How to Choose the Best Electric Rice Cooker
Table of Contents
Top Best Electric Rice Cooker on Amazon
Why You Need an Electric Rice Cooker at Home?
If you have ever used a traditional way to cook your rice, you will agree that it can be somewhat stressful. You have to wait around the kitchen, always keeping an eye on the rice until it is ready. For folks that opt to use a pressure cooker, you will still undergo the process of ensuring that the water added is enough for the best results. If you heard that there was a product that made cooking rice more convenient, would you be interested? We bet you would. Well, there is one such product: electric rice cookers! In this post, we will highlight the essential factors to consider before buying one.
Why We Need an Electric Rice Cooker?
An electric rice cooker is a handy and essential kitchen appliance. Asides from cooking rice more conveniently and quickly, this appliance can be used to prepare several other types of foods. As this appliance is so handy, many folks decide to buy it.
Types of Rice Cookers
There is a rather wide variety of rice cookers on the market. In this section, we will discuss some of the popular types briefly.
This type is the simplest type you can find. They keep steam locked in to cook the rice using the microwave.
- Conventional
This type is the most popular on the market. It comes with parts like an external pot, a steam tray, a cooking pot, and a heating plate. They come with several extra features like auto shut-off, keep warm, and more. Some conventional rice cooker can be a stovetop pressure cooker, which can cook rice fast and easily.
- Micom
This is the best type on the market, and thus, it is the most expensive. It comes with even more advanced features to ensure that your rice is cooked perfectly.
Now, let us consider the essential factors that should affect your buying choice.
9 Features to Consider When Buying an Electric Rice Cooker
1. Size and Capacity
As with various appliances, electric rice cookers come in a variety of sizes and capacities. Depending on the number of people you plan to feed, you can select from the hundreds of these appliances on the market.
The nice thing about these appliances is that they do not take up plenty of space. The capacity of the electric cooker is measured by the number of cups that can be efficiently cooked by the appliance at a time. Some electric rice cookers have a rather small capacity of 1 liter. Others, on the other hand, can have a capacity of 6 liters or even higher.
Therefore, while making a buying choice, consider the number of people to be fed. A family of 6 should think of an electric rice cooker of up to 5 liters capacity.
2. Ease of Use
One of the advantages the electric rice cooker has over traditional cooking methods is the ease of use. Therefore, to make the most of this appliance, ensure that the choice you make is of a cooker that is easy to use. It should be easier to use than even the pressure cooker. With this appliance, all you should do is add rice and water, press ‘cook,’ and sit back.
If you can afford it, you can even choose an electric cooker that comes with more features that will make your cooking easier.
3. Easy to Maintain and Clean
To ensure that your choice can be cleaned easily, you should consider electric rice cookers with dishwasher-safe parts. For example, the lid and the cooking bowl should be dishwasher-safe.
Furthermore, the parts should be easy to remove for quick and efficient removal.
Maintenance should likewise be easy to do. The most durable materials for the parts of the rice cooker are stainless steel, aluminum, and non-stick coating. With these materials, your rice cooker will last for a relatively long time.
4. Versatility
Although primarily a rice cooker, it is economical, and frankly great to have an electric rice cooker that allows you to cook other foods. For advanced rice cooker, it should be used as an electronic pressure cooker. Thus, it would be great to choose a multi-purpose electric rice cooker.
5. External Heat Control
The interior of the rice cooker is hot. However, when making a choice, it would be prudent to observe the outer parts of the cooker and how they react to the heat. The outside of the cooker should be cool to the touch. Since you might serve the rice or food straight from the cooker, it is essential that the handle of the rice cooker is heat-resistant and be cool enough to grip.
6. The Material of the Inner Pan
When looking for the right electric rice cooker, you should consider the type of inner cooking pan that you would prefer. There are several models on the market, but the best materials include aluminum, stainless steel, and pans with a non-stick coating. These materials are not just durable but are also easy to clean.
7. Accessories
The best and most advanced electric rice cookers on the market come with several accessories. These accessories range from the useful to the fanciful. Some of the best accessories to look out for in your next purchase should include a steaming tray, measuring cups, spoons, and serving spatula.
8. Warranty and Customer Support
As you make a buying choice, it would be great to check for the warranty period provided by the manufacturer. Thus, ensure that you check for the warranty period offered. Most good brands will provide warranties for up to 2 years, while some offer even more extended periods.
You should also consider customer support, especially after purchase. As the rice cooker is an electric device, it is susceptible to electrical faults. Support must be readily available and must help with whatever issues that you have.
9. Other Features
There are some pretty useful features that it would be great to have in the cooker. Some of these features include an auto Keep Warm function, auto shut-off, and more.
Summary
The electric rice cooker can change the way you cook, making it faster, more convenient, and enjoyable. You can use it for making some pressure cooker food and almost every delicious soup recipes.
Before you make a purchase, do not only consider the price of electronic rice cookers but also keep in mind all the tips and features above. We believe that they will help you to select the best electric rice cooker available.
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