Do you often cook a specific type of rice? Do you want a digital rice cooker with settings for cooking different rice varieties? You may read my review of electric rice cookers for cooking different types of rice, such as long-grain rice, medium-grain rice, short-grain rice, and brown rice.
What Is Long-Grain Rice?
These are rice varieties which have a long, slender grain that is up to five times longer than it is wide. Long-grain rice has a firm texture. It stays separate and fluffy when cooked. It is often served as a side dish or added to salads.
The most common varieties of aromatic (fragrant) long-grain white rice are Basmati rice and Jasmine rice.
Jasmine rice is a long-grain rice from Thailand which has a subtle fragrance and a slightly sticky texture.
Basmati rice is another popular long-grain rice that originates from India and Pakistan near the Himalayas.
Best Rice Cooker For Long-Grain Rice
The Zojirushi NS-LGC05 fuzzy logic rice cooker has a specific setting for cooking long-grain white rice. However, it does not have a specific menu setting for cooking Jasmine rice. Nevertheless, you can still use the long-grain white setting for cooking either Jasmine or Basmati rice.
The Zojirushi NS-LGC05 (read my full review) also has other menu options available for cooking white/mixed rice, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice and even steel cut oatmeal.
In brief, the Zojirushi NS-LGC05 is a small rice cooker with a 3-cup uncooked rice capacity. It is the only rice cooker I could find which has a specific menu setting for long-grain white rice (check price on Amazon – paid link).
What Is Medium-Grain Rice?
This type of rice is shorter and thicker. It is moist and sticky when cooked. Arborio rice is a popular medium-grain rice variety that is used in making risotto.
Best Rice Cooker For Risotto
There is only one suggestion for an electric rice cooker that can make risotto, and that is the Breville BRC600XL (I reviewed it here).
The Breville BRC600XL has a nonstick cooking bowl with a 10-cup uncooked rice capacity. Its control panel has buttons for both Risotto and Rice/Steam.
The BRC600XL model is not called The Risotto Plus for nothing. It boils the medium-grain rice to create a creamy risotto without the need for constant stirring. Nevertheless, you can easily view the rice through the clear glass lid and stir it if necessary. This Breville rice cooker can also sauté/sear and slow cook. You may learn more about it at Amazon (paid link).
What Is Short-Grain Rice?
This type of rice is short and fat. It forms clumps and becomes sticky when cooked. Short-grain rice is used for making sushi or rice pudding.
Best Rice Cooker For Short-Grain Rice
I think that the Zojirushi NP-HCC induction heating rice cooker (which I reviewed here) might be a good choice for cooking short-grain rice, because it has both an induction heating system and a menu option for sushi rice.
Furthermore, the NP-HCC model combines the following rice menu settings into a single appliance: white rice (regular, softer or harder), jasmine white rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, rice porridge, sweet rice, brown rice and GABA brown rice.
In particular, the Zojirushi NP-HCC model has an induction heating system that heats the inner cooking pot more efficiently, which should cook short-grain rice better with more accurate temperature control when compared to rice cookers with a heating plate. There are two sizes available: a 5.5-cup and a 10-cup model. Click here for current pricing on Amazon (paid link).
What Is Brown Rice?
Brown rice is a whole-grain rice. Only the inedible outer hull has been removed, leaving the bran layer and cereal germ unchanged.
Brown rice is turned into white rice by removing the bran layer and cereal germ. The rice grain is then polished to remove a layer of essential fats, which will spoil due to air exposure. This creates a polished, shiny, white rice with an extended storage life but reduced nutritional value. In fact, white rice has to be fortified with vitamin B and iron to improve its nutritional profile!
Brown rice still has its natural nutrient profile which includes vitamin B1, B3 and B6 as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and selenium.
Rice Cooker For GABA Brown Rice
The Cuckoo CR-0631F is a 6-cup South Korean rice cooker. It has a GABA menu setting and a menu setting for mixed/brown rice. Other menu options include Glutinous, Porridge, Steam and Slow Cook.
Germinated brown rice is brown rice that has been soaked in water for a few hours. The water activates the germination process, which increases the levels of certain nutrients, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Activated brown rice is also softer to eat and easier to digest.
The Cuckoo CR-0631F is an affordable South Korean rice cooker for cooking GABA brown rice (view price on Amazon – paid link).
Conclusion
Which is the best rice cooker for cooking different varieties of rice? Buying three rice cookers for cooking three different types of rice saves you neither money nor counter space.
For the most part, the Zojirushi NS-LGC05 is probably the best choice if you want to cook aromatic long-grain rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice and sushi rice (buy it on Amazon – paid link).
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay.