First-timers usually opt for the least expensive rice cooker when shopping but this logic is flawed.  As basic as it seems, cooking rice is overwhelming in that you have to watch it lest it boils over while still ensuring that it wonât dry out due to excess heat.
When you start by getting a cheap rice cooker, you will start regretting this decision when you notice that itâs practical yet misses a few handy features. Features like slow cooking or being able to cook different types of rice.
A rice cooker isnât mandatory in the contemporary kitchen. But it does definitely have its advantages.
Buying a rice cooker will be a once-in-a-lifetime thing; if you make the right choice. In this Zojirushi vs cuckoo post, weâll compare two bestselling rice cooker brands b outlining their similarities and their differences.
Zojirushi vs cuckoo: Why I wouldnât vouch for Cuckoo
Itâs a well-known fact that rice is (and has always been) a staple in Korea. Would you expect anything short of perfection from a rice cooker company with its base in Korea?
Of course not. This unit comes with a âfuzzy logicâ algorithm, the kitchenware equivalent of saying that your thermostat is smart.
The company claims that with this technology, the rice cooker is able to detect the type of rice its cooking and adjusts the cooking conditions appropriately.
And unlike conventional rice cookers that use coils, Cuckoo makes their rice cookers with induction heaters where the unit itself generates heat instead of getting heat from an external coil. While saving energy, induction heaters are more efficient in that they get to cook food faster.
Of course, rice cookers have limited capacity and you will find the quick-cooking aspect practical when youâre cooking for a large family.
With a Teflon-coating for nonstick rice cooking, the cooking pot is quite durable and will certainly outlive the unit. Even though the company offers replacement parts, you will rarely need them as the unit has a sturdy construction.
Both the pot and the interior lid are removable making cleaning a breeze. This 3-cup rice cooker is ideal for small families,
It wouldnât be a best seller if it werenât multipurpose. The unit comes with an air-tight lid thatâs quite beneficial when pressure cooking. The automatic steam controller it comes with protects the appliance from excess pressure build-up.
Who should get the Zojirushi
This is the ideal rice cooker for a casual foodie who just wants to make perfect rice without understanding in detail how rice cookers work; while occasionally experimenting with new recipes.
You certainly donât need to splurge excesses of $50 for a rice cooker. Through good old trial and error, youâll surely master the art of making perfect fluffy rice. But, does your pot automatically switch to keep warm mode once itâs done cooking?
This is where people find this rice cooker practical. Other rice cookers may end up making your rice burnt and hard when they warm it at temperature thatâs too high and this is what sets the Zojirushi apart.
Whatâs the best alternative to Zojirushi and Cuckko rice cooker brands?
This instant pot is more versatile (you can do much more with it) while the Aroma is cheaper.
The Aroma makes foolproof rice every single time while youâll have to experiment a little bit with the Instant potâs settings and water ratios to make âperfectâ rice.Â
If youâre torn between the instant pot rice cooker or a slow cooker then the rice cooker is a better pick as you get more done with it.
You will find yourself pressure cooking many times with the instant pot than youâll be slow cooking. Trust me on this.
Is a rice cooker worth it?
It makes rice â freeing up stove space for other dishes. It makes soups and porridges overnight and you wake up to fresh food waiting for you. You could use it to steam vegetables and preserve their nutrients too. If this is what youâre looking for, then youâll get value from a rice cooker.
The instant pot does this and much more. Here, the manufacturer gives instructions on how you could make perfect rice with it. Ironically, most people (on reddit) love rice cookers for saving burner space than for making rice.
What can I cook with rice cooker â well apart from rice?
Have the rice cooker make breakfast oatmeal overnight, steam vegetables, make beans. In this subreddit, users share rice cooker recipes and youâll be amazed at how versatile they can be. Ribs roasted in a rice cooker taste great too.
The creatives have also made super huge pancakes in rice cookers. Either way, how will they know that you suck at cooking when the rice cooker makes anything taste great?
What should I look for when buying a rice cooker?
Amazon has over 200 rice cooker models (seriously!) ranging from $20 to $400 plus and they all have âfeaturesâ that correspond to their respective price tags. What things should you know before purchasing one? Things like rice cookers with this shape are easier to store?
- A <$100 rice cooker will serve you just fine (well unless you make more than 30 cups of rice a week). Inexpensive rice cookers (the $20 range) tend to get brown rice at the bottom every time)
- Asian families prefer Zojirushi Rice cookers. Rice is a staple in Asia. Coincidence?
- Pricier rice cookers are programmable and you put in your ingredients in the morning and it will finish cooking when you get home.
- Start by buying a cheap one from Amazon. If it breaks down because youâve used it too many times get an expensive one. At this point, youâll have used a rice cooker long enough to know what you need and what you donât. Use this approach when shopping for other things too. Not just rice cookers.
- Rice cookers with non-stick bowls are easier to clean â for obvious reasons