Rice cookers make cooking rice easy. They are easy to use and don’t require supervision while they cook, leaving you free to perform other cooking tasks. However, they are one more appliance to take up space in your kitchen. Is getting a rice cooker worth it?
A rice cooker is worth it! Rice cookers are small and don’t take up much space. They cook various foods and keep it all warm while you eat. Rice cookers take the guessing out of cooking rice. You need a rice cooker if you cook rice often or even just sometimes!
Do You Need A Rice Cooker?
If you cook rice, you need a rice cooker. Rice cookers make cooking all types of rice quick and easy. Add your rice, water, preferred seasonings, and push a button. After that, you can walk away and come back later to perfectly cooked rice!
Does A Rice Cooker Make A Difference?
Yes, rice cookers make a huge difference! My family cooked rice on the stovetop when I was growing up, but it often burned or stuck to the bottom of the pan. As an adult, I cooked rice on the stovetop or in my Instant Pot. The Instant Pot was much easier than the stovetop, but I still felt my rice could sometimes come out tough and chewy.
Everything changed when I got a rice cooker. My rice cooker is now one of my favorite appliances. It’s easy to use and compact. I enjoy experimenting with grains, oatmeal, and cakes in my rice cooker.
Is It Worth Investing In A Rice Cooker?
Rice cookers can be very inexpensive, but not all are. I got my Aroma model for about $30. My coffee maker cost almost three times as much as that. Some rice cookers are more expensive, but there are so many options, you can find one to fit your budget. It’s definitely worth investing in a rice cooker.
6 Benefits of Rice Cookers
Here are my six favorite things about owning a rice cooker.
Produces Perfectly Cooked Rice Every Time
Rice cookers make excellent quality cooked rice. With this handy little appliance, rice absorbs all the water it’s cooked in, making it fluffy and moist. Your rice also won’t burn in a rice cooker. Most rice cookers sense when all the water is absorbed and stop cooking. If you constantly burn rice on the stove, try switching to a rice cooker.
Saves Time
With a rice cooker, all you have to do is set it up and let it cook! You can do other tasks while your cooker makes your rice, like preparing other dishes for your meal or tidying the kitchen.
I get easily distracted while cooking, but I never worry about my rice if I use my rice cooker. I no longer need to monitor my rice pot continuously; I’m free to focus on other matters.
Cooks Other Foods
Before I had a rice cooker, I thought they were single-use appliances. I don’t have much storage space in my tiny kitchen, so I hesitated to add another appliance.
Once I got my cooker, I was thrilled to learn not only was it reusable, but in addition to rice, it could cook most grains, meat, and vegetables. My cooker takes up much less space than my Instant Pot but cooks many of the same foods.
Keeps Food Warm During Meals
Dish up your meal and visit with your guests or family. If anyone wants seconds, their rice will still be warm! Rice cookers can safely keep rice warm for about 12 hours.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Modern rice cookers have a wattage of about 400 watts. Microwaves range between 600 and 1200 watts, while electric stoves may use as many as 1500 watts. Rice cookers pull less energy than other major kitchen appliances, making them efficient and cost-saving additions.
Easy to Clean
Rice cookers have an inner pot that’s easy to remove and clean. I usually handwash mine, but I could also put it in the dishwasher. Most inner pots have a non-stick lining that prevents rice grains from sticking.
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Rice Cooker?
The main disadvantage of a rice cooker is finding space to store it. My kitchen is small, but by moving a few items to a different shelf, I found space to store my rice cooker in less than two minutes.
The other disadvantage of a rice cooker is that it can’t perform all the tasks of pressure cookers. Rice cookers don’t slow cook and aren’t as customizable as certain pressure cookers.
What Can You Make in Your Rice Cooker Besides Rice?
Before I got my rice cooker, I thought these appliances were just for rice. When I got my cooker, I was pleased to find many recipes for other foods. I love machines with multiple uses, and rice cookers are no exception! Other foods you can cook in your rice cooker include:
- Cakes
- Grains (oatmeal, quinoa, barley)
- Lentils
- Ramen
- Soup
- Steamed veggies
- Steamed meats
- Stews
Final Thoughts
Rice cookers are worth the initial investment if you enjoy rice. They also cook other grains, veggies, and meat. Most are inexpensive and small enough to store easily.