A Shopping Guide To Electric Rice Cookers
Prior to the invention of electric rice cookers, cooking at home had been quite a challenge. People had to rely purely on their skills and attentiveness to time and detail to produce their desired results. If, for instance, a person underestimated or overestimated the required amount of water in cooking, disaster typically followed.
It was only in the 1940s that cooking became slightly easier with the introduction of electric cookers. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, a Japanese electronic and automobile firm, invented the first electric cooker in 1945. It consisted of an aluminum pot and an internal heating coil. It did not, however, come with an automated on/off switch.
About a decade had passed when the first truly automated model was introduced in the market. This model was presented by Toshiba Corporation in December 1956. The device made use of thermostat readings to switch off automatically to avoid overcooking.
Consumers nowadays have the luxury of choosing from a wide selection of brands and models. They come in all sizes, under numerous brand names, and are designed either for residential or industrial use.
The size of a cooker refers to the amount it can cook in one session. Capacity is measured in terms of Japanese or American cup size. A single Japanese cup is equivalent to 200 milliliters, while one American cup is equivalent to 240 milliliters.
In any case, all models today would come with their own measuring cups. These cups could help users determine the approximate amount of uncooked rice they would need to use. In general, a single cup would produce 1.5 cups of cooked rice.
At present, a basic electric cooker operates with an automated on/off switch. It does not, however, come with a light indicator that alerts the user that cooking is already finished. Nor does it usually have steamer units or nonstick pans. The more advanced models could also be used to cook cereals and even desserts. A basic model, on the other hand, can only do what it is specifically designed for.
A slightly more advanced model is one that has a keep warm function. Rice that was left too long inside a cooker will gradually grow cold. The warming function can prevent this from happening. Some units have to be unplugged before this function could be deactivated. Others use a sensor for a specific amount of time.
In later years, a new wave of cookers had been introduced. They are generally referred to as fuzzy logic cookers. They may be used to cook almost all types of rice and even other types of dishes. A fuzzy logic cooker would typically have a cooking menu that has been configured beforehand. Users would have to press the button assigned for the type they would like to cook. Once a selection has been made, the device would proceed to cooking accordingly.
Electric rice cookers that employ fuzzy logic systems may also be equipped with a reheating function and customizable texture settings. The latter feature ensures a desired texture. All in all, fuzzy cookers may prove to be an expensive, but valuable investment.
Check-out also the electric pressure cookers and the slow cookers.
Go To Electric Cookers
Related posts:
Comments on this entry are closed.