primitives discuss rice cookery

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x50142

Oh my.

Steerpike1  (399 posts)        Tue Nov-11-08 08:44 AM
Original message
 
Rice Cookers

I have decided to buy a rice cooker. The #1 pick appears to be the Zojirushi rice cooker with fuzzy logic. Lots of good reviews, but just a little pricey (over 100 bucks). The cool looking Cuisinart Rice Cookers are better priced, but got very bad reviews (which I find hard to believe). Of course when you see more than 10 bad reviews complaining about the same problem, you have to give credance.
Does anyone have any insights into the whole "Rice Cooker" scenerio?

1. I will be cooking mostly premium white rice
2. I will be cooking at least 3 times a week
3. I can spend at least 100 but no more than 135
4. multiple use is a plus (doubles as a steamer and or a one pot dish cooker)
5. color is not an issue

Again, the classic example of primitives making things more difficult than they have to be.

The best rice cooker is a.....ordinary run-of-the-mill pot, preferably glass or stainless steel or cast-iron.....which has the advantage of being able to cook things more than just rice, saving on clutter in the utensil-cupboard.

Just a pot, nothing more than that.

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Tue Nov-11-08 11:55 AM
Response to Original message
 
2. Spend that much if you want but I've been perfectly happy with a $14.00 Rival from a big box store. It does both white and brown rice, along with other small whole grains like millet or hulled barley. It doesn't have a "keep warm" function, but I don't really need one. It will cook any one pot dish that has to be cooked on medium heat for half an hour or so. It's small enough that it doesn't suck up much counter space.

I bought it because I was sick of the smell of burnt rice when I'd space it on the stove.

yy4me  (1000+ posts)         Tue Nov-11-08 06:30 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. My daughter has the cheapie one and swears by it. She is a good cook but rice has been a problem for her. I gave it to her as a gift and she said it is one of the best appliances she has. Can't do anything wrong and at the price, it's a bargain. I'd never pay big bucks for one but then, I seem to do OK with rice so I never considered buying one. I just add 1C rice to 2C boiling water quick stir, turn to almost off and let sit for 20 minutes. Don't peek.

It is actually steaming. When I say low, I mean lowest possible setting on Electric stove.

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-13-08 01:09 AM
Response to Reply #6
 
8. I did better with electric than gas only for rice but that was back in the good old days before I had a computer.

Now I'm an online junkie and only remember the damn rice when I smell the smoke.

Having a gas stove doesn't help, nor does living in the high desert where water boils at a lower temperature but evaporates much more quickly.

The $14 rice cooker has saved me a fortune in rice and a lot of bad language.

Steerpike1  (399 posts)        Tue Nov-11-08 12:10 PM
Response to Original message

3. Thanks for the reply

I would agree that sometimes the best way to go is the simplest. Maybe, I will drop by target and just pick up the cheapest rice cooker they have.

Oh man.  Don't even bother spending money.  Just go to the cupboard and pull out a pot one already owns.

The sparkling husband primitive hollers up from the basement:

Husb2Sparkly  (1000+ posts)        Tue Nov-11-08 04:15 PM
Response to Original message

4. If you have an Asian market, buy one there, Do NOT overspend

They pretty much all have fuzzy logic. That fuzzy logic chip is what made the modern rice cooker so cheap and ubiquitous.

The keep warm feature is nice to have.

If no Asian store, then Target or equal is a good place. I have never been able to grasp just what it is you get when you go from a cheap-o to one over $75 or so. I am never afraid to spend what needs to be spent to get a good buy and durability. But I have a low cost rice cooker that is years old and does very well.

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Tue Nov-11-08 05:14 PM
Response to Reply #4
 
5. The big bucks ones probably offer capacity and a warming feature, essential if you're a restauranteur or caterer, but kind of silly in the average kitchen.

Now, the warped primitive as usual has offered, in all her comments, eminently reasonable and useful information, but Grandma with the diverted intestine offers even better than what the warped primitive offers.

hippywife  (1000+ posts)       Tue Nov-11-08 06:56 PM
Response to Original message
 
7. I've considered one but have decided I do just fine on the stovetop in my stainless steel sauce pot. I've also found that if the bottom sticks a little, if I take it off and leave the lid on while I prep everything else for the meal, by the time I stir it again to dish it out, it's perfectly clear from the bottom.

Space to store more kitchen stuff is really my major deciding factor on stuff, especially now. I've reached maximum storage capacity. I'm done.

One gets the impression the cooking-and-baking primitives (with the exception of the warped primitive and Grandma with the diverted intestine) think one needs one thing for cooking soup, another thing for boiling potatoes, a third thing for steaming peas or corn, a fourth utensil for boiling rice, a fifth piece of kitchenery for making gravy.....when all needs is just a pot, just a plain ordinary damned pot.

[Thor]

Frank, all I use for rice is a nice stainless steel pot with a lid. (for two)... 1 cup of rice, two cups of water, some salt. Bring all ingredients to a boil, cover, simmer for 20-25 mins.  Perfect rice every time.

[bijou]

Frank, all I use for rice is a nice stainless steel pot with a lid. (for two)... 1 cup of rice, two cups of water, some salt. Bring all ingredients to a boil, cover, simmer for 20-25 mins.  Perfect rice every time.

Same as my recipe, except I wash the rice briefly first which cuts down the cooking time.  I am queen of odd kitchen gadgets but even I balk at spending money on a rice cooker when I have pans aplenty.

[Wineslob]

Only DUmmies could f*ck up rice. (my wife loves my sticky rice)

[Crazy Horse]

Same as my recipe, except I wash the rice briefly first which cuts down the cooking time.  I am queen of odd kitchen gadgets but even I balk at spending money on a rice cooker when I have pans aplenty.

I got two rice cookers. One that works in the microwave and a stand alone. The microwave will make about 2cups. The stand alone will do about 4 cups.....................I'm part geechee and eat rice minimum 5 days a week.

[Chris]

If you wash the rice, it removes some of the starch from the outside.  Cooks quicker and is (slightly) lesser in carbohydrates.

I used to work at a place that would bake five pounds of rice in the oven at a time.  It turns out pretty good if you use that much, but it never works at home.  I always screw it up and it comes out like goo.

[Thor]

I got two rice cookers. One that works in the microwave and a stand alone. The microwave will make about 2cups. The stand alone will do about 4 cups.....................I'm part geechee and eat rice minimum 5 days a week.

What a ***** and non-cook........ rice cookers have one function....... to cook rice. If you can't cook rice in a standard pan with a lid, then you need to keep your bitch ass out of the kitchen.

[debk]

Frank, all I use for rice is a nice stainless steel pot with a lid. (for two)... 1 cup of rice, two cups of water, some salt. Bring all ingredients to a boil, cover, simmer for 20-25 mins.  Perfect rice every time.

I use a smidgen less water and make up the difference with butter. It works....

[franksolich]

If you can't cook rice in a standard pan with a lid, then you need to keep your bitch ass out of the kitchen.

Exactly what I thought too, but you said it better.

[Wineslob]

I use a smidgen less water and make up the difference with butter. It works....

I can't really think of anything butter can't make better, that, or cheese.








 

[debk]

Exactly.....

any recipe that starts with a stick of butter has great potential.....

[Crazy Horse]

What a ***** and non-cook........ rice cookers have one function....... to cook rice. If you can't cook rice in a standard pan with a lid, then you need to keep your bitch ass out of the kitchen.

I can cook it just fine in a pot....................I just choose not to use the pot. leaves another eye open on the stove, is faster and out of sight out of mind. I started using the rice cooker when I had a stove that would always be a bit to hot and cook the rice over. Never had that problem before and haven't had it since, using the cooker or the pot.

So  brownshoe

[Uhhuh35]

I got two rice cookers. One that works in the microwave and a stand alone. The microwave will make about 2cups. The stand alone will do about 4 cups.....................I'm part geechee and eat rice minimum 5 days a week.

My wife is Japanese and must have rice at least once a day. But I don't know where the Primitive gets off thinking he has to pay 100 bucks minimum. We bought the cheap chinese "Aroma" brand rice cooker at Wal-Mart a while back for twenty bucks I think. 

Works just fine.

[Wineslob]

I can cook it just fine in a pot....................I just choose not to use the pot. leaves another eye open on the stove, is faster and out of sight out of mind. I started using the rice cooker when I had a stove that would always be a bit to hot and cook the rice over. Never had that problem before and haven't had it since, using the cooker or the pot.

So  brownshoe

Thats why I use gas and 5 burners. Don't tell me..................electric?   

[Wineslob]

Exactly.....

any recipe that starts with a stick of butter has great potential.....

I forgot one thing........................bacon.