re: What is your go-to Rice Maker these days?

I have a Panasonic 6-cup (I think) rice cooker that I bought at an auction a few years ago for $10. It's probably at least 15-20 years old but man it does a great job. As Stadium says, it's truly set it and forget it. If you eat a lot of rice and you want something that's super easy, that's what I would go with. My wife refuses to use it and so she still cooks her rice on the stovetop, but if we're being honest mine is better

Panasonic and Zojirushi are probably the two best known brands for rice cookers, but the Zojirushi ones are dang expensive. You can get a Panasonic one for $65 that looks like the equivalent one to mine.

I have a large one and a small one. They're old, but still work perfectly. Definitely set it and forget it. I like that they keep the rice warm until you're ready to serve. I bought the small one at Walgreen's for 10 bucks about 10 years ago.

My Mom used the large one all the time. With 6 kids who ate a lot of rice, it was wonderful. Freed up a burner as well as "set it and forget it".

Hitachi Chime O Matic is the favored rice cooker of the Cajun heartland. It's so popular that Hitachi sent a Representative from Japan to Acadiana to find out what the area's people were cooking that they bought so many Hitachi rice cookers.

It's not that the rice is so much better, it's that Cajuns eat so much rice and gravy, it's very convenient and cooks perfect rice every time.

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Hitachi Chime O Matic

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I was just reading this thread and couldn't believe this had not been mentioned yet.

almost everyone I know has one of those green pots in the kitchen cabinet.

Cooking rice in the microwave - works perfectly every time.

To a microwave proof bowl with a lid, add 1 part rice and 2 parts water (minus a tablespoon or two) and 1 teaspoon of salt per cup of rice.





You can add a little butter if desired




Cook at full power, with lid until the rice begins to boil. The only bad thing about this method is that you must watch the rice until it boils. At full power, with one cup (dry measure) rice and 2 cups water, this will take a little more than 5 minutes. Pretty quickly after coming to a boil, the rice will boil over, so you must watch it during the last minute or two before it boils.



When you see the rice beginning to boil, reduce the power level to 20% and cook with a lid for 15 minutes. You can walk away during this part. After 15 minutes, remove the dish and fluff with a fork.



This works perfectly, every time and keeps the rice cooker off of your counter or out of your storage cabinet (one less appliance).


My offer to serve as an administrator for the FDB still stands. I will serve free and (my word is good) I hold no grudges. Contact me if interested.

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Hitachi Chime O Matic is the favored rice cooker of the Cajun heartland. It's so popular that Hitachi sent a Representative to Acadiana to find out what the area's people were cooking that they bought so many Hitachi rice cookers.

It's not that the rice is so much better, it's that Cajuns eat so much rice and gravy, it's very convenient and cooks perfect rice every time.

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The Hitachi is the large one I have and my Mom still has and uses hers. I think she has two of them, actually. We've certainly gotten our money's worth from the Hitachi.

I agree that if you serve lots of rice at one time, it's the way to go although I use my small one quite often as well.

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Epic, is that a set it and forget appliance? or do you need to be there when the cycle ends?

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It's basically set it and forget it. If you leave it too long you might get a small amount of crunchy rice on the bottom, but overall you can just leave it alone because it automatically goes into a "warming" mode when it's done cooking.

I just gave my Hitachi Chime o Matic to my sister....I never used it, except once or twice a year if having a big party and serving gumbo. I use a 2 qt pot on the stovetop for everyday cooking.

Pot of water, boil rice for 18 minutes, drain.

I like my instant pot for 3 cups or more... rinse, add salt and price the rice button. 1:1 ratios
I don’t mind cooking on the stove in a regular pot, but if I have a bunch of shite going on the instant pot is worth the money. Put it in and press the button. It beeps when it’s done and even if it sits for a few minutes doing the “natural” release of pressure you don’t mess up the final product.