Why Do You Need a Rice Cooker?
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A rice cooker is a handy kitchen companion that can automatically cook rice for you. Making perfect rice on the stove or any other means requires a lot of practice to master the craft but if you have a rice cooker, you won’t have to go through all that challenge to have perfectly cooked rice. Whether you’re cooking white rice, brown rice, Basmati rice, or jasmine rice, a rice cooker can do it for you.
If you’re not sure if you should buy a rice cooker, maybe this article can convince you.
Is It Worth Having a Rice Cooker?
If you regularly cook rice, there’s no doubt that it’s totally worth it. Cooking rice in a pot over the stove is simple to do but it can be very tricky to perfect. A slightly higher flame, too little or too much water, not being able to keep an eye on the timer — do any of these things while making rice over the stovetop and you could end up with rice that’s inedible.
With a rice cooker, you won’t have to worry about all those elements. Your cooker will do all the rice cooking for you. All you need to do is to load the uncooked rice grains into the inner pot of the rice cooker, add the correct amount of water, close the lid, and press a button. There’s no need to stand by it and worry whether you’ll have burnt or mushy rice at the end of the cooking process.
What’s the Point of Using a Rice Cooker?
Sure, you can cook rice over the stove or use a Dutch oven or even your microwave but having a rice cooker can make things simpler for you. Whether you eat rice a few times a week or multiple times a day every day, having a rice cooker in your kitchen is an absolute game-changer. There are many compelling reasons why you should use a rice cooker at home, such as:
Rice Cookers are Easy to Use
The number one reason why people use a rice cooker is because it makes the rice cooking process a whole lot easier. A rice cooker literally does all the hard work for you. For instance, you’re coming home from work, you’re tired, you still need to make rice but you can’t find the energy to do all the steps needed to cook rice on the stove. That’s a lot of effort and work needed to have a bowl of rice, and you’re not even certain if it will turn out right.
With a rice cooker, you can come home from work and have perfectly cooked rice without needing to monitor it the entire time. Simply add the rice and water to the cooker pot, press a button, and leave it to simmer and cook the grains to perfection, no supervision needed. Having this appliance can also encourage you to cook and eat more rice as making it wouldn’t take a lot of effort anymore.
Can Cook Different Types of Grains
When people say they know how to cook rice, most refer to white rice as it is the most commonly eaten and cooked type of grain. They not only cook white rice perfectly, but they can also cook other grains such as brown rice, Basmati rice, jasmine rice, black rice, and the like.
Many rice cookers have specific program buttons for the type of grain that you want to cook. The only thing that you need to do to ensure that your rice cooks perfectly is to have the correct water-to-rice ratio. Add the right amount of liquid and press the function button for the type of grain that you want and let the rice cooker take over.
Cooks Rice Evenly
Let’s face it, even if the steps in making rice are simple, a lot of people struggle to cook it to perfection. Owning a rice cooker will take away those worries because its heating element is designed to cook at a precise temperature and automatically switch to the “Keep Warm” setting once it’s finished cooking. No more burnt rice, undercooked rice, or overcooked rice ever again.
Rice cookers also cook the rice in a way that separates every grain from the others. This eliminates the dreadful situation of getting mushy, sticky rice.
Rice Tastes Much Better
A rice cooker is designed to regulate the cooking temperature, helping the grains retain their aromatic flavor, resulting in tastier rice.
Cooks More Than Just Rice
Despite the name, rice cookers can actually cook more than rice. Many modern rice cookers have settings and features for steaming vegetables, meat, and fish, and even for cooking soups and stews. There are even more advanced rice cookers that let users make bread, yogurt, oatmeal, baby food, and such.
Easy to Clean
It can be very tiring to scrub down a cooking pot every night after using it to make rice. Compared to that, a rice cooker is a breeze to clean. Most rice cookers come with an inner pot that has a non-stick coating which means grains won’t stick to the bottom of the pot. You won’t have to spend the rest of your night trying to scrub the burnt parts off the pot. Another good thing is that most components of a rice cooker are dishwasher-safe.
Comes with Accessories
Rice cookers typically come with a measuring cup to ensure that users put the correct amount of rice and water needed, making the process fool-proof. A lot of models also come with a steam tray so that individuals can make steamed vegetables or steamed meat while the rice cooks below.
What Are the Disadvantages of Having a Rice Cooker?
There are many benefits of having a rice cooker at home but if you don’t eat much rice though, you may not see the worth of owning one. Here are some drawbacks that may make you think twice about having a rice cooker:
Takes Up Counter Space
If you’ll only use a rice cooker once or twice a month, then it can be a waste of kitchen space and money. Some people keep their cooker packed away but that makes it inconvenient when you want to make rice.
Size Limits
If you want to make a large amount of rice but your rice cooker has a small capacity, you won’t be able to use it. You can always make multiple batches but it is less convenient than using a large pot on the stovetop in one go. Another option is to buy a cooker that can cook larger quantities but if you’re not going to use it a lot, it can also end up taking space in the kitchen.
Does a Rice Cooker Make a Difference?
Having a rice cooker makes a big difference, especially if you cook rice regularly. Rice cookers are famous for being a set-it-and-forget-it kind of appliance. Instead of having to boil water over the stove, stir in the rice, cover it, and simmer, all while keeping an eye on the timer, all you need to do is put the rice and water in the cooking pot, place it in the cooker, and press a button.
You won’t have to do a whole lot of work to have good rice ready for mealtimes. A rice cooker can even keep your rice warm for hours after it’s done cooking. There are even rice cookers that have a delayed timer function that lets you schedule when you want your rice to cook. You won’t have to wake up early just to start cooking rice for breakfast, or drag yourself to the kitchen after work to make it.
How Much Is a Rice Cooker?
Rice cookers vary in price depending on the brand, size, and features. Highly-advanced rice cookers that come with numerous features can cost hundreds of dollars, but there are also cheaper ones that can get the job done.
A basic rice cooker can cost anywhere from USD 20 to USD 30, while more advanced cookers may cost around USD 100 all the way up to USD 1,000 or even higher.
Final Note
A rice cooker consists of a cooking bowl, lid, thermostat, and a heat source to steam or boil rice automatically. It can produce wonderfully-cooked rice in a matter of minutes and you don’t even have to babysit during the entire process. It can also keep your rice warm even after it’s done.
Is a rice cooker worth it? Absolutely. You’ll find numerous individuals singing praises about their own rice cookers because truly, having one makes cooking rice easier in all aspects. If you eat rice all the time as a pairing for other dishes, then a rice cooker is certainly a must-have appliance in your home.
