I’m interested in learning more about rice cookers. Anyone have a favorite? Or have you bought one and then thought it a waste of money? If you have one and love it, tell me why! What brands are good? What features do I look for if I decide to get one?
We got our basic ultra-cheap panasonic at a going-out-of-business-sale 15 years ago for $3. Still going strong. Best kitchen appliance there is. Get Beth Hensperger’s rice cooker cookbook. For an example see my rice cooker risotto recipe for asparagus-lemon risotto.
http://www.tomatilla.com/2004/05/asparagus-lemon-risotto.html
I’ve had my rice cooker for over 8 years now, and I think every home should have one. It allows you to finish part of a meal with little or no thought. Mine was cheap, but does the job!
For a truly high-quality rice cooker, you can’t go wrong with the Asian brands (esp. if you have a Chinatown nearby!); they know what they’re doing when it comes to rice. Concerning features, I’d say stick to the simple unless you’re going to be making porridge or something.
If you’re staying with the super simple, Panasonic will do fine as well. Here’s a really great rice cooker though. See the reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NS-LAC05-Cooker-Warmer-Stainless/dp/B000G30ESY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1239068161&sr=1-4