Do you often cook Japanese rice at home? Have you been frustrated because of not achieving the perfect outcomes for several times? Do you want to cook rice easily and quickly? In all of these instances, there is one thing that you will need – the best Japanese rice cooker.
With too many options that are available in the market, making the right decision is sure to be not easy. With this, keep on reading the rest of this post and we will help you out. We will list down some of the important factors to consider, as well as the top products that are available in the market.
Benefits of Having a Rice Cooker
In today’s time, cooking rice through the stove or an induction cooker is no longer common. If you are looking for reasons to compel you to buy a Japanese rice cooker, here are some of the benefits that you can expect from such a product:
Consistency
One of the best things about having a rice cooker is that it cooks rice perfectly all the time. There is no under-cooking or over-cooking. There are also lines on the pan and measuring cups to help you easily determine the water to rice ratio.
Convenient
If you are the type of person who is always too lazy to be doing something in the kitchen, a rice cooker is the perfect investment. Once rice is in the pan, just leave it and it will do the rest. It will automatically stop when rice is cooked and in some cases, will cook it warm until you are ready to eat.
Multi-Functional
Yes, it is called a rice cooker, but it does not mean that it cannot do anything than cook rice. Depending on the model chosen, it can be multi-purpose. You can use it for baking a small cake, making pancakes, steaming, roasting, and making soups, among others.
Essential Factors to Consider
As you look for a Japanese rice cooker, make sure that these things are given attention, making it easier to narrow down the possibilities:
- Size: Think about the space that is available in the kitchen and more importantly, the quantity of rice that you have to cook. In most cases, the measurements will indicate the number of cups of uncooked rice that it can make.
- Wattage: This is an indicator of power of the rice cooker. A higher wattage means that it will be more powerful. You can cook quicker, but this can also consume more electricity. For smaller rice cookers, it is not necessary to have a high wattage.
- Pan: Pay attention as well to the quality of the inner pan. It should be made with a non-stick coating. It must be able to resist rust, corrosion, and other problems. Choose one as well that comes with markings that are easy to see.
- Micom Technology: Rice cookers with this technology may be more expensive, but they will surely be worth your money. This is a revolutionary feature that automatically adjusts temperature, making it easier to have perfectly cooked Japanese rice.
- Ease of Use: It is also important to pick one that comes with user-friendly features. The controls should be straightforward and easy to access. There should also be a large display that will make it easy to monitor cooking. There are also some models with a recipe book.
- Versatility: To be provided with the best value for money, find a Japanese rice cooker that can deliver multiple functions in one product. It should have the ability to keep the rice warm. There should also be features for steaming or even for baking a small cake. Some can even be used for porridge, stew, and soup, among others.
- Style: In most kitchens, a Japanese rice cooker is one thing that is often used, and hence, it is usually not hidden in the cabinet. With this, consider picking one with impressive aesthetics, which should complement the overall design of your kitchen.
Tips in Cooking Japanese Rice
Most of you might think that cooking Japanese rice is easy. In reality, it can be frustrating. With this, below are some tips that you might find helpful:
- One of the most important is polishing. To do this, pour the rice in a pan and mix with water. Soaking the rice will remove excess starches and will make the water turn cloudy. Using your hands, rub the grains to make out more starch. Drain the water. Repeat the process until the water becomes clearer.
- More than washing the rice, it will also be necessary to let it sit in cold water for a while. This will make the grains softer and will improve the absorption of water.
- The right amount of water to use is also crucial. More often than not, you just have to follow the markings in the rice cooker. Otherwise, use your finger to measure the amount of rice and add water that is roughly the same.
- Always allow the rice to cool down before serving.
Watch the short video below for a visual guide of how to cook Japanese rice:
Top Picks for the Best Japanese Rice Cooker
Some of the best brands and models available in the market will be briefly tackled in this section. To make it easier to evaluate the products, we will list down some of their notable features, as well as a few of their pros and cons.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-12 at 11:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- 5-1/2-cup computerized rice cooker and warmer with advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology. Wall mountable
- Multi-menu selections; automatic keep-warm, extended keep-warm, and reheat cycles. Electrical Rating - 120 volts / 680 watts
- Spherical, nonstick inner pan allows for uniform heating; LCD clock and timer; retractable cord
- Menu settings include white (regular/sushi, softer or harder), mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, rinse-free and quick cooking
- Measures approximately 14 by 8 by 9 inches; 1-year limited warranty, Dimensions (W x D x H) : 10-1/8 x 13 x 8-1/8 inches
- Includes 2 measuring cups, nonstick rice spoon/scooper, rice spoon holder, and recipes . NOTE: Please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product ONLY
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-12 at 11:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology. Capacity Up to 5.5 cups / 1.0 liter,Dimensions (W x D x H) 10-1/8 x 14 x 8-1/2 inches. The electrical rating is 120 volts / 610 watts
- Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle
- Easy to clean clear coated stainless steel exterior, 2 delay time settings
- Interchangeable melody and beep signal
- Built in retractable power cord
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-12 at 11:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Inner pan with grip handle for easy carry
- 2 preset cooking timer. Electric rating- cook 1,080 Watts
- 5 layer metal + 3 layer coating = 8 layer inner pot
- Detachable inner / outer lid and steam vent cap
- Washable lid; 11 computerized cooking menus including slow cook, bread baking and brown rice settings
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-08-10 at 07:48 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- 10-Cup Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer with Tiger's exclusive "tacook" cooking plate for synchronize cooking
- 10 cooking settings: Plain, Synchro-Cooking, Quick (for faster cooking cycle), Sweet, Mixed, Porridge, Multigrain, Brown Rice, Slow Cook, and Steam
- Spherical inner pot (1.8-mm) with non-stick coating
- Easy to remove and wash inner lid and steam cap
- 2 preset cooking timers (up to 24 hours) and automatic "Keep Warm" after cooking completion (up to 12 hours)
- 10 Cups Uncooked/20 Cups Cooked
- 10 Cups Uncooked/20 Cups Cooked
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-12 at 11:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Multi-menu cooking functions: Special settings for white/mixed riced, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, long grain white rice, steel cut oatmeal and quick cooking
- Triple heater (bottom, side and lid) generate heat all around for even heating.Up to 3 cups / 0.54 liter. Capacity is measured in the approx. 6 oz. / 180mL rice measuring cup, using raw short grain white rice. Other grains may vary
- Dimensions (W x D x H):9-1/8 x 11-7/8 x 7-1/2 inches. Detachable and washable inner lid
- Easy to store retractable cord.Interchangeable melody and beep signal
- Removable steam vent cap allows for high-temperature cooking without messy overflows. Electrical rating : 120 Volts or 450 Watts.Micro computer automatically adjusts cooking temperature and time
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-12 at 11:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
By now, we hope that choosing the best Japanese rice cooker is a lot easier for you. At the end of the day, it should not be only about price or design. You should look at the specifications and features of the product, such as its functions and its heating capabilities. A good rice cooker is one that will allow you to make the perfect rice with minimal effort on your end.
From the five products that we have mentioned earlier, I personally believe that Tiger JKT-S10U-K IH Rice Cooker with Slow Cooking is the overall winner. It comes with an intelligent cooking technology, as if it has a mind of its own. With this, cooking rice will never be a difficult task for you.
