You might be asking yourself several questions regarding rice cookers, whether they are worth purchasing, what they do, whether they offer excellent performance, and how they work. Those are some of the rhetorical questions that might be streaming through your mind, primarily if you’ve never used a pressure cooker.
For decades, people have been using specialized appliances to prepare rice. As much as some people find it easier to make rice, some find it difficult. This should not make you feel demoralized. A Rice cooker is an electric cooking device that makes it easier for us to prepare rice within a short period. You won’t struggle cooking rice using a rice cooker.
Some people take rice cookers as a unitasking device. Besides rice, this device can be used to steam vegetables, porridge, or soups, to name a few. Only a few people use rice cookers to prepare other types of foods, but on most occasions, they are used for the purpose they are meant to do. This guide will equip you with helpful knowledge on using a rice cooker.
Is It Necessary to Buy a Rice Cooker?
This article will benefit this group of people; those who desire to cook delicious rice or steam grains. A rice cooker has proved to be of benefit because it makes work easier and eliminates work tension. Just set your rice cooker and give it time to cook your rice.
You can also use your rice cookers in hotel rooms, offices, or hostels. They are also suitable for traveling with. If you find preparing rice a collaborative process, then buying a rice cooker is the best alternative that will ease you from the difficulties associated with preparing rice.
How Does A Rice Cooker Work?
The way a rice cooker functions may look mysterious to you, especially if it’s your first time. First, put water in the cooker, add rice to it and then turn on the cooker. It will take a few minutes for the rice to be ready, and then the cooker turns itself off. After switching itself off, the cooker warms the food and awaits to be served. It is the steam in the cook that keeps the rice at the right temperature for eating.
The ingenious technology is very beneficial in making the rice cooker. Rice cookers originated in Japan, and since made, they have been integral. They have a valuable thermostat in detecting the way the grain absorbs liquid. The boiling point of water in the rice cooker is 100 degrees Celsius and cannot exceed that. The heating element of the cooker spikes the moment there is no liquid in the cooker. The thermostat is then activated, stops boiling, and switches to warming. However, how the rice cooker works is not so important. What you need to know is how it works and make your work easier.
Learn About Rice Cookers from Scratch
It may cost you up to $15 to get a cheap rice cooker and over $140 for an expensive cooker. Rice cookers are known for preparing good rice, soft and well cooked. On the market, there are several rice cookers. They include:
Warm cookers are the cheapest type with the WARM and ON settings. This type of rice cooker has the following features; they are cost-friendly, long-lasting, and dependable. Zojirushi and Aroma are the two popular warm cooker brands.
A smart rice cooker is another type of cooker. The cooker was well designed with the use of artificial intelligence. Through AI, adjustments in the liquid volume and the quantity of rice are made. It also detects the water level in the cooker when it goes down and when it’s high. It is somewhat more expensive than warm cookers. Cuckoo and Zojirushi are the two common brands of the Smart rice cooker.
Pressure multi-cookers are third on our list and comes with unique features. It is a multi-purpose cooker. It works effectively, and within a nick of an eye, your rice will be ready.
Considering Capacity
Capacity is integral, especially when purchasing a rice cooker. The capacity of cookers differs. They range from three, six, and ten cup capacities. When using a three-cup cooker, it is not advisable to add three cups of rice to it. When your rice cooker is small, there are higher chances that it will not work effectively. Water may overflow, or the rice may not be properly cooked. Also, when using a large cooker, ensure the amount of rice you use reasonable. Large and medium rice cookers are recommended for large families and households. A three-cup cooker will serve well smaller households.
Tips to Guide You on Using a Rice Cooker
Start by measuring rice. There are different types of rice, basmati, black, rice, and brown rice. The second step, rinsing the rice, is optional. Add rice to your cooker, then add water. The water you add to your cooker depends on the quantity of rice in your cooker. Add the lid to your cooker and allow the cooker to either cook or boil. This will depend on the cooker’s read instructions. The instructions will help you decide whether to switch the cooker to the cook or boil mode. The next step is to give the cooker room to cook rice. The duration takes to cook rice depends on the volume of water and the type of cooker you’re using.
Once the rice is cooked, the cooker will automatically be switched to the WARM mode. The reaction of cookers differs depending on the type. Some will play certain tunes while others may beep. Others remain silent, especially the inexpensive type. Lift the lid from the cooker to check whether the rice is well-cooked and ready to serve. It is advisable that after the cooker switches to the WARM mode, you wait for ten minutes before serving the food. The last step is to serve the food. Remember, since the cooker is still on, it keeps the rice at the right temperature for eating.
Rice cookers have proved to help cook rice. They also help in cooking grains and steel-cut oatmeal, to name a few.
