by Daisy Dao
There is nothing more convenient than using a microwave to cook things.
How many times have you dreaded cooking something for a very long time, only to realize that you could have microwaved the same thing in minutes?
The problem with microwaves is that oftentimes, the only things you can microwave are food items that have been prepared in advance.
Rice cookers are another very convenient kitchen appliance and it makes preparing rice very easy, among other things.
However, it takes a very long time to make things in a rice cooker.
What if there were a way to combine the short waiting times of microwaves with the options that rice cookers provide.
Enter the microwave rice cooker.
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No matter how much cooking spray or any other substance that prevents corners of pots from sticking, there is a good chance that rice will still stick. This can make for a frustrating cooking experience that is unfortunately very common with most microwave rice cookers.
Progressive International solves this problem with its microwave rice cooker, as it has a non-stick surface. Additionally, the propylene material that it is made of does a very good job of handling the intense amount of heat that microwave rice cookers encounter.
Cleaning rice cookers by hand can also be inconvenient. Fortunately, Progressive International's rice cooker is dishwasher safe, so you will not need to take the time cleaning it by hand unless you want to. Additionally, using Progressive International's microwave rice cooker is easy. All you need to do is add what you need to make, put the lid on, and set your time.
Because of the non-stick properties of Progressive International's microwave rice cooker, you will need to be careful when cleaning it. If you are too intense in cleaning it, the interior will peel. Again, this is because of the non-stick properties, which are partially made of plastic. Because plastic generally does not last very long under high temperatures, you might find yourself replacing it a lot more frequently than you might like.
It can be difficult to find options in microwave rice cookers. Most of them only offer one of two kinds of lids: Lids that are completely solid and lids that are completely solid and do not let any air out or lids that let a little bit of air out. There are advantages and drawbacks to each kind of lid, and it is unfortunate that most microwave rice cookers do not come with both.
Fortunately, Home and Appliances' microwave rice cooker comes with both kinds of lids. You get a solid lid as well as a lid with a strainer. This gives you a lot more options than you would believe. As mentioned earlier, different lids are better for different situations and it is very nice that you get both with Home and Appliances' set.
However, there are a few things that you are going to need to watch out for with Home and Appliances' microwave rice cooker. First, it is questionable as to whether it is BPA free. While it is made of the same polypropylene materials that make any other microwave rice cooker BPA free, the issue is that it is not clearly stated.
Second, if you do not know Japanese or are willing to translate Japanese instructions, you will be completely lost as to how to use it since the directions are in Japanese. This can obviously make things very inconvenient unless you are already experienced in using microwave rice cookers.
One of the biggest issues that anybody who uses a microwave rice cooker faces is accidentally putting too much water in the cooker, causing it to overflow from the cooker when operating. This can be extremely frustrating and it is very rare to find any microwave rice cooker that does not do this.
Fortunately, Leuke's microwave rice cooker is designed so that water will not overflow from it at all. This is done because of how the lid is constructed, which contains a colander that will drain the perfect amount of water from it every time. This is especially useful if you are cooking small grains such as quinoa with it.
While nearly all microwave rice cookers are BPA free, most of the material in these cookers are made of plastic that generally cannot handle the strong heat that microwave rice cookers release. This is also solved with Leuke's microwave rice cooker, as it is made of plastic as well as platinum silicone. This prevents it from getting burned on the bottom as well as being non-stick.
If you are experienced with using microwave rice cookers, you'll know that it is sometimes necessary to use a solid cover that doesn't let out any steam. This is especially true if you know how to handle the water levels in your rice cooker. Unfortunately, Leuke's microwave rice cooker does not contain a lid like this, and this limits options.
Some microwave rice cookers don't fit into smaller microwaves. Of course, this is very inconvenient for anybody who does possess a small microwave and does not want to purchase a brand new large microwave just so they can use a rice cooker.
Although it is a good amount smaller than other microwave rice cookers, this means that Pampered Chef's microwave rice cooker is designed for small microwaves. If you are looking for a microwave rice cooker for a room in your apartment or a college dormitory or some other very small living space, Pampered Chef's microwave rice cooker is ideal.
Something else that other microwave rice cookers have difficulty doing is consistent water draining. Pampered Chef's microwave cooker solves this issue by containing a cover that has small and medium holes that ensure that the liquids inside of it will be drained consistently. This is really nice for anybody who is new to microwave rice cookers.
Most other microwave rice cookers just come in the form of a pot that is not really designed for pouring. Because it is possible to make soups with microwave rice cookers, this makes it difficult to pour soup into a bowl. Fortunately, the pot of Pampered Chef's rice cooker is ergonomically designed so that you can use it to pour effectively.
Of course, you need to be aware that Pampered Chef's rice cooker is smaller than other microwave cookers. This limits the amount of rice, steamed vegetables, soup, or anything else you may want to cook in it
A lot of microwave rice cookers can get really hot after being placed in the microwave. In most cases, you'll need to let them sit in the microwave for minutes on end, letting the rice or vegetables inside of them get cold before finally being able to be removed. This can lower the quality of what is in the cooker noticeably.
This issue is solved with Nordic Ware's microwave rice cooker. The handles on its side do not heat up when microwaved, meaning you can remove it right after microwaving without any penalty. It is also built such that heat is more focused on the inside of it which means the outside of the cooker also isn't terribly hot either.
Most microwave rice cooker covers either have holes or they do not. Very few are like Nordic Ware's microwave rice cooker where you get to decide whether you need holes in the cover. It does this by containing a knob on the top of the cover that you can simply twist if you need the cover to have holes or not. This makes Nordic Ware's microwave rice cooker very versatile.
There are a couple of things that you should watch out for with Nordic Ware's rice cooker, however. First, the inside of it is made of more plastic than other microwave rice cookers. This can and does affect the taste of whatever is inside of it slightly for the first few uses. Also, the interior contains a few more parts than other microwave rice cookers.
As simple as their purpose may be, microwave rice cookers do have different purposes and uses.
It is up to you to decide which microwave rice cooker is best for you and there are a few things you should consider when making this decision.
Different microwave rice cookers come in different sizes, and you'll need to select one that is right for your microwave.
Your rice cooker should be able to fit easily into the microwave. This will allow it to cook everything inside of the rice cooker evenly.
One of the best things about microwave rice cookers is that they are able to cook nearly everything that isn't protein based.
Rice, vegetables, and all of their counterparts can be cooked in a rice cooker.
However, some rice cookers specialize in certain food items. It is up to you to decide which microwave cooker is right for the food items you want to make in one.
Most microwave rice cookers are BPA free, but this comes at a sacrifice when it comes to the flavor of the food items that you are cooking in it.
Moreover, BPAs are harmful for some and harmless for others so this is something to consider in terms of taste and harmful chemicals.
Microwave rice cookers are split in half when it comes to being dishwasher safe: Half of them are, and half of them are not.
Those that are dishwasher safe may not give you as many options as those that are not and that might be something else that you need to consider.
Ans: There are two kinds of rice cookers: Ones that can be microwaved and ones that you plug in that cook on their own. The ones that can be microwaved are obviously designed to be microwaved, and the standalone ones that must be plugged in cannot be microwaved, even if you do something like leaving the plug outside of the door or something.
Ans: The answer to this question really depends on what you want out of your rice cooker. Certain brands of rice cookers specialize in different things and you should certainly be aware of this when deciding on a brand of rice cooker. Pay close attention to what each brand of rice cooker offers. It will lead you to the true answer to this question.
Ans: This is only possible under two circumstances: The pasta needs to be very thin and the pasta can only be cooked in small amounts. This is even true if using a very large rice cooker. These circumstances exist because pasta has a lot more volume than rice or vegetables do and require a lot more water to cook perfectly.
Ans: The only way to safely cook pasta in a microwave is if it is somewhat prepared first. There is no way to safely cook pasta out of a box in a microwave no matter how much water you put into your pot or rice cooker. This is because pasta requires constant amounts of water to cook properly. This water evaporates when microwaved.
Ans: Chicken contains a few more juices than other proteins. This makes it somewhat possible to be cooked in a rice cooker, but you need to do it right. There is no way that you can place full chicken filets in a rice cooker and expect the internal temperature to be high enough, but it is certainly possible to cut up chicken into pieces and cook them properly in a rice cooker, provided you do not place too many pieces of chicken in the cooker.
Joseph Joseph 45002 M-Cuisine Microwave Rice Cooker - Walmart Link
Prep Solutions by Progressive Microwaveable Rice and Pasta Cooker-17 Piece Set Includes - Walmart Link
Pampered Chef micro cooker plus 3qt - Walmart Link
Sistema Microwave Collection Rice Cooker, 87.2 oz./2.6 L, Red - Walmart Link
Home-X - Microwave Rice Cooker, 10 Cup Cooker is BPA Free, Easy-To-Use, Low Mess and - Walmart Link
Progressive International Microwave Rice Cooker, 5 Piece Set, Gray - Walmart Link
Chefs Basics Select Siz Cooker with 8 Cups Capacity that fits most Standard Size - Walmart Link
Nordicware Microwave Rice Cooker Cup Cookware, 8.5, White - Walmart Link
Home & Appliances Rice Cocker Only for Microwave Oven 2-cup Chibikuro-kun Model: - Walmart Link
Handy Gourmet Micromaster Kitchen Microwave Pressure Cooker - White - Walmart Link
Tupperware Microwave Rice Cooker Purple Large 3L or 12 cup - Walmart Link
Lekue Microwave Rice, Grain & Quinoa Cooker, one size, Green - Walmart Link
Donabe Microwave Rice Cooker Mug, 500ml, Set of 2, White and Black - Walmart Link
Norpro Microwave Rice Cooker, 11-Cup, White - Walmart Link
Sistema Microwave Collection Steamer, Large, 13.6 Cup, Red, BPA Free Cook and Serve - Walmart Link
Microwave Rice Steamer, Ready in Minutes, 2.6 litre, 87.9 oz, 11 cups - Walmart Link
Pampered Chef Small Micro-Cooker 1 Quart - Walmart Link
Joseph Joseph 45002 M-Cuisine Microwave Rice Cooker - eBay Link
Prep Solutions by Progressive Microwaveable Rice and Pasta Cooker-17 Piece Set Includes - eBay Link
Pampered Chef micro cooker plus 3qt - eBay Link
Sistema Microwave Collection Rice Cooker, 87.2 oz./2.6 L, Red - eBay Link
Home-X - Microwave Rice Cooker, 10 Cup Cooker is BPA Free, Easy-To-Use, Low Mess and - eBay Link
Progressive International Microwave Rice Cooker, 5 Piece Set, Gray - eBay Link
Chefs Basics Select Siz Cooker with 8 Cups Capacity that fits most Standard Size - eBay Link
Nordicware Microwave Rice Cooker Cup Cookware, 8.5, White - eBay Link
Home & Appliances Rice Cocker Only for Microwave Oven 2-cup Chibikuro-kun Model: - eBay Link
Handy Gourmet Micromaster Kitchen Microwave Pressure Cooker - White - eBay Link
Tupperware Microwave Rice Cooker Purple Large 3L or 12 cup - eBay Link
Lekue Microwave Rice, Grain & Quinoa Cooker, one size, Green - eBay Link
Donabe Microwave Rice Cooker Mug, 500ml, Set of 2, White and Black - eBay Link
Norpro Microwave Rice Cooker, 11-Cup, White - eBay Link
Sistema Microwave Collection Steamer, Large, 13.6 Cup, Red, BPA Free Cook and Serve - eBay Link
Microwave Rice Steamer, Ready in Minutes, 2.6 litre, 87.9 oz, 11 cups - eBay Link
Pampered Chef Small Micro-Cooker 1 Quart - eBay Link
Microwave rice cookers are one of the most convenient kitchen appliances in existence.
These contraptions will reduce cooking times for rice, vegetables, and some pieces of protein based food items drastically.
As convenient as these appliances are, they come in all shapes and sizes and also cook the food items placed in them in different ways.
It is up to you to decide on what the best microwave rice cookers for you are and which ones will make things the most convenient for you.
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About Daisy Dao
Daisy grew up on the beautiful Honolulu island where she often found herself spending most of her day enjoying the ocean scent in sea waves. As such, Daisy came to appreciate the art of cooking seafood. She has experimented with baking, roasting, broiling, poaching, grilling (and every other cooking technique you can think of); and with all kinds of spices too. Now she is ready to present her experience: the art of cooking healthy food without any pre-packaged ingredients; food product recommendations for people who need a bit more guidance on what goes into their bodies; how to maintain an active lifestyle without having to give up your favorite foods!
Be with Daisy: 
Kitchen Goodness
