A rice cooker is an electric appliance that uses hot steam to cook rice to a perfect fluffy consistancy. Both the heat and moisture from the steam cooks all varieties of rice until it is moist and the perfect texture is reached.
Some rice cookers are pressurized as well which means that they cook all the same things that a basic rice cooker will but the pressurized rice cookers do it in less time. This makes them a more efficient choice if you want your foods done quicker and still have everything come out perfectly.
You can find many functions with a rice cooker including the ability to steam fresh veggies, meats, poultry, fish, potatoes and even eggs. If you purchase a rice cooker with an included steam basket you will have the ability to cook a whole meal at the same time.
A rice cooker cooks not only all varieties of rice but whole grains and lentils as well. You can make all kinds of recipes with the ability to add these other wholesome foods to your rice.
When using a rice cooker it’s important not to mix different types of rice, whole grains and lentils together unless you’re sure that they need the same amount of time to cook. If you add different ingredients together that don’t cook for the same amount of time you will end up with mushy foods.
Here Are Some FAQ About Rice Cookers To Help You Understand Them Better
What Is A Rice Cooker Good For?
What Does A Rice Cooker Do?
Is A Rice Cooker The Same As A Slow Cooker?
What Is A Pressure Rice Cooker?
What Is A Jar Rice Cooker?
What Is A Japanese Rice Cooker?
What Is The Best Rice For A Rice Cooker?
Is A Rice Cooker Worth It?
What Is A Rice Cooker Good For?
RIce cookers are good for lots of different foods. They don’t just cook different varieties of rice but you can cook lentils, barley, quinoa and many other grains just as you would the rice.
Not only does it cook other lentils and grains but you can also cook potatoes, veggies, poultry, meats and fish in a steaming method. You can even cook eggs with a rice cooker, either scrambled or hard boiled.
You can look for a rice cooker that has a steaming tray included to cook both your rice, grains or lentils along with your veggies, meats, poultry or fish.
Rice cookers cook with steam there is no need for extra oils, butters or fats to cook the food keeping them healthy with less fats, sodium and carbohydrates from additives used in conventional cooking methods.
What Does A Rice Cooker Do?
A rice cooker cooks foods by boiling the added water or liquid of choice, causing steam which then cooks the foods that you have in it.
There are different rice cooker models that you can choose from. Some models are very basic so you would just add the amount of liquid you need to cook the amount of rice or other lenil or grain you choose. You would just press a start button and the rice cooker will boil the water causing steam and cook your food perfectly.
A multifunctional rice cooker can do many other things such as slow cooked sauces, soups, veggies, meats, potatoes, poultry and fish. The multifunctional rice cookers typically have a steaming tray allowing you to cook more than one thing at the same time along with an automatic keep warm function to keep foods at the perfect temperature until your ready to eat.
Is A Rice Cooker The Same As A Slow Cooker?
No, a rice cooker and a slow cooker are not the same thing.
A slow cooker is surrounded by heat on all sides and bottom when in use. They are meant to cook foods slowly over a long period of time so that all of the flavors are incorporated while cooking. Slow cookers do not steam food but slow cook with a set heating temperature and timer.
A rice cooker cooks the foods with steam and need a liquid base to allow steam to cook the chosen foods. A rice cooker will bring the liquid to a boiling temperature and cook foods with the boiling liquid and steam much quicker than a slow cooker.
What Is A Pressure Rice Cooker?
A pressure rice cooker quickly cooks rice by raising the temperature to boil liquid quickly along with the pressurized cooking. These two factors together allow the water to boil up to 250* which causes a lot of steam that is trapped and pressurized, allowing foods to cook quicker than a regular rice cooker.
A pressurized rice cooker also keeps foods from drying out due to the high heat and steam which cooks foods evenly and quickly, while maintaining the moisture in the foods.
What Is A Jar Rice Cooker?
A jar rice cooker is a Japanese rice cooker. This isn’t an actual jar but a more advanced rice cooker made in Japan and is available to purchase here in the US.
The jar rice cookers are much more expensive than the basic rice cookers and the pressure rice cookers. They will run from 150.00 up to over $550.00 or more, but they are much more advanced than the typical rice cookers we see in kitchens everyday.
The jar rice cookers offer a wide range of options to cook every piece of rice perfectly every time with high steam and pressurized cooking combined.
You will find that some of the jar rice cookers have AI (artificial intelligence), which learns how food is cooking and automatically adjusts the cooking cycle to cook everything perfectly with no help from you.
Along with the AI intelligence the jar cookers typically have many other one button features for cooking multiple varieties of rice, porridge and even sushi.
What Is A Japanese Rice Cooker?
A Japanese rice cooker is also known as a jar rice cooker. They offer a wider range of cooking options than the everyday rice cookers but they also offer a larger variety of options. The Japanese rice cookers are known for making perfectly cooked rice every time. Learn more about the jar rice cookers
What Is The Best Rice For A Rice Cooker?
You can use any type of rice that you like with a rice cooker. You can also use a multitude of whole grains and beans as well.
Some popular rice varieties are, jasmine, wild, basmati, arborio, white and brown. Some common grains you can use are, barley, quinoa and couscous. Beans that are popular to use in a rice cooker are, black beans, pink beans, red beans and chickpeas.
One thing to keep in mind when cooking rice, grains or beans in your rice cooker is to check the amount of time that they will need to cook. Not all rice, beans or grains cook the same amount of time and you don’t want to end up with mushy food.
Is A Rice Cooker Worth It?
This is a question that only you can answer because it depends on what you would use it for. If you are a huge fan of rice dishes and hate doing it in the microwave or stovetop, then yes, it would definitely be something that you could get a lot of use from.
Rice cookers make very delicious, fluffy, moist rice every time with no fuss of watching over a stove or microwave. Even when making rice on a stovetop or microwave you typically won’t get the right consistancy that a rice cooker does and a lot of times it’s dried out or undercooked.
If you are on the fence about purchasing a rice cooker because you think that’s all it does your wrong. A rice cooker can steam meats, poultry, fish, veggies, potatoes, eggs, beans and grains for healthy foods without any added fats from oils or butters.
Many rice cookers will also come with a steamer basket that sets above the rice so that you can cook other foods at the same time. With the steamer baskets it makes it very easy and efficient to make a complete healthy meal with the rice you like, a meat or fish choice and some veggies.
In Conclusion
Thank you for visiting Device Gourmet and I hope that we were able to help you understand what a rice cooker is and the different types that are available. If you have anything that you would like to share about your experience with rice cookers or if you have any questions, please leave them below.
