By Elsie, Contributing Writer
This post is part of the Kitchen Tools of the Trade series.
I like to keep a simple, well-curated kitchen equipped only with champion tools that I will use frequently or will make a task more efficient. My husband and I live in an apartment, so often space is another consideration.
When we received a large rice cooker as a wedding present, I wasn’t sure if we would get enough use out of it to make it practical. However, I have several rice-loving friends who rave about their rice cookers, so I gave the appliance a chance.
Thank goodness! We use that thing almost more than our crockpot! We like it so much, in fact, that rice has gone from an occasional side dish in our menus to a staple! A generous helping of hot-cooked rice is a delicious way to stretch a cut of expensive grass-fed beef.
Our taste for rice has also broadened as we’ve tried Arborio for risottos, “sticky” rice for homemade sushi, and aromatic Jasmine and Basmati for stir-fries and meat accompaniments.
What I love about my rice cooker:
- It produces perfect rice, every time
- It doesn’t make a mess and cleans up easily
- There’s plenty of room to make a large batch
- You can cook a lot more than just rice in it!
Cooks who could benefit from owning a rice cooker would be:
- Those who eat a lot of rice!
- Those who have large families or like to entertain
- Those who love the ease of microwave rice but want a cheaper option
- Those who don’t enjoy cleaning rice-encrusted saucepans
If you decide to invest in a rice cooker, I recommend getting a larger size than you think you’ll need. An ample cooker will ensure your rice never overflows and you can make enough for a crowd.
As far as brands go, we love our Aroma and it’s a good price, plus it comes with a steamer basket for cooking veggies. My friend from Japan loves her Zojirushi. A Vitaclay (reviewed here at The Nourishing Gourmet) also looks like a good option.
Favorite Recipes with Rice
Crockpot Beef Curry over Rice @ Richly Rooted
Crockpot Chicken Adobo @ Stacy Makes Cents
Fried Rice @ Richly Rooted
Fried Rice @ Your Thriving Family
Gallo Pinto @ The Humbled Homemaker
Rice Pudding @ Jaimie Ramsey
Sausage and Veggie Stretch @ Your Thriving Family
Spanish Rice @ The Elliott Homestead
Stuffed Yellow Squash @ Richly Rooted
Do you think a rice cooker is an important appliance for a real food kitchen?
Images by Richly Rooted
Gabrielle
Yes, I love my rice cooker! I’m from South Louisiana and we eat rice with everything. I thought it was normal to own one and that everyone had rice cookers until a few years ago when I finally realized that all of these Texans I’m around do not own rice cookers. They’re missing out. 🙂
Elsie
Yes, indeed! I grew up eating a lot of rice, too, but made on the stove top. Until I got my rice cooker, I thought that scraping saucepans was just going to be my fate.
LeAnn
FYI rice freezes very well! My family is from the pacific islands & we have rice a few times a week, freezing the leftovers for fried rice or rice pudding later on.
Elsie
LeAnn, I can’t believe I’ve never tried that! Good to know!
Suni
We always debate about getting a rice cooker… I have some rice loving family for sure. My son can eat a quart of rice in minutes, plain. I will have to reopen the discussion about it with the husband. It would probably help make life a bit simpler LOL.
Elsie
Sounds like your family would be prime candidates for a rice cooker(:
Suni
update… we did get one and it has been a life changer 😀
Lois
I enjoyed this article. I just bought an Aroma rice cooker and am absolutely in love with it. So far I have made rice (of course), chili, baked beans from scratch, garlic shrimp, corn on the cob and pasta sauce in it. I am looking forward to doing more with it. I am donating my crock pots and will use this exclusively. Thank you for the great article and the recipe ideas.
Elsie
Thank you, Lois!
I am so impressed with everything you can make in a rice cooker! My repertoire isn’t that broad, yet. I never would have thought to do pasta sauce, but I’m totally going to try it now.
Jaimie
We like rice but we only eat it once a week at the most… so far, for just two of us, I’m content to just make it in a saucepan and get the pot full of water as soon as the rice is out! But I think this will be on my wishlist someday 🙂 Thanks for the mention, Elsie!
Elsie
You’re welcome! Yes, getting the pot soaking right away is one key to kitchen happiness(:
brenda
We love our rice cooker, too! My teenage son knows how to use it and will make rice 2-3 times a week.I love it for the other things I can do in it, like making hard boiled eggs, and cooking perfect quinoa or grains (wheat, barley,etc). And don’t get me started on steaming…..
Jenny
I bought a rice cooker at a yard sale 19 years ago. I made a deal with the guy; 15 bucks for a crock pot and a Hitachi Chimomatic rice cooker, with book and steam rack. He urged me to hurry and leave before his wife got done in the bathroom!
At the time, I only wanted the rice cooker so I could cook on the porch during the 100+ deg. summers. However, once I tried it, I realized what a fantastic appliance it was going to be.
We have used it for steaming veggies as well as for rice. I have done eggs once or twice – it can do a lot. REheating rice in it is OUTSTANDING and unparalleled. Any of the 4 sons can load it and get it cooking (each started at about 11yrs but younger could do it). Clean up is easy. It can hold cooked rice at a safe temp for up to 5 hours. We’ve made innumerable one-pot rice dishes in it. This model is big: makes up to 5 cups dry rice so that is about 15 cups cooked. We eat rice at least 2x a week and rarely have left-overs so this is the cooker for us! Can you tell I like it?
Our only problem is that ours is getting OLD! The Chimomatic is no longer made and the ones I have found on ebay are expensive and SMALLER. When the sad day comes and I must replace this work-horse, I am pretty sure I will end up spending $100.
john
thanks its much informative