Get Perfect Rice And More With Your Rice Cooker
Rice cookers are a wonderfully versatile cooking appliance. Their design makes it possible to cook rice perfectly without it being sticky or under done. In addition there are many other dishes that can be prepared in an electric rice cooker with greater ease than trying to cook them using other methods.
For the best results across all the menu options that can be cooked in this manner, it is usually best to purchase a stainless steel rice cooker. These cost a bit more than some on the market, but the difference in heat distribution and the quality of the units generally make up for the price difference.
There are many different brands available, as well, with each brand and model offering different features, such as timers, multiple heat settings, the ability to steam vegetables to perfection, and much more.
One brand that offers many of these options on several different models, though possibly not heard of by many people is the Zojirushi rice cooker. This company produces a range of cookers that can run as little as a one half cup of raw rice up to ten cups, depending on the available space one has for the appliance and the average amount needed. They feature electronic timers and a keep warm feature that allows for the rice to be cooked until it is fluffy and tender, then kept at the proper temperature for up to 12 hours without any loss in quality.
Another brand that is, possibly, more well known in the US is the Sanyo rice cooker. Sanyo is well known for creating high quality, low cost electronic devices. Their cookers do not disappoint. They offer the ability to not only cook rice, but to slow cook soups, stews, and chili; boil eggs, steam vegetables, make tofu, and more. Some models act as pressure cookers as well. One even offers the flexibility of two inner pots to keep dishes separate while preparing more than one item.
There are many different things one can prepare with one of these cookers. In addition to a wide range of rice dishes and pilafs, one can prepare risotto, make porridge or pudding, simmer soups or stews, create perfect cheese dip and hold it at temperature for several hours without it drying out or sticking, and the list is still growing.
Regardless of the manufacturer, one of the most versatile and useful appliances for preparing great tasting, healthy meals is a rice cooker. One should shop around and choose one with the capacity and features that are most useful in his/her kitchen.
For those who are not professional chefs, there are also cookbooks available that feature recipes that are prepared entirely in a rice cooker. These can make an excellent starting point for choosing easy to prepare meals that are quickly taken from refrigerator to table with a minimum of effort on the part of the cook. Of course, the cook always has the option of adding to them or changing them to produce a meal that will appeal even more to the whole family.