Rice cookers are a must-have appliance in any kitchen. They make cooking rice, pilafs, risottos and more easy and convenient. They are also versatile and can be used to make a variety of dishes with a variety of ingredients. They are very popular in Japanese and Chinese households but are also indispensable appliances in many New Zealand households.
There are many types of rice cookers on the market and rice cookers seem to be constantly changing and improving. One of the most significant recent developments is the advent of the non-stick coating. The non-stick surface (of both the inner cooking pot and outer lid) makes cleanup much easier, and in general, less time-consuming.
The Benefits of Rice Cooker.
- Cook rice accurately, each grain is separate.
- Rice cookers come with a non-stick removable bowl and have measuring marks inside the bowl. You also get a rice measuring cup so you can cook the right amount of rice.
- Some rice cookers have automatic multiple programs for cooking brown rice and oatmeal etc. (depending on the model)
- Most rice cookers have the function of steaming vegetables.
- Keep rice warm functions which means it allows your food to be hot for a longer time.
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How to choose the Best Rice Cooker for you
There are many rice cookers on the market, and the differences can be confusing. The best way to choose a rice cooker is to determine what the most important feature for you is and then seek out a rice cooker that has that feature. Some of the major differences between models are:
Capacity: The capacity of a rice cooker is measured in cups, where more cups means more capacity. The average way to figure out the capacity of your Rice Cooker is to divide the cooking area by the number of cups. For example, if a rice cooker has a 450 mL cooking area, it will have 450 mL / 3 cups = 100:2:2 which is the approximate ratio.
Warm Function: A warm function allows you to keep the rice cooker on and keeps the rice warm for a period of time. This is great for leftovers, or when you may have guests over.
Non-Stick Coating: The non-stick coating is a major improvement over traditional models. With non-stick coating breaking up the rice is much less time-consuming, and before long all you’ll need to do is give it a wipe down.
Fuzzy-Logic Function: This is the latest upgrade to rice cookers. A fuzzy-logic function not only cooks your rice perfectly, it also has a “thinking” feature; if it starts to overcook your rice, it will automatically turn the heat down to keep it from getting burnt.
Pre-Programmed Function: Pre-programmed functions are very common in new rice cookers. They allow the user to choose how long they want their rice to cook, and the temperature of the cooking process.
Easy-to-Read Controls: Some rice cookers have large easy-to-read controls so that you can see at a glance how much time is remaining on the timer and the cooking temperatures.
Timer: Some rice cookers have a timer that can be set to automatically turn the rice cooker on at a set time. Some will also have a timer allowing you to start cooking your rice and then go off to do something like go shopping, or do other things around the house.
The Best Rice Cookers NZ
1. Panasonic Multi Rice Cooker
The Panasonic Multi Rice Cooker is a multi-purpose rice cooker that can cook up to 16 different types of rice and gives you a wide variety of options. This rice cooker is 910 watts and 1.8 litres in capacity. The inner bowl is made up of 2.2mm of stainless steel, the exterior is made up of stainless steel and durable plastic, and the lid is made up of high-temperature, non-stick steel.
2. Sunbeam Rice Cooker
The 3-in-1 Sunbeam Rice Cooker is the perfect kitchen appliance for busy people. It’s a rice cooker, steamer and sautés pan. It has a removable non-stick coating inner pot and automatically switches to keep warm mode. The tempered glass lid lets you monitor your food as it cooks. The rice cooker has a capacity of 20 cups of cooked rice and a 1.8-litre capacity.
3. Kogan Rice Cooker & Multi-Cooker
The Kogan Rice Cooker & Multi-Cooker is a 12-in-1 cooking appliance that includes a warm function, meaning it can keep your food warm for up to 12 hours. The appliance works out of the box with a range of 11 pre-programmed settings and will cook rice, vegetables, meat, fish and more. The cooker has a variable timer to allow you to cook exactly how you want it, and the temperature can go from 35°C – 105°C. A perfect appliance for any kitchen.
4. Kambrook 6L Multi Rice Cooker
Kambrook 6L Rice Cooker is a multi-functional cooking appliance with a compact design and 7 pre-set cooking functions. This non-stick cooking bowl with an easy-clean function makes up to 10 cups of rice. The Countdown Timer allows you to cook perfectly cooked rice, searing meat and vegetables, or a variety of other dishes in minutes. In addition, the stainless steel health steam basket makes cooking quick and easy.
5. Healthy Choice 5L Rice Cooker
This Healthy Choice Rice Cooker cooks up to 5L of rice in less than 10 minutes, saving you time and hassle in the kitchen. Fuzzy logic technology gives the cooker a greater range of settings for cooking variety, and the large control panel is easy to see and use. The digital display shows you the time and temperature settings so you know when to start and stop. The cooker has a 24-hour delay start, 60°- 80°C keep warm mode and a steam tray for warm rice bowls or soups.
6. Midea 3L Rice Cooker
Midea 3L Rice Cooker is a versatile rice cooker that has a smart fuzzy logic technology that automatically adjusts the optimum temperature to cook the rice perfectly. The rice cooker is easy to read with an LED display and the touch button on the panel is user-friendly. It also has a multi-function cooking by menu settings, an automatic keep-warm function, and 24 hours preset timer.
7. Maxim Kitchen Pro Rice Cooker
The Maxim Kitchen Pro Rice Cooker is a compact and stylish electric rice cooker that is designed for easy use. The removable non-stick coated interior allows for easy cleaning, and the cool touch, lock-in lid keeps food fresh. The steamer basket facilitates quick cooking and the warm function keeps food warm for hours.
8. Cuisinart Rice & Grain Multi-Cooker
Cuisinart Rice & Grain Multi-Cooker is a beautifully designed kitchen appliance with a sleek stainless steel finish that is perfect for cooking rice and different foods. The cooker is able to hold 10 cups of food and has 18 pre-programmed settings. The LCD screen displays the cooking progress and the cooker automatically switches to warm when the food is cooked. The cooker also has an anodized aluminium cooking pot with a nonstick coating.
9. Breville BRC310BSS Rice Cooker
This stylish and contemporary Rice cooker can cook up to 10 cups of rice at a time. The perfect addition to your kitchen, this rice cooker offers convenience with a non-stick cooking bowl that is easy to clean and features a brushed stainless steel finish. The Breville Rice Cooker has a Keep Warm function that keeps the rice warm for up to 5 hours before the cooker automatically shuts off.
10. Westinghouse 10 Cup Rice Cooker
The Westinghouse 10 Cup Rice Cooker is the perfect addition to your kitchen. This rice cooker is perfect for the family or just one person. This cooker also has a cool touch-hinged lid with a super fresh seal that allows you to keep your rice warm and moist. The condensation collector also allows cooks to save on water and keep the rice cooker operating at its best. Unlike most rice cookers, the Westinghouse 10 Cup Rice Cooker features a stainless steel body, illuminated function indicators, and cook and keep warm functions. This cooker is also dishwasher safe and comes with a stone finish inner pot.
These are the best Rice Cookers in New Zealand Market, they all have different features and functions. You can buy one according to your need and suitability.
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