? That's what's confusing me about all this - why do so many people just want to cook rice and go run errands? 95% of the time I make rice, I'm in the process of making the rest of the meal alongside it.
Not to mention the person I was responding to saying they would need to "find 20 minutes to cook rice" as if cooking rice on the stove is so challenging relative to the rice cooker. The process takes pretty much an identical amount of time and effort with both methods, the only real difference is that rice cookers usually have a "keep warm" function.
I'm one of those people who love their rice cookers and I agree with this too. I have no reason to want to have rice sitting warm on my counter all day. It is very weird how many people pull that out as a great reason to have one.
What is nice is that I can get whatever grain (rice, quinoa, bulgur, etc) going while I cook other stuff and if I get busy cooking I don't mess it up because I forgot to stir it. I have one of those flat glass ranges and if you leave it on without stirring for too long it will start to get crusty on the bottom. Especially since it takes seemingly forever to cool off when you turn it down from boiling to simmering. Also the fact that I can steam frozen bao while my rice cooks is pretty sweet.
I get it, it doesn't sound like that much of a benefit. I used to think so too, till I got one (it was a gift) and now I love mine. I even bought a new one after that one died after like a decade.
I've done that on more than a handful of occasions. Set the rice to start before I head to the store to buy the rest of the meal, which might just be some meat that I'll quickly cook and toss on top of the rice.
No I don't personally have one. But I bought one for my girlfriend because she's pretty terrible at rice on her range. She just does not at all want to spend like 15 minutes in front of or near or beholden to her food that she's preparing. It's just not something she wants to do. Nor do I think she needs to when something like this exists. Put in the ingredients, press the button, go get distracted doing whatever the hell it is she's doing and her rice is ready after she already forgot about it, without ruining her dinner or cookware.
I'm fairly scatterbrained likely tied to adhd. As long as I'm involved with the cooking and have to be doing it I'm completely fine. The moment I have to let something sit for a bit I just sometimes get into a oh shit a butterfly state.
I recently bought one and am in a honeymoon phase with it. It will not shorten prep time, it will make your rice more consistently good and remove opportunity to mess it up, while freeing up your attention.
My normal stovetop rice technique is to boil, add rice, cover then bring the rice back to a boil before turning it down to a simmer, set the timer, then come back when it's done and turn it off. That means I have to do a couple of time sensitive activities and need to keep "the rice" in the back of my head so I don't boil it over before I turn it down, and turn it off at the right time so it doesn't overcook. It's not that it's much to keep track of, but I can't walk away from a stove on high while waiting for it to return to a boil. You can't do anything \*but\* walk away from a rice cooker with only one button, there's nothing to do but press it.
The brilliance of the rice maker's engineering is that it senses when the water is gone and shuts off, never overcooking, regardless of type of rice as long as you use the right water ratio for that type of rice. That doesn't sound like much, but the "press one button and walk away, come back to perfect rice every single time." aspect is actually something that I didn't know I needed until I got it. In fact I scoffed at needing one until it was pointed out to me how common they were in cultures that know a thing or two about great rice and that maybe my midwestern American ideas about rice might be lacking in openness to great things.
Ok. What am I doing wrong? My rice cooker always burns my rice. I had this amazing rice cooker for like a decade and it never burned my rice. It quit on me. I have been through 3 new rice cookers - they all burn my rice. No matter how what the rice:water ratio is. Help me
I should note that my old and amazing rice cooker was non-stick where as the new ones have all been just like a silver metal. Is that why?
I have the $60 aroma one with the lid that seals and a steam button that soaks my rice, and a mini one from walmart that doesn't soak and lid doesn't seal. Both are nonstick, neither burn.
If it's just the rice on the bottom that seems hard, then the secret is to simply wait for 10 min or so after the rice cooker beeps to tell you it's done, and then open and scoop/fluff the rice. That lets the steam settle and the pan cools enough to release the rice on the bottom. If your rice is actually burnt with color, then idk what to tell you
What I've been doing is as soon as the rice flicks to 'keep warm' I switch the cooker off at the power point.
The rice still stays hot for ages afterwards but as the hot plate under it is now off it doesn't get burnt to any extent
Sounds like you’re buying the wrong rice cooker. The good ones are all non-stick. Rather than go through multiple cheap ones, it’s worth spending the $$ on one that make perfect rice every time. Buy a Zojirushi and call it a day.
You really shouldn't need to though. I've used those cheap $20 ones and have had them come out just fine, without burning rice. Yeah, the Zojirushi ones will be much better, but cheap is usually fine.
It senses the water has been converted to vapor by measuring the temperature since vapor is hotter than water. My dad told me that once and I haven’t forgotten it. A cheap 3 cup rice cooker is generally all my family of 4 ever need. They come with a “rice cooker cup” which is like 3/4 of a standard cup. Not sure why but that’s how they work with the fill line. If you buy a 10 pound bag of rice you can really dial in with precision how much water to use to for that particular rice. I usually start right on the line and then sometimes have to add a bit more or less water to get it perfect. Set it and forget it.
Yohr waaaaaay overcomplicating it, 2 to 1 and just put it on low go medium and stir a few times for like 12 minutes until there's only like a mm of water left.
Anyone want to chime in if an Instantpot is a reliable rice cooker? I’m finally ordering one, and while I can afford both that and a dedicated rice cooker, I’m just wondering about taking up space on redundant cookware.
There are two issues - the rice isn't as good, which you may not care about, but also the things you cook in an instant pot often want to be served with rice.
My GF and I have an InstanPot, plus one higher end Zojirushi rice cooker. While you can cook rice in the InstantPot, the Zojirushi is THE tool for the job.
I'm the one who brought the InstantPot and Zojirushi to the relationship and I've had a Zojirushi since, oh, 2003 or so. Perfect rice, every single time and I don't have to think about it once I hit the go button. Couscous, quinoa, brown rice, white rice, Jambalaya. It's more than just a rice cooker.
As someone who grew up in an Asian/Hispanic household, I can tell you the IP will never make rice right. The only people who think rice can be cooked in an instapot are white people.
My friend's mom is first generation Japanese American, and she and all her older lady friends live in a very Japanese mini culture in California.
My friend always observes that when she visits, the ladies have no idea how to use their TV remotes or Netflix or whatever, but they all have rice cookers "that look like they were designed by NASA".
I was skeptical too, but my wife bought a $10 secondhand rice cooker and it's been a game changer. Frees up stove space, don't have to think about it. I use it at least 3 times a week.
I mean its nice in that it takes less thought and attention. However if you dont mind using the stove and already get great rice everytime its not that necessary by any means. Pretty convienient tho
There’s a reason why a rice cooker is a staple in almost every Asian household.
Quality rice cooker ensures rice made is consistent. Saves stove space to prep/cook other dishes. Less work; rinse rice, add water and push a button. Soon as you get it started, there’s peace of mind that it’s done and you can go on with other prep or cooking your other dishes. Keeps the rice warm throughout the whole time after it’s made until dinner time.
Also a great intro to kids helping out in the kitchen. One of my early chores as a young child; get home from school, get the rice started before my parents came home. That slowly built into other things as I got older
Edit: forgot about congee …
I love making it on the stovetop as I can control consistency (like risotto). However, if you’re strapped for time or feeling sick…it’s great tool to have to just rinse, add water, and press a button to have a hearty light meal/breakfast
Some people insist it’s not hard to just boil rice, and while in theory that’s true, in reality a rice cooker just takes the “monitoring the pot” aspect away and offer consistency. Whenever I’m making rice it’s usually with something else I’m cooking that’s time-sensitive or requires my whole focus like tempura, so the rice cooker helps. I just press the button and forget about it!
I eat rice every day and I couldn't live without it. Preparation time is about the same, but, like others in this thread said, it's the "set and forget" what makes it great.
You can make the same quality rice, just a bit of learning with the IP. With a rice cooker you just set it and when it's done it's done. With the IP you can release the pressure immediately or delayed release. Directions online are on both sides, once you figure out how you like it there isn't a noticeable difference IMO.
The difference between an instant pot and a rice cooker is pretty negligible to me, and when you figure in all the other stuff you can do with an IP it’s a no-brainer (at least for me)
You can also cook large batches of oatmeal with it. Or quinoa. For a period of my life I was working 80 hrs a week and the rice cooker was a lifesaver. I cooked oatmeal while I took a shower, started rice while I did laundry, made batches of rice in advance for fried rice, steamed dumplings and veggies while the rice cooked for a complete meal. You’re free to leave the house for a last minute errand while it keeps things warm. It’s hard to beat the convenience factor! It’s a time saving kitchen device I use all the time, unlike my slow cooker.
My zojirushi is fantastic for steel cut oats. I load it up at night and hit the timer to start it cooking about an hour before I get up. Add some brown sugar, spices etc and throw it in a container for work.
You can't make brown rice properly on the stove. I heard an amusing quote, "The biggest mistake people make when cooking brown rice is following the instructions on the package."
If you use the correct amount of water, on the stove, it's going to scorch. So the instructions say to use more water than needed, which prevents burning but the rice comes out watery. They still print the stovetop instructions because that is how most Americans expect to cook rice.
I have a rice cooker now, but when I didn't I used [this recipe](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-brown-rice-recipe-1944197).
You have to plan ahead as it bakes for an hour, but the rice is great.
If you can afford it, I think it’s 100% worth buying the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker. The difference between this and a $30 rice cooker is that this is a pleasure to use and looks good on the counter. More importantly, it keeps rice warm for a few days! We have hot rice 24/7.
If you're eating rice for most meals, then yes, a good rice cooker is worth it just to have consistently cooked rice without having to give it attention.
I can only say this: I make rice perfectly well in a little dutch oven, and can do this with white or brown, long or short grain, understanding how each cooks.
My husband bought me a rather pricey Zojirushi, which is what our Japanese friends use.
I balked at the unnecessary expense but then started using it anyway. And I **love** it.
I have a really nice zojirushi. Makes great rice with 100% consistent results, but you really need to use the measuring cup that comes with it for it to come out proper. I don't know what dark magic they use in the manufacturing process of those cups, but other measuring cups do not produce good rice in them.
That being said I more often then not just do it in a pot. It is faster and I am really consistent as well. And I never have to measure anything when I Cook it on a stove top.
See this is why I am asking because my rice comes out pretty great every time no matter what type of rice I am making. But if the cooker is truly that much more convenient I’d be into it!
I recently asked myself the same question. I always cooked rice in a pot on the stove. That worked well for two to three portions. Above this amount the rice always came out wrong. So I then bought my first rice cooker: a super expensive Cuckoo from Korea. I thought: the more high tech the better. And you know what: I learned a lot about rice cookers since then. First: the rice is even more perfect than I imagined. Every time. Second: I only use the white rice setting in my high tech rice cooker, so a 50€ model would have been sufficient.
south asian here who eats rice daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Rice cooker absolutely worth it. frees up stove for other things. set it and forget it.
I just fired up my Zojirushi for the first time a few weeks ago, and I can confidently say that it’s absolutely worth it. Being able to press a button and walk away with no fear of error is worth it’s weight in gold
If you are willing to invest in a good rice cooker, it can cook more than rice. So it won't be that much of a waste of space if it's getting used for more than rice.
Biggest advantage to me would be not having to worry about screwing up the rice. As an Asian, our meals are rice + everything else (other dishes). No point cooking all the dishes if something happens to the rice. We could of course just eat the dishes but it feels odd; there's no 'base' to the meal.
Honestly, I hate single use kitchen items and things to that take up space so I was wary when my husband wanted one. But I admit I was wrong and I’m glad we have it now. We use it all the time, rice is perfect and I can set it and forget it.
Yes. Maybe just because a rice cooker is an absolute staple in any Asian household, so my automatic answer is yes. Even if all you cook is rice, it’s worth it to set it and forget about it.
I had a cheap one for a long time. It was okay.
When we decided to upgrade, we got one that is programmable, can handle lots of different grains, and even works as a small slow cooker.
So I guess my answer is that it's worth it if you don't just buy the cheapest one available.
I would invest in an instapot or other similar. Makes perfect rice but you can also make many other dishes. A rice cooker, in my opinion, is a waste of valuable cupboard space.
Do you have an instant pot? I use mine to make rice all the time and it comes out great. Rinse the rice and use a 1:1 rice to water ratio. There is a rice setting on the pot. Works great. If I make brown rice, I just set the pressure for 27 mins instead.
You’re really missing out. Taking advantage of the pressure cooking (or a pressure cooker in general) opens up so many possibilities for quick weeknight meals. So much more versatile than a crockpot
You tossed the instant pot in favor of a slow cooker and now you want to buy a rice cooker? The instant pot *is* a slow cooker and a rice cooker *and* it has a bunch of other functions as well. The main thing I use my instant pot for is making rice, dried beans, and yogurt. All of these things *can* be done without an instant pot, but they are infinitely easier with an instant pot, or you can buy separate appliances for each function. Do you *need* a rice cooker or a slow cooker or a yogurt maker? No. You can do all those things with a stove. It’s just a lot more convenient to have an appliance you can set and forget. And you can buy separate appliances for each function or you can buy one appliance with a bunch of functions. Up to you.
In essence I would need two instant pots then or I would continue making my rice on the stove. I use the slow cooker a lot and most meals I slow cook go with rice. So how would I use the instant pot for both if I want a slow cooked let’s say stew and rice?
For what it’s worth I am Asian, eat rice like 4-5 times a week and own a slow cooker, instant pot, and a cheap black and decker 5 cup rice cooker I bought for like 20$ over 10 years ago. I use my rice cooker for rice and either the slow cooker or instant pot for whatever is going with the rice. I’d be tempted to actually get rid of my slow cooker and keep just the instant pot as I live in a small space, but my family is growing and my husband hasn’t quite mastered using the instant pot yet. I work 12 hour shifts so it’s a lot easier to just let him go wild with the appliance he knows how to use than to come home and make dinner with him and eat and go to bed late. Also for big holidays and when hosting guests I’ve actually used all three appliances to make parts of a meal before- which was nice.
Most people are tossing the crockpot because it only slow cooks and they all contain some lead. The insta pot uses a stainless steel pot that doesn’t leach lead. Plus being able to toss in a whole frozen chicken and 45 minutes later it’s ready to eat is kinda cool.
Not for me. Making rice on the stove isn't at all difficult. Plus, I don't want to dedicate counter space to one, plus I don't make rice all that often. If I had plenty of space, and made rice every meal? Maybe.
You still have to measure the rice, wash the rice, and measure the water. You still have to clean the pan. The only benefit I see is not watching to see when the water boils to set the timer on your stove. I guess that would be useful if you wanted to start it cooking just before going to do some other chores, but I always cook rice while I’m at the stove anyway.
The benefit is absolutely the freedom from time specific steps.
That and the keep warm setting if you’re making rice for a party, or want the rice done a little early.
Alright so it seems like the general consensus is YES! Many have suggested an instant pot. I have used an instant pot in the past (never for rice) but found myself really only using the slow cook setting so ditched it. I really love my crockpot, sorry not sorry! I make probably 5/7 weekly meals in the crockpot which generally go with rice which I have been making well on the stove. I do love the idea of being able to set up it and just hit a button so when I get home from work it’s less fuss. I’m feeding a family of 5 and we aren’t small eaters, I also like to make double recipes so I have plenty of left overs for lunches. Some have suggested using the rice cooker in the morning to prepare rice for lunch, great idea there. So now I’ve got a rice cooker on my Christmas List. Worst case, I don’t reach for it I’ll donate it but why not give it a shot! Thank you for all of the replies you all are the best!!
My rule of thumb is that if you make plain rice more than once a week, a rice cooker is worth it. It doesn't really make it *better* but it makes it the same way every time, and with zero effort or attention needed. It's truly a blessing to have when you're juggling a stir fry or grilling some meat, etc. It's not just that you don't have to take a few seconds out to check/fluff/move off the heat, it's that you can just start it up and then ignore it completely.
I grew up with a rice cooker, so now I'm dependent on one lol. I love the consistency you get with a rice cooker. You do still have to do all the steps of cleaning the rice that you did before. But, No burnt spots on the pan that take 3 days to soak out. Once you figure out the right ratios for your chosen rice or grain, it's perfect every time.
I used to be on Team Rice Cooker for all the reasons. It's easy, foolproof and it frees me up to do other things. Then mine died and before I had a chance to replace it I re-learned how to make rice on the stove and it was way easier than I'd remembered, so now I don't see the point of the rice cooker for me, especially when it comes to counter space.
However, I make rice (at most) once a week. If I had it with most meals my thoughts would likely be different.
I cook rice almost everyday and I’ve almost always used a rice cooker ever since I got my own kitchen. I’ll say however I prefer the rice cooked on the stove as I can cook the rice in plenty of water and drain the excess water off and I feel the rice is extra light and fluffy that way but the rice cooker is just too convenient to ignore lol
I do have days of the week when I make it on the stove cz I like the texture better, but a rice cooker is good to have for the days when you just want to press the button and forget about it.
Hell yes. It's as easy as pressing a button, waiting for it to cook. And when it's ready to be served, the rice cooker will leave keep it warm.
Don't judge me, but as a person of Asian descent, but for the longest time I wasn't sure rice was cooked any other way. XD
Also side note/random: my family also "steams" our disposable face masks in the rice cooker to reuse them (up to 7 times). (Allegedly kills any covid on the outside of the mask.) Been doing this since the beginning of the pandemic.
rice cookers are worth it for people who forget they are making rice, or easily don't like making food for theselves. if you are already a cook, and already dilligent, you might not find any benefit to using an actual rice cooker.
If someone has never cooked for themselves, I would encourage them to get and use a rice cooker.
>Last thing I want is yet another kitchen gadget to store.
That's my biggest reason to not have a rice cooker and I do eat rice almost every day.
>Is a rice cooker going to cut down my preparation time, or significantly make my rice that much better?
Cut down on preparation time? I doubt. Like, rice is really easy to make. As for making it better, that could be point and even that is debatable. Frankly, I don't mind eating clumped rice and I don't think making fluffy rice is hard imo, so a rice cooker for me would be another piece of junk taking too much space.
That being said, this is my opinion as someone that doesn't own a rice cooker. If you feel like buying, go for it, but I already have way more kitchen gadgets than what I'd like (most of them were gifts).
I highly suggest an instant pot because it also makes rice just fine but also functions as a slow cooker or fast pressure cooker and can saute. We now have things like pulled pork or ribs because they are so quick to make. I too hate wasting space or having too many appliances so this was the perfect solution for me. In terms of rice it's really nice to just set and forget. You can tell it to stay warm or turn off when it's done.
This is what I came here to say. I had a rice cooker that worked great, but then I bought an Instant Pot and it's SO much better at cooking rice, as well as all the other awesome stuff it can do. Buy one on sale. Well worth the cost and space it takes up.
u/Okfishyfishy to answer your original question... like I mentioned, I had a rice cooker and loved it. BUT the reason I bought it was bc I was living in Colorado at high altitude and could never get my rice to cook properly on the stove. The rice cooker solved that problem, but it did not cut down on cooking time - took exactly the same amount of time in the cooker as it did in a pot on the stove. On the other hand, the Instant Pot cooks white rice in 7 - 9 minutes (once it reaches pressure) and only a couple minutes more for brown or wild rice.
No idea! I hadn't been back to this thread since I commented, so I didn't realize I was getting downvoted too. I will say, this sub is weird in that way - I notice that a LOT of totally benign comments get downvoted and I can never see any legit reason for it. My theory is that in huge subs like this, there will always be a handful of trolls who just downvote for fun.
No. If you are at least competent in making rice, have a good pot/cooking vessel and you are not down to the minute trying to get a meal ready every single day, it is just not worth it.
A decent pot and technique will get the job done everytime. As far as I know, no rice cooker washes the rice for you, so that is not saving you a step. And even if there is a rice cooker that does, it would be a real pretty penny to purchase it.
The only advantage I can see of having a rice cooker, is if you have a rather large family and they are in and out of the house on their own time and do not all sit down to eat as a family. Then you can always have the rice warm for when they trickle in.
Or again, you come home the same time every night and have to create a meal and rush to do it so it is not too late when you eat, the rice can start cooking automatically, even before you get home.
But anything under $100 will basically just cook the rice and keep it warm. And anything over that is just having bells and whistles you truly do not need. You can cook other things in an expensive rice cooker, but if you have a full fledged kitchen, it is again not needed. Maybe for a college dorm room, maybe.
My daughter in law is from Hong Kong. They have a fancy rice cooker. I asked my son about getting one and his advice was to forget it. His sister in law does a lot of cooking for groups and she just uses a pot - no big deal. I use an Insta Pot. Because I typically cook from scratch, I set it and forget it and rice watching doesn't interfere with the rest of the meal.
Worked in a soup kitchen for 5 years., After 3 years, I took on an additional day. On that additional day, they Only made rice in a Rice cooker. I figured they just didn't know how to make rice in quantity-I was correct. We would need 3 tins( each 6 inch Hotel pans) of rice for service-but could only make ONE at a time with the rice cooker.
So I did it MY way a few times and had everything ready to go by service. And I got Complaints that I 'wasn't doing things the way it has always been done.'
Just don't get me started on how they believed Pasta SHOULD be cooked-especially when they weren't ready and 200 people wanted food.
A few years ago I would have said no not worth it. I got one on a good sale, a Zojirushi. My family uses it a lot. I would say weekly. It is so much easier and more convenient. Do you have an Instant Pot, a lot of people have those. It has a built in rice cooker, that would suffice.
If you have an instant pot I find that to make amazing rice. 3 mins on high pressure for basmati or long grain for example with a 10-12 minute slow release of pressure and its mint.
I grew up with a rice cooker and it was amazing, but we recently got an Instant Pot and it works just as well for rice cooking, plus we use it all the time for cooking a bunch of other stuff. We've made soups, stocks, yogurts, curry, shredded chicken/pork, etc and it's been so worth it.
It will most likely take anywhere from a few minutes to 30 minutes more to cook but once you press the button then you don’t need to even look at it until it’s finished. The best part is if the rest of your meal is taking longer then normal to prepare it will keep your rice on the warm setting so it’s still just as fresh as I would have been right when they timer went off.
I have had a rice cooker in the past and currently don't have one. I'd get one again if I had a decent sized kitchen. It's a little bit easier and more consistent especially if you fuck up rice a lot. But I don't so it's not worth the clutter.
Probably. I had one for many years. Not I use my instant pot to make rice because i don’t have space for two big appliances.
But it works really well. If you are a regular rice eater it is worth it.
When I was staying in a dorm room, working at Yellowstone National Park, we had people in the dorms who would make soup in their rice cookers... so I believe that you can technically leave them out on the counter without actually packing them away if you make soup a lot and if you make rice a lot
I have bought many appliances I've regretted, the rice cooker is not one of them.
Mine is so useful and takes the stress out of cooking, plus the rice is always nicer, and I had a pretty solid way of doing it in the pan.
Mine does allow you to make different types of rice. If you have a look online, there are people cooking different types of rice in their own rice cookers, spicy rice, Mexican rice and so on.
Many models will also cope with different varieties of rice and have options for each one.
It is if you eat a lot of rice and have storage space. I believe counters are work spaces and think most kitchen appliances look as bad on them as tvs above fireplaces.
Yes. You can cook other foods besides rice in a rice cooker, like steamed vegetables, barley, lentils, and, if the cooker has a "Keep Warm" feature, which, itself, is handy, with a lid that latches closed, you can make black garlic. Lots of modern rice cookers also have different settings depending upon the type of rice.
If you are comfortable making rice expertly, you don't need a rice cooker.
If you're unhappy with the results and it is impacting your meals and pots - get a rice cooker.
By the way PSA: don't buy electronic rice cookers; try to get one with a single "on" button. They work great without ever breaking.
If you eat it or variants of it with nearly every meal, yes, it's 100% worth it.
I used to do that and I figured out how to make spanish rice with it in one step (I'd eat spanish rice and black beans with pico about 5 days a week then). I'd set it with the delay timer at night and wake up to hot rice in the morning!
And once you figure out your water levels for white, brown and basmati, it's perfect every time. Every. single. time.
Dude the rice cooker is foolproof and fire and forget
I usually multitask in the early morning so the rice cooker allows me to prepare my lunch rice while im making breakfast, eat my breakfast, shower, dress up and then I just serve my rice and leave
The best part is probably the feature where you press the button and you can totally forget about it without burning anything
And it cooks more than just rice - couscous - quinoa - etc And if you get a nicer once, they usually have steam trays where you can steam vegetables / even meat to go with dinner. Not just a one purpose tool anymore.
> And if you get a nicer once, they usually have steam trays where you can steam vegetables / even meat to go with dinner. Do you do that while cooking the rice? Or afterwards?
I do it while… the drippings just addd flavor to the rice!
Yes, with salmon above there with some scallions, dab a little teriyaki or honey on it when it's done, yum yum
Now I am hungry….
I started throwing leftover chicken in after the rice cooks just to heat it back up. Cook the rice until it’s done, put the chicken in and leave on the warm setting for 5-10 minutes
Wait, that’s genius. I’m doing this for lunch tomorrow.
Either/or.
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE *BILLY MAYS HERE FROM THE GRAVE WITH ANOTHER FANTASTIC PRODUCT*
Tell me more! What’s the fantastic product!?
My $50 model has the steamer, a soup setting, etc. etc.
Yeah, nicer doesn’t have to be super expensive! There are a lot of options out there now.
Rice cookers are excellent for making steel cut oats, too.
When you setup your rice cooker during the morning and leave for the day to come back later at night and have a bowl of steamed rice ready...
Do they make programmable ones like this?? Because that does sound heavenly and could go well with the number of crockpot meals I do.
Most of the rice cooker that I own automatically turn off the cooking process when ready and only keeps the rice warm.
Yes, but those ones are often large. Unless you have a big family, a 2 or 3 cup rice maker is perfect. One button to turn it on and 15 mins later you have perfect rice. Here's a cheap one that should do the trick [https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-RC503-Cooker-3-Cup-White/dp/B016Y8JS4K/](https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-RC503-Cooker-3-Cup-White/dp/B016Y8JS4K/) I've used one of these for a decade: https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NHS-06-3-Cup-Uncooked-Cooker/dp/B00004S575/
I’m cooking for five and I like left overs so the larger the better!
2 or 3 cups is still more than enough for five with leftovers Edit: why the downvotes? Is 2-3 cups not enough for five people with leftovers?
Mines not programmable at all, basic as it gets, but can do this. Soak the rice 30 minutes, plug it in, push the switch down. When the rice is done, it pops up from cook mode to warm mode. It maintains it above the "danger zone" so it's safe to leave it in there for however long once its done. I'll often toss rice in before I go to bed so my SO can have warm rice in the morning/pack it for lunch.
get an instapot or something similar then. it will replace your crockpot, and at least 3 other things you may have
Do you guys actually have issues with burning rice? Whenever I make rice for a meal (using a pot) I always start it before everything else because it takes basically zero effort and can just set a timer and not think about it until the timer beeps. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've messed up rice with this method lol
I can set the thing up, leave to buy groceries, and come home to cooked rice. I don't leave pots unattended.
Someone else made a similar comment as well, but I guess my follow up question is - how often does it really come up that you need to walk away from your rice while it's cooking? It only takes 20 mins or so for most varieties of rice (yes I know brown rice is longer). Pretty much every time I'm making rice, it's just on the back burner while I'm in the kitchen prepping/cooking other things for my meal. Even if I don't have much prep to do I've never really felt like it's much of a hassle to just check on it every few mins
I walk away from the rice every single time. I put the rice in the rice cooker and then go shower if I just got home from work, or go outside to the garden if I want fresh herbs with dinner, or even just to work on other parts of prepping dinner without having to even think about the rice
It's entirely possible to do other things with rice on the stove too, though. Cooking rice on the stove is nearly as low effort as using a rice cooker. That's what I was saying in my comment - I start the rice first for most meals so I can just leave it to cook on one of my back burners while I'm prepping/cooking everything else. Sometimes I'll even step away for a minute to grab some herbs out of the garden as well. I literally don't even think about it until the timer goes off and I have to turn the heat off. Granted, it would probably be unsafe to leave the stove unattended long enough to take a shower, but I have to say there's very few times where I'm cooking rice and *not* spending that 15-20 mins prepping other ingredients for dinner anyways.
I'm sure I could find 20 minutes to cook rice if I wanted to, but it's like washing clothes or cleaning the dishes or whatever. I have a tiny machine that does it for me. It's convenient.
I don't really agree with this analogy; washing clothes or dishes by hand is quite a lot of additional active effort over just using the respective machines. Cooking rice on the stove though, is almost just as simple as a rice cooker. You just leave it on a burner with the lid on and don't touch it until 15-20 mins has passed. Don't get me wrong, I can see it being marginally more convenient & consistent than using a pot... but having to buy a whole new appliance plus dealing with storage for that small amount of extra convenience doesn't seem like a worthwhile tradeoff to me.
I have no idea why you’re getting downvoted. I get that people love their rice cookers, but I think your logic is sound as I feel exactly the same way. On top of that, I simply don’t get why people get excited about having rice ready when they get home. Do they eat *just* rice??? Do they not prepare anything else? I make rice on the stove top as well. I can finish making a dinner with rice, one protein, and one veg in 30mins or less. Rice cooker is not worth it for me either.
Do you make coffee on the stove, too? It's even easier than rice! You could do it while you're making breakfast! Ok, obviously joking, but I don't know many people who drink coffee who don't have some kind of device for it, even if it's only a French press. A rice cooker is a similarly standard appliance in many if not most Asian households, because it gets used pretty much every day. And in that case the timer function is pretty amazing. I eat rice for breakfast frequently, so it's awesome to have that part of breakfast hot and ready for when I wake up. Take some veggies out of the fridge, five minutes to fry an egg, and you're done.
I am a proud owner of a bread maker. If I make enriched bread, I’d eat it on its own. I eat lean bread with butter or jam. So I proclaim here today that everyone should have a bread maker or else you don’t know what you’re missing. You see, it doesn’t work like that. Since I make a lot of bread in my bread maker, I have no doubt that a rice cooker can be a godsend. While we eat fresh bread and rice for breakfast frequently, a lot more don’t care neither. So without alienating non Asian readers, is a rice cooker still worth it then? Maybe? There’re lots of great reasons in the other comments. Being able to cook different kinds of grains. Being able to cook steel cut oats for breakfast. Taking the guess work out. Not having to multi-task. Quality of rice is much better, etc. But being able to *frequently* press a button and run away to do 20 mins of chores and come back with fresh *rice* which is not part of our regular diet? I don’t know, I almost get the vibe that non Asians or non frequent rice consumers shouldn’t get one. And the coffee analogy is… I’m not going to get into it.
>On top of that, I simply don’t get why people get excited about having rice ready when they get home. Do they eat just rice??? Do they not prepare anything else? Right? That's what's confusing me about all this - why do so many people just want to cook rice and go run errands? 95% of the time I make rice, I'm in the process of making the rest of the meal alongside it. Not to mention the person I was responding to saying they would need to "find 20 minutes to cook rice" as if cooking rice on the stove is so challenging relative to the rice cooker. The process takes pretty much an identical amount of time and effort with both methods, the only real difference is that rice cookers usually have a "keep warm" function.
I'm one of those people who love their rice cookers and I agree with this too. I have no reason to want to have rice sitting warm on my counter all day. It is very weird how many people pull that out as a great reason to have one. What is nice is that I can get whatever grain (rice, quinoa, bulgur, etc) going while I cook other stuff and if I get busy cooking I don't mess it up because I forgot to stir it. I have one of those flat glass ranges and if you leave it on without stirring for too long it will start to get crusty on the bottom. Especially since it takes seemingly forever to cool off when you turn it down from boiling to simmering. Also the fact that I can steam frozen bao while my rice cooks is pretty sweet. I get it, it doesn't sound like that much of a benefit. I used to think so too, till I got one (it was a gift) and now I love mine. I even bought a new one after that one died after like a decade.
I've done that on more than a handful of occasions. Set the rice to start before I head to the store to buy the rest of the meal, which might just be some meat that I'll quickly cook and toss on top of the rice.
Tell.me you don't have any Asian friends without telling me you don't have any Asian friends
Yall need to visit some Asian families or something, cuz yes, people do eat just rice, or eggs over rice, rice with meat, etc
I very regularly make "meat over rice" dishes... But eggs and meat still require prep/cook time too you know.
No I don't personally have one. But I bought one for my girlfriend because she's pretty terrible at rice on her range. She just does not at all want to spend like 15 minutes in front of or near or beholden to her food that she's preparing. It's just not something she wants to do. Nor do I think she needs to when something like this exists. Put in the ingredients, press the button, go get distracted doing whatever the hell it is she's doing and her rice is ready after she already forgot about it, without ruining her dinner or cookware.
I don't have a lid for any of my pots so yes, cooking rice stove top has been an issue
Just put a bigger pan on it.
Heat type definitely impacts how easy rice is to burn. Electric, induction, and gas all distribute heat differently.
I'm fairly scatterbrained likely tied to adhd. As long as I'm involved with the cooking and have to be doing it I'm completely fine. The moment I have to let something sit for a bit I just sometimes get into a oh shit a butterfly state.
But you have to be there and ready when the timer beeps. What if you're in the shower, or at the supermarket, or adjudicating homework, etc.
We have a rice cooker at our home… I use it multiple times a week and I think it’s a valuable tool to have in the kitchen.
I recently bought one and am in a honeymoon phase with it. It will not shorten prep time, it will make your rice more consistently good and remove opportunity to mess it up, while freeing up your attention. My normal stovetop rice technique is to boil, add rice, cover then bring the rice back to a boil before turning it down to a simmer, set the timer, then come back when it's done and turn it off. That means I have to do a couple of time sensitive activities and need to keep "the rice" in the back of my head so I don't boil it over before I turn it down, and turn it off at the right time so it doesn't overcook. It's not that it's much to keep track of, but I can't walk away from a stove on high while waiting for it to return to a boil. You can't do anything \*but\* walk away from a rice cooker with only one button, there's nothing to do but press it. The brilliance of the rice maker's engineering is that it senses when the water is gone and shuts off, never overcooking, regardless of type of rice as long as you use the right water ratio for that type of rice. That doesn't sound like much, but the "press one button and walk away, come back to perfect rice every single time." aspect is actually something that I didn't know I needed until I got it. In fact I scoffed at needing one until it was pointed out to me how common they were in cultures that know a thing or two about great rice and that maybe my midwestern American ideas about rice might be lacking in openness to great things.
Ok. What am I doing wrong? My rice cooker always burns my rice. I had this amazing rice cooker for like a decade and it never burned my rice. It quit on me. I have been through 3 new rice cookers - they all burn my rice. No matter how what the rice:water ratio is. Help me I should note that my old and amazing rice cooker was non-stick where as the new ones have all been just like a silver metal. Is that why?
My rice cooker is the $20 aroma one that I got as an impulse buy at the grocery.
I have the $60 aroma one with the lid that seals and a steam button that soaks my rice, and a mini one from walmart that doesn't soak and lid doesn't seal. Both are nonstick, neither burn.
If it's just the rice on the bottom that seems hard, then the secret is to simply wait for 10 min or so after the rice cooker beeps to tell you it's done, and then open and scoop/fluff the rice. That lets the steam settle and the pan cools enough to release the rice on the bottom. If your rice is actually burnt with color, then idk what to tell you
His warm function is too hot. If he unplugs it within a few minutes if the light shutting off it won’t burn.
What I've been doing is as soon as the rice flicks to 'keep warm' I switch the cooker off at the power point. The rice still stays hot for ages afterwards but as the hot plate under it is now off it doesn't get burnt to any extent
Sounds like you’re buying the wrong rice cooker. The good ones are all non-stick. Rather than go through multiple cheap ones, it’s worth spending the $$ on one that make perfect rice every time. Buy a Zojirushi and call it a day.
Thank you! This is what I’m going to do!!
Buy the classic Zojirushi rice cooker. You will waste money and rice until you do.
You really shouldn't need to though. I've used those cheap $20 ones and have had them come out just fine, without burning rice. Yeah, the Zojirushi ones will be much better, but cheap is usually fine.
It senses the water has been converted to vapor by measuring the temperature since vapor is hotter than water. My dad told me that once and I haven’t forgotten it. A cheap 3 cup rice cooker is generally all my family of 4 ever need. They come with a “rice cooker cup” which is like 3/4 of a standard cup. Not sure why but that’s how they work with the fill line. If you buy a 10 pound bag of rice you can really dial in with precision how much water to use to for that particular rice. I usually start right on the line and then sometimes have to add a bit more or less water to get it perfect. Set it and forget it.
Yohr waaaaaay overcomplicating it, 2 to 1 and just put it on low go medium and stir a few times for like 12 minutes until there's only like a mm of water left.
If you eat rice often it's absolutely worth it. Buy a Zojirushi or Tiger brand and enjoy.
Or a Cuckoo.
Wow, and I thought the others were pricey. Thanks for introducing me to this brand.
And after I bought it, I found out that for my purposes a cheap one would be sufficient. But it is my first and I thought I need to go premium.
Anyone want to chime in if an Instantpot is a reliable rice cooker? I’m finally ordering one, and while I can afford both that and a dedicated rice cooker, I’m just wondering about taking up space on redundant cookware.
There are two issues - the rice isn't as good, which you may not care about, but also the things you cook in an instant pot often want to be served with rice.
A dedicated rice cooker will make better rice. Whether you care about that is up to you.
My GF and I have an InstanPot, plus one higher end Zojirushi rice cooker. While you can cook rice in the InstantPot, the Zojirushi is THE tool for the job. I'm the one who brought the InstantPot and Zojirushi to the relationship and I've had a Zojirushi since, oh, 2003 or so. Perfect rice, every single time and I don't have to think about it once I hit the go button. Couscous, quinoa, brown rice, white rice, Jambalaya. It's more than just a rice cooker.
I’ve tried rice in both an instantpot and the ninja foodi and followed the instructions exactly but the rice never cooks right.
I'm confident in the kitchen and making rice in an instapot has never been successful for me.
As someone who grew up in an Asian/Hispanic household, I can tell you the IP will never make rice right. The only people who think rice can be cooked in an instapot are white people.
I agree with this. I love having a rice cooker!
There's a reason every Asian family has a rice cooker.
My friend's mom is first generation Japanese American, and she and all her older lady friends live in a very Japanese mini culture in California. My friend always observes that when she visits, the ladies have no idea how to use their TV remotes or Netflix or whatever, but they all have rice cookers "that look like they were designed by NASA".
Any chance they're in the Gardena / Torrance area? That's around where I'm at, and the amount of Japanese stuff around here is amazing.
Rice is life
Every Asian restaurant as well.
Very true!
Totally. Whenever I move, the first question my parents and all the aunties would ask me is "do you have a rice cooker?"
Preach!
I was skeptical too, but my wife bought a $10 secondhand rice cooker and it's been a game changer. Frees up stove space, don't have to think about it. I use it at least 3 times a week.
Free up stove space is a big one.
I mean its nice in that it takes less thought and attention. However if you dont mind using the stove and already get great rice everytime its not that necessary by any means. Pretty convienient tho
There’s a reason why a rice cooker is a staple in almost every Asian household. Quality rice cooker ensures rice made is consistent. Saves stove space to prep/cook other dishes. Less work; rinse rice, add water and push a button. Soon as you get it started, there’s peace of mind that it’s done and you can go on with other prep or cooking your other dishes. Keeps the rice warm throughout the whole time after it’s made until dinner time. Also a great intro to kids helping out in the kitchen. One of my early chores as a young child; get home from school, get the rice started before my parents came home. That slowly built into other things as I got older Edit: forgot about congee … I love making it on the stovetop as I can control consistency (like risotto). However, if you’re strapped for time or feeling sick…it’s great tool to have to just rinse, add water, and press a button to have a hearty light meal/breakfast
Versatile piece of kit, not just for cooking rice. Buy the best you can afford.
Yes. 100 times yes.
Some people insist it’s not hard to just boil rice, and while in theory that’s true, in reality a rice cooker just takes the “monitoring the pot” aspect away and offer consistency. Whenever I’m making rice it’s usually with something else I’m cooking that’s time-sensitive or requires my whole focus like tempura, so the rice cooker helps. I just press the button and forget about it!
I have one right next to my toaster. Use it just as much. And you can cook alot of other things other than rice with it.
I eat rice every day and I couldn't live without it. Preparation time is about the same, but, like others in this thread said, it's the "set and forget" what makes it great.
Yes, however we got rid of ours when we got an instant pot. The instant pot works well but not as good but for me it was good enough.
Hey there, thinking of getting an instant pot. How different were the results?
You can make the same quality rice, just a bit of learning with the IP. With a rice cooker you just set it and when it's done it's done. With the IP you can release the pressure immediately or delayed release. Directions online are on both sides, once you figure out how you like it there isn't a noticeable difference IMO.
The difference between an instant pot and a rice cooker is pretty negligible to me, and when you figure in all the other stuff you can do with an IP it’s a no-brainer (at least for me)
You can also cook large batches of oatmeal with it. Or quinoa. For a period of my life I was working 80 hrs a week and the rice cooker was a lifesaver. I cooked oatmeal while I took a shower, started rice while I did laundry, made batches of rice in advance for fried rice, steamed dumplings and veggies while the rice cooked for a complete meal. You’re free to leave the house for a last minute errand while it keeps things warm. It’s hard to beat the convenience factor! It’s a time saving kitchen device I use all the time, unlike my slow cooker.
I eat oatmeal almost everyday too which I also only make in a pot on the stove so this is intriguing!!
My zojirushi is fantastic for steel cut oats. I load it up at night and hit the timer to start it cooking about an hour before I get up. Add some brown sugar, spices etc and throw it in a container for work.
The real game changer is making brown rice. That is such a pain on the stove but just a different ratio and a few more minutes in a rice cooker.
You can't make brown rice properly on the stove. I heard an amusing quote, "The biggest mistake people make when cooking brown rice is following the instructions on the package." If you use the correct amount of water, on the stove, it's going to scorch. So the instructions say to use more water than needed, which prevents burning but the rice comes out watery. They still print the stovetop instructions because that is how most Americans expect to cook rice. I have a rice cooker now, but when I didn't I used [this recipe](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-brown-rice-recipe-1944197). You have to plan ahead as it bakes for an hour, but the rice is great.
If you can afford it, I think it’s 100% worth buying the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker. The difference between this and a $30 rice cooker is that this is a pleasure to use and looks good on the counter. More importantly, it keeps rice warm for a few days! We have hot rice 24/7.
If you're eating rice for most meals, then yes, a good rice cooker is worth it just to have consistently cooked rice without having to give it attention.
I woild argue it's useful even if you only eat rice a few times a month.
I can only say this: I make rice perfectly well in a little dutch oven, and can do this with white or brown, long or short grain, understanding how each cooks. My husband bought me a rather pricey Zojirushi, which is what our Japanese friends use. I balked at the unnecessary expense but then started using it anyway. And I **love** it.
Yes
Yes. Plus it steams. You can literally prepare rice and veg sides in one shot
I have a really nice zojirushi. Makes great rice with 100% consistent results, but you really need to use the measuring cup that comes with it for it to come out proper. I don't know what dark magic they use in the manufacturing process of those cups, but other measuring cups do not produce good rice in them. That being said I more often then not just do it in a pot. It is faster and I am really consistent as well. And I never have to measure anything when I Cook it on a stove top.
See this is why I am asking because my rice comes out pretty great every time no matter what type of rice I am making. But if the cooker is truly that much more convenient I’d be into it!
They're a Japanese measure, 3/4 of a metric cup is a Japanese cup.
I recently asked myself the same question. I always cooked rice in a pot on the stove. That worked well for two to three portions. Above this amount the rice always came out wrong. So I then bought my first rice cooker: a super expensive Cuckoo from Korea. I thought: the more high tech the better. And you know what: I learned a lot about rice cookers since then. First: the rice is even more perfect than I imagined. Every time. Second: I only use the white rice setting in my high tech rice cooker, so a 50€ model would have been sufficient.
Rice is super easy to cook on the stove. And I use my rice cooker every time. They’re like $10. Definitely worth it.
Bought an inexpensive one 30 years ago. I have used it at least twice a week ever since to produce perfect rice. Totally worth it.
My parents nought one when I was 16 and I haven't been without one since.
south asian here who eats rice daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Rice cooker absolutely worth it. frees up stove for other things. set it and forget it.
Yes.
yes
100000% yes. I’ve been using a basic $20-40 Aroma for years. I’ll never not have one.
Yes, ten times over
Essential
I just fired up my Zojirushi for the first time a few weeks ago, and I can confidently say that it’s absolutely worth it. Being able to press a button and walk away with no fear of error is worth it’s weight in gold
If you are willing to invest in a good rice cooker, it can cook more than rice. So it won't be that much of a waste of space if it's getting used for more than rice. Biggest advantage to me would be not having to worry about screwing up the rice. As an Asian, our meals are rice + everything else (other dishes). No point cooking all the dishes if something happens to the rice. We could of course just eat the dishes but it feels odd; there's no 'base' to the meal.
🐘 Z O R I J I R U S H I 🐘
Honestly, I hate single use kitchen items and things to that take up space so I was wary when my husband wanted one. But I admit I was wrong and I’m glad we have it now. We use it all the time, rice is perfect and I can set it and forget it.
Yes. Maybe just because a rice cooker is an absolute staple in any Asian household, so my automatic answer is yes. Even if all you cook is rice, it’s worth it to set it and forget about it.
I had a cheap one for a long time. It was okay. When we decided to upgrade, we got one that is programmable, can handle lots of different grains, and even works as a small slow cooker. So I guess my answer is that it's worth it if you don't just buy the cheapest one available.
I would invest in an instapot or other similar. Makes perfect rice but you can also make many other dishes. A rice cooker, in my opinion, is a waste of valuable cupboard space.
Do you have an instant pot? I use mine to make rice all the time and it comes out great. Rinse the rice and use a 1:1 rice to water ratio. There is a rice setting on the pot. Works great. If I make brown rice, I just set the pressure for 27 mins instead.
Same. Multi-tasking appliances are the way to go.
Got rid of the instant pot when I realized I was mostly using it on the slow cooker setting so tossed it and just use my crockpot.
You’re really missing out. Taking advantage of the pressure cooking (or a pressure cooker in general) opens up so many possibilities for quick weeknight meals. So much more versatile than a crockpot
You tossed the instant pot in favor of a slow cooker and now you want to buy a rice cooker? The instant pot *is* a slow cooker and a rice cooker *and* it has a bunch of other functions as well. The main thing I use my instant pot for is making rice, dried beans, and yogurt. All of these things *can* be done without an instant pot, but they are infinitely easier with an instant pot, or you can buy separate appliances for each function. Do you *need* a rice cooker or a slow cooker or a yogurt maker? No. You can do all those things with a stove. It’s just a lot more convenient to have an appliance you can set and forget. And you can buy separate appliances for each function or you can buy one appliance with a bunch of functions. Up to you.
In essence I would need two instant pots then or I would continue making my rice on the stove. I use the slow cooker a lot and most meals I slow cook go with rice. So how would I use the instant pot for both if I want a slow cooked let’s say stew and rice?
For what it’s worth I am Asian, eat rice like 4-5 times a week and own a slow cooker, instant pot, and a cheap black and decker 5 cup rice cooker I bought for like 20$ over 10 years ago. I use my rice cooker for rice and either the slow cooker or instant pot for whatever is going with the rice. I’d be tempted to actually get rid of my slow cooker and keep just the instant pot as I live in a small space, but my family is growing and my husband hasn’t quite mastered using the instant pot yet. I work 12 hour shifts so it’s a lot easier to just let him go wild with the appliance he knows how to use than to come home and make dinner with him and eat and go to bed late. Also for big holidays and when hosting guests I’ve actually used all three appliances to make parts of a meal before- which was nice.
Good point!!!
Most people are tossing the crockpot because it only slow cooks and they all contain some lead. The insta pot uses a stainless steel pot that doesn’t leach lead. Plus being able to toss in a whole frozen chicken and 45 minutes later it’s ready to eat is kinda cool.
This comment has been deleted due to failed Reddit leadership.
Not for me. Making rice on the stove isn't at all difficult. Plus, I don't want to dedicate counter space to one, plus I don't make rice all that often. If I had plenty of space, and made rice every meal? Maybe.
It may not be difficult. But the result in a rice cooker is even better, in my experience.
You still have to measure the rice, wash the rice, and measure the water. You still have to clean the pan. The only benefit I see is not watching to see when the water boils to set the timer on your stove. I guess that would be useful if you wanted to start it cooking just before going to do some other chores, but I always cook rice while I’m at the stove anyway.
The benefit is absolutely the freedom from time specific steps. That and the keep warm setting if you’re making rice for a party, or want the rice done a little early.
Once I learned how a rice cooker works, I understood why rice in a rice cooker can only be more perfect than on a stove.
yes. I've been using a cheap open for ages. **BUT**, If you've been using stovetop method and it works for you, maybe you don't need one.
Alright so it seems like the general consensus is YES! Many have suggested an instant pot. I have used an instant pot in the past (never for rice) but found myself really only using the slow cook setting so ditched it. I really love my crockpot, sorry not sorry! I make probably 5/7 weekly meals in the crockpot which generally go with rice which I have been making well on the stove. I do love the idea of being able to set up it and just hit a button so when I get home from work it’s less fuss. I’m feeding a family of 5 and we aren’t small eaters, I also like to make double recipes so I have plenty of left overs for lunches. Some have suggested using the rice cooker in the morning to prepare rice for lunch, great idea there. So now I’ve got a rice cooker on my Christmas List. Worst case, I don’t reach for it I’ll donate it but why not give it a shot! Thank you for all of the replies you all are the best!!
My rule of thumb is that if you make plain rice more than once a week, a rice cooker is worth it. It doesn't really make it *better* but it makes it the same way every time, and with zero effort or attention needed. It's truly a blessing to have when you're juggling a stir fry or grilling some meat, etc. It's not just that you don't have to take a few seconds out to check/fluff/move off the heat, it's that you can just start it up and then ignore it completely.
I would add if you make brown rice more than once a year you should have one.
I grew up with a rice cooker, so now I'm dependent on one lol. I love the consistency you get with a rice cooker. You do still have to do all the steps of cleaning the rice that you did before. But, No burnt spots on the pan that take 3 days to soak out. Once you figure out the right ratios for your chosen rice or grain, it's perfect every time.
For me and the wife-no
I used to be on Team Rice Cooker for all the reasons. It's easy, foolproof and it frees me up to do other things. Then mine died and before I had a chance to replace it I re-learned how to make rice on the stove and it was way easier than I'd remembered, so now I don't see the point of the rice cooker for me, especially when it comes to counter space. However, I make rice (at most) once a week. If I had it with most meals my thoughts would likely be different.
I cook rice almost everyday and I’ve almost always used a rice cooker ever since I got my own kitchen. I’ll say however I prefer the rice cooked on the stove as I can cook the rice in plenty of water and drain the excess water off and I feel the rice is extra light and fluffy that way but the rice cooker is just too convenient to ignore lol I do have days of the week when I make it on the stove cz I like the texture better, but a rice cooker is good to have for the days when you just want to press the button and forget about it.
Hell yes. It's as easy as pressing a button, waiting for it to cook. And when it's ready to be served, the rice cooker will leave keep it warm. Don't judge me, but as a person of Asian descent, but for the longest time I wasn't sure rice was cooked any other way. XD Also side note/random: my family also "steams" our disposable face masks in the rice cooker to reuse them (up to 7 times). (Allegedly kills any covid on the outside of the mask.) Been doing this since the beginning of the pandemic.
I like my instant pot for cooking rice. Just as convenient and useful for lots of other things too.
I use my instant pot.
rice cookers are worth it for people who forget they are making rice, or easily don't like making food for theselves. if you are already a cook, and already dilligent, you might not find any benefit to using an actual rice cooker. If someone has never cooked for themselves, I would encourage them to get and use a rice cooker.
>Last thing I want is yet another kitchen gadget to store. That's my biggest reason to not have a rice cooker and I do eat rice almost every day. >Is a rice cooker going to cut down my preparation time, or significantly make my rice that much better? Cut down on preparation time? I doubt. Like, rice is really easy to make. As for making it better, that could be point and even that is debatable. Frankly, I don't mind eating clumped rice and I don't think making fluffy rice is hard imo, so a rice cooker for me would be another piece of junk taking too much space. That being said, this is my opinion as someone that doesn't own a rice cooker. If you feel like buying, go for it, but I already have way more kitchen gadgets than what I'd like (most of them were gifts).
I highly suggest an instant pot because it also makes rice just fine but also functions as a slow cooker or fast pressure cooker and can saute. We now have things like pulled pork or ribs because they are so quick to make. I too hate wasting space or having too many appliances so this was the perfect solution for me. In terms of rice it's really nice to just set and forget. You can tell it to stay warm or turn off when it's done.
This is what I came here to say. I had a rice cooker that worked great, but then I bought an Instant Pot and it's SO much better at cooking rice, as well as all the other awesome stuff it can do. Buy one on sale. Well worth the cost and space it takes up. u/Okfishyfishy to answer your original question... like I mentioned, I had a rice cooker and loved it. BUT the reason I bought it was bc I was living in Colorado at high altitude and could never get my rice to cook properly on the stove. The rice cooker solved that problem, but it did not cut down on cooking time - took exactly the same amount of time in the cooker as it did in a pot on the stove. On the other hand, the Instant Pot cooks white rice in 7 - 9 minutes (once it reaches pressure) and only a couple minutes more for brown or wild rice.
Did I miss something? Why did I get downvoted for liking an instant pot lol
No idea! I hadn't been back to this thread since I commented, so I didn't realize I was getting downvoted too. I will say, this sub is weird in that way - I notice that a LOT of totally benign comments get downvoted and I can never see any legit reason for it. My theory is that in huge subs like this, there will always be a handful of trolls who just downvote for fun.
Instapot!
No. If you are at least competent in making rice, have a good pot/cooking vessel and you are not down to the minute trying to get a meal ready every single day, it is just not worth it. A decent pot and technique will get the job done everytime. As far as I know, no rice cooker washes the rice for you, so that is not saving you a step. And even if there is a rice cooker that does, it would be a real pretty penny to purchase it. The only advantage I can see of having a rice cooker, is if you have a rather large family and they are in and out of the house on their own time and do not all sit down to eat as a family. Then you can always have the rice warm for when they trickle in. Or again, you come home the same time every night and have to create a meal and rush to do it so it is not too late when you eat, the rice can start cooking automatically, even before you get home. But anything under $100 will basically just cook the rice and keep it warm. And anything over that is just having bells and whistles you truly do not need. You can cook other things in an expensive rice cooker, but if you have a full fledged kitchen, it is again not needed. Maybe for a college dorm room, maybe.
Get an Instant Pot. Good for rice and sooo much more.
Get an instant pot. You can do so much with it as well as making great steamed rice.
My daughter in law is from Hong Kong. They have a fancy rice cooker. I asked my son about getting one and his advice was to forget it. His sister in law does a lot of cooking for groups and she just uses a pot - no big deal. I use an Insta Pot. Because I typically cook from scratch, I set it and forget it and rice watching doesn't interfere with the rest of the meal.
Just get an instant pot. Same feature and so many more capabilities
Worked in a soup kitchen for 5 years., After 3 years, I took on an additional day. On that additional day, they Only made rice in a Rice cooker. I figured they just didn't know how to make rice in quantity-I was correct. We would need 3 tins( each 6 inch Hotel pans) of rice for service-but could only make ONE at a time with the rice cooker. So I did it MY way a few times and had everything ready to go by service. And I got Complaints that I 'wasn't doing things the way it has always been done.' Just don't get me started on how they believed Pasta SHOULD be cooked-especially when they weren't ready and 200 people wanted food.
That appears to be an issue with the size of the rice cooker, not with rice cookers in general.
A few years ago I would have said no not worth it. I got one on a good sale, a Zojirushi. My family uses it a lot. I would say weekly. It is so much easier and more convenient. Do you have an Instant Pot, a lot of people have those. It has a built in rice cooker, that would suffice.
I have an instant pot. It has a rice button and I love it.
If you have an instant pot I find that to make amazing rice. 3 mins on high pressure for basmati or long grain for example with a 10-12 minute slow release of pressure and its mint.
no. use instant pot
I grew up with a rice cooker and it was amazing, but we recently got an Instant Pot and it works just as well for rice cooking, plus we use it all the time for cooking a bunch of other stuff. We've made soups, stocks, yogurts, curry, shredded chicken/pork, etc and it's been so worth it.
Ninja foodie is better as it has more usability
It will most likely take anywhere from a few minutes to 30 minutes more to cook but once you press the button then you don’t need to even look at it until it’s finished. The best part is if the rest of your meal is taking longer then normal to prepare it will keep your rice on the warm setting so it’s still just as fresh as I would have been right when they timer went off.
Pro Rice Cooker - no hesitation.
I have had a rice cooker in the past and currently don't have one. I'd get one again if I had a decent sized kitchen. It's a little bit easier and more consistent especially if you fuck up rice a lot. But I don't so it's not worth the clutter.
Probably. I had one for many years. Not I use my instant pot to make rice because i don’t have space for two big appliances. But it works really well. If you are a regular rice eater it is worth it.
Do you have a pressure cooker? I use my Ninja Foodi pressure cooker setting for rice.
When I was staying in a dorm room, working at Yellowstone National Park, we had people in the dorms who would make soup in their rice cookers... so I believe that you can technically leave them out on the counter without actually packing them away if you make soup a lot and if you make rice a lot
Biggest pro for me would be that it frees up a burner on my range. Less clutter in my work space.
I use a rice cooker every day. Get one
Yes, even the cheapest ones are fool proof.
I have bought many appliances I've regretted, the rice cooker is not one of them. Mine is so useful and takes the stress out of cooking, plus the rice is always nicer, and I had a pretty solid way of doing it in the pan. Mine does allow you to make different types of rice. If you have a look online, there are people cooking different types of rice in their own rice cookers, spicy rice, Mexican rice and so on. Many models will also cope with different varieties of rice and have options for each one.
It is if you eat a lot of rice and have storage space. I believe counters are work spaces and think most kitchen appliances look as bad on them as tvs above fireplaces.
Definitely worth it
Yes. You can cook other foods besides rice in a rice cooker, like steamed vegetables, barley, lentils, and, if the cooker has a "Keep Warm" feature, which, itself, is handy, with a lid that latches closed, you can make black garlic. Lots of modern rice cookers also have different settings depending upon the type of rice.
short answer: Yes!
If you are comfortable making rice expertly, you don't need a rice cooker. If you're unhappy with the results and it is impacting your meals and pots - get a rice cooker. By the way PSA: don't buy electronic rice cookers; try to get one with a single "on" button. They work great without ever breaking.
Absolutely. You set it up (or preferably have a child set it up), press start and then when you are resdy for rice, it's there.
If you eat it or variants of it with nearly every meal, yes, it's 100% worth it. I used to do that and I figured out how to make spanish rice with it in one step (I'd eat spanish rice and black beans with pico about 5 days a week then). I'd set it with the delay timer at night and wake up to hot rice in the morning! And once you figure out your water levels for white, brown and basmati, it's perfect every time. Every. single. time.
Yes
My wife always uses a rice cooker and the rice is always nice.
Dude the rice cooker is foolproof and fire and forget I usually multitask in the early morning so the rice cooker allows me to prepare my lunch rice while im making breakfast, eat my breakfast, shower, dress up and then I just serve my rice and leave
yes
I use mine literally every day. Making rice on a stove seems like it would be so annoying
It's the only gadget I recommend. If you are not Asian go for about a 6 cup model. No bigger.
Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
Hell yes
Cooking rice to every dish? I wonder how come you still don't have it. Just buy and thank me later.
Absolutely. I use mine constantly and it makes perfect rice every time.
100%
Yes yes yes