We've had our kmart + sunbeam non-stick rice cookers fail on us one too many times, and develop bad non-stick peeling, and we're sick of forgetting our rice on the stove these days.
Any stainless steel rice-cooker recommendations, sub $80? Is my budget too low?
Don't heaps care about incredible quality rice, we usually eat sunrice brown or medium grain white. Just as long as it's reliably cooked and soft.
Something with a dishwashable bowl if possible.
And do use a plastic rice fluffier and not a metal spoon or fork.
Yep, we did dishwash and they held up well, however visitors using metal implements on them plus the elements failing has done it for us mostly.
I had not considered just upgrading a bowl, are the sizes/shapes somewhat universal if you get an equivalent cup capacity?
Thanks, most of these didnt come up in my searches - probably the US site - but a few of them ship to Aus and look decent.
Will have to check compatability with power + plugs!
The short answer is no, that budget is too low
The long answer is …
I did some research 2 years ago on stainless rice cookers
the cheapest stainless rice cooker start at 200+
our only choices are
Tatung stainless rice cookers from asian cookware store, around that $300 mark
Bufallo stainless rice cookers, they have 2 models both cost 200+
if you are happy to accept multi-cookers, the instant pot is not a bad choice, stainless steel inner pot, and can also serve as a rice cooker too…
Thanks for the details, how cheap did you see the multi-cookers, and how much additional bench real estate?
a quick google will get you the answers, there are 3 different models with different capacity, 3L, 5L and 8L, so it depends…..
Do you wash your rice in your non-stick cooking bowl before you cook it? If you do, you need to stop that and wash the rice in a different bowl. You can get special rice washing bowls.
I do! Whats the science behind not?
Raw rice is very hard. You know what they recommend seasoning your brand new mortar and pestle with? Cheap raw white rice and water.
:o
I just checked the kmart instructions which also warn against this, for damaging the fluorine resin coating. Gee. Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully a steel bowl may foolproof us :S
@Embaloo: Yeah, you're basically polishing the non-stick bowl every time you wash your rice. I'm surprised so many people still do it. I guess it's just what our parents did.
Fwiw I have had a Breville rice box with non stick bowl for over 5 years. It gets used almost daily and we rinse their rice in it. Works as new.
We only started doing it when we saw other people in Japan do it when we were living there. Most people there have expensive rice cookers with (very) fancy bowls so I guess it makes sense. If you have a rice cooker that costs $30 or so maybe it's not so important.
Ours was $170. So not super expensive, but not Kmart quality either. The non stick bowl has held up incredibly well.
@djsweet: Probably why it's OK. We brought the rice washing bowl back with us and just use it every time. It makes more sense now that we have an expensive rice cooker but it's just part of the process. It's also easier to wash the rice in the washing bowl.
You can get special rice washing bowls.
First time I've heard of this. Spent the past couple of decades in Asia.
It's basically just a bowl with small holes on one side so it's easier to pour the water out without the rice coming out.
that is ridiculous!
I use instant pot duo for cooking rice daily for the past 2 years. Highly recommended! Stainless steel pot, dishwasher friendly :)
Worth the money spent
Currently 149 at Myer
I got mine for 120 at Costco Dec 2020
Is the texture of the rice the same as that of a dedicated rice cooker?
Could I check the time from cooking to being able to serve? Including depressurisation? I saw some if these second hand so could be an option.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Singer-Cooker-Litres-Capacity-Mult…
I have this, it has a stainless steel bowl and it is within your price range. It does splutter a bit.
Thanks heaps, really consideirng this one.
Whats the smallest volume you regularly do using it?
We're used to the smaller 7-cup units, but occasionally max them out, so this bigger one may be better, even though the bench footprint will be bigger.
Pity the smaller versions of this are all non-stick :( they would have been ideal.
I use a small mug to measure my rice so it might be a bit larger than the standard rice cup. I usually cook about 3 or 4 cups.
It has been good except for the spluttering. While cooking, bubbles form and steam pushes a bit of water out of the vent hole, I think the Amazon reviewer complaining about the lid must have had the same problem. It might not be the rice cooker's fault though, maybe I just need to rinse the rice more thoroughly to get rid of excess starch and maybe I have been using too much water.
Some people say adding a little oil helps reduce bubbling:
https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/9857/how-do-i-ke…
https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/7uen8i/how_to_stop…
I gave a Phillips pressure cooker which comes with a non stick bowl but you can buy the stainless steel bowl as extra. Cooks rice beautifully but also so many other things. Something to consider
Hi. Can you give the model please? Looking for pressure cooker that is good- not used one but new housemates have before. I inherited one but they said wasn’t great so looking to get a good one. Many thanks.
$25: https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/ikea-365-pot-with-lid-stainless…
$40: https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/hemkomst-pot-with-lid-stainless…
$70: https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/sensuell-saucepan-with-lid-stai…
You actually don't need a rice cooker to cook rice nicely: https://www.recipetineats.com/how-to-cook-rice/
I was shocked first to learn about it but hey, if you don't want to spend so much on a cooker or if it isn't satisfying you.
They don't want something that goes on the stove.
Ah, my bad! Thanks! And sounds like a gas stove so can't use a timer function of electric ones.
Yep, gas stove. Burned rice smells so bad.
I just use a pyrex bowl in the microwave and follow the instructions in the microwave book.
:o i have never microwaved rice… i shall try this too.
Quick and easy - and nice fluffy rice. Just make sure you follow the instructions!
The one from Aldi
Need to wait for special buy but they just had it a few months ago so might need to wait another year lol
The ambiano 10 cup? A few reviews are saying it takes 50-1hr for the rice.
Its also really hard to find the details for it, isit actually a stainless steel bowl?
Seriously, cook it stove top. doesn't take long.
Ya it doesnt, it is fast. But we are constantly multitasking or getting required elsewhere from the kitchen (many reasons for split focus), and as mentioned, sick of rice burning. The speed and turn-off capability of the cooker is worth it for us. We'd also much prefer to use electricity rather than the gas stove.
It doesn't burn and takes all of 15-30 min to cook. depends how much rice you are cooking.
just keep on adding stock or water.
Are you dishwashering your non stick bowl? Maybe not do that…
Why not see if you can find a steel replacement bowl, there are plenty of options; instead of replacing the whole machine