| Author | |
StephanieA
Forum Pro
Joined: May 11 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: May 19 2012 at 6:53pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Since I have had to eliminate wheat, I am eating much more rice and so is our family (of 11). I cook mainly long grain brown rice and can't seem to get the cooking down to an art. It's either OK, too wet, or burnt.
Is a rice cooker a good investment? Or an unnecessary kitchen gadget? I'll be honest...I don't love my crockpot. I use it only rarely. But I am thinking...throw that rice in there and forget it! If it is a good investment...could someone recommend a pot that they like or one to avoid? Is stainless steel necessary for health reasons?
Thanks!
Blessings,
Stephanie
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: May 19 2012 at 7:17pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
How many cups of rice do you make at one meal?
I have a smaller family, but I've found that I rarely ever use my rice cooker. I haven't been pleased with the results. But I know others here like theirs.
I usually make short grain brown rice, and I make two cups at a time, using 4 cups of chicken broth, dash of olive oil, and salt. I bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer for about an hour. It's always done, moist and delicious. I never stir it. I have it down to a science, i guess. My husband calls to say he's taking the train, and I start the rice. His trip takes about an hour, so dinner is ready when he walks through the door.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: May 20 2012 at 11:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
LOVE IT. I have a 10 c rice cooker. It's really worth it to me to have. Anyone from the 10 yr old up can use it (the 9 yr old could but I haven't taught him yet). You measure the rice and the water (make smaller batches and figure out your prefrence of proportion). and you click it on.. and when it's done it switches to a warmer. So it's very forgiving on when the rest of dinner will be ready. I think it makes great rice. But you might have to fiddle with proportions. We find brown rice takes a bit more water for instance.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erin
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
|
| Posted: May 20 2012 at 11:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Stephanie
Do you know anyone with a rice cooker? perhaps you could borrow for a week and see if you feel it would be worth it.
__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: May 21 2012 at 4:36am | IP Logged
|
|
|
How heavy is the pot you are using? I make rice like Jen does, but I can see how it might be trickier in a flimsy pot. I might consider putting the money towards a better pot that will be more versatile.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
StephanieA
Forum Pro
Joined: May 11 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: May 21 2012 at 8:26am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have nice pots, so that's not the issue. I think the issue might be that I am trying to make too much at one time. When Jen mentioned the amount....I began thinking. Yes, that's when the rice DID turn out nice.
I tried making 6 cups of rice last Sunday and it turned out to be a mushy mess. I'll try making less and see if I can perfect a small batch, rather than making more than I might actually need for one meal. Thanks!
Blessings,
Stephanie
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 21 2012 at 8:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We grew up with rice at almost every meal, and it's still a big part of the meals I make for my family.
I use a good, solid pot, with a nice fitting lid.
Here are my rice making tips:
** Good liquid to rice proportions. You can do a 2:1 ratio (liquid to rice), but I usually do 1.5:1 and get nice results. I like sticky rice though. Playing with liquid to rice proportions can help you get the type of rice you like (dry, fluffy, sticky, wet).
** Get the liquid boiling in the pot, drop in a tablespoon of butter, and a teaspoon or so of salt (this varies based on taste and whether you use chicken stock or water for rice cooking). I only measure the liquid, never the butter or salt so these are a guess.
** Once the liquid is boiling, pour in the rice. Give it a quick stir and put on the lid.
** This part is very important --> DO NOT LIFT THE LID AGAIN. EVER. NOT EVEN TO PEEK. STEP--AWAY--FROM--THE--LID!!! Removing the lid during cooking lets out important steam and moisture.
** Turn the heat under the rice immediately down to a very low simmer....and walk away.
** Set a timer. Different rices will need different cooking times, so here's where you may want to play around a little. In general, you can probably follow the time on the directions on the package. My Arborio rice (our favorite) cooks in 20 min. The whiter the rice, the less cooking time you'll need. Brown rice can take up to 45 minutes.
** Take the rice off the heat and just let it sit for 10 minutes. I take off the lid and fluff my rice gently with a fork, and then put the lid right back on until serving.
Variations
Add different spices to the water - example: cumin and turmeric to have with a mexican meal, or I have some nice Provencal spices I like adding when I'm making a something french. Something else fun to do is to get a small package of freeze dried vegetables (I purchase these dried soup vegetables from Frontier Natural, but there are other options there, too.) and just drop them in the liquid as it comes to a boil. There are tons of variations and yummy things you can add to your rice to give it a little extra interest and flavor.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kingvozzo
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Maine
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2653
|
| Posted: May 21 2012 at 10:35am | IP Logged
|
|
|
JodieLyn wrote:
| So it's very forgiving on when the rest of dinner will be ready. |
|
|
This is what makes it so worth it for me. I'm always a befuddled mess when it comes to getting dinner on the table, and this is a huge help 
I also use it to have soaked oatmeal ready in the mornings, which my husband in particular appreciates. I just set it up before bed, and it's perfect in the morning.
Mine is also a 10 cup model. We splurged and got a Zojirushi. We had one from Target that always burned the rice.  The price was right, but so not worth it.
__________________
Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: May 21 2012 at 5:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think that for the large batches you will need for your family, a rice cooker is the way to go.
I used to use mine all the time when we had more mouths at home because I could make a large batch and never worry about how it would come out. Always perfect (after an initial period of fiddling) and the "keep warm" feature is very convenient. Plus, it's so simple I could send any one of my kids to start the rice for me.
Now that we are down to 4, I just cook small batches on the stove-top. For that, having a pot with a clear lid helps tremendously. No need for a timer-I know it is done when I can't see any more bubbles.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: May 22 2012 at 6:23am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have cooked rice using the regular steaming method (boil, cover, simmer for an hour for brown rice) for a long time. Recently, I tried this boiling method to make a large pot (about 6 c. of rice), and it really turned out well. While you can't really use this method to make anything other than basic rice (no chicken broth, seasonings, etc.), it might work well for making a large quantity of rice at one time. The problem with cooking a large quantity of rice using the steaming method is that the bottom cooks faster than center and you get an overcooked layer on the bottom and an undercooked mass in the middle. The boiling method cooks all grains of rice evenly and produces a fluffy, evenly cooked rice.
I'm pretty sure you could use less water, but no less than 4 c. of water per cup of rice-it has to have enough water for evaporation and for the rice to absorb, so for 10 c. cooked rice, you would need about 1 1/2 gal. of water or more--big pot!  And you would probably need to drain it in two batches.
Just another option 
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
jawgee
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 02 2011
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1415
|
| Posted: May 22 2012 at 7:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My Korean MIL thought it was imperative that I have a rice cooker, esp. for a larger family, so she got me one a few Christmases ago. She got me a Zojirushi.
I like mine, but I don't love it. The rice on the bottom and sides of the rice cooker seems to overcook and brown a little bit, so I always have to cook a little more to compensate for that.
On the other hand, I do like that I don't have to time everything exactly. I can throw the rice in when I have time and know that it will keep for a few hours if dinner's not quite ready yet. Also, it's one less pot on the stove, which is always helpful.
__________________
Monica
C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
The Catholic Cup on Facebook
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
3ringcircus
Forum Pro
Joined: Dec 15 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 420
|
| Posted: May 22 2012 at 8:49am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have a mid-priced rice cooker that really is crummy. I have to unplug it in order to keep it from scorching the rice to the bottom. One day I'll get a good one, though.
It's handy for other uses. It boils first, then acts like a slow-cooker, so it's good for random soups that you want to be done faster. If a particular concoction of mine needs more time simmering, I can reset it for addt'l heat if I notice it needs it. I often put rice, beans (canned), diced tomato, and a small amt. of kielbasa, bacon, or ham for flavor. I do the typical proportions of rice/water and throw the rest in with it. I set it, then leave it, and dinner is ready for whenever.
__________________
Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: May 22 2012 at 8:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
3ringcircus wrote:
| I have a mid-priced rice cooker that really is crummy. I have to unplug it in order to keep it from scorching the rice to the bottom. One day I'll get a good one, though. |
|
|
Maybe that's my problem. Mine is a wedding gift, but I know it's not expensive. My rice has been dry and scorched and basically wasted. I'd prefer to make several batches at once on the stove than work with the rice cooker.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristinannie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2011
Location: West Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1363
|
| Posted: May 22 2012 at 9:33am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have to say that I LOVE my rice cooker. I had one for years and never used it. Once I started using it, I couldn't stop. We use it 1-2 times a week and we even brought it to the beach with us. It is just a stress-free way to make rice. It doesn't take up an eye on the stove and I have found it difficult to make rice on our electric stove. It takes so long to cool down. I cannot recommend rice cookers enough! Ours even has an option to set a time for it to cook in the future. I have found that to be really helpful. This is the one we have.
__________________
John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
3ringcircus
Forum Pro
Joined: Dec 15 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 420
|
| Posted: May 22 2012 at 5:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
kristinannie,
That one gets fabulous reviews, in addition to yours. I'm putting it on my wishlist!
__________________
Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JamieCarin
Forum Rookie
Joined: Nov 14 2008
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 83
|
| Posted: May 23 2012 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We LOVE LOVE LOVE our rice cooker!! Makes rice making so easy! I rarely made rice because it was such a hassle when you are busy. I got a cheap $12 one at Walmart and it is great. 3C capacity though. I have never made more than 2Cups (two adults, and two small children)
__________________
Wife to Claudio for 9yrs, Mom to Ben (4), and Annabella (almost 3), and Beatrice (born 1/17/12)
Ad Silvam Ibimus
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: May 24 2012 at 8:26am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Before we started eating grain-free, we used our rice cooker often! I used it also for quinoa, and it turned out fabulous. Some cookers will have directions for how to prepare brown rice.
__________________
Gina, mother to 4
DD 7yr (11.04)
DD 5yr (6.06)
DS 3yr (6.08)
DS 2yr (11.09)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mathmama
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 07 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 771
|
| Posted: May 24 2012 at 9:04am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I love my rice cooker. I got it at Target. I think it is Aroma brand. I have never had rice not turn out perfectly. I always use brown rice. I put in the number of scoops I want and then fill the water to the line one more. I love that it is forgiving and requires no thought on my part. Mine also has a delay start feature that I have used successfully as well.
__________________
Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
asplendidtime
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 14 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 744
|
| Posted: May 25 2012 at 11:03am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We LOVE ours! We do 7 (fakey rice cooker) dry cups at a time, in our larger one, and my dc eat it all, dh and I eat only a small amount. Anyway I don't know why but as soon as we had seven children, I seemed totally unable to make rice properly anymore, maybe it was my pots. So I just love throwing it all in the cooker and forgetting it until it's time to serve!
P.S. We use the finger-water method and we have perfect rice every time! And if you don't want it to brown, unplug it right away and don't leave it on the warm cycle.
__________________
Rebecca~Mama to
Noah 17,
Katie 16,
Mary 14,
Tim 13,
Jonah 12,
Josh 10,
Zoe 9,
Will 7,
Peter 6,
Laura-Mae 4,
Emily-Joy 2,
Genevieve & Gabriella 1
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristinannie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2011
Location: West Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1363
|
| Posted: May 25 2012 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
3ringcircus wrote:
kristinannie,
That one gets fabulous reviews, in addition to yours. I'm putting it on my wishlist! |
|
|
I actually realized that I have the 16-cup rice cooker that is the same brand! I really do love it!!!
__________________
John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Rice cookers? Worth it?
