Rice Cookers

A rice cooker is a medium sized electrical appliance that steams or boils rice.

Fast Facts

1. Developed by: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
2. Common Uses: Cooking rice, broiling artichokes, baking bread
3. Introduced: 1940s
4. Price Range: $19-$300

History

The automatic rice cooker was first manufactured in the 1940s by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The cooker had no timing mechanism and was simply a pot with a heating coil. The popularity of the device would coincide with the popularity of electronic appliances in the 1950s. Later models included a temperature controlled outer shell and an inner thermometer which would gauge the sudden rise in temperature, caused by the absorption of water by the rice. This process signals that the rice is done.

Types of Rice Cookers

There are several types of rice cookers which operate on the same principle. The electronic and gas variety work when the water in a small container is completely absorbed by the rice. With no water in the basin, the temperature rises. The thermostat will then signal the cooker to automatically shut off. Microwave rice cookers operate via a timing mechanism.

Top Brands

Most rice cookers are made in Asian countries, as rice is a general staple of the Asian diet. The most prominent Asian brands are Zojirushi, Sanjo and Tiger Corporation. Familiar American brands include Aroma, Black & Decker and Panasonic.

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