I have been looking on Ebay for a "good" rice cooker since I don't have
access to any from local merchants. I am currently using a 10 cup Panasonic
that I bought at Wal-mart which I really like for the most part (compared to
using a pan on the stove ;-) but, it is too big and if I don't watch it, the
rice will burn with smaller quantities appropriate for one person.

I am thinking a 5 cup model would be optimum since I could do 2 or 3 cups on
a normal day and still have some room left over when I need more for company
(2 or 3 people total). What I have read on-line suggests that the Fuzzy
Logic rice cookers are the way to go for consistent high quality rice and
they won't burn the rice when it goes into a "stay warm" mode. Also, being
able to pre-program a cook mode so that the rice is waiting on me when I get
home sounds like a good feature.

Now, how do I decide between the models? What makes one better then the
other? Does one brand or model clean up easier? Does one brand last
longer, cook faster, look better, have better control layouts, etc.?

Thanks for your words of advice!

"Anonymous" > wrote in message
news:TzgDc.1454$151.253@fed1read02...
> I have been looking on Ebay for a "good" rice cooker since I don't have
> access to any from local merchants. I am currently using a 10 cup
Panasonic
> that I bought at Wal-mart which I really like for the most part (compared
to
> using a pan on the stove ;-) but, it is too big and if I don't watch it,
the
> rice will burn with smaller quantities appropriate for one person.
>
> I am thinking a 5 cup model would be optimum since I could do 2 or 3 cups
on
> a normal day and still have some room left over when I need more for
company
> (2 or 3 people total). What I have read on-line suggests that the Fuzzy
> Logic rice cookers are the way to go for consistent high quality rice and
> they won't burn the rice when it goes into a "stay warm" mode. Also,
being
> able to pre-program a cook mode so that the rice is waiting on me when I
get
> home sounds like a good feature.
>
> Now, how do I decide between the models? What makes one better then the
> other? Does one brand or model clean up easier? Does one brand last
> longer, cook faster, look better, have better control layouts, etc.?
>
> Thanks for your words of advice!

I use my microwave oven. Put in the rice, liquid, and any other ingredient
you want. Cover. Cook on full power for 10 minutes and 50% for ten
minutes. You may have to adjust the time for your oven and the quantity you
are making. (My microwave oven has a "stay warm" cycle but I seldom use
it.) It turns out great every time and there is no need to buy another
appliance that takes up space.

"Anonymous" > wrote in message
news:TzgDc.1454$151.253@fed1read02...
> I have been looking on Ebay for a "good" rice cooker since I don't
have
> access to any from local merchants. I am currently using a 10 cup
Panasonic
> that I bought at Wal-mart which I really like for the most part
(compared to
> using a pan on the stove ;-) but, it is too big and if I don't watch
it, the
> rice will burn with smaller quantities appropriate for one person.
>
> I am thinking a 5 cup model would be optimum since I could do 2 or 3
cups on
> a normal day and still have some room left over when I need more for
company
> (2 or 3 people total). What I have read on-line suggests that the
Fuzzy
> Logic rice cookers are the way to go for consistent high quality rice
and
> they won't burn the rice when it goes into a "stay warm" mode. Also,
being
> able to pre-program a cook mode so that the rice is waiting on me when
I get
> home sounds like a good feature.
>
> Now, how do I decide between the models? What makes one better then
the
> other? Does one brand or model clean up easier? Does one brand last
> longer, cook faster, look better, have better control layouts, etc.?
>
> Thanks for your words of advice!
>
I have a plain old 5 cup rice cooker and it works great. Sometimes the
very bottom of the rice gets a tinge of brown, but not "burned". Cleans
up easily. Plain aluminum pan. I think it is a panasonic.

del cecchi

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 08:25:40 -0700, "Anonymous"
> wrote:

>I have been looking on Ebay for a "good" rice cooker since I don't have
>access to any from local merchants. I am currently using a 10 cup Panasonic
>that I bought at Wal-mart which I really like for the most part (compared to
>using a pan on the stove ;-) but, it is too big and if I don't watch it, the
>rice will burn with smaller quantities appropriate for one person.
>
>I am thinking a 5 cup model would be optimum since I could do 2 or 3 cups on
>a normal day and still have some room left over when I need more for company
>(2 or 3 people total). What I have read on-line suggests that the Fuzzy
>Logic rice cookers are the way to go for consistent high quality rice and
>they won't burn the rice when it goes into a "stay warm" mode. Also, being
>able to pre-program a cook mode so that the rice is waiting on me when I get
>home sounds like a good feature.
>
>Now, how do I decide between the models? What makes one better then the
>other? Does one brand or model clean up easier? Does one brand last
>longer, cook faster, look better, have better control layouts, etc.?
>
>Thanks for your words of advice!
>
I hope this post isn't TOO controversial (I deal with controversy
professionally but typically avoid it on the net.. 'cause the net is
for "fun" RIGHT?

I avoid any rice cooker which will NOT produce a "crust" if I want
it... for that reason I avoid non-stick rice cookers. If you google on
"crust" and "rice", etc. you will find various cuisine that strive for
the same "feature" (light brown crust) most are trying to eliminate by
buying a piece of $160 "fuzzy logic" thing...

I can produce every result a fuzzy cooker can do in my old $19.95
(used one from Salvation Army as I recall or perhaps ValueVillage)
Hitachi, aluminum pan, rice cooker as you can get from a "fuzzy"
whatever.. by controlling the amount of water I use. It's not "rocket
science"!

A rice cooker does basically two things.. 1.) it cooks/steams your
rice and 2.) it keeps it warm while you're spending 45 minutes
properly cutting your components (and 2 minutes cooking) for your stir
fry. When I stir fry in my Wok, the LAST thing I need is to worry
about a pot of rice boiling/simmering on a burner I have to worry
about.

So my $0.02 is.. do some/more research on the net about rice and then
IF ya wanna spend $160.00 to have the latest "thingy"... go for it.

Also, the rice cooker is NOT a "one item thing"... Toss in a dozen
eggs, 2/3rd to 3/4ths cup of water, run it for 20 minutes and you have
nice steamed/tender hard boiled eggs. Works well for the little
red/white potatoes for potato salad too but I prefer to boil/simmer
mine in water with salt added for flavor.

There are three signs of old age and the first is loss of memory. I
can't remember the other two! But one other thing nice about the rice
cooker is.. if you're prone to forget about it or your timer doesn't
go off, it shifts to warm and if you catch it soon enough you haven't
TOTALLY screwed up your eggs or potatoes or veggies you had steaming
there.. and you don't have to call the fire department.

My opinions only. Your mileage may vary.

On 6/26/2004 11:25 AM, Anonymous wrote:
> I have been looking on Ebay for a "good" rice cooker since I don't have
> access to any from local merchants. I am currently using a 10 cup Panasonic
> that I bought at Wal-mart which I really like for the most part (compared to
> using a pan on the stove ;-) but, it is too big and if I don't watch it, the
> rice will burn with smaller quantities appropriate for one person.
>
> I am thinking a 5 cup model would be optimum since I could do 2 or 3 cups on
> a normal day and still have some room left over when I need more for company
> (2 or 3 people total). What I have read on-line suggests that the Fuzzy
> Logic rice cookers are the way to go for consistent high quality rice and
> they won't burn the rice when it goes into a "stay warm" mode. Also, being
> able to pre-program a cook mode so that the rice is waiting on me when I get
> home sounds like a good feature.
>
> Now, how do I decide between the models? What makes one better then the
> other? Does one brand or model clean up easier? Does one brand last
> longer, cook faster, look better, have better control layouts, etc.?
>
> Thanks for your words of advice!
>
>

I have the 5 cup National/Panasonic fuzzy logic one (National
SR-LA10NW). I really like it a lot. It's good for rice as well as
steaming and preparing things like steel cut oats. When I was shopping
for mine, the best price was at ecost.
(http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/...sp?dpno=284414)

You might also consider purchasing or at least looking at The Ultimate
Rice Cooker Cookbook. That really helped me decide what I wanted/needed
before I made the purchase and, of course, the recipes are handy after
the purchase!

--
jmk in NC

We were first given a rice cooker as a wedding present 8 years ago and can't
live without it. We have a Panasonic and it's great. However, I'd be wary
about setting any appliance to come on while you're out. It only takes
about 15 mins to cook, so wait until you get home - the rice can cook while
you're preparing dinner or doing other things.

"Anonymous" > wrote in message
news:TzgDc.1454$151.253@fed1read02...
> I have been looking on Ebay for a "good" rice cooker since I don't have
> access to any from local merchants. I am currently using a 10 cup
Panasonic
> that I bought at Wal-mart which I really like for the most part (compared
to
> using a pan on the stove ;-) but, it is too big and if I don't watch it,
the
> rice will burn with smaller quantities appropriate for one person.
>
> I am thinking a 5 cup model would be optimum since I could do 2 or 3 cups
on
> a normal day and still have some room left over when I need more for
company
> (2 or 3 people total). What I have read on-line suggests that the Fuzzy
> Logic rice cookers are the way to go for consistent high quality rice and
> they won't burn the rice when it goes into a "stay warm" mode. Also,
being
> able to pre-program a cook mode so that the rice is waiting on me when I
get
> home sounds like a good feature.
>
> Now, how do I decide between the models? What makes one better then the
> other? Does one brand or model clean up easier? Does one brand last
> longer, cook faster, look better, have better control layouts, etc.?
>
> Thanks for your words of advice!
>
>