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Rice Cooker Recommendations?
SaddlerSteve
07-06-2016
Looking at buying a rice cooker ideally with a timer so it can be set overnight to cook for first thing in the morning.

Have recently started taking bento boxes into work for lunch and having the rice ready by the time I get downstairs in the morning would be a great help.

One able to make low amounts would be good too.

Any recommendations?
gemma-the-husky
08-06-2016
Rice cookers?

Use decent rice and boil it in a saucepan.

If you use poor rice, there is a tiny to non-existent window when the texture is right. If you use good quality stuff, such as uncle Ben's, anything from 11 to 14 minutes will give you a fluffy non stodgy result.
Elvisfan4eva
08-06-2016
Originally Posted by gemma-the-husky:
“Rice cookers?

Use decent rice and boil it in a saucepan.

.”

A rice cooker is far better, just pop it on and it automatically switches to warm once the rice is cooked.
barbeler
08-06-2016
I simply use a bowl-shaped microwave steamer with a vent in the lid (which I keep closed). Just add some Aldi easy-cook rice (although I'm sure any will do – I'd never buy Uncle Ben's), cover it with about 2cm of water then put in the microwave on full power for about 8 minutes. Perfect every time with all the water fully absorbed.
flashfiction
08-06-2016
Originally Posted by SaddlerSteve:
“Looking at buying a rice cooker ideally with a timer so it can be set overnight to cook for first thing in the morning.

Have recently started taking bento boxes into work for lunch and having the rice ready by the time I get downstairs in the morning would be a great help.

One able to make low amounts would be good too.

Any recommendations?”

In Japan, the cold rice portion that comes in a good bento isn't often cooked that same day and also most Japanese would take in a homemade bento with rice cooked the previous day, but with fresh toppings and seasonings.

If you're going to eat rice every day, with most meals then Panasonics & Zojirushi are always highly rated as Japanese are very particular due to the cost of their own rice variety.

If you're using basic long grain rice- what about a small cheap slow cooker? At least it's multifunctional.
( The rice makers that are multi-functional are quite expensive but use fuzzy logic too.)
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/gui...d-how-use-them
barbeler
08-06-2016
Originally Posted by flashfiction:
“If you're using basic long grain rice- what about a small cheap slow cooker? At least it's multifunctional.
( The rice makers that are multi-functional are quite expensive but use fuzzy logic too.)
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/gui...d-how-use-them”

Or just slap it in the microwave for 8 minutes
davelovesleeds
09-06-2016
Originally Posted by gemma-the-husky:
“. If you use good quality stuff, such as uncle Ben's, anything from 11 to 14 minutes will give you a fluffy non stodgy result.”

I can never understand why people buy stuff like Uncle Ben's or those small packs of rice which cost about £1.50 for a very small amount.

Buy a large (at least 5kg bag, for about £7-£12 and even if you're heavy rice users like us, it goes a long long way.

We often use a rice cooker as it gives perfect results every time, you don't have to keep on eye on it, and it will stay warm in the pan and keep its quality for many hours and doesn't go stodgy, although we rarely have it in there longer than 20 minutes, if that.
Elvisfan4eva
10-06-2016
We buy 10kg bags.
barbeler
10-06-2016
Originally Posted by davelovesleeds:
“I can never understand why people buy stuff like Uncle Ben's or those small packs of rice which cost about £1.50 for a very small amount.”

Totally agree. Lidl is the best place I know of for big bags of rice, although I'm sure there with be market traders who can compete.
stvn758
14-06-2016
Boil in the bag here, just bought some Uncle Ben's basmati, usually happy with Tesco's own brand, decided to try some brown basmati as well although that's loose so I will be again attempting to cook it the traditional way.

I prefer it sticky, if you give it a few good swirls when you put it into the boiling water it removes the starch, why are people obsessed with it being loose. Can't believe I ate long grain for so many years, basmati rocks.

Will try the microwave method for the loose stuff, must say I always thought a saucepan was a rice cooker.
SaddlerSteve
18-06-2016
Originally Posted by gemma-the-husky:
“Rice cookers?

Use decent rice and boil it in a saucepan.

If you use poor rice, there is a tiny to non-existent window when the texture is right. If you use good quality stuff, such as uncle Ben's, anything from 11 to 14 minutes will give you a fluffy non stodgy result.”

It doesn't seem like you read my post fully before replying.
I'm well aware that I can use a saucepan and have cooked rice like that regularly.

I want to try and have the rice ready when I wake up so it can be put in the bento box to cool down before I leave for work. Having a rice cooker particularly one with a timer will help with this.

I am considering making the night before or cooking batches to freeze that can be reheated quickly in the microwave when required.
missyalicia
19-06-2016
I love my rice cooker. I just have a Tefal one. I would probably cook the rice the night before for use early morning. Have to share my favourite rice cooker dish. Rice and veg below with chicken in the steamer part above. Delicious savoury rice and chicken for dinner. Salad on the side. Yummy!
grassmarket
20-06-2016
Agree with the pro-rice cooker people - when we lived in Asia literally everyone used rice cookers rather than sauce pans, microwaves etc. They know best!
IvanIV
20-06-2016
Originally Posted by grassmarket:
“Agree with the pro-rice cooker people - when we lived in Asia literally everyone used rice cookers rather than sauce pans, microwaves etc. They know best!”

If you cook rice daily, possibly several times, a rice cooker makes sense. For me it would just take space in my kitchen, I rather use pans and pots when I need them.
kate36
23-07-2016
I use a microwave rice steamer and get v good results with that I prefer brown rice.
chopsim
23-07-2016
Par boil then steam to finish. Perfect fluffy rice every time. I use a seive on top of a pan of boiling water with a plate on top.
Jem19876
23-07-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I simply use a bowl-shaped microwave steamer with a vent in the lid (which I keep closed). Just add some Aldi easy-cook rice (although I'm sure any will do – I'd never buy Uncle Ben's), cover it with about 2cm of water then put in the microwave on full power for about 8 minutes. Perfect every time with all the water fully absorbed.”

Funnily enough, I have already been advocating the microwave rice cookers on the "Eat Well for Less" tv thread, as being much easier than a saucepan, and more frugal than the packets, and probably more frugal than a saucepan too.

I use something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Cra...ve+rice+cooker

I normally use basmati rice, and I like the stuff you get in M&S. I don't bother to rinse it, and add just under 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice and set it for 7 or 8 minutes, then let it sit for a bit, give it a stir, then maybe add some more water and give it another minute. If you've got time to let it sit, then it needs less actual cooking time.

I imagine you could add the rice, water and any flavourings the night before. When you go to make a cup of tea in the morning, stick it on for 7/8 minutes, and fit it into your morning routine. If it's soaked overnight, it won't need as long to cook. You can use the container to keep left-overs in the fridge.

I've heard good things about dedicated rice cookers, and I think they are great if you eat a lot of rice, and especially for families when you might have people eating at different times, but you might find a microwave version suits you a bit better, and is a lot cheaper too!
Toby LaRhone
23-07-2016
Perfect results with this:
http://www.tesco.com/direct/sistema-...cBEA&gclsrc=aw.
And you could cook the rice whilst having a cuppa before leaving for work.
Takes up little space.

My electric rice cooker just went to a charity shop.
Missli
23-07-2016
I love my rice cooker, although have done rice occasionally in the microwave. I recommend Argos cookworks, inexpensive at £19.99 and a perfect size.
kate36
24-07-2016
this is the one I use...

http://www.tesco.com/direct/microwav...skuId=657-7238
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