Cooking Gadgets HQ

Rice Cookers

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:53:28 +0000

Rice cookers allow even the worst cook to make perfect rice every time. Truth be told, even the most experienced cook can sometimes find it difficult to cook soft, fluffy and appetizing rice. It’s often a hit or miss effort. Fortunately, a good quality rice cooker takes the guess work and difficulty out of cooking great rice. It’s important to note that not all cookers are created equally. There are a number of different types of rice cookers. On/Off, Cook and Keep Warm, Inductions and Fuzzy Logic rice cookers are the most common.

On/Off rice cookers are amongst the most inexpensive and simplest to use. These types of cookers don’t have a lot of features but are typically good enough to cook a delicious batch of rice.

Cook and Keep Warm cookers cook rice and then keep it warm. This is great for people who regularly cook ahead of time and need to keep their rice warm until it’s time to eat. These typically have more features than On and Off cookers, for instance built-in steamers.

Fuzzy Logic rice cookers can be programmed so that rice can be cooked to specification. For instance, it is possible to choose the texture of the rice (soft or firm). It can also be used to make rice for sushi and soup.

Induction Heating rice cookers are one of the more advanced types of cookers. These typically cook the best rice, partly because of the even heat distribution. The heat can also be adjusted, as can cooking time to correct over or under cooking due to measuring errors.

When choosing a rice cooker, besides considering what type to buy, it is important to choose a cooker that has the features a person wants. The size of the rice pan, whether or not it contains measuring markings or non-stick coating, are a few available features. The materials in which the pan is made, for instance, aluminum versus stainless steel is an important consideration as well. Some home cooks will prefer a clear lid, which makes it possible to keep an eye on the rice while it’s cooking. Others won’t care either way. It’s also a good idea to look for lids with a steam release hole. It makes the cooking process less messy. Quality construction is important as well.
Zojirushi, Sanyo and Panasonic are considered by many, to be the top rice cooker brands on the market. Zojirushi cookers prepare great rice almost every time. It’s great for white, brown and sushi rice. The bigger models, cook up to 10 cups of rice. Sanyo rice cookers are another great option. These are feature packed, sometimes more so than Zojirushi. The largest Sanyo rice cooker, the Sanyo ECJ-HC100S, can cook up to 10 cups of rice. Panasonic is a well known brand. This particular rice cooker is dependable and won’t break the bank. The brand’s Fuzzy Logic cookers are best. The Panasonic SR-MS182 cooks up to 10 cups of rice.

Some Popular models

What is a food processor?

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:03:51 +0000

Today’s modern kitchens have a host of appliances all geared towards automating many of the more mundane tasks that have to be performed by home cooks and top chefs alike. There are blenders, choppers and peelers, but perhaps there is no one appliance more versatile than the food processor. This is an appliance that can be considered as the big brother of the blender given that it does a lot of the same jobs, but the major difference is that a food processor comes with interchangeable blades and disks that can make the slices, cuts and shreds far more customizable.

The benefit of having a food processor in the kitchen is the time that it will save in preparation. Even the most amateur of home cooks will tell how time consuming and tedious it can be to chop, knead or grate a number of different items, especially if all those ingredients are going into a single dish. Using a food processor means that time is shaved to a bare minimum, plus with the blades and disks coming in different sizes, it becomes much easier to control the conformity of size and thickness than it would be if the entire job were done by hand.

Food processors come in many different shapes and sizes, and when deciding which one to purchase it’s important to know how often you plan on using it and which type of kitchen duties you want it to perform. Deciding on one that is perfect for your needs can end up saving you money, as you can then avoid higher priced appliance that come with features and attachments that you will never use. Standard items that should be part of your food processor, regardless of size, are a good size mixing bowl, with 9 cups being enough for just about everyone, an s-shaped stainless steel blade, as well as a plastic one. The basic appliances usually come with 2 disks for slicing and grating, and it’s always a good idea to find one that has suction cups on the bottom that will prevent the unit form moving when it is in use. Extra blades and disks can be purchased if needed, but normally the components that come with almost all food processors are enough for the home cook.

At the end of the day, the food processor you decide upon will be very much based on personal preference and budget. Almost all the major appliance makers recognize this, and you will find that the likes of Cusinart, Hamilton Beach, KitchenAid and Black and Decker have line-ups to suit everyone from the frugal gourmet, to the lavish professional chef.

Some Popular Models

What is a slow cooker?

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:16:30 +0000

They are in just about every kitchen and they are only growing in popularity. What are they, you ask? Slow cookers. These handy kitchen appliances allow you to come home from a long day of work and not have to deal with the hassle of cooking a meal from scratch. You can pretty much set it to your preferences and have a ready dinner when you arrive home, or shortly after.

There are numerous brands, sizes and styles available. Almost all of the major makers have at least one top-of-the-line model. Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart, Rival, Kitchenaid, Black & Decker and Procter Silex all have them. Choosing from among them can be a little confusing. That’s why we are here, to help show you the way to getting the right slow cooker for your particular needs.

Obviously when picking the right size, you are going to have to keep in mind size of your family, what you plan on making in it, and how much space you have available in your kitchen. The sizes will run anywhere from two quarts all the way up to six quarts and sometimes more. For a single person, couple or small family around three quarts (think Rival) should do. But if you have a large family then you may want to opt for six quarts.

Slow cookers for the most part have a wide variety of features available. Your choice should be based on finding one that has the features that meet your particular needs. One of the most desirable features and one you will want if you plan on having a meal ready for your arrival home, is a model with a programmable timer. Also look for models that have heating levels that you can set. For example, if you are already home and not going anywhere you can pretty much set it on high and have it cook quicker, while setting it low if you want it for much later.

As mentioned above, there are numerous name brands to choose from. With that said, your next step should be to read reviews of the various models, particularly ones that have the features you are looking for. Ideally you will want one that has a 4 or 5 star rating.

These cookers are also available in a variety of styles, designs and colors. Brushed stainless steel models are very popular, but you can also look for one that will match the color scheme and appliances in your kitchen.

Another biggie that you definitely do not want to overlook is ease of cleaning. Trust us on this; you do not want a model that is going to be a major pain to clean. Even if it is one that you really like. Although there are a number of factors to consider when shopping for your slow cooker, rest assured it is not rocket science. With a little homework you should be able to find the right slow cooker for you.

Some Popular Models