Worth It? $200 Rice Cooker VS $30 Blind Taste Test!

(Not Sponsored!)

A blind taste test comparing jasmine and Japanese sushi rice cooked in a basic $30 rice cooker VS the fancy $200 rice cooker that's been highly rated and reviewed online. Will I be able to tell? Is it worth the money to buy the fancy one! Let's find out!

CONNECT WITH ME!

----------------

About Pai:

Pailin “Pai” Chongchitnant is the author of the Hot Thai Kitchen cookbook, co-host of a Canadian TV series One World Kitchen on Gusto TV, and creator and host of the YouTube channel Pailin's Kitchen.

Pai was born and raised in southern Thailand where she spent much of her "playtime" in the kitchen. She traveled to Canada to study Nutritional Sciences at the University of British Columbia, and was later trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in San Francisco.

[PailinsKitchen]

PS. I forgot to mention that this is NOT sponsored!
PSS. I forgot to mention the timer function on the zoji which I don’t use but it could be a game changer for some. You can tell it to start cooking at a certain time so it’s ready for when you get home/wake up.

[maryhepburn]

I just have to share this. I donated my "red" rice cooker when I downsized in a move, and was really missing rice. I happened on a Zojirushi cooker in pristine condition at a thrift store, complete with accessories and cooking instructions. It seriously looked like it had been used ONCE. It's an older model (maybe 4 or 5 years old), but I couldn't pass it up for the price. It cost me all of $8, minus my 10% senior citizen discount. I love my $7.20 Zojirushi!

[rgreeneish]

I cant believe I just watched a 24 minute rice cooking and eating video. This is my first time seeing any of your videos and I see why you have over 1.8M subscribers. Awesome refreshing personality, informative and fun. Well done.

[SuitUpDubstep]

I have kind of the red one, mine is smaller and white, but the function is the same. What I've found to do with that one is to use 1 part rice to 1.5 parts water. When it flips to "keep warm" after cooking, I shut it off completely and fluff the rice and then place the lid on top again to steam for 10 minutes. That seems to fix the dryer bottom rice and makes all of the rice really good. Just thought to share this in case someone would want that tip.

[gwenhyfarbeati]

i got the zoji after mentioning to my husband that i missed having a rice cooker. i made one batch of rice with it and said it was already worth the $200 😂 even just the tiny conveniences (the handles on the inner pot, and the removable inner lid) make it worth it IMO. i don't eat rice THAT often (2-3x a week) but i love it so so much anyway. it was a little splurge, but absolutely worth it.

[origin]

Somewhere in Japan someone is busy screaming "$200 is not an expensive rice cooker"

[kiddwong]

Who actually puts away their rice cooker? Ours is permanently on the kitchen counter next to the toaster and the kettle.

[banksofnoon]

If you are a college student, get the RED color one. You can cook rice, vegetable, ramen, pasta, stew pork or beef or chicken, make soup. You only need that RED one and you are settled for all years in college.

[ChooaBunny]

I don't know why this was on my recommended when I'm an uncultured swine who thinks that all rice tastes the same but not gonna lie, now I feel the urge to buy an expensive rice cooker that sings, swallows it's own cord and has a pretty bowl.
The company should have sponsored her, her excitement with the smallest things made me really want this cooker and I'm not even a rice fan.

[joaojoaooo]

The only YouTube show that does not exasperate me with pointless music/talking/visuals. Every moment in these videos is gold.

[missbean_anna]

I'm from Singapore ( Asian). I do agree the expensive Japanese rice cooker like Tiger or Zjiurishi is worth the money to cook all kinds of rice perfectly everytime. Tried cooking Jasmine white rice, Jasmin brown rice, Japanese short grain rice, basmati rice in it before. The porridge turn out perfect using Japanese rice with the rice cooker. My Japanese rice came out like what you described, shiny & fluffy. It's my family favourite. Usually they do come with timer so it does cook longer but since I can do with timer, it doesn't matter. By the way, try not to wash your rice in the rice cooker pot as the uncooked rice can scratch the pot easily.

[hinas_for_life]

I live in Japan and the rice cookers are designed to cook the rice so that the individual grains standup in your dish if that makes sense. Japanese rice is much stickier that long grain rice so it sticks together after cooking but the cookers cook so that each grain gets cooked evenly so the grains keep shape and perky in your rice bowl. Difficult to explain without pictures. Well cooked Japanese rice is glossy and REALLY delicious!

[fanicakibner]

As a chef I have a Tiger Japanese rice cooker that I love. The convenience of not having to babysit my rice while I make the rest of my dinner is well worth the price. My instructions told me to use the cup provided, fill to the water level and soak the rice in the cooker with water for 1/2 hour before starting. I have adapted my personal American recipes and make both basmati and long grain rice in different flavors like curry, lemon and dill, chicken, beef, spanish, herbed etc.

[hirokohill]

Thank you so much for doing this episode. I own a Zojirushi rice cooker just like yours for 11 years. Your episode made me happy that I spent worth money on the rice cooker! FYI, we as Japanese don’t wash rice in the Teflon coated bowl because over the years you will scratch the bowl so just wash rice in a different bowl then pour the washed rice in the Teflon bowl.

[TheNunakun]

This host is literally one of the best in show biz. Great energy, charming, clear and concise, and doesn't take herself too seriously.
Learned a lot from this vid. Thanks!

[chrislee]

Part of what you are buying is the time and convenience. You no longer have to stand at the stove to babysit your rice, particularly in those last minutes. Being free during that time to be mom/dad has no measurable price. 👍

[andrewgavin]

I have a Zoji myself (the grey one with the pressure cooking, looks pretty similar to yours). Besides making really nice rice every time, one of the things I love about it is how well it keeps the rice warm for a LONG time. It’s fine days later. After maybe 3 days you can tell it’s older, but it’s pretty good. The next day it’s pretty close to same as when it’s fresh.

[n.ayisha]

your utter joy about your rice cooker is infectious.

[xungnham]

This extra long cook time of expensive models explains so much. Whenever my brother and his family come visit, they act like there isn't rice in the house, that it's not a meal option if it isn't already cooked and waiting. It influences takeout and restaurant decisions. As a family, they have a Tiger and probably cook 8-10 rice cups at a time, increasing the cook time even more. They're probably use to 60+ minute cook times for rice and thus don't want to wait that long to eat. Living by myself, and owning a cheap rice cooker, I only cook 2-4 rice cups at a time, so I'm use to 10-15 minute wait times and only cook it right before I need it because it's not that long and I don't eat rice every day. This also explains why they like to err on cooking too much rather than not enough, whereas for me, after they leave and overshot by 2-3 rice cups, that's commiting me to finishing off the rice for the next couple days.

[JPx]

We’ve had our $200 Zojirushi rice cooker for over 10 years, which we received as a wedding present. One of the the best appliances we own. Well worth the cost.

We also recently bought a $200 Zojirushi water heater, to make tea, soup, etc. Pricey, but made at the same high quality as our rice cooker. Great stuff.