Rice cookers/steamers?

[dimots]

I've had a few cheap rice cookers but bought a Tefal 8 in 1 multi cooker when my last one packed in. Does perfect rice, very well made and so far seems like a bargain at less than £50.

[LeadFarmer]

jas xjr said:

i do not mean to be argumentative , but why use a rice cooker ? it is not too difficult to cook rice . sorry i really do not understand

For me, cooking rice can be hit and miss. I usually have good results boiling it in a pan, draining off the water, retuning to the hot pan and covering with a cloth for 5 mins. But there are occasions when it comes out sticky and claggy, which spoils my meal.

I'd always regarded rice cookers as a gimmick, but some get excellent reviews. So Im tempted.

[12TS]

LeadFarmer said:

I'd always regarded rice cookers as a gimmick, but some get excellent reviews.

I was surprised by ours, used pretty much every time we want rice now. It's not one of those kitchen gadgets you buy and then it gathers dust in the corner.

[C70R]

I picked one up in Japan a few years ago, when they were not so common outside Asian households in the UK. I wouldn't be without it - there's no better way to make steamed or sticky rice.

[motco]

HarryFlatters said:

LeadFarmer said:

Anyone use one? Are they worth the money?

The Japanese lady that taught me how to make sushi uses a rice cooker, and if it's good enough for her...

My soon-to-be daughter-in-law is Chinese Australian and her Mum used to run a chain of Chinese restaurants in Australia. They both use rice cookers... Don't know what make but I'll try to find out.

[Slushbox]

jas xjr said:

i do not mean to be argumentative , but why use a rice cooker ? it is not too difficult to cook rice . sorry i really do not understand

1) Put Basmati rice in Pyrex bowl, cover with water, whack in microwave at 80% power for ten minutes.

2) Boil kettle when microwave dings. Empty rice into strainer, pour over boiling water. Starch-reduced fluffiness is guaranteed.

I have an 'Asian' chum who ate here recently; 'Rice better than at home.'

[Foliage]

BrabusMog said:

Do you have a microwave? Pyrex bowl, half a mug of rice per serving, double the amount of boiling water to rice, cover bowl with plate, 10 mins in microwave and 10 mins left on the side whilst covered. That's how I do it

Yep I do similar, I cant stand having electrical items on my work top they have to go in a cupboard and I only have so much cupboard space, I do have an electric tefal steamer that I used to do rice in but microwave is easier, the steamer is good though for all sorts of stuff, if im using it I have to get as much in it as I can.

[anonymous-user]

C70R said:

I picked one up in Japan a few years ago, when they were not so common outside Asian households in the UK. I wouldn't be without it - there's no better way to make steamed or sticky rice.

Absolutely this - brought ours with us when we moved back to the UK from Japan 20 years ago - it's still going strong and makes perfect sticky rice at least once or twice a week for us.

[Nezquick]

Until now, I've always used the Jamie Oliver method. Boil rice for 5 minutes and then steam it over a pan in a colander with a lid on for 10 minutes. This method cooks perfect fluffy rice every time.

However, I've recently started using a steamer to cook it - but that takes 30 minutes or so (but is less hassle).

I may look into a rice cooker - just not one for £160.

Any decent cheaper ones?

[motco]

Can they do fluffy non-sticky rice?

[12TS]

motco said:

Can they do fluffy non-sticky rice?

Yes.

For those with the proper expensive Asian models, did you try a cheap one first? Our £15 Argos jobby works well, I can't see how spending another £100 is going to be much better.

If it would I buy one tomorrow, so it's not the cost. I just wondered how much better they are.

[KungFuPanda]

I'm Vietnamese so at my parent's house there is always rice on the go. They have always had a rice cooker as long as I remember. So do all of their friends. We have a tiny little rice cooker bought for about £12 from Lidl a couple of years ago. Still works brilliantly.

Wash the rice, equal volumes of rice to water, stick it in the cooker and press the button.

[motco]

12TS said:

motco said:

Can they do fluffy non-sticky rice?

Yes.

For those with the proper expensive Asian models, did you try a cheap one first? Our £15 Argos jobby works well, I can't see how spending another £100 is going to be much better.

If it would I buy one tomorrow, so it's not the cost. I just wondered how much better they are.

Thanks!

[Equilibrium25]

12TS said:

Yes.

For those with the proper expensive Asian models, did you try a cheap one first? Our £15 Argos jobby works well, I can't see how spending another £100 is going to be much better.

If it would I buy one tomorrow, so it's not the cost. I just wondered how much better they are.

I had a £20 john lewis one.

I thought it was good until I was introduced to the wonders of the Persian rice cooker, it's another level altogether.

Also, so much more than just rice - lots of things can be mixed with the rice if you want to get more out of it.

[12TS]

Thanks. That's the next load of John Lewis vouchers used then, will go and have a mouch at some proper ones.

[ambuletz]

Bumping this thead as I want to get myself a rice cooker.

I've used many in the past so I'm aware of what the quality is like on the cheaper end. (sub £40).

yes i know a cheap one will do the job,
yes i know how to cook rice on the hob


but I still would like a rice cooker as i know how useful it is. something a little better...maybe similar to the japanese style ones that are sealed in (and won't have water boiling over like on the cheap ones). but i don't want to be spending £100. I've noticed some of them have multiple functions like pressure cooking, though I'm dubious on how effective those are.. part of me feels a seperate pressure cooker or seperate slow cooker will function much better.

[LeadFarmer]

I ended up buying the Zojirushi NS-TSQ10 micom fuzzy logic rice cooker from yumasia.co.uk and it makes lovely rice everytime.

https://www.yumasia.co.uk/5-cup-capacity/zojirushi...

[Ridealong]

How about an updated rice cooker i.e. multi cooker that does more than boils and steams.

https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/pressure-king-pro-3l-...

[zygalski]

jas xjr said:

i do not mean to be argumentative , but why use a rice cooker ? it is not too difficult to cook rice . sorry i really do not understand

Great for recipes that call for sticky rice, like Chinese or Thai.

[ambuletz]

sorry but that Zojirushi is £200.. i don't want to be spending £200, I don't need something that expensive. I'm talking around £50. but that is the style of rice cooker i'm kind of interested in.

Ridealong said:

How about an updated rice cooker i.e. multi cooker that does more than boils and steams.

https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/pressure-king-pro-3l-...

Those were the kind that I'm interested in, especially as it has the pressure cooker feature and slow cooker feature. Did see a video the other day though that showed that the pressure cooker wasn't better than a normal pressure cooker though (as it can potentially take much longer to get up to pressure and heat).

the rice cookers i always had you had to always be careful with the amount of rice you added as it would usually spill over. i figure the sealed ones would be much better, and save for this inconvieninece.