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When it involves kitchen devices, not each instrument is created equal — whereas some is likely to be indispensable items of kit, others most likely aren’t definitely worth the cash. But out of all the good devices that may completely remodel the way in which by which you prepare dinner on a each day foundation, one would possibly simply stand head and shoulders above the remainder: the common-or-garden rice cooker.
While cooking rice, precision is vital. When getting ready a pot of primary stovetop steamed white rice, you are continuously engaged in a fragile dance along with your burner, attempting to maintain the temperature and humidity on the good degree, whereas avoiding burning the underside of your rice. But a rice cooker? The nifty equipment takes all of the guesswork out of it. With the straightforward click on of a button, you’ll be able to anticipate good rice, each single time — with little to no effort.
To discover out extra about why a rice cooker is the last word kitchen gadget, we spoke to chef and cookbook writer Rick Martinez, who began his SAZÓN! Substack in September. “I personally prefer rice cookers. I have a Zojirushi, I love it,” he mentioned. “When I worked at Food Network and Bon Appétit, that’s pretty much exclusively what we used.” The actual attraction is simply how straightforward it makes reaching an excellent consequence: “To me, [the rice cooker] is just so much easier because you literally just throw it in, right? Super easy,” he mentioned.
The science behind what makes nice rice
Cooking is as a lot a science as it’s an artwork — and that is very true in the case of the science of cooking rice. A fragile mix of precision and really feel is required when making rice on the stovetop, Rick Martinez informed us. “You just have to know your stove, know your pot, and know the lid. And then obviously, the rice,” he mentioned. This is as a result of it’s essential rigorously handle steam and moisture all through the cooking course of.
If you are utilizing the stovetop methodology, begin with a primary ratio, after which use trial and error to dial within the good approach for you. “So for me, the perfect ratio is one and a half,” Martinez mentioned. “So 1 cup rice to 1 ½ cups water, 20 minutes cooking time.” Make positive to relaxation it after cooking, too; this helps the redistribution of moisture all through the cooked rice for the reason that rice on the underside will prepare dinner quicker than that on the highest. You may additionally strive making it within the oven to make sure a constant prepare dinner. “You basically just bring your rice, water, and whatever seasonings you’re adding to it to a boil, cover it, and then put it in the oven,” Martinez mentioned.
A rice cooker, however, removes all of this faff. “For me, the beauty of the rice cooker is literally when I’m in the mood for rice, I just … weigh it out to the gram, so 400 grams of rice and then 454 grams of water,” Martinez mentioned. That easy ratio is all you want — no want to fret about timing or temperature: The rice cooker will handle that and maintain it heat after it is completed cooking.
What to search for when shopping for a rice cooker
If you have determined to purchase a rice cooker, congratulations! You’re about to noticeably up your rice sport. But there are some issues it is best to positively take into account when shopping for one. When it involves manufacturers, Rick Martinez is partial to at least one: his beloved Zojirushi. “There are a lot of different brands and models, I just really, really prefer Zojirushi,” he mentioned. “I find the other brands are either flimsy or the seal isn’t great, and it’s just not quite as evenly cooked. I’ve never had that problem with Zojirushi.”
However, it is best to take price and options into consideration when searching for a rice cooker, as fancy manufacturers will be fairly expensive. “I spent $200 on mine, and it’s not the super upper levels of Zojirushi … But it is up there, and frankly, a lot of the features I’m never going to use,” Martinez mentioned. Take, as an illustration, Zojirushi’s NS-TSC10, which retails for simply over $230; nonetheless, higher-end fashions just like the NP-NWC10XB price nearer to $500. You needn’t spend that a lot, although. “I think you can get away with around $100, maybe a little less, if all you’re going to do is cook rice,” Martinez mentioned. More budget-friendly fashions, equivalent to Toshiba’s 3-cup capacity rice cooker for $90, are nonetheless nice choices.
Whatever model you go for, search for a machine with a couple of primary settings. “You should look for the sweet rice setting,” he mentioned. “There should be a porridge setting, which I think is useful, and not necessarily for making porridge. That’s the other great thing about rice cookers is that you can cook almost any grain.” And not simply different grains. From pasta to eggs, there are all types of meals you can also make in a rice cooker, making it each a handy and versatile kitchen instrument.