Rival Rice Cooker - Likes, Dislikes, Tips, Comparison
Written: Sep 09 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Provides easiest way to make rice - I think Rival is better than International
Cons: It tends to occasionally shut off too early
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| fr4ed's Full Review: Rival Automatic Steamer/Rice Cooker 4450 GW Slow C... |
I will go over some basics of using a rice cooker versus using a pot on a stove to cook rice.
I will include my likes and dislikes of the Rival Rice Cooker and rice cookers in general.
I have used two different brands of similar rice cookers, so I will include a couple comparisons of the Rival Rice Cooker versus the International Rice Cooker.
Also, I have a few tips to pass along that might be helpful to someone just starting to use a rice cooker.
Why would someone buy a rice cooker? Why not just cook rice in a pot on the stove?
There are advantages to each. Cooking rice with a pot on the stove allows you to cook rice without having to buy a rice cooker, and you don't have to worry about counter or cabinet space for the rice cooker when it's not being used.
The main advantage of the rice cooker is that it is easier to use.
It's a lot like comparing making coffee in a pot on the stove to using a coffee maker. The coffee maker shuts off by itself, and using it is an simpler way to make coffee. I would say the same thing about a rice cooker.
All you have to do is measure out the amount of rice you want to cook, measure the amount of water you need for that amount of rice, pour them into the inner pot, plug it into a wall outlet, flip the switch to "cook", and walk away.
When the rice is done cooking, the cooker will automatically shut off. Actually it changes to "warm" from "cook" and will keep the rice warm until you unplug it (much like a coffee pot does). With the "pot on the stove" method, you have to baby-sit the process a lot more. For one, you have to be there to turn off the burner on the stove at some point. And before that, you have to bring the water to a boil, then turn the burner to a lower setting to let it simmer.
I have been taught two different ways to cook rice with a pot. I think they both required the simmering step, but maybe not. I can't remember. I just use rice cookers now.
Clean-up is about the same with either method. You don't want to let the stove top pot or the rice cooker pot dry before you clean it. If you do, someone will be in for some major scrubbing to get it clean.
My likes and dislikes of the Rival Rice Cooker
What I like about rice cookers is that I can mindlessly go through the simple steps necessary to use it to make a pot of rice. It's that simple.
Both of the two brands of cookers I have used were very similar in this regard. The International had one extra step the Rival does not require. With the International, I had to add about six ounces of water to the outer pot, then place the inner pot with the rice and water in it before starting. That was no big deal.
Both cookers make good rice.
What I do not like about these rice cookers is that they both have a tendency to shut off too early. The International did this way more often, but the Rival will occasionally do the same thing. It typically takes 25 minutes to cook a pot of rice, but sometimes it will shut off 10 or 15 minutes into the process, and the rice won't get fully cooked. If
I happen to hear it shut off early, I can try turning it back on, but sometimes it will just shut off immediately again.
Tips
The only thing I have ever used rice cookers for is to cook brown rice. The Rival can also steam vegetables, but I haven't done that. Different kinds of rice require different amounts of water to be added and cook in different amounts of time.
The user's manual has guidelines listed.
For what it is worth, I typically cook one pound of brown rice with 21.5 ounces of water, and this will pretty much max out the amount the pot can handle at one time. It looks like more would fit in there when I start, but the rice expands like yeast, so I suggest starting off with smaller amounts to see what you can get away with.
Also, different people like their rice more or less moist than others, so I recommend starting with the guidelines in the manual, then tweak the rice and water amounts to suit your preferences.
I hope I have provided enough information to help someone decide whether they want a rice cooker and what to expect if they decide to use one.
Rice cooker technology has not needed to come very far since at least the 1970s. They are pretty simple machines much like a standard coffee maker, so I doubt that different brands differ a whole lot as to their capabilities, but I do favor the Rival over the International, since the Rival doesn't prematurely shut off as often.
Unfortunately, I don't know how much my rice cooker cost. Both of the ones I have used were purchased by someone else.
Thanks,
fr4ed
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
fr4ed
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Location: Channel Islands, CA
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 3 members
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