Rice Cookers

[Steerpike]

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

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. Delete

[Warpy]

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]

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]

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.

[Steerpike]

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.

[Stinky The Clown]

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]

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.

[hippywife]

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.

:hi:

[NMDemDist2]

9. I bought an old Rival at a garage sale for $2

works great :shrug:

[sandnsea]

10. hehe, me too n/t