Dropped $220 on a fancy rice cooker and it actually paid off

I was always burning rice on the stove or ending up with mushy stuff, so I finally caved and bought a Zojirushi 3-cup model from the local kitchen store in Portland. After 8 weeks of using it nearly every day, I've saved enough on takeout and wasted rice to cover most of the cost. Nobody tells you how much easier it is to just set the timer and walk away. Has anyone else found a kitchen gadget that actually changed their routine without breaking the bank?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia67013d ago

Wait did you just say your Target rice cooker has lasted 4 years?

holly70913d ago

So I was totally in that camp too honestly. I used to think any rice cooker was fine because rice is rice (or whatever). But hearing @wren_mitchell say their cheap one lasted 4 years without burning anything actually kind of made me rethink my whole position. I thought spending more meant better results but maybe it's really just paying for a label and not actual function. Like I had this expensive Zojirushi that died after 2 years and my friend's basic $20 model from Walmart is still going strong. Maybe I just got caught up in the hype of "fancy Japanese rice cooker" and ignored that rice cookers really are a solved technology at this point. You've got me seriously questioning my life choices here lol.

wren_mitchell13d ago

Okay so you say it "paid off" because you saved on takeout but $220 is still a lot for something that just cooks rice. I get that it's convenient but a $30 basic rice cooker does the exact same thing. Set it and walk away too. My cheap one from Target has lasted 4 years without burning anything. Seems like you paid extra for the brand name and fancy features that don't really change the rice that much. Maybe I'm just not picky enough to notice the difference.