Rice Cookers...silly gadget or useful tool?

I hear folks talk about how much they love their rice cooker....which they also use to cook most grains. I've never felt a need for one, as I seem to do alright cooking grains in my Le Cruset or even the non-stick pans. If the rice/grains are done a little ahead, I hold in a warm oven. Am I missing out on having a useful tool that would make the process easier? If so, any brand that is loved by you?

I've been thinking of getting one, as a lot of my very good cook friends love them. I was really sold when a chef I know ranted about how he does everything from scratch etc etc etc and they are just another appliance to take up space yada yada... and then one day he had occasion to use a rice cooker someplace else. His comment to me was, "Oh.My.God. What is WRONG with me, that thing is wonderful!" And he promptly purchased one and loves having it.

My nephew lived in Japan for several years and married a Japanese girl. They live in Salt Lake City now, but have always had a rice cooker and couldn't imagine living without one. I love rice, however, white rice is not conducive to a diabetic diet, so I usually make brown rice. I don't know how a rice cooker would be with brown rice.

Karen, I took the Boot Camp course at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park a few years ago. Our instructor, chef for 40 years, told us his rice cooker was essential in his home kitchen. A couple of people challenged him, and he claimed that all of the CIA teachers used rice cookers at home.

I took another course there last year and our professor confirmed their popularity at home. Of course, they taught traditional methods at the CIA, but loved the "perfect results every time" aspects of the cookers at home.

Best, Bob

I always thought they were kind of silly and take up a lot of space, but then again, I'm not someone who makes a whole lot of rice. What little rice I do make always comes out fine made in a regular lidded saucepan.

Most of the people I know around here don't cook a whole lot of rice. The exception is a Japanese couple I've known for quite a few years. They own one of the fancy fuzzy logic units and swear by it.

I would think a rice cooker is the kind of thing you can live without, but which you really will want if you cook much rice. The ability to just start the thing up and then go do other stuff without worrying about it is pretty nice.

[Jenise]

I would think a rice cooker is the kind of thing you can live without, but which you really will want if you cook much rice. The ability to just start the thing up and then go do other stuff without worrying about it is pretty nice.

You hit the nail on the head, I think.

And since Karen is satisfied with the rice she makes, there isn't a problem there that needs correcting with the purchase of yet one more appliance to clean and store. Which describes me pretty well, too. I make great rice in an old Magnalite pan that has a very heavy lid that seals well. Isn't even non-stick.

I too cook rice in the 'old-fashioned' way on the stove and also agree with yet another gadget taking up space if not used a whole lot. So my question is, can said rice cooker be used to cook anything else besides rice?

I think it's a matter of volume. I cook one cup of raw rice at a time, and I always do it by the traditional stove top method, despite my owning a rice cooker. I never make enough at once for the cooker to be worthwhile.

-Paul W.

I grew up with one that was used every day for dinner. In our house now, though, we have one, but rarely use it, as we tend to cook all our rice (when we have it, which isn't all that often) in the microwave.

[Jenise]

I grew up with one that was used every day for dinner. In our house now, though, we have one, but rarely use it, as we tend to cook all our rice (when we have it, which isn't all that often) in the microwave.

In the microwave? Never thought of trying that--I'm a traditionalist I guess and certainly not a microwave fan. But as I'm about to embark on about four months with nothing but a microwave and a toaster oven for home cooking, I'm suddenly all ears. Share your method?

I too cook rice in the 'old-fashioned' way on the stove and also agree with yet another gadget taking up space if not used a whole lot. So my question is, can said rice cooker be used to cook anything else besides rice?

Shel, we don't eat much rice, but our cooker comes with two different steamer baskets, and I can use it to steam anything that fits -- fish, shrimp, vegetables, potatoes, etc. Best, Bob

I have a small one and use it when I make rice. Works well for one or two cups of rice and allows me to focus on the other aspects of the meal.

Works well for one or two cups of rice and allows me to focus on the other aspects of the meal.

That, for me, is the big selling point- set it and forget it.

I have a Salton rice cooker that was a gift. It is free to a good home.

We have two rice cookers - both from my brother who lived in Japan for several years and has a Chinese wife. While we would not have bought another electric appliance, Liz and I use the cookers all the time. We really appreciate their "set 'em and forget 'em" nature.

I'm with Bob, Stuart and Jon on this one. We have a rice cooker that is about a million years old and use it two or three times a week, for rice or steaming various other things. Wouldn't be without one.

I have a Salton rice cooker that was a gift. It is free to a good home.

I thought I might be interested until I read these reviews: http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B00005B6Z4/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

I grew up with one that was used every day for dinner. In our house now, though, we have one, but rarely use it, as we tend to cook all our rice (when we have it, which isn't all that often) in the microwave.

In the microwave? Never thought of trying that--I'm a traditionalist I guess and certainly not a microwave fan. But as I'm about to embark on about four months with nothing but a microwave and a toaster oven for home cooking, I'm suddenly all ears. Share your method?

Sorry, Jenise, I missed this post earlier.

We have an 1100 watt microwave. I use the little measuring cup that actually came with the rice cooker - not sure why, but that's what we've always used for measuring rice. Anyway, it's about 2/3 cup in capacity. First we wash the rice in a colander to get rid of some of the excess starch. Then we put the rice into a pyrex casserole with a lid, and add however many cups of rice there were plus one of water. ie. if we have 2 cups of rice, we add 3 cups water - if we have 3 cups of rice, we add 4 cups of water. This goes into the micro on high for 5 minutes, gets a stir, then on medium for 15 minutes. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the time right for your microwave, and also the size of your pot is relevant too. Don't freak out if it leaks out and makes a mess of the microwave, just wipe it up later.

It helps to then let the rice sit for a while before serving - my mum does that even with a rice cooker.

We have an 1100 watt microwave. I use the little measuring cup that actually came with the rice cooker - not sure why, but that's what we've always used for measuring rice. Anyway, it's about 2/3 cup in capacity. First we wash the rice in a colander to get rid of some of the excess starch. Then we put the rice into a pyrex casserole with a lid, and add however many cups of rice there were plus one of water. ie. if we have 2 cups of rice, we add 3 cups water - if we have 3 cups of rice, we add 4 cups of water. This goes into the micro on high for 5 minutes, gets a stir, then on medium for 15 minutes. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the time right for your microwave, and also the size of your pot is relevant too. Don't freak out if it leaks out and makes a mess of the microwave, just wipe it up later.

It helps to then let the rice sit for a while before serving - my mum does that even with a rice cooker.

Let me get this correctly. It took 5 minutes on high plus 15 minutes on medium in a microcwave to cook 2 or 3 cups(uncooked) rice? Just this evening I cooked 2 cups uncooked rice on my gas stove and it took just a few minutes to bring the water to a boil and then 15 minutes once I added the rice. Yes, I too let the rice sit for a while before serving. My point is that the microwave took just as long as the gas range did. So, the general question of this post was why get a rice cooker as it is just some specialized countertop piece of kitchen appliance. Some pointed out that they use the rice cooker to cook other things. My observation is that at least for cooking rice the micorwave could be considered a useless kitchen appliance as it, to me, saved no time, over appliances that one would normally have in the kitchen - gas or electic stove top.

Let me get this correctly. It took 5 minutes on high plus 15 minutes on medium in a microcwave to cook 2 or 3 cups(uncooked) rice? Just this evening I cooked 2 cups uncooked rice on my gas stove and it took just a few minutes to bring the water to a boil and then 15 minutes once I added the rice. Yes, I too let the rice sit for a while before serving. My point is that the microwave took just as long as the gas range did. So, the general question of this post was why get a rice cooker as it is just some specialized countertop piece of kitchen appliance. Some pointed out that they use the rice cooker to cook other things. My observation is that at least for cooking rice the micorwave could be considered a useless kitchen appliance as it, to me, saved no time, over appliances that one would normally have in the kitchen - gas or electic stove top.

Rice absorbs the water at a certain rate. The only way to speed up the process is with a pressure cooker. I can do brown rice in 9 minutes at full pressure in a pressure cooker vs 45 minutes regular stovetop.

So, the general question of this post was why get a rice cooker as it is just some specialized countertop piece of kitchen appliance.

Set and forget has a great virtue. If you're a superb multitasker and can watch what's happening at all times, if you never forget a pot while juggling two or three other dishes, then a rice cooker is unnecessary frippery indeed. For me and my ADHD ways (and much ruined rice through neglect to prove it!), it looks very attractive.

I agree, Stuart. Set and forget, plus a burner on the stove is useful at times. Those, with perfect results every time, were the CIA chef's reasons for delighting in them. Best, Bob

I think I'd like to get my father one. He loves rice and could probably eat it at every meal. But I'm not confident he's cooking it properly. Being the frugal sort, I'm sure he eats his mistakes, and is probably eating undercooked or scorched rice as often as not.
How difficult are they to use? (pretend you are 85)
What would the typical instructions look like?
TIA