Which Rice Cooker for White AND Brown Rice ?

Widget on 22/06/2022 - 13:17

Hi all,

I'm wanting to get a rice cooker, maybe spending around <$50 to cook either white rice or brown rice, but also one that won't burn/overcook the rice on the bottom of the bowl. I've read many people have the kmart $13 (now $14) rice cooker, but I think they're only cooking white rice?

There's another kmart rice cooker for $35 that says it can do brown rice (https://www.kmart.com.au/product/10-cup-rice-cooker-42685463…) , has 5star but I can't read the feedback for some reason. It also does steam which can come in handy I suppose ?

Does anyone have any experience / suggestions, or at that price point they're much the same as each other? It seems the main thing is the ability to cook brown rice, which from reading, many of them (particular the cheaper ones) have trouble with.

I usually cook in a pot, but have never really mastered it, plus it would be nice to turn on and walk away.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • jv on 22/06/2022 - 13:25
    +3

    but I think they're only cooking white rice?

    Why do you think that?

    • Widget on 22/06/2022 - 13:57

      Because it's a more common rice and they didn't specify they were cooking brown rice, so I assumed they were cooking white rice.

      • jv on 22/06/2022 - 14:02
        +2

        That is no reason to assume they 'only' use it to cook white rice.

  • bobbified on 22/06/2022 - 13:28
    +5

    spending around <$50 to cook either white rice or brown rice, but also one that won't burn/overcook the rice on the bottom of the bowl.

    All the cheaper rice cookers have the heating element on the bottom so it's almost impossible to avoid burnt/overcooked rice on the bottom (where the element is). If you don't want that, then you'll need to get one that uses induction heating (that heats the pot evenly all around, rather than applying heat to a single point on the pot). They start from about $250 or so.

    • daleyboy79 on 22/06/2022 - 13:44
      +2

      pretty sure all rice cookers heat from the bottom … the difference is going to be the quality/thickness of the pot you put the rice in. Been using a toshiba rice cooker for 6-7 years and its pot is thick n heavy and never burns anything, and heating element is on the bottom

      • bobbified on 23/06/2022 - 08:34
        +2

        pretty sure all rice cookers heat from the bottom …

        The more expensive ones like this use induction heating that evenly heats up the pot all the way around rather than just the bottom. If you go another step up, it adds pressure cooking too.

    • Hybroid on 22/06/2022 - 13:45
      +1

      Hmm, interesting. I'm aware the cheap glass top ones burn rice like these: https://www.amazon.com.au/Breville-Rice-Cooker-White-LRC210W…

      But is that the same for the closed versions like below too?

      https://www.amazon.com.au/Philips-Grain-Master-Cooker-White/…

      https://www.amazon.com.au/TEFAL-Rice-Cooker-White-RK732/dp/B…

      • Widget on 22/06/2022 - 13:59

        Glass lids contribute to burnt rice ? I did not known that. How does that work ? Is it because it's glass or because it's a lid-style rather than a closed style like you linked ?

        • Hybroid on 22/06/2022 - 14:01
          +4

          I don't think it's the glass lid itself, just those style of cheap cookers because of the heating element setup underneath

      • geek001 on 22/06/2022 - 14:40
        +1

        I can help answer this. I don't think the cheap glass top contributes to the burnt rice, but rather the cheap heating element! I have used both versions, the glass top ones tend to bubble as the rice cooks and usually creates a mess around the rice cooker. The missus has banned glass top rice cookers in the house.

      • kipps on 23/06/2022 - 08:02

        Not sure how the Grain Master works but I got one after struggling with the cheap versions for years (they would die early with a burning smell & would burn rice too). It’s far better at cooking rice and much tastier than the cheap ones.

  • scrimshaw on 22/06/2022 - 13:45
    +6

    $14 Kmart rice cookers can be used to cook wild / brown rice, it's just that the rice to water ratio is different for brown rice. It also depends whether you're cooking short grain or long grain — you need more water for short grain, but less for long grain.

    Choice tested a bunch of rice cookers and found that even the cheapest models will get the job done (to a 'good enough' standard), but if you're serious about eating rice and you eat it daily it may be worth paying the extra for one that has 'fuzzy logic' and a better design. The Tefal RK732 for e.g goes on sale for $79 on Amazon sometimes.

    Technology Connections has a very good explanation vid on how cheap rice cookers work — they take advantage of the fact that certain metals stop being magnetic at a certain temperature.

    • Widget on 22/06/2022 - 14:05
      +1

      Thanks for the info :). The Tefal one seems to get some good feedback, though currently $109, I'll probably give a cheaper one a shot first. Not regularly eating rice but would like to make rice in bulk and perhaps make more rice dishes (fried rice etc..). Currently we'll probably use it 1-2x a week.

      Thanks for the 'Choice' link, I'll have a read through :).

      • geek001 on 22/06/2022 - 14:32
        +3

        I have the Tefal one and we eat rice quite regularly. White rice takes around 45 mins and brown rice takes about 1.5hours! The time it takes is a lot longer than my previous el cheapo rice cooker which was about 25 mins for white rice, but the rice that comes out from the Tefal is significantly better(IMHO). Also after about 1 year, the non-stick coating on the elcheapo rice cooker bowl started to peel, hence the new rice cooker. The Tefal bowl is a much better quality bowl as well so I think it will last a lot longer so economy-wise might end up to be the same as the el cheapo rice cooker.

      • kermi on 22/06/2022 - 19:34

        I owned the Tefal one for the past 10 years. Until the kids stole it (still going). Worth the cost and more!

  • payless69 on 22/06/2022 - 13:50
    -6

    Gone thru about 5 of them!
    We won a large one but then I got fat. So we bought the $14 years ago and the coating went off.
    About 1 year ago it went down to $13 and came with a free steamer.
    Testing both together the old one was more precise in turning to keep warm at the perfect point.
    Close analysis made me re-shape the pot to work perfect.
    Now we tend to cook black rice a fair bit. After all BLM!!
    No matter how long you wash the black rice if it stays black it is genuine!

  • djones145 on 22/06/2022 - 14:02

    for drown rice, add a little bit more water, or pre soak them

    as for the overcook burnt stuff thats the best part of of the rice! lol my new one doesnt have it :(

    • jv on 22/06/2022 - 14:08
      +8

      drown rice, add a little bit more water

      sounds cruel. 😧

      • djones145 on 22/06/2022 - 18:23
        +2

        knew u would respond lol damn ozbargain was down and couldn't edit

      • payless69 on 23/06/2022 - 08:56

        BLM!!

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 22/06/2022 - 14:17
    +3

    I use a Joseph Joseph Microwave Rice Cooker.
    I only use it for White Rice(Basmati, Jasmine, Sushi, Long Grain, Medium Grain, but assume Brown Rice would be okay.
    I've been using it for 5 years

  • netjock on 22/06/2022 - 14:21

    Brown rice - cool in pressure cooker, will end up being evenly soft.

    Good rice cooker will cost around $100. We use this one

  • OwMeKnees on 22/06/2022 - 14:22

    Ive been using one of these for about 15 years. Dead easy for all types of rice, I commonly use Jasmine, Basmati and Brown. you just cook the brown for longer

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/295016256286?chn=ps&_ul=AU&mkevt…

  • DingoBilly on 22/06/2022 - 17:29

    I've always used the cheap Kmart type ones for white/brown rice and never had issues with burning the rice or anything.

    You just don't leave it in there for hours… pretty simple? Tastes good as well - think people overstate the difference rice cooker models make.

  • Hugh G Rection on 22/06/2022 - 19:37
    +3

    i use Zojirushi and i love it. cooks all rice perfectly and flawlessly

  • pantsparty on 22/06/2022 - 21:03
    +1

    My suggestion is that you increase your budget and get a rice cooker which does a great job and will last a long time like this

    https://www.binglee.com.au/products/panasonic-sr-df101wst-ri…

    • jv on 23/06/2022 - 10:06

      Rice Capacity(Cups): 5

      Is that 5 cups of uncooked rice that you can add to it? or it makes 5 cups of cooked rice?

  • the Unforgiven on 26/06/2022 - 00:30

    I just use an ordinary pot

  • Widget on 01/07/2022 - 18:16

    Thanks for all the suggestions :). I might look at starting off with the kmart cooker, seems to have a fair bit of positive feedback. Will keep an eye on Tefal and Panasonic brands though, they seem to be mentioned a few times also.

    • jonoo on 19/10/2022 - 02:00

      How did you go with the kmart rice cooker? Does it do brown rice ok?

      • Widget on 19/10/2022 - 11:44

        Didn't buy one yet lol. My local Kmart don't stock them (it's one of those hub kmarts) and with all the rain/flooding over the last few months, completely forgot about it.

        • jonoo on 19/10/2022 - 12:27

          Lol all good. Maybe I'll have to buy one and let you know how it goes 😁

          • Widget on 20/10/2022 - 08:51

            @jonoo: For $14 and the positive reviews for it, don't think you can go wrong. I'm gonna grab one next time I'm near kmart.

  • theg00s3 on 10/01/2024 - 01:28

    apologies for reviving an old thread, but what did you end up settling on?

    • Widget on 10/01/2024 - 06:47
      +1

      Hey Goose, I ended up getting the cheap $14 rice cooker from kmart https://www.kmart.com.au/product/7-cup-rice-cooker-42685456/
      It does the job, though no matter what I try, I always get an overcooked layer of rice on the bottom. Not a major issue, especially since the cooker only cost $14, I just scrape out all the good rice (95% of it) then throw the overcooked bit out.

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