SOCIAL MEDIA

13 December 2012

Why Buy a Rice Cooker?

In light of my recent 2nd wedding anniversary, I'm reflecting upon one of my wedding gifts which has come in especially handy over the last two years. When you're 19 and you're given a little scanner gun and faced with the entire store of Target to make your wedding gift wish list from....you may not even know exactly all the things you need for a house. But the one appliance that I knew for sure I wanted was a rice cooker.

In the interests of pursuing truth in journalism, I didn't clean the water spots off of the rice cooker before taking a picture. You're welcome.

My Grandma bought the rice cooker for me off of my registry, and then asked me why I wanted it? She'd never used a rice cooker in her life--and wondered if they were really that convenient. I've since found out that while quite a few of my young married friends have kitchen appliances that I don't have, like, say Kitchenaid mixers, deep fryers, bread makers, or coffee makers....they don't have a rice cooker. Apparently they aren't on the must-have lists for many young brides out there.

Because I love expounding on the goodnesses of my favorite kitchen appliance in real life, I thought I'd mention this handy little cooker to anyone out there who isn't convinced that a rice cooker is practical for their kitchen. Of course--it's not practical unless you eat a lot of rice. So it depends on your eating habits. I knew about the wonders of rice cookers from a young age, because my family had one when I was growing up, and we ate rice about 5-7 days a week. Seriously. Lots of rice. Angel and I eat rice at minimum 1-2 days a week, which is much less than I used to eat rice, but probably still a little much for many Americans. 

The thing about rice cookers is that they always cook your rice perfectly! Although I'm a good cook, I'm not a very precise one, and in spite of the fact that I'm pretty sure the proportions of rice and water  that I throw in the cooker are rarely the same, I always get perfectly cooked rice that is never burned on the bottom!  I just throw the rice and water in, close the lid, push the button, and wait for the beep that lets me know I have rice to eat. It couldn't get any easier. Although I grew up eating lots of rice, I've never actually made rice in a pot on the stove, and even now I think I'd be a little nervous about doing that and trying to make it turn out right.

So, that's my rice cooker. I use it more often that I use my toaster and slow cooker, even. It's not exactly the newest invention in town, but I thought I'd share it anyways. They aren't expensive, as far as appliances go, either. This one looks identical to ours.

Do you have a rice cooker? Or don't you like eating rice?  
Moonofsilver said...

We eat rice about 1-2 times a week. Sometimes more. My husband loves Asian food! I make rice in a pot--even through he has a rice cooker. When we got married (I, never having seen or used a rice cooker) was like, what is this? And I've never used it. I just add rice, water, and cook for 1 hr in a pot. Maybe now I'll try out this rice cooker thing.....(also, I was afraid to use it because, one day, when we were dating, my husband made me dinner and LEFT the rice in the cooker for a week. Then I found the very OLD and moldy rice YUCK)

In other news, I tried to fix the NO-reply blogger thing. Let me know if I did it correctly

Halie Renee said...

Well I've never used a rice cooker, but it certainly does seem convenient! A couple of years ago though, my family started buying Uncle Ben's boil-in-bag rice, and it's super easy as well. You just throw a bag of rice in boiling water, cook for about 10 minutes, and it's done! Perfect every time.

Dorcas Giles said...

A rice cooker was something I was determined to have when we got married and I'm super glad! It's SO easy to use and my husband can cook the rice himself if I'm not home!

Adrienne said...

I have a rice cooker, that I did register for and it's AMAZING. Let me just say, I never eat rice. Like ever. I don't like it, but I use the rice cooker for veggies, and it's perfect!

Heidi said...

I did not grow up with a rice cooker in the house but I have one now, and I love it! It also doubles as a steamer so I use it to cook veggies too. I'm terrible at cooking rice in a pot, have to say this rice cooker/steamer is probably my favorite appliance, besides the microwave (is that considered an appliance?)

LeiShell said...

I'm not a huge rice eater, but have admitted to wanting one just the same because I too do the rice differently each time and sometimes it is still hard and other time mushy...I do however use my crockpot three to four times a week!

FierceandFashionable said...

I love rice cookers! I used one all the time in college.

xo Michelle
Fierce & Fashionable

~julee~ said...

One valentines day my (now)husband showed up at my door with a rice cooker and a bag of m&m's inside. I knew then that I had a "practical gift giver" on my hands. Fortunately for him, I loved my rice cooker, and we still use it at least once a week (10years later). :)

Anonymous said...

I can cook perfect rice in a pot all the time. I have my system which makes it quick and perfect.

Erin @ Come What May said...

I'm horrible at rice in a pot, but we don't eat enough rice for a cooker to be worth it. If things change I'm for sur investing in one!

MorgHarpNich.com said...

oh man. we have been *meaning* to get a rice cooker for who knows how long! patrick grew up with one and i had no idea what it was until i met him! i am horrible at making rice if it isn't instant so we need to get one. maybe that will be a christmas present for our house,haha.

Anonymous said...

Not only am I Asian, I'm also from Hawaii so between those two parts of me it's kind of a given that I eat a LOT of rice. It's one of the stereotypes that I just laugh and nod at because it's true about me. I warned my husband, but he still gets shocked at the amount of rice we go through.