A rice cooker or rice steamer is a kitchen appliance used to automate and simplify the process of cooking rice. Traditionally, rice is cooked by measuring a specic amount of rice and water and applying heat for a specic amount of time. The process is deceptively simple. Rice cookers provide a simple alternative. Although rice cookers do not necessarily speed the cooking process, the consumer's involvement in cooking rice with a rice cooker is signicantly reduced and simplied.
With a rice cooker, the cook combines a predetermined amount of rice and water inside the rice cooker and turns the device on. The rice cooker heats the waterrice mi!ture until all the water has either evaporated or is absorbed by the rice. This works on the principle that the boiling water maintains a constant temperature temperature "#$# %& or $ %( at sealevel). *nce the temperature changes, the device shuts o+ or switches to warm to keep the rice ready to serve for up to several hours. A rice cooker makes it virtually impossible to end up with scorched rice on the bottom of the pan.
asic -ono+- or -onkeep warm- rice cookers can double as electric steamers for other foods. /any include a steamer tray. They can be used 0ust for steaming, or to steam food while preparing rice. (reative cooks prepare grains other than rice by ad0usting the amount of water added prior to cooking.
1ewer, -fu22y logic- rice cookers cookers have several settings for di+erent types of cooking. /ost commonly, these include a basic rice setting, a brown rice setting, a 3uick cooking setting, and a porridge setting, although di+erent brands may include more or fewer options. These cookers can also be used to prepare risottos, pilafs, and rice puddings. 4owever, most fu22y logic rice cookers can not be used as steamers.
Rice cookers commonly come with a special cup to measure $5 ml, or about 6 o2 of rice. 7t is important to note that a rice cooker that has water water level markings on the side of the bowl will be for rice measured in this cup, not a standard measuring cup.
The rice cooker cooker is considered considered an important important part of modern 8apanese 8apanese cooking. cooking.