Can a rice cooker make amounts much smaller than its rating?
I'm looking at getting one of Zojirushi's induction rice cookers and the 5.5 cup model is currently a little cheaper than the 3 cup model. I'm a single guy and will only be making a cup or two of rice unless I'm entertaining.
Is there any reason not to go with the larger version so I can use it when entertaining as well?
Best Answer
As I note in my answer here, I use the exact model you are considering. It is one of the best gadgets I've purchased. It has no problem making any batch down to 1 cup in size. Being able to cook the full 5.5 cups when entertaining is invaluable as well.
I will sometimes cook more than I need for lunch the next day, as well as making fried rice for the following night's dinner.
Bottom line: you won't regret the purchase.
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Can rice cookers cook small amounts?
The short answer is yes - you will be able to cook 1 cup with the 5.5 cup model. the problem is, though you will be able to cook much smaller volume in a large cooker -- you will have rice covering the pan, a thin layer above bare metal[1].Does rice cooker size matter?
Typically rice cookers have 5.5 cups. The capacity of the rice cooker always refers to dry rice, before cooking....You Should Never Buy a Rice Cooker that is Too Big for Your Needs.AmountCooked ricePeople8.5 cup (8.5\u5408)16 bowls of rice4-6 people10 cup (10\u5408)20 bowls of riceMore than 6 people4 more rowsCan I cook only one cup of rice in rice cooker?
When cooking white rice in an electric rice cooker, the rice cooker rice to water ratio is usually 1 cup rice to 1 cup water. By white rice, I mean long-grain rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice. Medium grain rice, risotto, and sushi rice also fall in the \u201cwhite rice\u201d category.What is the disadvantage of rice cooker?
List of the Cons of a Rice Cooker. 1. The bottom rice can burn if you're not careful. Once the rice begins to cook, it is a good idea to stir the rice every 2-3 minutes until the cooking cycle is complete.Do You Need a $350 Rice Cooker? — The Kitchen Gadget Test Show
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Answer 2
Well, coming from a Chinese family and as our family cook rice everyday...
The short answer is yes - you will be able to cook 1 cup with the 5.5 cup model. the problem is, though you will be able to cook much smaller volume in a large cooker -- you will have rice covering the pan, a thin layer above bare metal[1]. Scooping up rice from it is a OK, but you will tend to 'fold' the rice in order to put it in a bowl which kind of affect the texture of the rice - if you use a smaller one you will get rice in a nice, cylinder shaped from which you can get a nicer scoop which is naturally formed by expansion of rice and steam.
[1] This has become much better with all these rice cooker armed with circuits (as in your case) which slowly, but accurately cook every grain of rice you put in -- albeit at a much longer time. the cooking time with old, traditional kind of rice cooker is ~ 30 min for 2 cup of rice whereas the newer, logic-equipped device will need ~1 hour for cooking - but of course the quality is much better
Answer 3
Not really any reason not to go for the bigger one, you should definetly be able to make 2 cups in it. If there are bad results when you do only 1 cup then you may have to always do 2 and have leftovers but I can't imagine that being a problem.
It probably does use more power, if that is a concern.
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