For a modern household, a rice cooker can be an invaluable cooking appliance. It allows you to cook rice quickly and steam veggies too. The cooker is designed to save your time while ensuring you can enjoy the convenience of healthy home-cooked food. You can use the cooker to cook different types of rice dishes, but make sure you choose the right cooker size for your family. Otherwise, it would be an utter waste.
Finding the Right Size for Your Family’s Needs
To find the right sized cooker, it is important to figure out how much rice you need to cook for your family on a regular basis. For instance, if you cook about one to two cups of rice, you should opt for a three-cup cooker. On the other hand, if you cook anywhere from two to five cups, you need a five-cup rice cooker. Remember, these cookers require twice the number of cups of water compared to rice. So, keep this in mind when selecting the cooker based on the size.
If you cook rice for a large family, opt for a large-size cooker that can hold up to 10 cups of water in one go. Remember, size of the cooker is important. If you use too big a cooker, the inner pot will get damaged, shortening the life of your rice cooker. On the other hand, if the cooker is too small, you will not be able to cook adequate rice. However, besides the size, there are other factors that you should consider so that you purchase the ideal cooker.
Opt for the Right Material
Choose the right cooker material while selecting, you can get cookers made from plastic or metal. If you are looking for a lightweight cooker that can be easily moved around in the kitchen, go in for a plastic one. On the other hand, if you need a durable cooker then choose a metal cooker. Aluminium alloy is mostly considered, as it ensures quick heat transfer and is also lightweight.
Check the Cooking Technology
You may be surprised to know that cooking technology impacts the quality of the cooked rice. Opt for a cooker with digital technology, where you can control not just the cooking time, but also the temperature. This will help you prepare more tasty rice dishes than merely boiled and steamed rice.
Take Into Consideration the Design
The cookers with removable lids are easier to clean and convenient to stir the rice while it is cooking. A closed lid cooker is airtight and not openable during the cooking process. However, such a cooker dissipates evenly around the pot and ensures rice cooks uniformly. Also, this type of cooker reduces the cooking time. Look for a rice cooker with a closed lid and the ability to keep the rice warm after it is cooked. The way the cooker is designed will also affect your storage space. You should be able to store the cooker after you use.
Conclusion
These are certain factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing the perfect size rice cooker for your family. Remember, it is not merely the size that matters, but also other aspects like the cooking technology adopted, right material and the design.