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I Make Rice Almost Every Night, and This Multi-Use Gadget Ensures I'll Never Eat Mushy Grains Again

It cooks rice perfectly every time.

By

Published on October 26, 2024

I am a huge lover of rice. It’s in many of my weekly dishes, including stir-fry, rice bowls, jambalaya, and more. And with the cooler weather and the holidays approaching, I’m looking forward to making cozy, warm soups like chicken and rice, stews with rice, or holiday rice pilaf, and rice pudding. Despite my love for the grain, I can never quite cook it right. It always comes out mushy, stuck together, and overcooked.

Because of that, I was dubious, yet hopeful when I tested this Toshiba rice cooker. After the very first use, it proved me wrong. With this clever gadget in my kitchen, I get perfectly cooked rice every time. It’s a favorite of Amazon shoppers too, as over 3,000 have been bought in the past month alone. I couldn’t go without it at this point, and neither should you.

Toshiba Mini Rice Cooker

$90 $80 at Amazon

This clever rice cooker has made an immense impact in my routine. The brand sent it to me for testing in late July, and have been using it ever since to make my favorite rice dishes. It’s versatile and has eight cooking functions: white rice, quick cook, brown rice, mixed grain, slow cook, porridge, cake, and egg. It’s how this makes rice that has me completely enthralled, however. It can make every type I could ever need, including white, brown, jasmine, and sushi. I even made rice pilaf with mushrooms and peas in it, and it came together in a snap. Both the white and brown rice come out tender and fluffy, and the sushi rice has the perfect stickiness to it, which are all things I could never achieve.

I Make Rice Almost Every Night, and This Multi-Use Gadget Ensures I'll Never Eat Mushy Grains Again tout — Food & Wine / Sharon Lockley

Plus, I love how intuitive and easy it is to use. The lines on the inside of the pot let me know just how much water to put in after I add the rice. Then, all I need to do is just select the desired button and let it do the work, knowing it will cook perfect rice every time. This rice cooker is smart too, as it senses the amount of moisture content in the rice and automatically adjusts the temperature and cooking time. This functionality is the secret to getting rice right every time, and it’s something that my old stovetop routine could surely never duplicate. Since it cooks up to 3 cups, it has enough space for a portion for myself, or additional portions if family or friends come over, which is perfect for me.

This rice cooker doesn’t just whip up rice, though. It can also make oatmeal and porridge, which I'm looking forward to trying out as the weather gets cooler. You can even bake a cake and slow-cook meals in it, according to the brand. This feature is next on my list for trying. Whatever function I choose, it will glow with a red light next to it, while the LCD display will let me know how much time is left so I can plan the rest of my meal accordingly. And yet another perk? You can plan ahead and set the programmable delay timer (up to 24 hours), so it's ready when you want it. If you’re in a hurry, the quick cook setting can have rice made in 30 minutes, too. Plus, if you're not ready to use the rice, the keep warm feature kicks in.

I appreciate the included accessories too. I use the measuring cup to ensure I have the right amount of rice, and the spatula and ladle help separate rice or dole out portions. Cleanup is easy, as the inner pot is nonstick. This rice cooker is compact, measuring just 9 x 11 x 8 inches, so it takes up little space whether on my counter or in the cupboard. I struggle to put it away at this point though, as I’m always using it.

With this rice cooker around, my rice will never be mushy or overcooked again. Shop it now for $80 and experience it for yourself, especially during busy weeknights this holiday season.