Sizes
How much rice will you be making on a regular basis? Various sizes are available, from small to extra large. Look at how many cups of cooked rice the cooker will provide you with, not the number of cups of dry rice it can take. Many cookers supply their own ‘cup' measuring device which is often much less than one standard cup. The last thing you want is a device that doesn't make enough for your needs. Choose the best size for you.
Nonstick
A non stick rice cooker surface is very handy for clean up. Rice can be sticky and difficult to clean, especially in these types of cooking appliances. The sides heat up and rice can stick. To save yourself a great deal of time when cleaning, invest in a rice appliance with a nonstick coated pan. Most brands are non-stick, but it's worth checking before purchase.
Will you be steaming vegetables too?
If you steam vegetables often, your cooker will function as a two-in-one for you. Not only can you cook your rice, but you can easily steam your veggies. Definitely choose a model which has a vegetable steaming tray included to save you the hassle of having to find one to fit your model in the future.
Storage
You need to be realistic about having the room to store the appliance. A huge cooker won't be the best if you can't keep it close to the kitchen. If you don't have room to keep it on hand, you may hardly ever use it. Look at how the cord stores. Choosing a model with an easy to store cord is a definite bonus. Some come with detachable cords. The cord can be stored inside the cooker to save room.
Before going shopping, make these decisions to help you find the best type of rice cooker for you.
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