Rice Cookers?

oaklandmom · 12-02-2008, 10:23 AM

I'm thinking of getting a rice cooker for DS for the holidays. Any suggestions? any thing I should look for? He has a studio apartment this year and so he's cooking on his own. He loves rice and I thought maybe it would be easier for him to have a rice cooker.

teriwtt · 12-02-2008, 12:24 PM

We eat a lot of rice, and have used a variety of different rice cookers/steamers. However, my absolute favorite one these days is the one from Pampered Chef that you use in the microwave:
Rice Cooker Plus : Cookware : The Pampered Chef, Ltd.

Rachacha · 12-02-2008, 12:39 PM

Oakland - there was an Oster rice cooker on special at CVS stores on Black Friday, I picked one up, don't know if the special is still on though....I have used a microwave rice cooker for years that could be another idea if your S has a microwave and limited space otherwise..

munchkin · 12-02-2008, 03:08 PM

I eat rice everyday and have an electric rice cooker. It can cook regular rice, brown rice, make porridge, steamer attachment. I saw it recently on sale at Walmart for about $50, 6 cup capacity.

ShesOnHerWay · 12-02-2008, 03:25 PM

I got a rice cooker as a wedding present 26 years ago. It is the only gift that we still use today. Yup, the original one. And we use it on average 2x a week. Yeah, rice cookers!

second spring · 12-02-2008, 04:00 PM

Before I bought a rice cooker, I loathed making rice. Brown rice, white rice, whatever I used came up out a goopy mess that often splattered on the top of the stove. I got a 6 cup Zojrushi rice cooker a few years ago, throw rice and water in, turn it on and walk away.
Every time, the rice comes out perfectly. Mine has a steamer insert. It's small, but I have steamed vegetables, fish, etc while cooking the rice.

cornmuffin · 12-02-2008, 04:10 PM

I read somewhere that you can make rice in a crock pot. Has anyone tried this?

CBBBlinker · 12-02-2008, 04:28 PM

Just recently got my first ever rice cooker. It's a Black & Decker from WalMart for about $20.00. Non-stick interior, steamer basket, & measuring cup. It works really well. How did I ever survive without one all these years? And why did I ever spend all that time scrubbing a layer of rice off pot bottoms? After moving, I swore I wouldn't keep getting "stuff," especially kitchen "stuff" -- but this was definitely worth it.

HImom · 12-02-2008, 05:42 PM

When we moved S up to college, we bought him a $10 electric rice cooker at Frye's. I believe he's had no problems with it. Personally in our house we have the deluxe 10 cup one that also keeps rice hot after its done being cooked as does the rest of my extended family--rice is a large part of most diets in HI. Costco has some good prices on rice cookers as well. They are rather bulky for transporting & easier to just purchase where the individual lives instead of having to pack.

thumper1 · 12-02-2008, 06:46 PM

We also have a rice cooker and have had it for about 26 years. If it broke, I would replace it immediately. Ours is a Hitachi "Chime O Matic" but I don't think they make it anymore. We bought one for SIL at Target a few years ago...it's great too.

oregonianmom · 12-02-2008, 07:26 PM

We recently bought a small one made by Cuisinart. Love it!

mountains · 12-02-2008, 07:57 PM

Since he's single, he may prefer to have a smaller rice cooker. I have a couple of rice cookers - one 5-cup and the smaller 3-cup capacity which can handle 1/2 cup to 3 cups. Here's the 3-cup one that I really like:

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Panasonic SR-G06FG 3.3-Cup Rice Cooker/Steamer

hamtaro fan · 12-02-2008, 09:22 PM

I'm a freshman this year, but since I can't live without rice, I bought a (contraband) rice cooker for my dorm room at Target. It is made by Rival and is pretty small, only 6 cups of cooked rice and only cost me $13 (on sale!). This model also has a small steamer basket for veggies. I've only used it to make Japanese short-grain rice so far, but it comes out well every time!

4trees · 12-02-2008, 09:44 PM

Is there a rice cooker small enough to make a single serving of rice or will a larger one do that anyway?

thumper1 · 12-02-2008, 09:58 PM

DS has a small rice cooker...I think it can make up to five cups of rice. To be honest, he usually makes at least 2 or 3 cups. It heats up very nicely in the microwave the next day...and the day after that. We do the same here...3-4 cups at a time, and then just keep them in the fridge.

I suppose you could cook one cup at a time...but that seems like it's wasting electricity.