I recently got my first rice cooker. Until last year, I cooked rice on my stove. “Who needs yet another appliance?” I thought. After using it a handful of times, though, I am in love!
There’s nothing wrong with cooking rice in a pot. Pots are versatile and easy to store in any kitchen, but a rice cooker offers many benefits that make owning one well worth it!
Is a Rice Cooker Better Than a Pot?
Rice cooks fine in a pot. You don’t have to store any special equipment when you use a pot on your stove. You likely already have a pot and a wooden spoon or spatula in your kitchen.
Rice cookers do offer certain advantages, though. They keep your rice warm or allow you to multitask while your rice is cooking. How you cook your rice and how much space you have to store appliances may help you determine which method suits you and your household better.
Is it Faster To Cook Rice in a Pot or a Rice Cooker?
Cooking rice on the stove takes about 20 minutes. The average rice cooker takes about 30 minutes, but the convenience of a rice cooker may make up for the longer cooking time. One of the most significant benefits of a rice cooker is that it doesn’t need much attention while in use; it does all the work for you. Also, rice cookers always yield perfectly cooked rice.
Does a Rice Cooker Produce Better-Tasting Rice than a Pot?
Some cooks firmly believe that rice cookers make better-tasting rice. I’ve cooked rice in a pot, and now in my rice cooker. Maybe my taste buds need to develop, but the rice tasted the same to me. Everyone has their own preferences, so go with the taste you enjoy.
Why Use a Rice Cooker Instead of a Pot?
Rice cookers offer many features that pots don’t. Rice cookers take minimal effort compared to a pot on the stove. It only takes me about three minutes to measure the rice, rinse it, and add it to the rice cooker, along with the appropriate amount of water. I close the lid, push the button, and move on to other kitchen tasks. The rice cooker doesn’t need my attention until the rice finishes, and then I can eat! Clean-up is also a breeze, but more on that later.
When cooking rice in a pot, I have to stand over the stove to ensure the water doesn’t boil over and adjust the heat if it does. Then, I remove the lid to keep the liquid from dripping onto the burner. If I cook rice on the stove, I spend at least 25 minutes focusing on my rice instead of having the freedom to complete other tasks as it boils. While I’ve cooked rice in a pot for many years, using a rice cooker is simply easier.
The most significant advantage of a rice cooker is that it needs so little attention. If your dog runs into the house with muddy paws, you can clean him up without your pot boiling over. Do the kids need help with homework, or is your mom calling? No problem! The rice cooker continues to work without any extra attention, no matter what life distractions come up.
Benefits of Rice Cookers
Perfectly Cook Your Rice Without Burning
Rice cookers automatically adjust the temperature. They also cook the rice from all sides, not just the bottom, so your rice won’t burn or overcook. It will end up fluffy and moist every time.
Can Easily Cook Large Quantities
Another benefit of rice cookers is their ability to cook large quantities of rice. All you have to do is measure the correct rice-to-water ratio and add it to the cooker. You don’t need to stir or worry about your pot boiling over, and your rice will cook evenly without being mushy or hard on the bottom.
Keep Your Rice Warm After Cooking
Rice cookers usually default to a ‘keep warm’ setting after the rice finishes cooking. You don’t have to adjust the stove or transfer the rice to another dish to keep it warm.
Allows You To Cook And Focus On Other Tasks
Rather than stand over a stove and manage a pot, you can set your rice cooker and do other tasks. Check your rice cooker often while it’s on, and don’t leave the house while using it.
Washes Up Easily
Rice cookers are usually coated in Teflon, making them non-stick. All I have to do is wash the pot in soapy water when I finish using it. Then I air-dry it on my drying rack. It is much easier than scraping dried rice grains off of my pot like before. I can also put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher for easy washing.
Rice Cooker Added Bonus:
Many rice cookers can also steam veggies, fish, or meat–while you cook your rice! Cook your dinner in one pot while you tidy up your kitchen. Rice cookers are the ultimate time-saver.
Can Rice Cookers Cook All Types of Rice?
A rice cooker can cook all types of rice: jasmine, basmati, long-grain, short-grain, brown, or white. You can also use a rice cooker to cook other healthy grains like oatmeal or quinoa. Rice cookers have different settings for each type of grain and can cook them all.
The Bottom Line
Even if you don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen, you will likely enjoy having a rice cooker. Quickly cook rice and other grains, plus meat and veggies. I’m so glad I discovered a better way to cook rice.
