Our old Oster rice cooker is still cooking, though it's probably just a matter of time. In a rare preemptive move, we replaced it with a model a couple of generations newer. The Aroma Rice Cooker ARC-150SB is feature-rich compared to our old cooker, which cooked white rice. Period. The Aroma 150SB cooks white or brown rice, incorporates a timer so we can start our rice up to 15 hours in advance, and has a steamer tray. The owner's manual includes recipes for stews and soups that they say can be made in the pot. Haven't tried that; probably won't...

The 150SB makes from four to twenty cups of white or brown rice in a large non-stick pot. Setup is simple: dump in two to ten measures of rice (the standard measure is ¾ Cup) and add water until the level reaches the corresponding line on the pot. Latch the lid, turn on, choose white or brown, and press "START"; or set the timer and press "START." The cooker uses fuzzy logic to optimize cooking time, but white rice takes about 35 minutes and brown about 110. The pot cooks until the water has boiled off, then goes into a "KEEP WARM" cycle.

The STEAM function uses the same pot and the tray that fits into its top. Press the STEAM button and then press START repetitively to set the time according to the chart in the manual. You can steam foods while cooking rice, though that tends to overcook veggies unless you open the lid to remove them.

We've used the 150SB for both white and brown rice and also steamed asparagus and cauliflower. The instructions warn to rinse rice before cooking to avoid slight burns; we've found this useful advice. The timer function works well, though the instructions are hazy on whether the timer controls start or finish (it's finish...)

For cleaning, the pot lifts out and a rubbery steam vent pulls loose from the lid. The pot can be washed in a dishwasher or by hand. There's also a reservoir under the hinge to capture water drips from the lid.

The non-stick interior, brown rice cycle, timer and steamer are all improvements over a basic rice cooker; especially the setting for the healthier brown rice. In the minus column, the lid is fixed and must be wiped clean instead of washed. It's also difficult to see the water markings on the pot's black interior surface, so keep a flashlight handy. Now that we're used to the differences from our old model, though, we give the Aroma Rice Cooker 150SB a hearty thumbs up.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 34