TIPS TO BUY THE PERFECT RICE COOKER OF YOUR CHOICE
Traditional rice cooking requires steady attention to ensure that the rice has been cooked properly. But, nowadays, rice cookers perform this job very beautifully by offering consistent and perfect cooking of rice, and enable you to serve your family with perfectly cooked rice. Currently, an available rice cooker consists of a compact comfortable cooking bowl, heat source, and a thermostat. It automatically cooks the rice by avoiding either undercooking or overcooking. Once the cooking is over, it stops cooking and turns from cooking mode to warming mode. Even after cooking, it can keep the grains separate. Once the rice cooker is arranged for cooking, you will get the rice properly cooked with no additional attention from your side.
Since buying a rice cooker is slightly complicated, it needs a lot of care and preparation. Here we furnish some basic factors which help you to a great extent in choosing the right rice cooker of your choice.
Types of Rice Cookers
Generally rice cookers are available in two main types. Beyond rice cooking, they can be used for a variety of kitchen purposes.
Conventional Rice Cookers
Majority of consumers prefer to use conventional rice cookers, because they are often available with basic features. Some rice cooker types are very simple to use, as they are provided with only one button to get the appliance started. While cooking, you can add constituents, press the button, and wait for the cooking to get finished. There are also conventional rice cookers with more settings which are absolutely uncomplicated. In addition, there are also basic models as well as sophisticated ones. They are designed in such a way to make easy and quick cooking of rice. Conventional rice cookers are available at reasonable prices.
Smart Rice Cookers
Majority of smart rice cookers follow fuzzy logic technology. This know-how enables the cooker to sense exactly what is needed to cook. If you want to cook rice with more heat than usual, there are options to make the rice cooker to follow that change in temperature. Smart rice cookers can cook perfect rice every time than cooking the same by any other rice cooker ranges. Because of this reason they are more expensive than other widely used rice cooker models. But, the rice cooked by the smart rice cookers is found to be slower than the conventional rice cookers. So, you can make arrangements on the smart cooker to cook the rice early, and place the cooked rice in the keep warm setting as per your requirement.
Combo Rice Cooker
Apart from cooking rice, many rice cookers can be used for other requirements in the kitchen. The most popular combination that you can see in this category is a rice cooker and a steamer. Besides, there are also rice cookers that function as slow cookers and pressure cookers. If your kitchen has a shortage of space, you can purchase kitchen appliances that can perform multiple functions.
Other Factors to Consider
Here are some important factors to consider.
Capacity
Capacity of a rice cooker is generally mentioned as the number of cups of uncooked rice that you can comfortably cook at one time. Larger models are capable of cooking up to 10 cups of rice, whereas smaller ones carry out the cooking of about 5 cups of uncooked rice. You have to bear in mind that these capacities are noticeably smaller than a standard cup. A standard cup normally contains about 160 ml. Information regarding the least number of cups that can be cooked at one time is not often provided by the manufacturers, but normally it is about 2 cups, even though it can be more for some other larger rice cookers.
Quality
The quality of the product and material is very important when considering a rice cooker. Premium quality products can be reliable, durable, work efficiently, and carry out all kitchen works that are assured.
Weight
The weight of the rice cooker is another significant aspect to be considered. While choosing a rice cooker it is better to choose a handy lightweight model, so that you can effortlessly carry out cooking as well as serving.
User-Friendly controls
Nearly all rice cookers are provided with a one-touch control panel or thermostat for easy and expedient operation. There are also rice cookers with sophisticated digital displays that make sure the reliability and exactness for a better cooking practice. You may always be aware of, and stay restructured regarding the operations of the control panels.
Digital Timer
Traditional type rice cooker models are featured with manual timer knobs. The highly developed models are provided with digital timers by which you can arrange the time of rice cooking and get it switched off after a precise duration.
Automatic keep-warm settings
Nearly all latest rice cookers are featured with an automatic keep-warm setting to maintain the temperature of the cooked rice as steady, if once the cooking process is over. It will also facilitate the water to take up fully into the rice, and thereby making it comfortably soft to eat.
Quick cook settings
The highly developed rice cookers are featured with a precise ‘Quick Cook setting’, and this arrangement enables you to cook the rice swiftly if you have any urgency.
Easy To Clean Bowls
While purchasing a rice cooker, it is essential to make sure that the inner side of the rice cooker can be easily cleaned and preserved at all times. Choose rice cookers with stainless steel bowls that ensure safety, hygiene and health. In addition, they are also easy to clean and long-lasting.
Insulated Body
Choose a rice cooker with an insulated body, because this feature can maintain the exterior parts of the rice cooker cool. This facility also prevents the unexpected mishaps like burning of your hands in the kitchen when the rice cooker is switched on.
Cool-Touch Handles
Avoid rice cookers having metallic handles as they get heated quickly. Instead, ask for rice cookers with strong, cool-touch, ergonomic handles that support you to grip the cooker and serve from it fearlessly.
Lid type
Generally, two types of lids are found in rice cookers. They are unsealed and sealed.
Unsealed Lids: - These unsealed lids are made of glass, and very easy to use and clean. This glass lid enables you to view the developments inside the rice cooker.
Sealed Lids: - Sealed lids are used to prevent the bench top sprinkle or any clatter. This arrangement consists of a removable inner lid that can be cleaned in the sink.
Precise Cooking Modes
This facility on the rice cooker can be used for the preparation of various rice menus. A regular rice eater doesn’t require this facility. Anyway, a lover of various rice dishes would rejoice this aspect. By switching on this facility, you can make sure that the rice cooker can separate every grain of rice if you wish. On the other hand, the rice would take up a mashed appearance. By this arrangement, you can manage the supply of water, and ensure to achieve the exact combination. Thus, an automatic cooking mode can be very beneficial. So, you may opt for a rice cooker that can cook rice in different modes.
Accessories
Good number rice cooker brands provide supplementary accessories along with the cooking bowl. It is sensible to opt for a unit that is provided with a wooden spatula and measuring cup for a hassle-free experience. You are advised not to use either metal spoons or spatulas, particularly when the rice cooker is functioning.
Frequency of rice cooking
If you are an infrequent rice eater, it is better for you to go for the basic rice cooker. People who love to eat only white rice can also opt for a simple rice cooker. Nevertheless, if you prefer to eat diverse rice selections, then you can opt for an advanced rice cooker that is featured with different settings for cooking dissimilar types of rice.
Kitchen space
Generally, rice cookers do not need much space in the kitchen. It is possible for you to carry the same just about anywhere. On the other hand, if your kitchen is small, it is better for you to choose the multi-purpose cooker that functions as a slow cooker and a steamer as well.
Family Size
While choosing a rice cooker of your choice, it is very important to consider the size of your household. The size of the rice cooker is dependent on the number of rice eating members in the family. Hence, for large families, a rice cooker with larger capacity is required.
Before going to purchase a rice cooker, go through the aforementioned factors, and consider the same with great importance. The write-up will help you to choose the right rice cooker of your choice effortlessly. Also, remember to consider your financial conditions, and make the purchase accordingly.