Welcome to Rice Cookers 101
What would you like to learn about today?
Pot-Style rice cookers, based on the original Japanese design, are the more traditional rice cooker style. They are economical, easy to operate and yield great results. In a Pot-Style cooker, the inner pot is placed into the rice cooker body and is covered with a vented lid. Many Pot-Style rice cookers include a steam tray that inserts on top of the inner pot for Steaming vegetables or meats, even while simultaneously cooking rice. The One-Touch Operation is so easy to use even the most culinarily-challenged can make perfect rice every time. |
Cool-Touch rice cookers are just that - cool to the touch. The inner pot and steam tray are housed within the cool-touch unit, which remains cool to touch even during the cooking cycle. The benefits of Cool-Touch cookers don't end there. The hinged lid seals in moisture and steam for fluffier rice. The locking lid also allows the cooker to become portable once the rice has finished; transforming it into an ideal serving vessel (and also leaving one less dish to be washed once the meal is done). Many of these rice cookers also come with advanced features such as a Delay Timer, Digital Controls, Sensor Logic™, Brown Rice Functionand the list goes on. Just look how long this section is. |
One-Touch Operation
Rice cookers featuring One-Touch Operation take just one touch to activate. Makes sense right? Once the Cook switch is pushed, the cooking cycle begins that's all it takes. After rice reaches fluffy perfection, the unit automatically goes into Keep-Warm mode, ensuring it is never overcooked. So kick back and relax or better yet, jump on the treadmill. Tomorrow can't always be the day.
Keep-Warm Function
Keep-Warm ensures that rice never overcooks. Once the rice has reached the pinnacle of deliciousness, the cooker will switch over to Keep-Warm keeping the rice fresh and hot until it is ready to serve.
Quick Tip
The Keep-Warm function can also be used to reheat meals or to keep them fresh during serving.
Steaming Food
Steaming is one of the most nutritious means of cooking, locking in many of the nutrients and minerals that are often lost with other food preparation methods. With steaming, no additional fat or oil is necessary, maintaining great flavor without unnecessary calories. Steaming is possible if you have a steam function, a steam tray or a steam rack. Refer to your Instruction Manual for information specific to your cooker, and start eating better (read healthier) with your rice cooker!
Condensation Collector
The Condensation Collector channels excess moisture away from the rice to maintain the ideal moisture level in your rice. Once the cooking is complete, the Condensation Collector easily detaches to empty its contents. We're just that good.
Digital Controls
The whole world is going digital, and so have our rice cookers. Digital Controls allow for a multitude of functions, without unnecessary complication. At the press of a button, the chosen function will kick into gear for maximum performance with minimal effort. Now if only the clock on the DVD player was so easy.
Delay Timer
A Delay Timer is the perfect feature for those on the go. Place rice in the cooker in the morning, set the number of hours until it will be needed, embark on yet another hectic day and your rice will be ready at mealtime in the evening. The cooker will automatically switch over to Keep-Warm once the rice has finished cooking, ensuring it tastes great whenever you finally have the time to eat.
SensorLogic™ Technology
Sensor Logic™ rice cookers use an on-board micro-computer to 'think' for themselves. By simply pressing the desired function button, Sensor Logic™ will optimize the cooking temperature of the rice to enhance flavor and texture. The sensor monitors the boiling rate of the water in the pot and controls temperature accordingly providing the perfect pot of rice every time. It's like the rice cooker of the future, but here now, in the present.
Brown Rice Function
Healthy doesn't need to be complicated. The Brown Rice Function transforms tough-to-cook brown rice to fluffy flawlessness by allowing for a longer soaking cycle to compensate for the extra bran-layer on this nutritious whole grain.
For more information on brown rice and all sorts of healthy rice tips and info, visit the USA Rice Federation.
Quick Rice Function
Short on time and long on hunger? Then Quick Rice is the function for you. Quick Rice forgoes the soaking cycle to cook rice with a significant time savings, especially with brown rice.
Quick Tip
We only recommend using this function if you're in a pinch. The rice produced by Quick Rice will not be the same quality as that produced by the normal functions.
Soup/Stew Function
The Soup/Stew Function adds yet another dimension to what a rice cooker can do. Cook a wide variety of pre-made or home-made soups and stews with ease. Place the desired ingredients into the cooker, hit the Soup/Stew button and let the cooker handle the rest. Your work is done. Once one hour has elapsed, the cooker will automatically switch to Keep-Warm.
(Not so) Quick Tip
All Aroma rice cookers are able to cook soups and stews, preset function or not. If your cooker does not have the Soup/Stew function, use the white rice or cook function. It does entail a bit more work though (aren't pre-programmed functions nice?). Without the Soup/Stew Function you must stir occasionally and monitor cooking until your meal is ready to serve.
Slow Cook Function
The Slow Cook function allows for delectable, slow cooked dishes to be made right in the rice cooker. With Slow Cook, the cooker will rapidly bring ingredients to a boil, then reduce to a low temperature for two hours. So Aroma's handling the cooking and you have two hours to kill. Have some fun, or don't, it's your time. After the two-hour time period has elapsed, the cooker will automatically switch to Keep-Warm.
Smart Steam Function
The Smart Steam function makes steaming even simpler. Set the time food needs to steam, and the rice cooker will handle the rest. Once the set time has expired, the cooker will go into Keep-Warm mode. Simple and healthy. There is a caveat; the Smart Steam Function cannot be used when cooking rice.
