Rice is a global dish, and in many countries, in many different cultures, rice is cooked, and consumed every day. There are several different types of rice, requiring specific cooking processes. Getting it right can be challenging.
Cooking rice perfectly each time can be a source of concern, especially for the time poor, inexperienced or under-resourced cook.
Take the guesswork out of cooking rice for that special dish, or for your family, and have rice cooked perfectly every time you need it, regardless of the type of rice you are wanting to prepare, you could consider an electric rice cooker.
Winner – The Very Best Rice Cooker
If you are looking for the very best rice cooker available, with the most convenient means of purchase, then look no further than the Japanese rice cooker – Zojirushi NP-NVC10 Induction Heating Pressure Cooker.
The Japanese culture incorporates rice into everyday life – it is eaten every day, sometimes more than once. It is no wonder that the best rice cooker has been designed and built by the Japanese! This little gem has been hiding out in Japan, only recently released to global markets.
It is a very handsome device, curved gently and softly, with a low profile, a perfect shape for any sized kitchen. It is classy satin brown, beautifully neutral, a great addition to modern kitchen décor of any color. It is ready to prepare any type of rice you require. It sports a non-stick interior surface, to prevent the cooked rice from sticking to the inner surface, it will even sing to you with a melody of your choice once it has completed the cooking process. It comes in 2 sizes – 1.0 liter and 1.8-liter capacity.
Among its many features is a multi-menu setting, including around 7 different types of rice, or combinations of rice. A special setting will soak and steam the rice for an exemplary end result every time. This device has a digital display, leading to precise time setting and also delayed start, so you can set up your rice to cook, and it will start automatically even if you are not at home.
This is an inductive cooker, using magnetic coils to generate eddy currents in the cooker, ensuring great control over the entire cooking process. This is similar in concept of the induction cooker stoves and cook-tops. It leads to evenness of energy distribution throughout the entire contents, resulting in even cooking. If there is leftover rice, then it will keep much longer than traditional rice cooker rice will keep in its soft cooked format without drying out.
Cleaning is easy due to non-stick surfaces, and it comes with a cup measure, a rice spatula, and a spatula holder.
Other Options Available
In Second Place…
The first runner-up in the best Asian rice cooker search is the Zojirushi NS-LAC05XA Micom 3-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker and Warmer. A gorgeous little rice cooker that will hold up to 3 cups of rice at one time – this is the only size available in this unit. It features a large, easy to read digital display, programmable options for various modes of rice cooking to cater to several different types of rice and other cereals, including porridge. It has a low profile and a small footprint, ideal for areas limited in space. The design of this machine includes a specialized thermal sensor that monitors internal temperature and maintaining it at the ideal level that cooks various types of rice in the exact method ideal for each type. This will guarantee perfectly cooked rice every time. This machine is also portable, with a handle that folds down behind the device, yet readily available to transport this lovely little cooker anywhere you like. It weighs 7 pounds or approximately 3.1kg. Very light and portable, very convenient and handy. This machine comes in purest white, so is guaranteed to blend in with many kitchen decors. Cleaning is a breeze thanks to the non-stick surface of the inner cooking bowl.
In Third Place…
In third place is the Instant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker, Qt/1000W. Being a pressure cooker/browner, this device is capable of assisting you in the production of not only perfectly cooked rice, but yogurt, stews and other pressure cooker meals. There are 7 cooking processes available to you with this stunningly beautiful machine. It has several set programs to use, as well as a digital display for manual settings. Available pressure settings will ensure rapid cooking times, and yet for delicate foods, it will avoid overcooking with pressure adjustments. It has 3 sizes available, 5,6 and 8 quarts, so if you are short on space, one of these machines will not take up much space in your kitchen and being so versatile may replace others you use currently. Cleaning is a breeze with non-stick surfaces and dishwasher safe bowl and other components.
In Fourth Place
The Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup (Uncooked) Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer is another Japanese invention, 1Litre capacity, or 1.8Litre capacity, with a digital display and programmable options for cooking the perfect rice for your dish. It is gently curved and low in profile, in pure and perfect white. A great color to match into most kitchen décor. It’s interior features a non-stick spherical dish, with extended keep warm and multi-program capability for many different types of rice. The “fuzzy logic” of the name refers to the method of monitoring the temperature, pressure, weight of rice and remaining water. A specialized sensor takes care of this. It is small enough to be carried to another location and features a fold-down handle for ease of transport, and it only weighs 9.5 pounds. Separate removable parts such as the lid and the inner cooking dish are very easy to clean.
