re: Rice Cooker...worth it or waste of counter space?

I walked into the Walmart in Jennings and was amazed to see a 22 cup (uncooked) rice cooker.

I have had a rice cooker for awhile. I rarely use it. When I do, two things happen. It boil over and makes a huge mess. Easily, a cup of rice sticks to the bottom and sides. I have tried rinsing the starch off the rice first. I use 2:1 water to rice ratio. I sometimes spray the bowl with Pam first.

What am I doing wrong if you guys are having more success? As it stands, I really don't like mine. I usually cook my rice on the range top, or the oven if I am making a large batch.

You're filling it up too much with something, either rice or water or both. I put the rice in and use the first knuckle line on my index finger for the water, fingertip touching the rice.

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You're putting in too much. Rice cookers don't use a 2-to-1 ratio. Use the cup that came with the unit. It's not a full 8 oz cup - more like 2/3 cup. Put the measured amount of rice in the pot, then fill with water up to the mark on the inside of the unit(I belive that does measure true cups, given that the correct amount of rice is already in the pot.

I'm very sure this is your problem.

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So you are saying I should have read the directions. Interesting.

Thanks Rat and Gris Gris. That cup is in my sugar container. I'll reclaim it.

eta: I use the knuckle method for my cooktop rice.

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I have had a rice cooker for awhile. I rarely use it. When I do, two things happen. It boil over and makes a huge mess. Easily, a cup of rice sticks to the bottom and sides. I have tried rinsing the starch off the rice first. I use 2:1 water to rice ratio. I sometimes spray the bowl with Pam first.

What am I doing wrong if you guys are having more success? As it stands, I really don't like mine. I usually cook my rice on the range top, or the oven if I am making a large batch.

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LOL! I know it was answered but yes, you are doing it wrong. Use the cup that came with it and then fill with water to the line that matches the amount of cups you used. You do the 2-1 ratio when making rice on the stovetop. I noticed that my small rice cooker (3 cup) sticks a lot but the bigger rice cooke doesn't. Not sure why. The smaller one also takes longer to cook, oddly enough. I like to put in a small amount of oil and vinegar with the water. Keeps the rice from sticking as bad (you can also spray the pot with a nonstick spray before adding rice and water) and the vinegar supposedly does something, now I have forgotten. Anyway, try it again with the right measurements and see how you like it.

Absolutely worth it

I have had one for 25 years. Hitichi-10 cup.

Most the time I am only making 3 cups or so.

3-4 years ago I saw this cheap 3 cup cooker at walgreens for $10.
I use it 2-3 times a week and it stays on the counter its so small.
I only break out the big-un when I have company over.


My ole coon-arse grandma showed me how to cook perfect rice many years ago with out measuring (the ole first knuckle trick). But a few years later she would be the first to tell you the rice cooker is the greatest thing since sliced bread sha.

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You're putting in too much. Rice cookers don't use a 2-to-1 ratio. Use the cup that came with the unit. It's not a full 8 oz cup - more like 2/3 cup. Put the measured amount of rice in the pot, then fill with water up to the mark on the inside of the unit(I belive that does measure true cups, given that the correct amount of rice is already in the pot.

Yup, but 1:1.5 works every time for me in both of our cookers.

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Well, I did the math.

If you use 2/3 cup rice and 1 cup water, that is exactly a 1.5-to-1 water-to-rice ratio.

1 cup water / (2/3 cup rice) = 3/2 = 1.5.

So, good job, you have it exactly right..

Neither do I, though I had some brown rice that was a little crispy the first time I cooked it in the small no name. It needed more water than one knuckle.