I have been using the Black and Decker for years and I only make Thai Jasmine rice. I think it cooks it great. I might try the higher priced spread though.
I have had a Zirjoshi induction cooker for 4 years,it is a joy to use and makes resturaunt quality rice. If you can swing the price it is the best and easiest to use.
I have had a Zirjoshi induction cooker for 4 years,it is a joy to use and makes resturaunt quality rice. If you can swing the price it is the best and easiest to use.
The Tatung with the stainless steel bowl and cover works very well for basmati and Thai jasmine rice. Takes about 15-20 minutes and the rice is ready to serve. Sure beats a double-boiler. http://www.tatungusa.com/app/pageproduct.aspx?pid=196&cid=232 This unit is an example of the indirect heat genre of rice cookers.
Yes - agreed. If you want a crust, there are different ways to do it. I'll post my recipes for Biryani (Indian rice), Paella (Spanish rice), Risotto (Italian rice), and also North African tangine-cooked lamb-rice dishes..... when I have the time.
You guys still cookin' rice over here? Good for you. Last night I made up a big batch of brown rice (just with chicken stock in a sauce pan, but it worked). While that was cooking, I sauteed some seasoned, cut up chicken breasts in olive oil, then added half a sliced onion, three big chopped galic cloves, a bit more olive oil, a thin sliced zuccini and yellow squash, a large can of rough diced tomatos, a generous helping of dried oregano, and some fresh basil. Put that over the rice and called it heaven.
You guys still cookin' rice over here? Good for you. Last night I made up a big batch of brown rice (just with chicken stock in a sauce pan, but it worked). While that was cooking, I sauteed some seasoned, cut up chicken breasts in olive oil, then added half a sliced onion, three big chopped galic cloves, a bit more olive oil, a thin sliced zuccini and yellow squash, a large can of rough diced tomatos, a generous helping of dried oregano, and some fresh basil. Put that over the rice and called it heaven.
Thanks. There's nothing to it, really. It's a pretty basic ratatollie with chicken added. But, really, if you start off with olive oil, garlic, onions and tomatos, it's pretty hard to blow it from there. Got fresh basil? You're a chef.
Welcome to the club Dan. One particular feature of the Zoji I love is that it counts down the last 18mins of cooking. This is important because by the time it starts to count down, most of the water has been absorbed/evaporated and you can place ingredients on top for a one-pot meal.
Tim's recipe above would work perfectly with this technique. When the cooker starts to count down, put all the ingredients he mentioned on top for a great ratatouille on rice.
For something more Asia. When I put the rice to cook, I'll debone 4 chicken thighs, cut each thigh into 4 pieces and marinate in 2 tbsp of Chinese cooking wine, 1 tbsp of oyster sauce, 1 tsp of Chinese black vinegar, 2 tsp of soya sauce. After about 20 minutes, sear all sides of the chicken in a very hot oiled frying pan - 2 mins each side. Take the pan off the fire (do not remove the chicken from the frying pan). When Zoji starts counting down, tip all the chicken into the rice cooker, throw in what ever vegetables you have on hand (even frozen peas and sweet corn) and cover and let it continue cooking.
With the Zoji, the microprocessor may extend the cooking time a little to make sure that everything is cooked.
I use a Sanyo Induction pressurized rice cooker which makes short work of brown rice, GABA rice, haiga rice or a most anything else one can imagine. It was between the Sanyo (not found on the website for some reason) and the Zojirushi. Tiger also makes an excellent equivalent. All the induction/pressure rice cookers are expensive but having gone through various versions these last twenty years, I have become a big fan of pressurized rice cookers. The cooking time is shortened, quality rice for Asian meals is the norm and the husk on brown rice is softened.
I think the microprocessor control monitors things such that the rice is cooked properly. I find the texture to be excellent, although I use short or medium grain rice, higher end than normal (purchased at a Japanese market) at around $10/2 kg. If you are truly high-end, you can spring for the $30/2 kg bags or even higher. I don't know where the best value is: $30 rice, $450 bottles of wine or $3000 speaker cables. Maybe they are all poor values?!
Yes - agreed. If you want a crust, there are different ways to do it. I'll post my recipes for Biryani (Indian rice), Paella (Spanish rice), Risotto (Italian rice), and also North African tangine-cooked lamb-rice dishes..... when I have the time.
My younger son was here last week, he was so impressed with the way the Zoji cooked brown rice and Soo Foo, that he bought one as soon as he got back to San Diego.