@@acolytetojippity there is something very beautiful about just putting your washed rice into your rice cooker and then just cooking without thinking about it at all. When you are done cooking you already got perfectly cooked rice without any hassle.
As someone who is damn good at cooking rice on a stove, my rice cooker is honestly the best thing I've ever bought. I have rice at least five times a week, in different forms, and I also bake all the bread the family eats. And if I had to choose between my rice cooker and my Ankersrum kitchen assistant, I would choose my rice cooker every single time.
I cook rice very rarely but when I do I use Ebbers method of using the residual heat to cook it through and it comes out great every time so I’ve never considered using a rice cooker because it’s just another countertop device that doesn’t guarantee great results
I use the Sistema microwave rice cooker and it's done in 12 minutes, no need to transfer it anywhere else and I store it in there too...neat and easy. I do do stove top when I have friends coming over and that's super easy too, done in 20 min or less, I don't need a rice cooker...I guess I AM the rice cooker (grin) 😁
I have that exact rice cooker & it is only mushy when you leave it on the hot setting for ages. If you stir the rice as soon as the cook time finishes & then leave it on hot hold for 5-10 mins the rice doesn't turn to mush because you're releasing the trapped steam from the cooking time. It's much better than pot cooked rice or microwaved rice (especially when microwaved rice usually tastes a bit plastic IMO.
I came here to say exactly the same thing. All you have to do is, once it beeps, open, stir it with the spoon, put the lid back on. As long as you don't leave it on hot for hours it should be fine
@@fernandomeneghetti you'd think a chef of however many years would be able to work out that leaving something untouched for 30-40 mins on a direct heat source would result in uneven cooking!
Remember back when they had Uncle Roger and Elizabeth Haigh, the Michelin star chef, in the studio and they both said that the rice cooker was one of the most important pieces of cooking equipment you could have in the kitchen? Ben sure has changed his tune since then.
The benefit is that this thing is not actually a rice cooker, but rather a pressure cooker. It can cook nearly everything, including vegetables and meats, if you can regulate the timer. BTW, what was Benjamin saying previously, how his position has changed?
I'm norwegian, and felt naked when my old rice cooker stopped working... until I bought a new one the next day. Had the old one for 15 years before that.
German here, years ago I "inherited" a rice cooker from a Korean flatmate that moved out and she got herself a nicer one because the warming function was a bit wonky, and the rice pot wasn't non stick anymore. I still got a few years of use out of it before it sadly died and the very next day I got myself a new one. Still a basic cheap model for like 15€, but it's so nice to not have to burn rice on the stove anymore, I really love it, especially because I have phases where I will just eat rice 😁 (with kimchi, of course 🤭)
Well, most people in the west don't really have rice as a staple in the same way east Asia does. I cook rice at home at most once every two or three months, and I live in a studio apartment so it makes no sense having it take up space in my tiny kitchen.
Barry would bring...something protentious, but simple, something that helps make some sort of candle lit dinner/experiance. Mikewould bring something that makes a tedious task quicker. Jamie would bring something burger or bacon or steak related (A tempurture probe maybe ?) Ebbers would just bring a knife or his herb garden
The 2:1 ratio is for dry rice, when you rinse it the rice retains some water. The rice cooker automatically adjusts and can sense when the water runs out, so by adding more water you just extend the cook time. When you rinse the rice reduce the added water by something like 1/4-1/3 cup and the rice will come out more evenly cooked with no soggy bottom.
the rice on the bottom he said was mushy and overcooked, my thought is then maybe you shouldn't have let it sit for 17 minutes on the keep warm mode after it finished
Never had any issue when using washed rice. I still use the same ratio I've been taught which is 2:1 by weight. A few ml extra water won't be an issue, at least not one I've found. Although it's interesting the cup with my rice cooker is 160ml but only takes 120g of dry rice. Therefore at 2:1 it's actually 1.5 cups water by volume to 1 cup rice
@@davestephens3246 if they are reviewing this the same way they would prepare rice on a stovetop they wouldn't let it sit for almost 20 minutes after it is finished, if they left the stovetop rice alone in the same way they would have to throw it away start over
Good rice cookers come with custom cups and measurement markers for rice and water, adjust based on the amount of water, and don't ever make rice soggy even after hours on the warm function. I have a zojirushi rice cooker and I would have to actively try to sabatogue my rice to have bad rice. It has a warm function, even an extended warm function and my rice is always perfect. I also rinse my dry rise everytime. It was about $100 at the beginning of covid and 100% my best kitchen purchase ever.
The water filter kettle is probably a lot more worth it if you live in a place that needs to filter water. Also if you are a tea drinker. Or as Barry said, if you have some mobility issues. I think having complete control over the temperature is also a really cool feature. Seems to work very fast too. Looks like a good kettle upgrade if you need to replace your kettle. These days a nice steel kettle is pretty pricey to begin with too.
Well realistically the "mobility issues" argument is pretty moot, as you still have to fill the tank with water. A low-weight kettle would be as easy to use. Also you never have to have complete control over the temperature lol. Just leave your hot water alone for a few minutes, or change cups and it will be perfect for green tea or oolong. Steep time is much more important at that point. This kettle is only really worth it, if you need a filter and can't for whatever reasons install one
Used to live in a warm place were tap water was safe, however had an off flavour. Had a similar appliance that was directly connected to the pipe and used it for years, changing filters once a year. Re energy consumption, usually they keep a small amount of water cold all the time, and the same for warm/hot. So it would be wise to test the consumption in actual use.
It's not a question of that thing vs a kettle. It is a question of that vs a standard office water cooler. Sure you only get two settings, boiling or chilled, but you get all of the other benefits, at a third of the price. And if you need something more precise, just keep a kettle on top of it. You can even fill the kettle from the dispenser.
Maybe because I'm Asian, but I looove my rice cooker. You can cook literally anything in it! Ramen? Yep. Stir fry? Sure. Bread? Of course! Steamed brownies? HELL YES. It is *the* best cooking gadget ever. And in Indonesia (where I am), a mini rice cooker cost Rp150.000 (~$10) lol
I have literally cooked ramen (with meat, veggies, egg, etc), rice bowls (rice, layer meat and veggies on top, crack an egg near the end), steamed veggies, soy sauce chicken wings, bread, cakes, potato salad, mashed potatoes, pastas, and reheated leftovers with a $10 rice cooker, a small knife and a pair of chopsticks on the floor in my dorm room. If you don't have a kitchen and want a cheap alternative it is literally cheapest way to cook.
I love that I can cook rice, chicken, and egg in a cooker and that’s an entire meal done in ~30, in one container, minimal washing. It’s cheap, easy, and I can tart it up in enough ways to not be bored.
My family farms rice in the US and we are caucasian and I grew up only ever seeing rice cooked in a rice cooker! Always gave perfectly cooked rice for the family. When I went to college I was very confused that my roommates were cooking rice in a pot on the stove 😅
The reason your rice was overcooked was because you let it sit under the Warm setting for 17 minutes. If you had pulled it when the cooking was done it would've been perfect.
Why they weren't shocked when it said it can cook one or two portions of rice in THIRTY MINUTES is absolutely baffling to me. When these guys start talking about rice or rice cookers, it's the only time I don't like them. That and how they go on about how you don't need a rice cooker, but they'll swear black and blue that you MUST preheat your oven constantly. You absolutely don't need to preheat it. It's fine.
@@allgreatfictions No you 100% need to preheat oven for certain things, even the fanciest of fancy oven with convection and fan and 15 different heating elements needs preheating for many many things, such as cakes, roasts that you want to cook evenly, pizza, bread, etc.
@@allgreatfictions they never said you don't need a rice cooker they said they didn't need a rice cooker. Different ppl have different needs fancy that Also you absolutely have to preheat your oven
@@dnlkr cakes and other pastry type things you 100% need to preheat the oven and have it on exactly the right setting and temp etc. but for most things, just adjust your cooking time to counter the preheating. i throw frozen pizza in the oven all the time without preheating, just add like 5 mins extra to the cook time (though as with most things, i never follow cooking times, i actually check to see if its done).
Rice cooker all the way. Can’t ever go wrong. Tip is use the right amount of water, add a pinch of salt 🧂 and after it is cooked, fluff your rice and let it hang for 10-15 minutes before serving. Comes out perfect every time. Bonus, you can make one pot pasta in a rice cooker too for those days you just couldn’t be bother but still want something homemade and fresh. Throw it all in the pot and go take a shower. Voilà! Dinner.
My $20USD rice cooker is my favorite purchase in years. I have great cookware and knives, but the cheap rice cooker is used a couple times a week and is fantastic. Big key, add salt before and when it's done cooking, open the top, fluff the rice, and leave it open for 5 minutes. This allows it to release steam and I never get clumpy rice. (add in a splash of rice wine vinegar while letting steam release for DELICIOUS white rice)
You should do a video where you learn/showcase all the really great ways you can use a rice cooker. Proof/bake bread! Cakes! One pot meals! It’s a really versatile appliance if you know how to use it right.
My parents had a hot water tap installed over their kitchen sink (it has its own unobtrusive faucet) just pre-lockdown. I fell in love with it when I last visited and have been trying to justify the pricing/difficulty of installing my own. This hot/cold water dispenser includes a filter and is still less expensive than installing the tap. The only problem is the space it takes up...
i have a small rice cooker (not as small as the one in this video) that i got last year and it's honestly been life-changing... of course it cooks rice perfectly (it's never soggy or uneven, so it sounds like you maybe didn't get a very good rice cooker) and because of the keep-warm function you don't have to worry about timing the rice perfectly with whatever you're serving it with, which i appreciate since i get stressed out trying to do a bunch of things at once in the kitchen. mostly though i've found it really helpful to be able to very easily throw some rice in it and have a hot meal ready to go (with whatever toppings i've got lying around; usually eggs) when i don't have the energy to cook. you're right that you probably don't need one if you don't eat rice very often but i will also say that having a rice cooker has made me eat more rice because it's just so easy to cook it now!
Have owned a rice cooker that can hold 20 serves of rice. Usually only cook 2-4 serves in it though. Love it to pieces, couldn't live without it. It the best for when you're catering for a crowd though!
I've always had a nice little 2 person rice cooker at home. It's from Japan, has a delay timer, and keeps rice hot remarkably well. I can come home to fresh made rice already done.
It looked like the water tank was just a big plastic tub at the back, so that should be relatively easy. The next step would be the filter which hopefully is easy to replace, and nothing beyond that should need cleaning.
As a Middle Eastern living in Malaysia, I was on Ebbers' team thinking that rice cookers are just an extra gadget doing something you can do on the hob. It's now an essential with rice being perfect after setting and forgetting, plus a large portion of rice prepared at lunch will stay warm and in perfect condition for a second go at dinner. If your rice was wet, you simply added too much water (Basmati for me needs 1.5 water to rice ratio). Every cooker may be different, so it just needs a couple of tries to find the perfect ratio of water to rice and then you are set. Literally cant live without it now.
We have similar filter machine at work. I was so confused at first but then I started to use it more often and saw all the benefits, for example in summer for ice cold water without ice, in winter we use it for Tea and to prepare porridge and similar food. We don't have to pay for company to bring us those gallons of water nor does someone need to change them. Theres 50+ of workers in office so this machines saves money and is very efficient.
I only occasionally use a rice cooker, but it was a simple model that cost $20. Worth it even when my kitchen was a 2 burner stove, a small propane grill on the back patio, a sink, and a mini fridge. Used the dining table as a countertop. Anyone who would eat rice more than 6 times at home should get a cheap rice cooker. If you cook rice once a week or more, then look at maybe getting a nicer model with more options than warm, on, and unplugged. It is one of the best bits of kitchen kit I own.
Same thing here. Just the cheapest thing I could get at walmart. I do most of my cooking on a single induction burner, and if I'm doing curry or stew or something in a pot, having the rice maker taking care of itself on the side just makes things super easy.
@@Jeranhound and i learned to use pot and not trust internet strangers about home appliances. Needed to buy heat diffuser because even lowest setting is to high on my hub, sadly. also use pot without holes in lid, if it's heavy enough not to be pushed up by steam you can even use 1:1 water to rice. High heat untill it starts boiling, lowest setting (+ diffuser for me) for 15 min, mix the rice with dull spoon (can be skipped_, leave with lid on for 10 in. Works every time. Rice cookers have one job! Cook rice. If it can't even do that without some dance around it, what's ever the point in having one (and what if you WANT rice to be starchy and more sticky?). More trouble than it's worth. seriously, if your rice cooker bubbles so much... it's faulty unit. I also had high end version that had no such issues. also, how would rice washing help with rice burning at the bottom? Rcie cookers are bad and can't cook rice.
nowadays i just use steam oven tbh. but not everyone has them and that's more of a kitchen renovation than buying a single device, so not really comparable.
My country eats A LOT of rice traditionally (Brazil) and I remember when people turned their noses at rice cookers when they started to get popular here Now it’s everywhere, so convenient, the rice is better and stays warm and moist for longer, it rarely sticks to the bottom of the pan, and it’s also very versatile to cook a lot of different things in it Rice cooker any day over a regular pot And it’s also very safe, you can leave it on to cook and focus on the other part of the dish, it’s an insane mid-week meal ally
Barry's comment about his grandmother did make me think that taking into consideration the accessibility of the gadgets you try might be really helpful. It never would have occurred to me that the water heater would be so important to someone with arthritis or other mobility issues, and it's definitely possible some of the gadgets that seem pointless might be incredibly helpful to people with different needs.
@@janetnz3389 just one jug at a time, at least that's how I as a disabled person with shaky hands have filled my fridge water dispenser before. Or get a carer or family member to do it when they pop in, most of us have someone coming and checking up on us and helping out with the big stuff, it's the little stuff you want to be able to do for yourself, like making a cup of tea, where accessibility features are really great. That being filled up once is probably enough water for 2-3 days worth of teas that can then be made at the touch of a button.
WOO! I adore these gadget reviews! So many have been brought to my attention to keep me in the kitchen with my MS. So, genuinely, thank you. Any time you mention dexterity issues, I perk right up.
I make macaroni & cheese from scratch in my rice cooker, it's the only way I've been able to make it that I don't wind up screwing it up. Very handy and cheap gadgets that do a lot more than just cook rice.
Those mini rice cookers are great for travelling. They’ll heat stuff like soups and small ready meals if you’re in a hotel room… they’ll even boil a cup of water at a push. Really useful gadget.
I have a small rice cooker that was $25 it’s not much bigger than my hand with fingers spread out and it takes up less space than my plates do. 😂 rice makes a great little side dish and if you cook “too much” it’s literally the most versatile leftovers to have imo
I have that exact rice cooker and it's great! I suck at cooking and since it's just me, having rice regularly where I don't have to actually do anything besides rinse it and whack it in is 10/10 amazing. I would say the amounts of water/rice can take some playing with to get it how you like but it's so good. Highly recommend!
There needs to be an episode with an expert where they try out all the different things you can do/make with a proper rice cooker. Seriously, I've made many different stews and soups, pastas, plain porridge, fish porridge, different forms of rice like tomato rice, briyani, nasi kerabu, & nasi lemak; stir fry, ramen, Japanese curry, Indian curry, Thai curry, tom yam, steamed bread and dumplings, the list goes on and on. We need them to understand the magic and majesty that is the rice cooker!!!
I don't know how many times they can say "we just prefer to cook rice in a pot" until people get it and stop complaining but bloody hell it's quite a lot
They also need to fix their rice to water ratio. Have been cooking long grain thai rice in rice cooker with 1:1 ratio and never have had mushy rice with a rice cooker.
I think Barry was on the dot talking about his nan in regard to the water dispenser. It seems highly accessible! Expensive, but only having to refill the tank (minus maintenance) to make a cup of tea seems pretty worth the price. I've bought my own grammy one for her room in her group home for Christmas. She craves independence and I think this gives her that bit of control she's been missing
I won’t give up! Two new ideas for challenges: 1. no energy/depression cooking (needs a better name!), get the participants to use as few elements/stages as possible AND as little clean up needed as possible (like dishes, trash etc) as little effort as possible but still not like, microwave meals you know! lite sure, use shortcuts, but you're not supposed to notice them in the final dish. cook like you have no energy to cook/depression. when I am in a depressive episode the thought of many different stages or elements in cooking or the cleaning up afterwards makes it almost impossible to start cooking. 2. Use as little electricity as possible! (don't really know how to measure this though, number of times or different points for low/medium/high...?)
@@lawlietthetoast Sorry, I didn't mean to seem judgy. I was genuinely asking to see if you were making a sarcastic remark. In any case, they did indeed do that this week. It was only regarding microwave vs ovens, but I'd be happy if they did other comparisons as well.
On the hot water dispenser: Another perspective is a setting in which you simply don't have the time. At that point it compounds so many bonuses (filter/energy efficient/quick/easily dosable), that it's a really good option. One example I can think of is a streamer in Japan, that has exactly this kinda contraption (without the cold option, I believe), so he can get up, fix a cup of tea in 2 minutes and get back to streaming with a tea at his desk. It's a really big investment for what it seems to do, but it's a deceivingly useful piece of equipment. I could totally see this in an office, so you can actually get a tea during your break or even just after a toilet break, without wasting so much time.
I think a quality rice cooker is worth the investment. I eat rice a couple times a week usually and I never have to worry about the rice being too mushy or dry. My cooker also has a delay function so that also comes in handy as well.
My $15. 2 cup rice cooker, with just a cook and warm function, works great. I’ve cooked in broth with other additions and it came with a steamer insert. You just put your cups of rice in and add water to the specific line for rice or porridge. It just goes until the thermostat can tell when temp starts rising because water has been absorbed.
Now that you have a rice cooker, don't throw it out so Uncle Roger is happy. Even if it's only a baby size cooker 😅 And using a 3D pen is an art itself, I actually would be interested in that one. If you want to see what can be done with a 3D pen, look up Sanago here in YT.
Its super interesting to know what their feels about rice cooker from brits persepective. I mean, how they said they afraid its only gonna eat their kitchen space lit blew my mind. Bcs i personally cannot live without my ricecooker😂 and i thought everyone feels the same😂😂
We totally understand that for people in other parts of the world, it's something that is probably used on a daily basis. However the average brit probably doesn't own a rice cooker, as rice is probably not something that is cooked everyday, so we always show how to cook rice without one.
When rice is cooked maybe 2-3 times a month at most for USA/EU it's 100% a space waste for us. However on the flip side: I make my own pasta weekly and could not live without a pasta roller / cutter. Which I'm sure many Italians would agree.
I love this series. I have watched the other ones at least three times. I only have one question; when are we going to see Poppy or James back in the kitchen? Great video as always!!!!
Check out the experiment that Nadia from Bake of did about the rice ratios. It proves th at 2-1 water to rice is way over what’s needed. Use less and rely on the steam with lid on for ten mins to get less soggy, sticky overcooked rice 😉 It’d be a great video to see you guys test this out too 😊
I'm from the US and my family always made rice on the stove growing up... A rice cooker is the only way I make rice now. I only make it about once or twice a week, but I refuse to do plain rice any other way. It's a 1 button appliance that completely takes care of half my meal while I cook the protein or veg. (though mine only takes 20 minutes not 30)
As a person that eats rice practically everyday, even the most basic rice cooker is a must. The only time I might cook rice on a stove is 1. if my rice cooker is not around, 2. there’s no electricity, 3. I’m feeling fancy and/or I have special rice, then I use a stovetop rice cooker. I’m also traditional so I always wash my rice a couple of times at least 😂 The water from the second wash can be used for cooking.
Love the mention of the nan with arthritis, kettles and water jugs can be very hard to pour from if you struggle with grip. kettles full of boiling water can be downright dangerous if you drop them, which can happen quite easily you struggle to keep a good grip on stuff. Love it when accessibility is mentioned!
The burn scars on my leg can attest to the danger lol. All it took was a hand spasm at the wrong time and hot water got spilled all down my hand (which healed fine) and left leg (where I now have some lovely discoloured patches and thin skin).
There was one test I really wanted to see with the water dispenser. If you take the cold water filter out, and replace the water with Gin, will it dispense cold Gin to make mixed drinks with? This could open up a multitude of options if you can dispense alcohol with it. 🤣
I have a "YumAsia Panda" cooker (the smaller model) and I couldn't be happier with it. Over the past 2 years I have used it about 300 times at least. Rice cookers do soup, they do slowcook (I made carnitas for nachos in it once), porridge, the lot. The only other machine I use more in my kitchen is the stick-mixer.
The water dispenser is really great for older people or people with other challenges like e.g. forgetting the boiling kettle because you have ADHD. It makes dispensing hot water a lot safer. I loved Ben's musings on the isomalt stick, I would probably have chimed in if I had been there.
This is a great idea, also for someone with some mental disabilities that may forget a kettles on the hob (early onset alzheimer's, living in a group home for limited abilities, etc.)
I'm really not convinced. An electric kettle is safer as that turns off when it's boiled anyway. And what if someone has something like alzheimers and tries to use it to make a cold drink, but it's set to boiling and they don't realise? It's making a very simple task extremely complicated (and expensive)
@@spclifford74 People with Alzheimer's shouldn't use any appliances which are heating things without supervision. I was referring to people that e.g. have motoric difficulties. Or maybe executive dysfunction that makes it harder to make oneself tea. Besides, we recently had the local fire department at my office because the electric kettle that was supposed to turn off didn't and the smoke detector also reacted to hot steam. It was left alone for 1-2 more minutes after it hit boiling point, not for longer. So no, they are not always safer. And fire dept. bills are expensive.
@@TheNinnyfee So you had a faulty kettle that caused a problem, but that's not to say that all kettles are faulty, and likewise there's no guarantee that this Hot Water machine wont also develop a fault leading to a fire as well. You can also get small travel kettles that are smaller, lighter and don't have the capacity of large ones that'll probably work well for people with mobility issues. Trying to claim this machine is necessary either because of 'energy efficiency' or because of 'mobility issues' is a huge stretch. Some people will want this because they just want it - and that's fine, but don't try and justify it as anything more than a luxury spend.
We got a rice cooker a few months ago, and I can tell you it is absolutely worth it. I can set it up in the morning, go get ready for the day, and by the time I'm done my rice will be perfect. I can eat rice without a ton of effort and you can also cook dishes in the rice cooker if you want. Very much worth the money!
I never had rice not turn out perfectly once I bought a rice cooker. It does so much more than cook rice as well. I'm surprised that Ben, cooking for one, does not embrace it. Once my kids were gone, I used it even more to cook a wide variety of meals and you can just put the lid on and stick it in the fridge with the leftovers. It is an irreplaceable appliance in my kitchen.
Instead of a rice cooker I was always taught to use an oven. Use an oven safe saucepan with a lid, add your rice with the correct ratio and whack it in at 220 degrees and in 15 minutes or so you have perfect rice!
I personally love my YumAsia rice cooker - best cooking gadget I ever bought. It has this "yum carb" option where you can choose to steam the rice instead of cook it in the water, which means the calories are lessened slightly because somehow the starches are partially leeched into the water while the rice is in a basket above. Don't fully understand how it works but I love that it's an option :D
I live alone and always use my rice cooker. I never use water but chicken or beef broth. My machine has a cook button and when it's done it automatically turns to the warm function. I use a fork to fluff the rice and it turns out perfect ever time. I purchased it years ago in the supermarket and I know it was inexpensive. I Love it and wouldn't be without it.
Last year I had my kitchen redone and invested in one of those taps Barry was talking about, just because I like gadgets and like his gran have problems holding a full kettle. BEST THING I EVER BOUGHT! No lie. If I had seen this gadget before having the kitchen remodelled I would definitely have got it.
Our family cook rice everyday, sometimes in a rice cooker, sometimes in the instant pot. We've always done a 1:1 ratio of rice to water, no added salt, sometimes a little oil if we feeling fancy. Comes out great every time. We cook round grain rice though, so not sure if it would be the same for basmati.
made the mistake of watching this at work. the review/joke at 12:55 caught me off guard. then again it's been such a slow morning with Thanksgiving here in the US I might've found it funnier than it is
EVERYONE needs a rice cooker 😮 I use the setting on my instant pot and it works really well, I don’t even measure anymore. It’s nice to wash the rice, throw it in there with the water (I use the knuckle method usually) and not worry about it while I make the rest of dinner. Does anyone have any tips on cooking whole grains or other rices in a cooker?? White or jasmine comes out perfectly every time, but I do usually end up with mushy or just weird rice when trying any other grain.
ALMOST everyone. When you have centralised gas stove and stovetop, cooking with gas is often much cheaper than using electrical cooking appliances. My gas provider doesn't require gas meters, I pay per month. For me a rice cooker is ridiculously wasteful bc my electricity use is measured.
Did the manual have anything? I have a rice cooker that does other stuff but not an instapot. The manual had a list of different rices and how to cook them. There might be instructions in the manual somewhere
@@Nevertoleave thanks I’m sure there is, there’s even a multigrain setting. It just never turns out quite right, might just be that I don’t like brown rice lol
Love your channel. Have you done any shows on oils and heat points and correct uses. I havre a range of oils Im too afraid to use, like macadamia oil, flaxseed, grapeseed, olive both extra v and others, I tend to be safe using vegetable or canola.
Dude yes a masterclass on cooking oils would be cool. Certain oils like olive oil and sesame are actually best as a garnish or in dressings, rather than being heated. And for a high smoke point ideal for cooking I usually use avocado oil. There’s so many different types though, I’d love to learn more about them too.
one of my friends overheard me making rice on phone calls several times and eventually said “you Cannot live like this” and bought me a tiny little single-person rice cooker without asking. i love her.
Interesting, I was on the fence about getting that water dispenser, but read a few annoyances with it. Most research came from amazon comments however. Noisey at idle, platform is fiddly and might break and splashes a lot when dispensing
Rice cookers are so essential. Cooks it, keeps it warm. You can make a very easy biryani or pilaf etc easily which will knock your socks off. And perfect sushi rice as well. That knew took a long time. Mine takes 10 mins.
a rice cooker is really handy if you don't have a stove top. being able to make a stir-fry on your one plug-in hob while the rice finishes somewhere else... quite nice
The candy pen thing reminds me of when pro sugar sculptures use a hot glue gun with candy sticks that they have made. That is probably where they got the idea from.
I found the Aqua Optima to be a game changer. I purchased it on sale at Amazon, and it has helped me increase my fluid intake as I enjoy cold water. Living in a shared space can make it difficult to store water bottles in the fridge. And this device just makes it more accessible by being able to keep it in my room.
The water temp kitchen gadget is probably what impressed me the most. The Kreug cups are the best thing since sliced bread for coffee for me and the coffee machine that uses them is a God send. I love the coffee machine and would probably love that machine too.
Weird, I cook almost exclusively basmati in my rice cooker and I never noticed much of a struggle 🤔maybe my knuckles just have the perfect length for basmati 🤭
My ex from Iran had her own way to cook rice. The cleansing itself took many passages and time. Clean - rest, clean rest many times. After that came cooking. Not like two cups water and one cup rice. More like making sure the water is about two inches above the rice. After almost having cooked rice she would take the rice out. She would put some oil in the empty pot and cover the bottom of the pot with sliced potatoes. You can skip the potatoes :) - She would put the rice back again and cook on a very low heat. After a while the pot is turned upside down, rice dumped onto a plate and you are left with rice that looks like a cake. Fried rice or fried potatoes on the top
As a Cajun, I grew up with everyone I knew having a rice cooker in their home. I just took it for granted that it was something everyone had. Here in Louisiana, rice is a huge part of our diet and for many of us, the first cooking appliance we are gifted when we go out on our own is a rice cooker. It surprises me every time I see people look at one as a new gadget, just because it is a cooking tool that is a must have from where I am from.
I found a recipe for cooking rice in a pot in one of my many asian cookbooks a couple of months ago that I always use ever since then. You need a big enough pot (depending on the amount of rice) so that there is enough space for steam to circle but not separate from the rice too much and a lid. You wash the rice, drain it and leave it in the sieve for a couple of minutes (to drain and so that the moisture can evenly coat/absorb into rice) up to half an hour (it helps for fluffier and more evenly cooked rice but it is not needed). Then you put rice and cold/room temperature water in the pot (1 cup rice to approximately 1 1/2 cup of water), cover it with a lid and heat it on medium to high temperature. When it starts to boil wait for steam to start escaping through the lid and then immediately lower the temperature to the lowest setting (but not OFF). Leave the pot on the stove for 10 min and then take it off and leave it be (don't uncover the lid) for 14 min more. Uncover and fluff the rice with a wooden spoon or spatula and then you can just leave it in the pot where it is warm until you need it. Basmati or jasmin rise cook really well by this method.
I love that you always have power consumption in mind. I know that's a major concern in the UK right now but it is here in Australia as well. Good job team!
I live in South Korea and most families have a water machine - filtered drinking water, boiling, cold or room temperature. I love it - I use it every day
Maybe it's the Asian in me but "packet rice" always makes me cringe a little haha. I can see the convenience but my rice cooker takes 45 seconds to set up and has never disappointed. I don't even measure anymore
Haven't used a rice cooker since I picked up the small Instant Pot. Works just as well as my Whale Elec. rice cooker, but in a fraction of the time. Great for steel cut oats as well, and they're cooked perfectly in minutes.
3:2 ratio for rice in a pot. Cook on mid-high heat until you can no longer see the water approximately 12 min. Let it rest for 12 min. Gives perfect rice every time.
I like the idea of the water dispenser thingy but it’s just too big. It’s ideally suited to people who might want water in small quantities but a good percentage of those (me included) will also have a small kitchen. Make one closer to the size of a standard kettle and then I’m interested and if that means I need to fill the water tank a bit more often then so be it. You wouldn’t want the water to be stood at room temperature on your worktop for an extended period anyway
I agree that it would take up too much counter space in most kitchens (especially apartment kitchens), and that I don't like the idea of that much water sitting in the tank for too long. Barry and several commenters also said that it would be very helpful for people with mobility issues/arthritis, but watching Ebbers fill the tank made me realize that it would be quite difficult for those people to fill the tank or empty it for cleaning, as the unit is pretty tall. I have arthritis, and I have no problem filling and pouring my electric kettle. And, personally, I doubt that I would ever use it for cold water.
cooking rice: Saute rice in butter or oil while heating water in a microwave (or separate pot). When rice is lightly toasted add about 1/4 of the water - quickly moving cup, and hand, away to avoid blast of steam. Add remaining water. Should be boiling. If not bring to boil, reduce heat to low, covered for 20 minutes - perfect every time. I also use less water - 1/2 cup rice to 3/4 cup water per serving.
On rice cooker - we have a microwavable rice cooker container from sistema and it's perfect. Takes around 15-20 mins but given the container costs less than £10 and you can probably cook other things in it too, it's got my vote!
When I planned my kitchen I wanted one of those fancy faucets but they screwed up. 🙄 we bought one in 2021 instead of two holidays and it wa the best decision I have made in my kitchen. The kettle is gone, so are the Softdrinks in our fridge as we have the cold/ carbonated option. Now we buy Sirup/cordial. It is even cheaper than our old hot water boiler we had under the sink when it comes to energy cost. Maintenance costs depend on the amount or carbonated water you drink plus 70€ a year for a new filter. The amount of plastic we are saving is amazing! I do love it dearly!
I've got that rice cooker - the manual recommends 1:1 cups of rice to water for white rice, 1:2 is for brown rice. I like it, I can just throw some rice in and ignore it, it'll be ready when I want it. Encourages me to have brown rice and veg for lunch rather than something on toast!
They say they don’t need a rice cooker but tell me how many times have they screwed up rice during a battle or a pass it on?
It’s a curse at this rate
Yup and there are rice cookers that can make way better rice than a pot.
yeah but consider that the real benefit from not having a rice cooker is that it makes Uncle Roger upset. which honestly is worth it.
@@acolytetojippity there is something very beautiful about just putting your washed rice into your rice cooker and then just cooking without thinking about it at all. When you are done cooking you already got perfectly cooked rice without any hassle.
@@acolytetojippity true but, I don’t think Uncle Roger would be happy about a rice cooker that small either.
As someone who is damn good at cooking rice on a stove, my rice cooker is honestly the best thing I've ever bought. I have rice at least five times a week, in different forms, and I also bake all the bread the family eats. And if I had to choose between my rice cooker and my Ankersrum kitchen assistant, I would choose my rice cooker every single time.
It’s also so versatile! So many things you can do it in a rice cooker, I use mine to steam vegetables too 😂💛
@@bestnarryever Please tell me you've made ypgurt in it and it worked! It should with just the keep warm setting, no cook.
I cook rice very rarely but when I do I use Ebbers method of using the residual heat to cook it through and it comes out great every time so I’ve never considered using a rice cooker because it’s just another countertop device that doesn’t guarantee great results
I use the Sistema microwave rice cooker and it's done in 12 minutes, no need to transfer it anywhere else and I store it in there too...neat and easy. I do do stove top when I have friends coming over and that's super easy too, done in 20 min or less, I don't need a rice cooker...I guess I AM the rice cooker (grin) 😁
Yes that's the whole point of any of these arguments. You eat rice 5 times a week, I eat rice 3 times a month. it's useful for those who use it.
I have that exact rice cooker & it is only mushy when you leave it on the hot setting for ages. If you stir the rice as soon as the cook time finishes & then leave it on hot hold for 5-10 mins the rice doesn't turn to mush because you're releasing the trapped steam from the cooking time. It's much better than pot cooked rice or microwaved rice (especially when microwaved rice usually tastes a bit plastic IMO.
exactly - letting it continue to steam for 17 minutes isn't a fair test
I came here to say exactly the same thing. All you have to do is, once it beeps, open, stir it with the spoon, put the lid back on. As long as you don't leave it on hot for hours it should be fine
@@fernandomeneghetti you'd think a chef of however many years would be able to work out that leaving something untouched for 30-40 mins on a direct heat source would result in uneven cooking!
Also came here to say the same! It might also be mushy because he put too much water in.
Stop microwaving it in plastic then.
Remember back when they had Uncle Roger and Elizabeth Haigh, the Michelin star chef, in the studio and they both said that the rice cooker was one of the most important pieces of cooking equipment you could have in the kitchen? Ben sure has changed his tune since then.
The benefit is that this thing is not actually a rice cooker, but rather a pressure cooker. It can cook nearly everything, including vegetables and meats, if you can regulate the timer. BTW, what was Benjamin saying previously, how his position has changed?
As a Korean, the idea of NOT having a rice cooker is so strange to me
I'm norwegian, and felt naked when my old rice cooker stopped working... until I bought a new one the next day. Had the old one for 15 years before that.
I can’t even remember the last time I ate rice. Just not as much of a thing in many western countries
never propely took off outside of asia, you can get them easily but people just are not akin to having them
German here, years ago I "inherited" a rice cooker from a Korean flatmate that moved out and she got herself a nicer one because the warming function was a bit wonky, and the rice pot wasn't non stick anymore.
I still got a few years of use out of it before it sadly died and the very next day I got myself a new one.
Still a basic cheap model for like 15€, but it's so nice to not have to burn rice on the stove anymore, I really love it, especially because I have phases where I will just eat rice 😁 (with kimchi, of course 🤭)
Well, most people in the west don't really have rice as a staple in the same way east Asia does. I cook rice at home at most once every two or three months, and I live in a studio apartment so it makes no sense having it take up space in my tiny kitchen.
I’d love to see each team member share the gadget they actually use regularly. GADGET not classic kitchen tool like a knife or pan.
I'm very curious about this too!
Barry would bring...something protentious, but simple, something that helps make some sort of candle lit dinner/experiance.
Mikewould bring something that makes a tedious task quicker.
Jamie would bring something burger or bacon or steak related (A tempurture probe maybe ?)
Ebbers would just bring a knife or his herb garden
The 2:1 ratio is for dry rice, when you rinse it the rice retains some water. The rice cooker automatically adjusts and can sense when the water runs out, so by adding more water you just extend the cook time. When you rinse the rice reduce the added water by something like 1/4-1/3 cup and the rice will come out more evenly cooked with no soggy bottom.
the rice on the bottom he said was mushy and overcooked, my thought is then maybe you shouldn't have let it sit for 17 minutes on the keep warm mode after it finished
Never had any issue when using washed rice. I still use the same ratio I've been taught which is 2:1 by weight. A few ml extra water won't be an issue, at least not one I've found. Although it's interesting the cup with my rice cooker is 160ml but only takes 120g of dry rice. Therefore at 2:1 it's actually 1.5 cups water by volume to 1 cup rice
@@davestephens3246 if they are reviewing this the same way they would prepare rice on a stovetop they wouldn't let it sit for almost 20 minutes after it is finished, if they left the stovetop rice alone in the same way they would have to throw it away start over
@@craigwalker4166 But that's not a relevant comparison. If the cooker says it has a function to keep warm, then why would they assume it doesn't work?
Good rice cookers come with custom cups and measurement markers for rice and water, adjust based on the amount of water, and don't ever make rice soggy even after hours on the warm function. I have a zojirushi rice cooker and I would have to actively try to sabatogue my rice to have bad rice. It has a warm function, even an extended warm function and my rice is always perfect. I also rinse my dry rise everytime. It was about $100 at the beginning of covid and 100% my best kitchen purchase ever.
The water filter kettle is probably a lot more worth it if you live in a place that needs to filter water.
Also if you are a tea drinker.
Or as Barry said, if you have some mobility issues.
I think having complete control over the temperature is also a really cool feature. Seems to work very fast too.
Looks like a good kettle upgrade if you need to replace your kettle. These days a nice steel kettle is pretty pricey to begin with too.
I live in Arizona and live with copd. This would be perfect for my life
IMO It's just a worse version of a Zojirushi water boiler but with a filter.
Well realistically the "mobility issues" argument is pretty moot, as you still have to fill the tank with water. A low-weight kettle would be as easy to use. Also you never have to have complete control over the temperature lol. Just leave your hot water alone for a few minutes, or change cups and it will be perfect for green tea or oolong. Steep time is much more important at that point. This kettle is only really worth it, if you need a filter and can't for whatever reasons install one
Used to live in a warm place were tap water was safe, however had an off flavour. Had a similar appliance that was directly connected to the pipe and used it for years, changing filters once a year.
Re energy consumption, usually they keep a small amount of water cold all the time, and the same for warm/hot. So it would be wise to test the consumption in actual use.
It's not a question of that thing vs a kettle. It is a question of that vs a standard office water cooler. Sure you only get two settings, boiling or chilled, but you get all of the other benefits, at a third of the price. And if you need something more precise, just keep a kettle on top of it. You can even fill the kettle from the dispenser.
Maybe because I'm Asian, but I looove my rice cooker. You can cook literally anything in it! Ramen? Yep. Stir fry? Sure. Bread? Of course! Steamed brownies? HELL YES. It is *the* best cooking gadget ever. And in Indonesia (where I am), a mini rice cooker cost Rp150.000 (~$10) lol
Mine does yogurt too!
@@davestephens3246 yes! Oh man. Mine literally only has 1 button: cook, and somehow I can get it to cook anything I want 😂 that machine is magic
I have literally cooked ramen (with meat, veggies, egg, etc), rice bowls (rice, layer meat and veggies on top, crack an egg near the end), steamed veggies, soy sauce chicken wings, bread, cakes, potato salad, mashed potatoes, pastas, and reheated leftovers with a $10 rice cooker, a small knife and a pair of chopsticks on the floor in my dorm room. If you don't have a kitchen and want a cheap alternative it is literally cheapest way to cook.
@@mallow5822 oh that rice bowl sounds delicious!
I love that I can cook rice, chicken, and egg in a cooker and that’s an entire meal done in ~30, in one container, minimal washing.
It’s cheap, easy, and I can tart it up in enough ways to not be bored.
My family farms rice in the US and we are caucasian and I grew up only ever seeing rice cooked in a rice cooker! Always gave perfectly cooked rice for the family. When I went to college I was very confused that my roommates were cooking rice in a pot on the stove 😅
The reason your rice was overcooked was because you let it sit under the Warm setting for 17 minutes. If you had pulled it when the cooking was done it would've been perfect.
Why they weren't shocked when it said it can cook one or two portions of rice in THIRTY MINUTES is absolutely baffling to me. When these guys start talking about rice or rice cookers, it's the only time I don't like them.
That and how they go on about how you don't need a rice cooker, but they'll swear black and blue that you MUST preheat your oven constantly. You absolutely don't need to preheat it. It's fine.
@@allgreatfictions With my oven, you absolutely have to preheat, otherwise the temperatures vary too wildly depending on where you measure.
@@allgreatfictions No you 100% need to preheat oven for certain things, even the fanciest of fancy oven with convection and fan and 15 different heating elements needs preheating for many many things, such as cakes, roasts that you want to cook evenly, pizza, bread, etc.
@@allgreatfictions they never said you don't need a rice cooker they said they didn't need a rice cooker. Different ppl have different needs fancy that
Also you absolutely have to preheat your oven
@@dnlkr cakes and other pastry type things you 100% need to preheat the oven and have it on exactly the right setting and temp etc. but for most things, just adjust your cooking time to counter the preheating. i throw frozen pizza in the oven all the time without preheating, just add like 5 mins extra to the cook time (though as with most things, i never follow cooking times, i actually check to see if its done).
Rice cooker all the way. Can’t ever go wrong. Tip is use the right amount of water, add a pinch of salt 🧂 and after it is cooked, fluff your rice and let it hang for 10-15 minutes before serving. Comes out perfect every time. Bonus, you can make one pot pasta in a rice cooker too for those days you just couldn’t be bother but still want something homemade and fresh. Throw it all in the pot and go take a shower. Voilà! Dinner.
what are the things you throw in to make the one pot pasta?
How much water do you add for pasta to make it?
My $20USD rice cooker is my favorite purchase in years. I have great cookware and knives, but the cheap rice cooker is used a couple times a week and is fantastic. Big key, add salt before and when it's done cooking, open the top, fluff the rice, and leave it open for 5 minutes. This allows it to release steam and I never get clumpy rice. (add in a splash of rice wine vinegar while letting steam release for DELICIOUS white rice)
You should do a video where you learn/showcase all the really great ways you can use a rice cooker. Proof/bake bread! Cakes! One pot meals! It’s a really versatile appliance if you know how to use it right.
My parents had a hot water tap installed over their kitchen sink (it has its own unobtrusive faucet) just pre-lockdown. I fell in love with it when I last visited and have been trying to justify the pricing/difficulty of installing my own.
This hot/cold water dispenser includes a filter and is still less expensive than installing the tap. The only problem is the space it takes up...
Also add salt into rice cooker and then when it done lift lid and cover with towel to absorb extra steam. I love a rice cooker.
i have a small rice cooker (not as small as the one in this video) that i got last year and it's honestly been life-changing... of course it cooks rice perfectly (it's never soggy or uneven, so it sounds like you maybe didn't get a very good rice cooker) and because of the keep-warm function you don't have to worry about timing the rice perfectly with whatever you're serving it with, which i appreciate since i get stressed out trying to do a bunch of things at once in the kitchen. mostly though i've found it really helpful to be able to very easily throw some rice in it and have a hot meal ready to go (with whatever toppings i've got lying around; usually eggs) when i don't have the energy to cook. you're right that you probably don't need one if you don't eat rice very often but i will also say that having a rice cooker has made me eat more rice because it's just so easy to cook it now!
Have owned a rice cooker that can hold 20 serves of rice. Usually only cook 2-4 serves in it though. Love it to pieces, couldn't live without it. It the best for when you're catering for a crowd though!
I've always had a nice little 2 person rice cooker at home. It's from Japan, has a delay timer, and keeps rice hot remarkably well. I can come home to fresh made rice already done.
That water heating/dispensing gadget was cool, but I would need to know how easy it was to clean before I even thought about purchasing it.
That’s a very good point
It looked like the water tank was just a big plastic tub at the back, so that should be relatively easy. The next step would be the filter which hopefully is easy to replace, and nothing beyond that should need cleaning.
Yes, how often do you have to change/clean the filter!?!
The water tank is it’s letdown all that water hanging about ,mains fed would be ideal mind you it is ugly
As a Middle Eastern living in Malaysia, I was on Ebbers' team thinking that rice cookers are just an extra gadget doing something you can do on the hob. It's now an essential with rice being perfect after setting and forgetting, plus a large portion of rice prepared at lunch will stay warm and in perfect condition for a second go at dinner. If your rice was wet, you simply added too much water (Basmati for me needs 1.5 water to rice ratio). Every cooker may be different, so it just needs a couple of tries to find the perfect ratio of water to rice and then you are set. Literally cant live without it now.
We have similar filter machine at work. I was so confused at first but then I started to use it more often and saw all the benefits, for example in summer for ice cold water without ice, in winter we use it for Tea and to prepare porridge and similar food. We don't have to pay for company to bring us those gallons of water nor does someone need to change them. Theres 50+ of workers in office so this machines saves money and is very efficient.
I only occasionally use a rice cooker, but it was a simple model that cost $20. Worth it even when my kitchen was a 2 burner stove, a small propane grill on the back patio, a sink, and a mini fridge. Used the dining table as a countertop.
Anyone who would eat rice more than 6 times at home should get a cheap rice cooker. If you cook rice once a week or more, then look at maybe getting a nicer model with more options than warm, on, and unplugged.
It is one of the best bits of kitchen kit I own.
Same thing here. Just the cheapest thing I could get at walmart. I do most of my cooking on a single induction burner, and if I'm doing curry or stew or something in a pot, having the rice maker taking care of itself on the side just makes things super easy.
I hated my cheap rice cooker
it would boil over starchy water making a mess and burn the bottom of the rice.
@@joz534 If you don't rinse the rice, it'll boil over. All the free starch makes for nice, big bubbles. I learned that lesson after a couple batches.
@@Jeranhound and i learned to use pot and not trust internet strangers about home appliances.
Needed to buy heat diffuser because even lowest setting is to high on my hub, sadly.
also use pot without holes in lid, if it's heavy enough not to be pushed up by steam you can even use 1:1 water to rice.
High heat untill it starts boiling, lowest setting (+ diffuser for me) for 15 min, mix the rice with dull spoon (can be skipped_, leave with lid on for 10 in. Works every time.
Rice cookers have one job! Cook rice. If it can't even do that without some dance around it, what's ever the point in having one (and what if you WANT rice to be starchy and more sticky?). More trouble than it's worth.
seriously, if your rice cooker bubbles so much... it's faulty unit. I also had high end version that had no such issues.
also, how would rice washing help with rice burning at the bottom? Rcie cookers are bad and can't cook rice.
nowadays i just use steam oven tbh.
but not everyone has them and that's more of a kitchen renovation than buying a single device, so not really comparable.
With the candy pen, my big question is, how much are extra candy sticks? Because that's really where the cost factor becomes important
My country eats A LOT of rice traditionally (Brazil) and I remember when people turned their noses at rice cookers when they started to get popular here
Now it’s everywhere, so convenient, the rice is better and stays warm and moist for longer, it rarely sticks to the bottom of the pan, and it’s also very versatile to cook a lot of different things in it
Rice cooker any day over a regular pot
And it’s also very safe, you can leave it on to cook and focus on the other part of the dish, it’s an insane mid-week meal ally
Barry's comment about his grandmother did make me think that taking into consideration the accessibility of the gadgets you try might be really helpful. It never would have occurred to me that the water heater would be so important to someone with arthritis or other mobility issues, and it's definitely possible some of the gadgets that seem pointless might be incredibly helpful to people with different needs.
I realise handling cold water is safer... bit how do they manage to fill the reservoir with arthritis?
@@janetnz3389 just one jug at a time, at least that's how I as a disabled person with shaky hands have filled my fridge water dispenser before. Or get a carer or family member to do it when they pop in, most of us have someone coming and checking up on us and helping out with the big stuff, it's the little stuff you want to be able to do for yourself, like making a cup of tea, where accessibility features are really great. That being filled up once is probably enough water for 2-3 days worth of teas that can then be made at the touch of a button.
WOO! I adore these gadget reviews! So many have been brought to my attention to keep me in the kitchen with my MS. So, genuinely, thank you. Any time you mention dexterity issues, I perk right up.
Same here! Loved that hot water dispenser. I have a zojirushi "kettle" but that might be even better (if it came with a US plug)!
I make macaroni & cheese from scratch in my rice cooker, it's the only way I've been able to make it that I don't wind up screwing it up. Very handy and cheap gadgets that do a lot more than just cook rice.
Those mini rice cookers are great for travelling. They’ll heat stuff like soups and small ready meals if you’re in a hotel room… they’ll even boil a cup of water at a push. Really useful gadget.
I have a small rice cooker that was $25 it’s not much bigger than my hand with fingers spread out and it takes up less space than my plates do. 😂 rice makes a great little side dish and if you cook “too much” it’s literally the most versatile leftovers to have imo
I have that exact rice cooker and it's great! I suck at cooking and since it's just me, having rice regularly where I don't have to actually do anything besides rinse it and whack it in is 10/10 amazing. I would say the amounts of water/rice can take some playing with to get it how you like but it's so good. Highly recommend!
There needs to be an episode with an expert where they try out all the different things you can do/make with a proper rice cooker.
Seriously, I've made many different stews and soups, pastas, plain porridge, fish porridge, different forms of rice like tomato rice, briyani, nasi kerabu, & nasi lemak; stir fry, ramen, Japanese curry, Indian curry, Thai curry, tom yam, steamed bread and dumplings, the list goes on and on.
We need them to understand the magic and majesty that is the rice cooker!!!
I don't know how many times they can say "we just prefer to cook rice in a pot" until people get it and stop complaining but bloody hell it's quite a lot
They also need to fix their rice to water ratio. Have been cooking long grain thai rice in rice cooker with 1:1 ratio and never have had mushy rice with a rice cooker.
I would love to watch that. I have a rice cooker and am certain I am under-utilizing it.
I love this idea - they're so versatile!
I think Barry was on the dot talking about his nan in regard to the water dispenser. It seems highly accessible! Expensive, but only having to refill the tank (minus maintenance) to make a cup of tea seems pretty worth the price. I've bought my own grammy one for her room in her group home for Christmas. She craves independence and I think this gives her that bit of control she's been missing
For basmati rice, I always do 1.5:1 water to rice ratio. Might be worth trying.
I won’t give up! Two new ideas for challenges:
1. no energy/depression cooking (needs a better name!), get the participants to use as few elements/stages as possible AND as little clean up needed as possible (like dishes, trash etc) as little effort as possible but still not like, microwave meals you know! lite sure, use shortcuts, but you're not supposed to notice them in the final dish. cook like you have no energy to cook/depression. when I am in a depressive episode the thought of many different stages or elements in cooking or the cleaning up afterwards makes it almost impossible to start cooking.
2. Use as little electricity as possible! (don't really know how to measure this though, number of times or different points for low/medium/high...?)
Minimal movement meals? Cause lets be fair with no energy, movement is the last thing anyone wants to do
Maybe they could just plug the equipment into a plug that monitors energy use!
@@lawlietthetoast That's a joke, right? They just did that this week.
@@joshp8535 Dude I had a busy week at work and do not see every video on my feed. I simply did not know that, it was a genuine suggestion.
@@lawlietthetoast Sorry, I didn't mean to seem judgy. I was genuinely asking to see if you were making a sarcastic remark. In any case, they did indeed do that this week. It was only regarding microwave vs ovens, but I'd be happy if they did other comparisons as well.
On the hot water dispenser: Another perspective is a setting in which you simply don't have the time. At that point it compounds so many bonuses (filter/energy efficient/quick/easily dosable), that it's a really good option.
One example I can think of is a streamer in Japan, that has exactly this kinda contraption (without the cold option, I believe), so he can get up, fix a cup of tea in 2 minutes and get back to streaming with a tea at his desk.
It's a really big investment for what it seems to do, but it's a deceivingly useful piece of equipment. I could totally see this in an office, so you can actually get a tea during your break or even just after a toilet break, without wasting so much time.
Watching them eat basmati--a long grain rice--with chopsticks just absolutely killed me lol
Ben is a chef. Regular normals can't use chopsticks, which is why chefs eat all types of rice with chopsticks to flex on the normals. /s
@@WakingOne I find Asians’ obsession with thinking their ways of doing things are the only way of doing things painful and cringe.
I think a quality rice cooker is worth the investment. I eat rice a couple times a week usually and I never have to worry about the rice being too mushy or dry. My cooker also has a delay function so that also comes in handy as well.
My $15. 2 cup rice cooker, with just a cook and warm function, works great. I’ve cooked in broth with other additions and it came with a steamer insert. You just put your cups of rice in and add water to the specific line for rice or porridge. It just goes until the thermostat can tell when temp starts rising because water has been absorbed.
I have that exact rice cooker and I love it! I got it a year ago and honestly I've used it so many times it makes life so easy!
Now that you have a rice cooker, don't throw it out so Uncle Roger is happy. Even if it's only a baby size cooker 😅 And using a 3D pen is an art itself, I actually would be interested in that one. If you want to see what can be done with a 3D pen, look up Sanago here in YT.
We will indeed look up Sanago.... thank you!
Get a zojirushi rice cooker! Fuiyoh
wouldn't want Uncle Roger to make the same video for the 50th time lmao
Its super interesting to know what their feels about rice cooker from brits persepective. I mean, how they said they afraid its only gonna eat their kitchen space lit blew my mind. Bcs i personally cannot live without my ricecooker😂 and i thought everyone feels the same😂😂
We totally understand that for people in other parts of the world, it's something that is probably used on a daily basis. However the average brit probably doesn't own a rice cooker, as rice is probably not something that is cooked everyday, so we always show how to cook rice without one.
When rice is cooked maybe 2-3 times a month at most for USA/EU it's 100% a space waste for us. However on the flip side: I make my own pasta weekly and could not live without a pasta roller / cutter. Which I'm sure many Italians would agree.
Yet a giant "kettle" they're fine with 😅
@@stacey4758 a kettle is smaller, and used more often (tea, general cooking) which is also their main argument for not using a ricd cooker.
I'm an Australian and you'll prise my rice cooker from my cold dead hands.
I love this series. I have watched the other ones at least three times. I only have one question; when are we going to see Poppy or James back in the kitchen? Great video as always!!!!
I like the idea of the water thing for a small office setting. Useful for refilling water bottles, making tea, and making things like cup noodles.
Check out the experiment that Nadia from Bake of did about the rice ratios. It proves th at 2-1 water to rice is way over what’s needed. Use less and rely on the steam with lid on for ten mins to get less soggy, sticky overcooked rice 😉
It’d be a great video to see you guys test this out too 😊
I'm from the US and my family always made rice on the stove growing up... A rice cooker is the only way I make rice now. I only make it about once or twice a week, but I refuse to do plain rice any other way. It's a 1 button appliance that completely takes care of half my meal while I cook the protein or veg. (though mine only takes 20 minutes not 30)
As a person that eats rice practically everyday, even the most basic rice cooker is a must. The only time I might cook rice on a stove is 1. if my rice cooker is not around, 2. there’s no electricity, 3. I’m feeling fancy and/or I have special rice, then I use a stovetop rice cooker. I’m also traditional so I always wash my rice a couple of times at least 😂 The water from the second wash can be used for cooking.
Love the mention of the nan with arthritis, kettles and water jugs can be very hard to pour from if you struggle with grip. kettles full of boiling water can be downright dangerous if you drop them, which can happen quite easily you struggle to keep a good grip on stuff. Love it when accessibility is mentioned!
The burn scars on my leg can attest to the danger lol. All it took was a hand spasm at the wrong time and hot water got spilled all down my hand (which healed fine) and left leg (where I now have some lovely discoloured patches and thin skin).
There was one test I really wanted to see with the water dispenser. If you take the cold water filter out, and replace the water with Gin, will it dispense cold Gin to make mixed drinks with? This could open up a multitude of options if you can dispense alcohol with it. 🤣
Mmm, boiling gin, my favorite!
I have a "YumAsia Panda" cooker (the smaller model) and I couldn't be happier with it. Over the past 2 years I have used it about 300 times at least. Rice cookers do soup, they do slowcook (I made carnitas for nachos in it once), porridge, the lot.
The only other machine I use more in my kitchen is the stick-mixer.
Love that Baz cherishes his Nan like that.
In Central America where I'm from rice is a staple used at least 3-4 times a week.
The water dispenser is really great for older people or people with other challenges like e.g. forgetting the boiling kettle because you have ADHD. It makes dispensing hot water a lot safer.
I loved Ben's musings on the isomalt stick, I would probably have chimed in if I had been there.
This is a great idea, also for someone with some mental disabilities that may forget a kettles on the hob (early onset alzheimer's, living in a group home for limited abilities, etc.)
I'm really not convinced. An electric kettle is safer as that turns off when it's boiled anyway. And what if someone has something like alzheimers and tries to use it to make a cold drink, but it's set to boiling and they don't realise? It's making a very simple task extremely complicated (and expensive)
@@spclifford74 People with Alzheimer's shouldn't use any appliances which are heating things without supervision. I was referring to people that e.g. have motoric difficulties. Or maybe executive dysfunction that makes it harder to make oneself tea.
Besides, we recently had the local fire department at my office because the electric kettle that was supposed to turn off didn't and the smoke detector also reacted to hot steam. It was left alone for 1-2 more minutes after it hit boiling point, not for longer. So no, they are not always safer. And fire dept. bills are expensive.
@@TheNinnyfee So you had a faulty kettle that caused a problem, but that's not to say that all kettles are faulty, and likewise there's no guarantee that this Hot Water machine wont also develop a fault leading to a fire as well. You can also get small travel kettles that are smaller, lighter and don't have the capacity of large ones that'll probably work well for people with mobility issues. Trying to claim this machine is necessary either because of 'energy efficiency' or because of 'mobility issues' is a huge stretch. Some people will want this because they just want it - and that's fine, but don't try and justify it as anything more than a luxury spend.
@@TheNinnyfee steam set off your smoke alarm?
Doubt
We got a rice cooker a few months ago, and I can tell you it is absolutely worth it. I can set it up in the morning, go get ready for the day, and by the time I'm done my rice will be perfect. I can eat rice without a ton of effort and you can also cook dishes in the rice cooker if you want. Very much worth the money!
I never had rice not turn out perfectly once I bought a rice cooker. It does so much more than cook rice as well. I'm surprised that Ben, cooking for one, does not embrace it. Once my kids were gone, I used it even more to cook a wide variety of meals and you can just put the lid on and stick it in the fridge with the leftovers. It is an irreplaceable appliance in my kitchen.
Instead of a rice cooker I was always taught to use an oven. Use an oven safe saucepan with a lid, add your rice with the correct ratio and whack it in at 220 degrees and in 15 minutes or so you have perfect rice!
I personally love my YumAsia rice cooker - best cooking gadget I ever bought.
It has this "yum carb" option where you can choose to steam the rice instead of cook it in the water, which means the calories are lessened slightly because somehow the starches are partially leeched into the water while the rice is in a basket above. Don't fully understand how it works but I love that it's an option :D
I live alone and always use my rice cooker. I never use water but chicken or beef broth. My machine has a cook button and when it's done it automatically turns to the warm function. I use a fork to fluff the rice and it turns out perfect ever time. I purchased it years ago in the supermarket and I know it was inexpensive. I
Love it and wouldn't be without it.
I’ve been using this rice cooker for over a year. 1.5:1 water ratio with white rice works very well. It’s been an excellent purchase
Last year I had my kitchen redone and invested in one of those taps Barry was talking about, just because I like gadgets and like his gran have problems holding a full kettle. BEST THING I EVER BOUGHT! No lie. If I had seen this gadget before having the kitchen remodelled I would definitely have got it.
Our family cook rice everyday, sometimes in a rice cooker, sometimes in the instant pot. We've always done a 1:1 ratio of rice to water, no added salt, sometimes a little oil if we feeling fancy. Comes out great every time. We cook round grain rice though, so not sure if it would be the same for basmati.
I also cook rice in my instant pot. I wanted an all in one device to save space so got the air fryer version
made the mistake of watching this at work. the review/joke at 12:55 caught me off guard. then again it's been such a slow morning with Thanksgiving here in the US I might've found it funnier than it is
Maybe put a plug adapter to read the Power usage? Stats are fun!
I have had the same rice cooker for over a year and it’s been a game changer for making sticky rice. I love mine
EVERYONE needs a rice cooker 😮 I use the setting on my instant pot and it works really well, I don’t even measure anymore. It’s nice to wash the rice, throw it in there with the water (I use the knuckle method usually) and not worry about it while I make the rest of dinner.
Does anyone have any tips on cooking whole grains or other rices in a cooker?? White or jasmine comes out perfectly every time, but I do usually end up with mushy or just weird rice when trying any other grain.
ALMOST everyone. When you have centralised gas stove and stovetop, cooking with gas is often much cheaper than using electrical cooking appliances. My gas provider doesn't require gas meters, I pay per month. For me a rice cooker is ridiculously wasteful bc my electricity use is measured.
youre using too much water if its mushy. 1cup rice to 1 cup water is a good starting point, then adjust as needed
Did the manual have anything? I have a rice cooker that does other stuff but not an instapot. The manual had a list of different rices and how to cook them. There might be instructions in the manual somewhere
@@Nevertoleave thanks I’m sure there is, there’s even a multigrain setting. It just never turns out quite right, might just be that I don’t like brown rice lol
Ebbers was on fire with the snark today! I love the Benuendos🤣🤣
Love your channel. Have you done any shows on oils and heat points and correct uses. I havre a range of oils Im too afraid to use, like macadamia oil, flaxseed, grapeseed, olive both extra v and others, I tend to be safe using vegetable or canola.
Dude yes a masterclass on cooking oils would be cool. Certain oils like olive oil and sesame are actually best as a garnish or in dressings, rather than being heated. And for a high smoke point ideal for cooking I usually use avocado oil. There’s so many different types though, I’d love to learn more about them too.
one of my friends overheard me making rice on phone calls several times and eventually said “you Cannot live like this” and bought me a tiny little single-person rice cooker without asking. i love her.
Interesting, I was on the fence about getting that water dispenser, but read a few annoyances with it. Most research came from amazon comments however. Noisey at idle, platform is fiddly and might break and splashes a lot when dispensing
Barry talking about how he bought one of the water coolers for his Nan.
Hug that man.
Use a rice cooker for oats, they turn out perfect. Been doing it for years.
Rice cookers are so essential. Cooks it, keeps it warm. You can make a very easy biryani or pilaf etc easily which will knock your socks off. And perfect sushi rice as well. That knew took a long time. Mine takes 10 mins.
I love gadget reviews. Wondering if there’s anything worth putting on the Christmas list…
Oh no! ! Which of youz is the OG Anna
a rice cooker is really handy if you don't have a stove top. being able to make a stir-fry on your one plug-in hob while the rice finishes somewhere else... quite nice
The candy pen thing reminds me of when pro sugar sculptures use a hot glue gun with candy sticks that they have made. That is probably where they got the idea from.
I found the Aqua Optima to be a game changer. I purchased it on sale at Amazon, and it has helped me increase my fluid intake as I enjoy cold water. Living in a shared space can make it difficult to store water bottles in the fridge. And this device just makes it more accessible by being able to keep it in my room.
Out of Context Ben: “If you want an alternative, come to Uncle Ben.”
The water temp kitchen gadget is probably what impressed me the most. The Kreug cups are the best thing since sliced bread for coffee for me and the coffee machine that uses them is a God send. I love the coffee machine and would probably love that machine too.
I have a rice cooker and I have found that it does white or brown long grain rice perfectly but struggles with basmati.
Weird, I cook almost exclusively basmati in my rice cooker and I never noticed much of a struggle 🤔maybe my knuckles just have the perfect length for basmati 🤭
Try cooking basmati rice the way you'd cook pasta so you can control the cooking process. That is how a lot of south asians actually cook basmati.
My ex from Iran had her own way to cook rice. The cleansing itself took many passages and time. Clean - rest, clean rest many times. After that came cooking. Not like two cups water and one cup rice. More like making sure the water is about two inches above the rice. After almost having cooked rice she would take the rice out. She would put some oil in the empty pot and cover the bottom of the pot with sliced potatoes. You can skip the potatoes :) - She would put the rice back again and cook on a very low heat. After a while the pot is turned upside down, rice dumped onto a plate and you are left with rice that looks like a cake. Fried rice or fried potatoes on the top
As a Cajun, I grew up with everyone I knew having a rice cooker in their home. I just took it for granted that it was something everyone had. Here in Louisiana, rice is a huge part of our diet and for many of us, the first cooking appliance we are gifted when we go out on our own is a rice cooker. It surprises me every time I see people look at one as a new gadget, just because it is a cooking tool that is a must have from where I am from.
I found a recipe for cooking rice in a pot in one of my many asian cookbooks a couple of months ago that I always use ever since then.
You need a big enough pot (depending on the amount of rice) so that there is enough space for steam to circle but not separate from the rice too much and a lid.
You wash the rice, drain it and leave it in the sieve for a couple of minutes (to drain and so that the moisture can evenly coat/absorb into rice) up to half an hour (it helps for fluffier and more evenly cooked rice but it is not needed).
Then you put rice and cold/room temperature water in the pot (1 cup rice to approximately 1 1/2 cup of water), cover it with a lid and heat it on medium to high temperature.
When it starts to boil wait for steam to start escaping through the lid and then immediately lower the temperature to the lowest setting (but not OFF).
Leave the pot on the stove for 10 min and then take it off and leave it be (don't uncover the lid) for 14 min more.
Uncover and fluff the rice with a wooden spoon or spatula and then you can just leave it in the pot where it is warm until you need it.
Basmati or jasmin rise cook really well by this method.
MORE GADGETS!!! YES!!! YES!!!!
I love that you always have power consumption in mind. I know that's a major concern in the UK right now but it is here in Australia as well. Good job team!
Never seen someone wash rice with a single digit before 😂
I live in South Korea and most families have a water machine - filtered drinking water, boiling, cold or room temperature. I love it - I use it every day
Maybe it's the Asian in me but "packet rice" always makes me cringe a little haha. I can see the convenience but my rice cooker takes 45 seconds to set up and has never disappointed. I don't even measure anymore
Haven't used a rice cooker since I picked up the small Instant Pot. Works just as well as my Whale Elec. rice cooker, but in a fraction of the time. Great for steel cut oats as well, and they're cooked perfectly in minutes.
Barry buying his Nan an instant hot water dispenser was so sweet
3:2 ratio for rice in a pot. Cook on mid-high heat until you can no longer see the water approximately 12 min. Let it rest for 12 min. Gives perfect rice every time.
I like the idea of the water dispenser thingy but it’s just too big. It’s ideally suited to people who might want water in small quantities but a good percentage of those (me included) will also have a small kitchen. Make one closer to the size of a standard kettle and then I’m interested and if that means I need to fill the water tank a bit more often then so be it. You wouldn’t want the water to be stood at room temperature on your worktop for an extended period anyway
I agree that it would take up too much counter space in most kitchens (especially apartment kitchens), and that I don't like the idea of that much water sitting in the tank for too long.
Barry and several commenters also said that it would be very helpful for people with mobility issues/arthritis, but watching Ebbers fill the tank made me realize that it would be quite difficult for those people to fill the tank or empty it for cleaning, as the unit is pretty tall. I have arthritis, and I have no problem filling and pouring my electric kettle. And, personally, I doubt that I would ever use it for cold water.
As a very busy person who wants to still make good food, the rice cooker looks so useful. The water dispenser looks very cool!
How many times can we reinvent the same kitchen gadgets over and over? Find out next time on Sorted!
cooking rice: Saute rice in butter or oil while heating water in a microwave (or separate pot). When rice is lightly toasted add about 1/4 of the water - quickly moving cup, and hand, away to avoid blast of steam. Add remaining water. Should be boiling. If not bring to boil, reduce heat to low, covered for 20 minutes - perfect every time. I also use less water - 1/2 cup rice to 3/4 cup water per serving.
Put a thawed chicken breast in a cold oven set at 450 degrees for 30 minutes - and ya got dinner
You used the wrong rice and too much water don't blame the rice cooker
On rice cooker - we have a microwavable rice cooker container from sistema and it's perfect. Takes around 15-20 mins but given the container costs less than £10 and you can probably cook other things in it too, it's got my vote!
I have the rice cooke and white rice is 1 to 1 and it cooks perfect even if I forget it for over hour
That water dispenser, the 150 quid price is for the hot water ONLY dispenser. The one that chills (as reviewed) is 180 quid!!
When I planned my kitchen I wanted one of those fancy faucets but they screwed up. 🙄 we bought one in 2021 instead of two holidays and it wa the best decision I have made in my kitchen. The kettle is gone, so are the Softdrinks in our fridge as we have the cold/ carbonated option. Now we buy Sirup/cordial. It is even cheaper than our old hot water boiler we had under the sink when it comes to energy cost. Maintenance costs depend on the amount or carbonated water you drink plus 70€ a year for a new filter. The amount of plastic we are saving is amazing! I do love it dearly!
I've got that rice cooker - the manual recommends 1:1 cups of rice to water for white rice, 1:2 is for brown rice. I like it, I can just throw some rice in and ignore it, it'll be ready when I want it. Encourages me to have brown rice and veg for lunch rather than something on toast!