When looking for a new rice cooker, you want only the best of the best. While you could look at rice cooker reviews for a variety of brands, there’s a much easier solution — go for one of the best rice cooker brands out there, Aroma.
How do I Know what Model is For Me?
After deciding to go for Aroma rice cookers, your next step is to decide what model is best for you. There are a variety of models available for purchase, and a variety of different functionalities — some rice cookers are larger, while some are smaller; and some are electrically programmable, while others use a switch. With all of this in mind, the first thing you should do when looking into what the best rice cooker is for you is determining what you will be using it for.
What Size is Right for Me?
Before deciding what model is right for you, you first need to decide what purposes you will be using it for — and what size is right for you. There is a great variety to choose from; smaller models with a four-cup capacity, suitable for small families or dorm rooms — larger models at an eight-cup capacity, suited for larger families or celebrations, and finally, the professional variety, with a twenty-cup capacity. Of course, it’s noteworthy that the measurements listed are uncooked rice measurements — meaning that the true capacity is actually doubled; eight cups, sixteen cups, and forty cups, respectively — this is, of course, useful, as rice expands when it cooks.
Digital or Switch?
After deciding what size of rice cooker is best for you, the next logical choice is to decide whether you would prefer to go for a digital rice cooker or a rice cooker with a switch. This is entirely up to you, as it’s primarily dependent on the type of features you want to have. As one might imagine, the digital rice cooker has more features than a rice cooker with a switch does, as rice cookers with a switch just automatically turn off when the rice is done cooking.
Some features common with the digital models:
- Being able to slow cook with certain models
- Ability to choose the type of rice you are cooking
- Keep Warm feature
- Saute-then-simmer feature; which allows you to saute something inside the rice cooker, and simmer, once a liquid content is added.
As one might imagine, the features such as sauteing and slow cooking come at a slightly higher price, but for those looking for the best rice cookers with the most versatility, it’s a great feature.
Care & Use Tips
When caring for your new rice cooker, it’s important to be careful to ensure that you don’t mistakenly wash your rice cooker pot in the wrong way. Typically, it is suggested that you do not wash your rice cooker pot in a dishwasher — as the pot is made of stainless steel, the dishwasher can very easily strip away at the stainless steel coating. Obviously, you don’t want this — so it is advised that you stick to hand-washing with warm, soapy water; of course drying before returning to the rice cooker, to prevent any potential damage to the rice cooker itself.
While many people might find that using a rice cooker is fairly simple, others might appreciate having some tips for their first few times using it. As such, you can find a tip for each model below.
Digital: Always ensure that the type of rice is consistent with the button you press before starting the cooking process. For example, only press the brown rice button for brown rice.
Switch: Start your rice soon before every other part of your meal is done to ensure warmth. Rice cooks fast in this model, after all!
Pros & Cons
After taking all of this into consideration, it might be hard to decide which model is right for you without looking at rice cooker reviews. For some people, however, they need an easier way to compare models — reviews tend only to cover the singular model you are looking at the review for, and as such, aren’t as useful for people looking into comparing multiple models at once. As such, for those looking for such a convenience, a pros and cons list has been compiled below for both types of Aroma rice cookers — the digital model, and the switch model.
Pros: Digital
– Comes with Keep Warm feature to ensure your rice does not get cold, regardless of how long it may sit.
– Often comes with slow cooking functionality depending on the model you choose — with the more expensive models typically being the only ones with this functionality. Additionally, some models feature a saute-then-simmer feature. This is also ideal for those with little space around their house; as it is a multi-purpose appliance.
– Tends to come in larger sizes than switch-model rice cookers, and as such, could be more practical depending on your lifestyle.
– Allows you to set the type of rice you are cooking, in order to ensure the proper consistency — as brown rice tends to need more water than white rice, for example, you might want this functionality to ensure your brown rice is the desired texture and consistency.
Pros: Switch
– Features a very simplistic design; simply put your rice into the rice cooker pot, plug it in, and press the switch down. Great for those that don’t want all the bells and whistles that might come with a digital rice cooker.
– Typically cheaper than digital model rice cookers; as this model does not have as many features of a digital rice cooker, it is typically cheaper, making it ideal for those that don’t wish to spend too much.
– Often comes in smaller sizes (the smallest often being a 3 cup uncooked capacity; 6 cups cooked rice), meaning it’s great for those with little storage.
Cons: Digital
– Depending on the model you choose to go for, it’s a bit more expensive than a switch-model rice cooker.
– These models seemingly tend to run a bit larger than switch models, making it slightly less ideal for those with limited storage space.
– This particular model can be somewhat complicated to operate for those that aren’t particularly tech-savvy. While it is fairly simple, some people feel a bit overwhelmed by a number of options, depending on the type of digital rice cooker they get.
Cons: Switch
– Seemingly does not have a keep-warm option, meaning your rice may get cold, depending on how long it sits.
– Does not feature options for varying types of rice, which could potentially be off-putting for those looking to cook brown rice.
With all of this in mind, hopefully, this article was able to help you decide what the best rice cooker for you would be — whether it be a digital model or a switch model.
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