<p>Does anyone know anything about rice cookers? Son has requested that we bring him one when we come for parents’ weekend. It has to be fairly large (the one he’s used to using at home is a Panasonic and makes 10 cups). And it has to have a non-stick pot. There seems to be a big price range, like from $30 to $200. There are a lot more choices, and a lot more expensive choices than I remember from when I bought mine. I have no idea what the advantage is to the expensive ones. Does anyone know? Some of them have “fuzzy logic”. What is that and why would one want it? Some of the expensive ones have a really solid-looking, hatch-cover type top rather than just a simple glass lid like mine. Does the top make pressure to cook the rice faster, or what? Also, is a rice cooker likely to cause problems in a dorm room? I know some dorms forbid things like hot plates. He made rice every day before he went to college. He isn’t on a meal plan, so I think he would do that now if he had a rice cooker. I think he would get enough use out of it to justify spending extra money if there are real advantages to something more high-falutin than mine. Does anyone know?</p>
<p>That is a lot of rice to eat in one day!!! Everyday. Fuzzy logic is good. Why would you need to take this to him when you can order on line and have it shipped to him?</p>
<p>So why pay two to three times more? In two words: delicious and programmable “The fuzzy logic is my alpha rice cooker,” says Julie Kaufman, co-author of “The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook” (The Harvard Common Press, 2002). “I love the programming feature. I often put the rice in early and program it the night before.”</p>
<p>Fujitronic is a popular cooker</p>
<p>Texas:</p>
<p>He does not need anything hifalutin. The only thing to remember is to depress the button and plug the rice-cooker! Tell your S to go to Chinatown (Downtown Crossing on the Red Line) and buy one himself. Most grocery stores have a good selection. And while he’s there, he can indulge in dim sum. Chao Chow City is highly recommended.</p>
<p>To do two actions? Naw…Reheat? Fuzzy. True he can go and buy this himself
and I’ll bet he is cooking more than rice. Hmmm getting cold, soup, hot cider…well better cut this off before a mom jumps to a logical conclusion.</p>
<p>Well, the 10-cup rice cooker doesn’t actually yield 10 cups of rice. Rice-cooker cups are smaller than regular cups. And you can’t fill it to the brim or it splurts around the lid and makes a mess on the drainboard. And he won’t eat the stuff that sticks to the bottom. In the end, he just gets one large, heaping bowl - maybe 3 cups. A more efficient 10 cup cooker might actually make 10 cups, but mine doesn’t.</p>
<p>I may order and have it shipped to him, or go shopping there. I’ve been trying to get him to buy one himself, but he has decided he wants to delegate the task. He says he doesn’t have time to research the options. It may really be because of the dorm fridge he bought for himself. He got it at the college bookstore, so it was way overpriced. And he ended up with one of those little cube ones that’s too small for a gallon of milk, which is what he primarily wanted it for. It turned out to be pretty useless unless he decides to start drinking cans of soda (or beer), which doesn’t appear likely.</p>
<p>S announced today that the fridge he and suitemates rented (at an exorbitant price) leaks, so it’s good only for storing water. Soda cans ice up, and when thawed, taste plain awful. Sigh. If you are visiting him soon, you and he can trek to Chinatown and buy one. Shipping might take just as long. A package of things I ordered has disappeared into shipping heaven.</p>
<p>Well if the cube doesn’t hold a gallon…milk is sold in many other container sizes. He could have ordered his fridge on line and had it delivered also. Some kids figure this out later. I think you may find a better price online…plus you could…well, I hate to mention this. Ok, you could buy yourself the new one, have it shipped to you. Of course you would have to try it out…then you can put the old one into the carton and ship it to the kid. Just kidding of course.</p>
<p>Texas, my son just uses the refrigerators in the kitchen. He says with his name on stuff it doesn’t disappear. Also, does he want to use it in his room? Son’s dorm has all sorts of appliances in the kitchen - bread machines, several crock pots, etc., which everyone uses. Yours could probably cook in the kitchen, then take the cooker back to his room if he doesn’t feel comfortable with other people using it. Has he checked the kitchen to see if they already have one he could use?</p>
<p>over30 - I think he’s trying to avoid the kitchen. He says it’s so dirty he doesn’t want to go in there. </p>
<p>hazmat - I had the same thought about getting a good one and keeping it for myself. But husband and I don’t actually eat much rice. Son must have inherited some recessive Oriental gene for rice.</p>
<p>marite - I know where your son and his roommates can get a cheap, barely used cube fridge… If they rented though, shouldn’t they be able to exchange or return it?</p>
<p>Hmmmmmmmm recessive gene, that could be one explanation. Too bad you don’t want to take up the rice thing…I’d pass myself and I love rice. I just always love the moms here who speak of sacrificing at home while sending all the jazzy new stuff to school, sheets, towels etc. Anyway I think your son would love a fuzzy, would use it and will get your money out of his use. Have fun shopping.</p>
<p>Texas:</p>
<p>We had offered to go out and buy a fridge, but they wanted one with a microwave, and the only microwave allowed came with a fridge. To date, apparently, the microwave has been used twice! Nevermind, they’ll learn to deal with it.</p>
<p>Texas,</p>
<p>Based on the experience I have with rice cookers, I think there’s a difference between a cheap one ($35 Aroma at Costco) and a better and more expensive one. The Cheap one will cook the rice unevenly and stick to the bottom, the better one will cook the rice nice and even and you can keep the rice warm for a couple of days without burning, which is something the cheap one can not do.</p>
<p>Of course, some expensive ones also offer some neat features.</p>
<p>Does he have a microwave? A few years back, on the advice of a friend, I bought this little $5 plastic microwave rice cooker from Walmart or one of those similar stores. It is wonderful–so easy to use, easy to clean up, and cooks it just right. We use it constantly. It makes up to 6 cups at once.</p>
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<p>Bandit microwaves are very common on campus. They just have to hide it in the closet or something when everybody goes home for Christmas.</p>
<p>Coureur:</p>
<p>I said the same thing to S. Apparently S and suitemates are law-abiding souls! This must be the most expensive way to get cold water. But I’m staying out of it.</p>
<p>I’ve been using a cheap (<$25) [Panasonic</a> rice cooker](<a href=“Rice Cookers & Steamers | Bizrate”>www.bizrate.com/marketplace/search/search__cat_id–13050826,prod_id–11194710.html) for several years. It has a nonstick pot and is completely foolproof. (And as cheap as $11 on eBay!) Nothing fancy, just 3 cups of rice. My 85-year-old father bought himself one last year, and it’s on my list of things to send my S as a surprise someday soon (in the dorm right next door to your S 
!). I recommend putting something under it in case it boils over, but it’s an acceptable price to pay. I have never had it burn the rice, and it is always cooked through.</p>
<p>What about a pot with lid? 2 cups water, one cup rice? And a hot plate.</p>
<p>i second the plastic rice cooker from walmart! my oldest uses his all the time. inexpensive, easy to use, easy to clean! and if it needs to be replaced, it’s cheap, too!</p>
<p>I received a “fuzzy logic” rice cooker as a gift and, while I probably wouldn’t spend the $$ for a kid, I really love it. Perfect rice every time and it can handle different varieties and texture preferences. The manufacturer is Zojirushi. (I have since bought two Zohirushi coffee makers.)</p>
<p>Marite, S and I were just talking hot pots yesterday and he is also remains inside the law. He has been hiking over to Annenberg or the SC when he wants a cup of tea. That may change with the weather.</p>
<p>Texas, your post about avoiding the kitchen and earlier talk about vermin in the dorms reminded me of one time when I went back to MIT with DH after the winter break. His suite-mates, who left after he did in December, prepared a big holiday meal and then just left everything (dishes, pots, food) for whomever had the misfortune to return first in January! (It was more than my stomach could handle.)</p>