Kitchen

[Glenbea]

I bought the portable rice cooker back when it was on in 2010. I have used it pretty much every day since. I live alone and it's great for 1 or 2 people. I make oatmeal in it every day and have used for soup (recipe in booklet that came with rice cooker). It only came in black when I got it. I have ordered one of the new ones in white. I have the larger rice cookers and gave one to my son. My son loves the larger one. He made cornbread in it the other day. I have had WP rice cookers for several years and would recommend them.

[CWS22]

On 2/9/2015 straitgirl said:

On 2/7/2015 straitgirl said:

I don't like rice much, so that settled it for me.

haha.....so I ended up buying two when I saw it doesn't only make rice. I will send back if I don't like it. I see they already had a new model up last night with a detachable cord, and scoop.

That "new" model you mentioned looks to be the same as the TS. I know the TS had a detachable cord and I believe it also came with a scoop. But maybe someone else here can confirm.

I wish HSN hadn't removed the TS listing because I wanted to go back and watch the video presentation from the weekend. Oh well, I can still watch the video that's in the "new" listing.

[CWS22]

On 2/10/2015 Txblond said:

Is the TS the same rice cooker (1.5) that they have on the website for $24.95 + S&H now? I'm still looking for the cooker that does perfect rice - I like "fluffy", not sticky.

It looks to be the same to me. And only 5 bucks more than the TS was.

[Havarti]

Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge. I went ahead and purchased the cookbook since you shared with me that the author is the lady with WP. Also, I went to the HSN page for the cookbook and it allows you to see a photo of several pages inside so I could see how it specifically addressed measurements for this specific cooker. My cooker is due to arrive on Friday and the book should arrive next week. I am looking forward to giving it a try.

[Bird]

I just rec'd this little rice cooker today. I am experienced with rice cookers and am fortunate to be able to buy the best Thai jasmine rice on the planet (in 50lb bags.)

So I washed it out, used the rice cup to measure out the rice, put it in the cooking bowl to rinse it until clear, wiped the outside of the bowl to dry it, put it in the cooker, and pressed the switch.

Nothing. The cooker would not switch out of the WARM setting.

Bummer. I called their CS and they were super nice about refunding the shipping on this as well as the SO CUTE yellow case I bought for it, and the cookbook.

I have a tiny National cooker, as well as a larger Sanyo and of course the electric pressure cookers, but I am a kitchen gadget nut and wanted this one too. It's really convenient to have a small easy-to-clean item like this, put in your grains or cereals, plug it in and forget it while you clean that stove top or make other more labor-intensive dishes. Didn't work out this time. I'd have set this up for DH to have hot breakfast in the morning, as he leaves at 4:30 a.m., as well as for making steamed grains/seeds with veg.

I will say one negative thing (besides the non-functioning switch) I noticed is that the little clips that hold the lid snugly are too flimsy for my comfort. - Bird

[hopi]

On 2/10/2015 The Bird said:

I just rec'd this little rice cooker today. I am experienced with rice cookers and am fortunate to be able to buy the best Thai jasmine rice on the planet (in 50lb bags.)

So I washed it out, used the rice cup to measure out the rice, put it in the cooking bowl to rinse it until clear, wiped the outside of the bowl to dry it, put it in the cooker, and pressed the switch.

Nothing. The cooker would not switch out of the WARM setting.

Bummer. I called their CS and they were super nice about refunding the shipping on this as well as the SO CUTE yellow case I bought for it, and the cookbook.

I have a tiny National cooker, as well as a larger Sanyo and of course the electric pressure cookers, but I am a kitchen gadget nut and wanted this one too. It's really convenient to have a small easy-to-clean item like this, put in your grains or cereals, plug it in and forget it while you clean that stove top or make other more labor-intensive dishes. Didn't work out this time. I'd have set this up for DH to have hot breakfast in the morning, as he leaves at 4:30 a.m., as well as for making steamed grains/seeds with veg.

I will say one negative thing (besides the non-functioning switch) I noticed is that the little clips that hold the lid snugly are too flimsy for my comfort. - Bird

Had kinda bashed the appliance on this post before I saw it and felt bad hoping that no one was offended by my comment. Mine was the older one and a hot mess. I do own WP 18/10 Stainless steel pots and that was purchased years ago they were excellent. Now his pots are not what they used to be. Also bought his food processor and it was super dangerous.

Sorry it didn't work out for you but glad I didn't fall for his shpeel and the cuteness of the product.

[Bird]

On 2/10/2015 hopi said:

... Mine was the older one and a hot mess....

Sorry it didn't work out for you but glad I didn't fall for his shpeel and the cuteness of the product.

Didn't "hot mess" used to refer to something that was GOOD? Like, "She's a hot mess." Now it seems to be a bad thing.

Yes I'm sorry it did not work out. I wanted to get food partially cooked in that little thing and then put it in the carrying case in which it would continue to steam with residual heat, then take it out to a job, or on a long road trip, to avoid eating along the highway.

I have the best Korean markets available to me, though, and love to shop for these very utile yet stylish items there. For example, I just bought two huge L&L type of containers there, I think they are 8+ gallon capacity!!! In which all my washed salad ingredients can be stored, on a slotted bottom to keep them dry. Amazing useful stuff. - Bird

[Daysdee]

On 2/10/2015 CWS22 said:

On 2/10/2015 Txblond said:

Is the TS the same rice cooker (1.5) that they have on the website for $24.95 + S&H now? I'm still looking for the cooker that does perfect rice - I like "fluffy", not sticky.

It looks to be the same to me. And only 5 bucks more than the TS was.

It's the same one. Also, I think the shipping is a couple of dollars more now. My TS order has shipped.

[ceekay]

Mine arrived today and the box was totally crushed on one end and the UPS guy left the invoice on top (guess it must have come out of the untaped and smashed end of the box). That was a little disconcerting. However, the internal box for the cooker and the cookbook were intact. Hopefully the cooker did not get so tossed around that it will not work. Based on The Bird's experience, I guess I better go make some rice!! The yellow is VERY bright!

[Moonchilde]

First impressions: Mine arrived well and very securely packaged. I have no ingredients in the house to cook with, so have just perused both the little brochure & recipes that come with the cooker, and the Marian Getz cookbook.

Important information as far as how the cooking occurs, letting the dish rest and then re-starting the cooker - do read all the helpful hints and the "first time" info about "Cook" and "Warm." The recipes in the booklet - mostly, no thanks but will eventually try the braised red cabbage, chicken & cord chowder lasagna, German potato salad. The recipes in the Marian Getz cookbook are mostly winners :-) Nice variety of all kinds of things.

The meals made are very small. Most of them only seem to have ingredients for one - 4-8 oz of meat, one small Russet potato cubed, 1/4 cup of veggies, 1/4 cup or 2 TBSP of cheese, 1-2 TBSP of onions, etc. So, what I will do is buy frozen chopped onions, jarred minced garlic, a zucchini, a carrot, etc. and freeze the uncooked meal ingredients together in an airtight/vacuum baggie. Will also do this with frozen veggies. They recommend the "Better than Bouillon" jars because they keep far longer than liquid stock. Many of the recipes use chicken tenders because they're small. There are 2-3 recipes with refrigerator biscuits where I would just cook the biscuits separately because in the cooker you have to keep checking them.

It's not quick cooking and not set-it-and-forget-it either. Many recipes are 25-55 minutes total, off and on, and you have to notice when it goes from Cook to Warm and wait 5 minutes to Reset, rinse and repeat.

So - not all that "simple", not really fast, and tiny ingredient quantities. But I am sure going to try it out this weekend. The Getz cookbook's recipes are bread puddings, cakes, cornbreads, many rice or pasta with veggies & meat things (8 oz of hamburger, lol), pork chops, sausage & kraut, stews, pot roast (that takes over an hour for 1 serving).

Just first impressions.