We are looking for recommendations for an inexpensive rice cooker

[denbot]

My wife wants to try a lighter asian style diet. More rice, fish, and less red meats. Rice seems to be a basic component, so we want an convient way to make a variety of brown, and white rice.

[elleng]

1. A Pakistani friend used 'Aroma,' but suggests mechanism so simple that anything will do.

Have fun!

[Stinky The Clown]

2. We have a 10+ year old cheap-o from Zojirushi that's still going strong.

I'm told the cheapest one you can find will do the job nicely. Ours is testimony to that.

[Warpy]

3. The cheapest ones out there will do the job.

I have a $14.00 Rival from Wally's. It does as good a job on brown rice as it does on white.

When you go up in price, you get into the ones that will keep rice warm all day or steam vegetables.

Asia has done a great job on these things, so I have never heard of a bad one. The cheap Rival has an aluminum insert that can be a little tough to clean (a plastic scrubber makes short work of it) and more expensive models can have easier to clean Teflon. Or not.

What you cook in it is as important. Long grain rice is higher in protein and will be disappointing the next day. If you tend to reheat rice, as I do, then stick to short grain varieties like Calrose for white rice. It reheats much better.

[Tesha]

4. Love mine...

I have a cheap Zojirushi too - with teflon.

My neighbor is Malaysian - she saw mine and went out immediately bought a large one as they have rice very often.
She says she can't believe how much easier, less stressful, simpler, cleaner, etc. etc....

We've never had any problems with any types of rice... one caviat...
Don't try to use a little one to make rice pudding...
the milk spits out the steam vent and makes a mess:rofl:

[pinto]

5. I use one of those collapsible colanders with legs, saucepan and lid.

:hide:

Takes a little trial and error, but works fine for rice. Dumplings, broccoli, snap peas as well.

[Texasgal]

6. Go to an asian market

They have the BEST rice cookers and they are very inexpensive.

[shanti]

7. agreed

n/t