A wonderful appliance

Firstly, let me state right off the bat that I am not much of a kitchen gadget afficionado. I use mostly a simple set of hand tools and tend to look askance at the claims that the latest-and-greatest-appliance-du-jour will make my life a paradise.

But this is one kitchen appliance that I can recommend without reservations.

Firstly, it flat-out just makes great rice. Every time. Without fail.

And that would probably be enough. But here are other things I really like about this cooker:

- The cooking bowl is non-stick for super-easy cleanup.

- Lid and bowl are dishwasher safe.

- Doesn't use up room on the cooktop while you are making a meal. (Though it does vent steam so be sure to put it somewhere where that will not cause a problem).

- Automatically switches from "cooking" to "keep warm" when the rice is done. There's no bell or beep, but the switch makes enough of a pop to alert you that the cooking cycle is complete. There is also a light that switches from red to orange.

- The interior of the bowl has markings to help you add just the right amount of liquid.

- The handle on the lid stays cool enough to grab at all times.

- Comes with its own measuring cup for measuring out the rice.

- Includes a rice paddle. It's plastic, but that's fine if you don't own your own bamboo paddle.

One issue that might turn off some people is that if you let the rice sit on the "keep warm" cycle after cooking, it tends to form a light brown crust on the bottom from the heating element. I think that this crust is delicious, and will sometimes purposefully let it form after the rice is "done". And it can easily be avoided by unplugging the rice cooker as soon as the switch "pops".

I guess if there was going to be a "con" to this particular cooker, it's be that there is no OFF switch; if the cooker is plugged in, it's automatically on the "keep warm" setting. To me, this isn't a big enough "con" to list above.

For making white rice, a rice cooker cannot be beat. But that's not the end of it. Sometimes I will substitute chicken or beef stock for the water. Yummy!

And here's my recipe for Mexican rice using this cooker. I make this about once a week:

Bear's Rice Cooker Mexican Rice

1 measure Texmati or similar rice
1 can Rotel Chopped Tomatoes and Chiles
1/2 package achiote seasoning (see note below)
chicken stock or broth

1. Measure the rice into the cooker bowl.
2. Drain the liquid from the Rotel into the bowl with the rice. Place the remaining solids into a large microwave-safe covered bowl or casserole.
3. Add enough chicken stock to the rice bowl to bring it up to proper level (marked on the inside of the bowl).
4. Add the achiote seasoning to the rice, cover, and start the COOK cycle.
5. Microwave the Rotel solids in the microwave for one minute until piping hot. Keep bowl covered until rice is done to keep in the heat.
6. When the rice is done, fluff it with the rice paddle and place it into the covered bowl with the Rotel solids. Mix thoroughly, breaking up any crusty portions (yum) that have formed on the bottom of the rice.
7. Serve and enjoy!

NOTE: Achiote is a Mexican seasoning that gives the rice a brilliant orange color and Mexican flavor. Goya puts out a brand of this seasoning in little boxed packets which you should be able to find in the Mexican food section of the grocery store. If not, you can substitute a pinch or two of tumeric to give the rice the proper color.