Thanks to advancements in kitchen technology, new and exciting kitchen appliances evolve rapidly. Each year, numerous kitchenware come to the market promising quality, reliability, and sturdiness. Sometimes, you can’t make the right decision about the top kitchen appliances to buy at face value.
Nonetheless, you do not have to be blinded by every cooking gadget advertisement you see. You realize that some appliances such as the rice cooker and a slow cooker give you diversity and flexibility in the kitchen, while others bring congestion and redundancy. How then can you best use them in your kitchen?
These appliances are among the strongest challengers in the modern kitchen game. If you aren’t decided which one between the rice cooker and the slow cooker is worth your cash, you are in the right place.
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Slow Cooker Vs Rice Cooker
This review will aid you in making an informed decision based on numerous research and testing hours. Both cooking appliances are versatile. For this reason, this guide breaks down each one of them so that you can make the right decision centered on your needs.
Slow Cooker: How It Works, Cooker Recipes, And Features
Despite a plethora of cooking appliances on the market, the slow cooker has been tried and proven itself beyond doubt that it’s one of the few coveted appliances in the kitchen space. Over time, it has been improved to achieve the current fete: modern and dependable.
With the slow cooker, no complex installation is required. You plug into the power source and get cooking. It lets you cook food at a small, fixed temperature. Therefore, the food remains unattended for many hours, yet it remains warm when cooked. Typically, a slow cooker averages 2- 8 hours to cook a dish thoroughly.
Although it’s famous for preparing liquidy dishes such as soup, or stew, you can cook other dishes by adding some little liquid to prevent the bottom from burning. The slow cooker is ideal if you lead a busy lifestyle. You use the preset options, let it cook, and come back to a warm meal.
Some newer models are programmable. They feature a delay start option which lets you start cooking without manual triggering. Although this feature is essential, you should be cautious to avoid using it for a period exceeding two hours due to FDA safety regulations.
How Does A Slow Cooker Work?
The majority of traditional slow cookers have two settings, but some have three. They are High temperature (2120 F) for cooking and low temperature (2000F).
Some slow cookers feature a keep-warm setting of 1650F, which is usually above the food-safe temperatures of 1450F. While maintaining the warmth, these cookers do not overcook the food. Some new models have rice-specific settings that you will love.
Your big task is to prepare the recipe, put it in the cooker, and select the right setting. It’ll cook by itself and save time plus you don’t have to worry about your food in the kitchen.
Major Slow Cooker Recipes
- Soups
- Stews
- Curries
- Casseroles
- Chilli
- Roast Meat
Other Recipes
- Yoghurt & fudge
- Puddings
- Bread and cakes
- Grains
- Dhal
Features
1. Simplicity
The preset option makes this appliance easy to use. Mix rice with water, add extra ingredients, and choose the proper setting. It’s hassle-free.
2. Flexibility
The preset timers ensure the cooking time is exact. Also, you can set the times and do other chores without a single worry.
3. Affordable
Slow cookers have flexible pricing options. They range from entry-level to high-level appliances. Therefore, you purchase a slow cooker without adjusting your budget.
4. Fun
Due to its simplistic nature, it lets you try new recipes every time.
PROS
- Flexible
- Keeps the food warm for a long time
- Ease of use
- Carefree
CONS
- Uses a lot of time to cook
Rice Cooker: How It Works, Cooker Recipes, And Features
Rice cookers are very fast when it comes to cooking. That is their central selling point. It’s excellent if you often come up with a recipe during the last minute while preparing supper. It takes roughly about one hour to cook a meal. Although you can use a rice cooker to prepare other dishes, it’s ideal for cooking rice. You have to be a rice junkie to utilize this appliance effectively.
Rice cookers range from simple cookers to sophisticated ones that resemble multi-cookers. If you want extra programs for handling specific types of rice, such as sushi, you have to stretch your budget slightly. A rice cooker usually produces fluffy rice and maintains its warmth at an ideal temperature.
A rice cooker also allows you to multi-task. It lets you prepare other dishes while the rice cooks on its own. You can handle plenty of rice recipes with this cooker. Even so, a rice cooker can still handle several other dishes too.
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Some advanced rice cookers have pressure settings too. It is, however, smaller and doesn’t function like a dedicated electric cooker. This hybrid model is usually handy if you are keen to try new recipes apart from rice.
How Does A Rice Cooker Work?
When cooking rice, a rice cooker does almost everything. You wash your rice, prepare your ingredients and then put everything inside the cooker. Set the timer appropriately and wait for the food to be ready after the timer goes off.
Major Dishes
- All types of rice
Others
- Grains
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
- Fish
- Dumplings
- Lentils
Features
1. Convenience
The majority of the rice cookers allow you set the exact time the cooker starts and keeps your food warm. You do not have to be there to start the cooker physically.
2. Perfect Rice
The Rice cooker was designed to suit rice enthusiasts. You do not have to be a chef to produce a rice dish masterpiece.
3. Flexibility
Newer models are equipped with programming options that let you cook various other grains such as wheat berries and quinoa.
4. Steamer Basket
Most models have a steaming basket necessary when preparing other dishes such as dumplings, vegetables, and seafood. All these can be cooked by pressing a single button.
PROS
- Cooks any rice
- Saves time
- Allows multi-tasking
CONS
- Not ideal if you don’t cook rice often
How Do You Choose Between A Rice Cooker And A Slow Cooker?
A rice cooker cannot handle the significant tasks a slow cooker can do and vice versa. The ideal setup is to have both cookers. If this option is not possible for several reasons, you should pick the one which delivers most based on your requirements.
Alternatively, you can base your choice on the foods you regularly prepare and the amount of time you have when preparing dinner. The space available in your kitchen is also a solid factor to consider.
There are lots of combinations that can be achieved while using both appliances. It’s a substantial upper hand to have both of them. For instance, you can have a dessert in the slow cooker while you make some brown rice with the rice cooker.
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Rice Cooker
Slow Cooker
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Size Range
3 – 7 quarts
2 – 30 cup capacity (cooked rice)
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Cook Time
30 minutes – 2 hours
2 – 10 hours
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Cook Modes
Cook, warm
High, low, warm
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Types Of Food
Rice, grains, seafood, and vegetables
Stews, roasts, whole chicken
Slow Cooker Vs Rice Cooker? Summing Up
Both rice cookers and slow cookers are designed in the same way but with a different niche. Owning both appliances is the best for the perfect cooking combinations. If you have to choose one, the rice cooker is the winner if most of your meals comprise rice recipes.
Alternatively, a slow cooker will serve you well due to its versatility. Lastly, you’d prefer advanced models of each appliance to access additional features, despite costing slightly more.
