When it come to kitchenware, there is a bunch of edgy technology out there that promise to do a great many things. However, there are a few classic appliances that everyone should own in their kitchens. In order to have greater convenience and functionality, for starters.
In this article, I talk about two such culinary equipments and why or when one should consider buying either.
Pressure cookers and rice cookers may be a staple in some households but barely existent in others. Keep reading to see if your next kitchen purchases should include one or both of them.
Table of Contents
What is a Pressure Cooker?
A pressure cooker is a kitchen appliance constructed from stainless steel or aluminum. It uses pressure technology to cook food.
The appliance is basically an airtight pot that traps the steam from its contents and builds pressure inside.
The pot is sealed which helps in cooking food quicker by limiting boiling and generating a high temperature to cook the food using steam pressure.
Pressure cookers are handy cookware that not only cook food faster but are used in the preparation of quite a number of dishes.
What is a Rice Cooker?
A rice cooker is a kitchen appliance that makes use of intense heat to boil and cook rice.
It is an automated countertop gadget that has a large cooking pot inside it, a thermometer to track and manipulate the internal temperature and of course, a heat source.
There is also a lid that fits on top, a couple of handles to grasp the gadget and some digital controls on the front that allow the user to experiment with various settings to reach the perfect combination in order to make delicious fluffy rice.
Now, there is no need to get a rice cooker of course. In most Asian households where rice is a staple, the grain is cooked using a pot on a gas stovetop.
But unless you are experienced with preparing rice in such a manner and get it perfectly cooked each time – then you need one of these automated cookers.
Rice cookers make the preparation process a breeze, all you have to do is pour the grains into the pot, add the appropriate amount of water, close the lid and press a few buttons.
And that’s it. Hot, fluffy rice ready in a matter of minutes – and you didn’t have to boil or simmer it over a gas stove, controlling the temperatures throughout.
Rice cookers do not only cook rice, they can be used to steam vegetables and make other dishes too since there are numerous models out there in the market that can help you prepare your culinary treats in a jiffy.
Why choose a Pressure Cooker - Or Not.
Features
- Can cook food very fast
- They help concentrate the flavors of the dishes as the pot is a sealed chamber.
- They also help in retaining the nutritional value of the ingredients as the cooking process is sped up in a pressure cooker
- They also help to destroy micro-organisms present in the food efficiently due to the high heat generated inside the pot, which is more than that of boiling water
- These can be a safer alternative to open pots and pan as it reduces the likelihood of water splashing out or food spillage during cooking. Even pots with glass lids run the risk of shattering under high heat.
- Pressure cookers can be quite energy efficient when it comes to cooking. Since the cooking cycles are relatively fast, the less time taken to cook also reduces the amount of energy consumed.
- They can be very versatile and are ideal for various recipes. Not only can these cook all kinds of rice in minutes, but are also very adept at tenderizing meat, simmering stews and broth, and also steaming vegetables.
Drawbacks
- The structure and build of pressure cookers can be quite complicated. You will need to understand how a pressure chamber works in order to calculate the time for cooking any dish.
- One needs to be mindful of the amount of water added to the pot, because it’s easy to overcook food as more liquid remains inside due to less evaporation inside the pot.
- Some trial and error may be required for beginners to handle a pressure cooker because of the complex working style.
- The build of the pot tends to be on the heavy side. The bulky structure may be inconvenient for handling in the kitchen. The large size also adds to the cost of the equipment.
- Another downside besides the risk of overcooking, is that users can’t open the cooker in the middle of cooking as that will release the pressure built within the pot. You would need to start the process all over again in case you need to season the food in between.
- This will delay the process even if you needed to stir the contents or just to check if it’s done.
- Pressure cookers can prove to be quite inconvenient to clean. The bulky pot, the rubber ring and the awkward handles certainly do not help.
- The sealing rings are bound to get worn out over time. So they need occasional replacement to ensure the lids are well-sealed during cooking.
- The working of a pressure cooker is also impacted by environmental factors such as altitude and atmospheric pressure. The latter decreases as altitude increases, and at heights of 2500 feet above sea level – you may have to adjust your cooking due to decreased pressure and boiling points.
Why choose a Rice Cooker - Or Not.
Features
- You can have delicious fluffy rice cooked to perfection every time you use the rice cooker
- Rice can be prepared in minutes, as opposed to longer cooking periods when cooking it manually in a pot
- These are also quite convenient when it comes to automation. For instance setting timers and presets. Either use a preset to churn out a specific form of rice dish, or use the timer manually to set when to start or end the process.
- Rice cookers are very beginner-friendly and involve minimal effort.
People who have little to no experience with cooking rice can always preserve the textural integrity of the cooked rice with the help of a rice cooker. A few buttons and the cooker will take care of the rest for you! - There is no need to stick around and keep changing temperatures to have the perfect structure and texture for your rice. The process becomes very easy once you use the right preset for the kind of rice you want.
- Using a rice cooker is a breeze when it comes to cooking different types of rice – be it long-grained, short-grained, sushi rice or sticky rice. It is not limited to the preparation of only a handful of rice dishes.
Definitely, an easy way to cook rice without compromising on the flavor, structure or aroma. - Coming to dishes, the rice cooker can also cook dishes that do not include rice. Lentils, quinoa, oatmeal or beans, the cooker can tackle any of these with ease.
- Many options also come with steamers for steaming vegetables, dumplings or fish. This can be a great way to cook one-pot meals where you just dump your favorite vegetables and meat with some rice into the steamer and out comes a perfectly healthy meal.
- You can have ready to serve rice whenever you want. If your rice is cooked but you don’t intend to eat it at the moment, then you can make use of the ‘Keep Warm’ setting to keep it from going cold.
- Because of the ‘Keep Warm’ and automatic shut-off features available, I would say this is a very energy-efficient way of cooking rice. Both these options prevent the rice from being overcooked.
When the sensors in the cooker detect a temperature change in the pot – it will automatically shut off or switch to a warming cycle. This also prevents the food from getting cold by the time you have it.
Drawbacks
- While rice cookers are used to steam vegetables and cook dishes like oatmeal and quinoa – these are generally multi-functional rice cookers that need you to shell out a few extra bucks.
Not all cookers have these functionalities. And the basic ones can just cook rice and not much else. - In cases where you decide to add meat or other proteins to your rice, you would generally want them to tenderize well.
But many rice cooker pots do not have sealed pots nor the option to increase temperatures to more than 100°C. This limits our options on the dishes we can make using a rice cooker.
When to Use a Pressure Cooker over a Rice Cooker
- If you want more fast and efficient cooking, then a pressure cooker would be the way to go. Pressures levels are maintained adequately by the seal and rubber lining, thus making the entire go quick and smooth.
They significantly shorten the meal preparation time as these use both steam and pressure to cook food. - If you want something in your kitchen that cooks many recipes in addition to rice, then you should definitely pick a pressure cooker over a rice cooker.
The latter is mainly used for rice recipes like steamed rice, sticky rice, porridge, and the occasional dumplings and broth.
But a pressure cooker will allow you to go much beyond just rice, be it rice, lentils, stew, or just for tenderizing meat. - Using a pressure cooker also helps in destroying any micro-organisms that thrive in ingredients due to the high temperatures generated inside the pressure chamber.
On the other hand, rice cookers do not usually go much further than 100°C, so it’s difficult for them to remove any germs and harmful living organisms that have developed a resistance to boiling water.
When to Use a Rice Cooker over a Pressure Cooker
- If you want to cook only rice and occasionally steam some vegetables and hotpot meals, then you should consider purchasing a rice cooker. They are generally only used for the specific purpose of cooking rice, so that’s a no-brainer.
- If you have a strict budget for choosing between the two, then rice cookers are less expensive than electric pressure cookers. However manual pressure cookers would be the cheapest, given you know how to work with one.
- If you feel you may not be too keen on learning how to work with a bunch of programmable options, then rice cookers have a gentle learning curve.
They do not come with too many presets or temperature settings as one may seldom need many choices for cooking rice. This will be easier to work with if you do not intend to explore a variety of dishes with the cooker.
What to Cook with Each
Pressure cookers are extremely versatile and can be used to cook a variety for recipes. Tenderizing large meat cuts, simmering broth for your seafood, stewing pork, cooking pot roast – there not a whole lot of things it can’t do.
There are electric models out there that are multi-functional and can be doubled as a slow cooker and as a rice cooker.
Rice cookers come in different models. The more costly ones will give you the freedom to choose between many presets and control options. And that includes lentils, all types of grains, steamed vegetables, oatmeal, quinoa, risotto, porridge, eggs and chicken.
There could be more combinations and recipes but you also have to push your budget, if you have one, accordingly.
The cheaper ones usually stick true to their purpose and help you cook perfect rice each time. But if you’re an explorer, this wouldn’t be the one to take on your culinary quests.
Best Brands to Pick From
Instant Pot, Breville and Crockpot are the most popular among customers for manufacturing all-rounder multifunctional pressure cookers. However, Ninja and T-fal also offer a few models on the less expensive side with great features.
As for rice cookers – Japanese brands like Zojirushi, Panasonic and Tiger are well-known for their impeccable quality and design. They manufacture cookers of great quality that remain durable for years on end.
Some other notable manufacturers are Aroma, Hamilton Beach and Instant Pot. You can never go wrong if you pick from these brands as they give great value for money and are pretty efficient at what they do.
Which option is best for you?
This choice will ultimately depend on you, and what your preferences are. The purpose and functions of whichever cooker suits your needs is the answer to this question.
However, in my opinion, a pressure cooker works well for users who want fast and efficient cooking. They can also use the same appliance to cook recipes that do not include rice. Its an energy efficient product that can cook several dishes without taking much time at all.
If you are looking for an in-depth buying guide to picking the right pressure cooker for your kitchen, then you can take a look at this post here to help with making an informed decision.
A rice cooker is something you can only use for cooking rice and other grain-specific dishes. And if its not a multi-functional one, then your choices for cooking get even more limited. However, if you want a simple kitchen gadget which is easy to use, cheap and can run unattended for hours – a rice cooker is the way to go.
It is challenging to decide between the two, but prioritizing your needs according to your budget will help reach the appropriate choice for your kitchen.
