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A rice cooker is a self-contained electrical appliance, used primarily for cooking rice.
There are also gas and open flame variants as well. The preparation of rice has traditionally been a tricky cooking process that
requires accurate timing, and errors can end up with inedible undercooked or burnt rice. Rice cookers aim to avoid these problems
by automatically controlling the heat and timing in the preparation of rice, while at the same time freeing up a heating element
on the range.
Typically, a rice cooker contains an insulated outer container containing a heating element, into which is fitted a non-stick or teflon-coated inner removable pot,
which often has graduations marked in cups of rice (white). High-end rice cookers use microchips to control the cooking process, whereas less expensive and older models use simple electronics and
mechanical sensors.
To cook white rice, the rice is measured and optionally rinsed, then added to the inner pot. Cold water is measured and added
or simply added up to the appropriate graduation in the inner pot. Sometimes there are separate scales for brown rice (as more
water is required) or for cooking other foods in the appliance.
Once the lid is closed and the cooking cycle has been activated, the rice cooker does the rest. Fancy models give a countdown
in minutes to the "ready time," and beep when done, whereas less expensive and older models simply click or ring a bell when
done.
Rice cookers are typically used for the preparation of plain or lightly seasoned rice, but more elaborate recipes are possible
using a rice cooker, and there are cookbooks devoted entirely to dishes prepared using a rice cooker. One of the most unusual
dish that could be made by using a rice cooker is a beef stew. By simply adding ingredients and setting it to "warm", a rice
cooker would keep them at around 60 degrees Celsius. In few hours, stew would be ready for serving.
Many rice cookers can keep rice warm safely for up to 24 hours. This helps to avoid the dangers of food poisoning due to
Bacillus cereus.
Small, basic rice cookers can be purchased in the US at discount retailers often for as low as $10-$15, and units with large
capacity and different selectable electronically-controlled cooking cycles can cost up to $100 or more. Restaurants that serve a
lot of rice, particularly those specializing in Asian cuisine, often use industrial size rice cookers that quickly and cheaply
produce large quantities of cooked rice. A rice cooker is a standard kitchen tool in Japan.
Rice cookers, when purchased, normally include a small "cup" measure and a plastic paddle for doling out the cooked rice.
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