Kitchen

[suzyQ3]

On 9/26/2014 Madisson said:

Hmmm...A lot to think about when reading these posts -- which is what I wanted. I definitely do not want both a pressure cooker and a rice cooker. There are only my husband and I at home now. We are trying to minimize the amount of appliances that we have in the kitchen. We are semi-vegetarians, so we rarely cook meat...usually on the BBQ pit when we do. I am leaning toward the rice cooker as I didn't realize that they had steamer baskets...which is right up our alley. We love rice, legumes, lentils, and veggies.

I've read both good and bad about the Insta-Pot, which is typical for any appliance. I'm just not sure that we need all those features. Pressure cookers have always scared me ever since I saw cabbage rolls in tomato sauce splatter all over the kitchen of my parents' home. I know that they are made much safer now.

I know that you can be even more practical and just cook rice in a sauce pan and lid on the stove, but we like to cook different types of rice, which require different amounts of water and timing. Sometimes we end up with slightly burned rice, mushy rice, or underdone rice. It's almost a science! I'd like to take the guess work out of it.

Guess I'll continue to study up on these appliances now that I have some educated opinions on them. Thank you, everyone!

Given that you are semi-vegetarians and that you love to cook different types of rice and that you want to buy only one appliance, then I would definitely recommend that you buy a good rice cooker, preferably a zojirush, and the cookbook mentioned here.

No matter the type of rice you cook, there is no guessing involved. It will come out perfectly if you follow the simple directions. The cookbook is also very helpful.

IMO, the pressure cooker is especially wonderful for meat dishes that would otherwise be braised or stewed. The end result is wonderful flavor in a third the time. Certainly, you can cook other foods in a PC, but I do think most use it as I described. So since you are not big meat eaters, go with the good rice cooker.

[cgando]

On 9/25/2014 Go Pokes! said: Do yourself a great favor and get an instant pot.

Ditto

[Madisson]

I did a lot of research on the Zojirushi rice cookers. I definitely wanted one that can steam veggies and legumes/lentils, which would be the plain "fuzzy" ones. The neuro fuzzy does not steam. I read the manual online for the "fuzzy" rice cookers, and they all say not to cook beans in them. Yet, I know some of you say you cook beans in yours, and apparently that ultimate rice cooker cookbook says you can cook beans in them also. I have not had a chance to view it yet, but I saw a few pages of it online.

The frustrating thing is that most of the Zojirushi rice cookers are no longer made in Japan! Only the pressure ones and the induction heating ones are made in Japan. The rest of the rice cookers available in the U.S. (including all the fuzzy ones) are now made in China! (There is also a Korean brand called Cuckoo.) I don't know how good Korean brands would be though.

I'm thinking of either going with the Zojirushi fuzzy NS-TSC10 or the small Instant Pot. Still doing my research. Even though almost all the rice cookers are made in China these days, Zojirushi still has the best reputation.

Have you ladies who cook beans in your rice cooker have good results with them?