Can Rice Cooker be used as a Slow Cooker, Which is Better and Why

Does anyone here ever wonder how can rice cooker be used as a slow cooker? If so, which is better and why? Don’t worry; I’ll help you figure it out in this new post!

Rice Cooker vs. Slow Cooker

Don’t get fooled by so many enticing advertisements selling you new kitchen gadgets. Remember, most of them actually go to the basement after some time. What you need is an appliance that can stand the test of time while performing multiple tasks on a daily basis.

Rice cookers and slow cookers are two famous kitchen appliances that are put into battle for so many years and today we will set the records straight on which equipment is best to use. Both are versatile and durable compared to the rest of your kitchen gadgets which are not for long-term.

Each of them perform two different operations so to there is nothing really to compare apart from sharing the same “set and walk” feature. This quality made them both a popular choice for busy people and culinary fans.

Rice Cooker Magic

Rice cookers are built for faster way of cooking while evenly distributing the heat temperature to achieve the perfect dish. It has multi-function settings too wherein you can steam vegetables while cooking grains below. This in fact, is the strongest feature of rice cookers.

Surely Slow Cooker

By its name you can already understand how this kitchen equipment works. It slowly and evenly distributes heat to cook the food which allows the entire flavor to burst from within giving you tender and perfectly cooked meal. This is why you can roast meat without burning!

Verdict

Let us make it clear that rice cookers function differently from slow cookers so there is nothing to debate on. It cooks faster so it is highly recommended for those always on-the-go.

The only difference is the time of cooking between the two devices. We are just too lucky to have both since we are able to maximize their full potentials.

Can Rice Cooker be used as a Slow Cooker?

Yes. Rice cookers can also be used as a slow cooker. If you don’t want to spend more money on buying a slow cooker but you got yourself a modern rice cooker with different functionalities then you don’t have to look any further.

How?

Rice cookers can get the job done like the slow cookers. You just simply cook the recipe as normal and then leave it cooking on ‘warm’ setting for about 2 hours to get that tasty, perfect slow-cooked dish.

However there are rice cookers today that have added slow-cooking functions which are suitable for cooking meat and other main dishes.

What kind of Rice Cookers

There are many types of rice cookers that have multiple cooking settings, if you want to know which one is suitable for you; I recommend that you check out the best Japanese rice cookers. We all know that most quality brands came from Japan such as Zojirushi and take note, the first ever rice cooker was also invented by the Toshiba, a Japanese brand.

Modern rice cookers with the following technologies have multiple settings such as slow cooking:

• Neuro-Fuzzy logic
• Micom
• Induction Heating

They perform way better than standard rice cookers because they get the job well done without having too much human intervention.

This video below is showing how you can use a rice cooker as a slow cooker using a micom type rice cooker by simply using the slow cook setting which you can set the time.

This braised pork recipe goes well when you have hot and perfect fluffy rice! You can choose which type of rice is healthier for your daily meals by checking out this previous post.

Slow Cooker Pros

• In terms of size, slow cooker is better than rice cooker because it can roast a whole chicken; braise pork and beef, and even family-sized meals like soups and stews.
• Slow cookers can cook an entire recipe unattended. You can put all the ingredients inside the slow cooker in the morning and let it cook the whole day.
• Clutter-free kitchen since you are using one appliance only.
• Energy-efficient compared to using oven or stove top

Which is better and why?

We don’t need to choose which one is better and why because rice cookers have totally different functions from a slow cooker. Both are space-savers, multi-functional, and economical at home.

It totally depends on what we need and how we need to use each. Slow cookers are meant for cooking main dishes such as tougher meat and other recipes for longer periods of time to really let the flavors blend well. This is perfect for those who want a traditional home-cooked meal and for special occasions.

Although we can cook rice in a slow cooker, the cooking time takes a while compared to rice cookers wherein it can cook faster in just a matter of 30-45 minutes. If you are living independently or a busy professional and you don’t have all the luxury of time then you can choose rice cooker over.

Points to Ponder

Before deciding which kitchen equipment to buy, ask yourself the following questions to help you better decide:

• Do you need it?
• Do you cook rice on a daily basis?
• Is slow cooking suitable for you or your family?
• Is it worth the price?
• Will it have a space in your kitchen?

When you already have the answers to these questions, then you probably know which one to buy.

Care to Share

In today’s modern living, minimalism and versatility matter especially in the kitchen. Rice cookers and slow cookers have the same cooking purpose of giving us convenience, efficiency, and price value.

Rice cookers are smaller and cheaper while slow cookers have bigger and elaborate functions.  If you have slow cooker or rice cooker recipes that you would like to share, let me know on the comments below!