Rice Cooker vs Crock Pot
Food is one of the most uncomplicated comforts life has to offer, so it stands to reason that we all want to eat something delicious. However, in today’s world, where both genders work, finding the time to make a sumptuous meal can be quite a challenge. That is why kitchen appliance makers work tirelessly to make effective brands that are either quick or need no supervision.
Two such modern tools are rice cookers and Crock Pots. With rice being one of the most versatile foods out there, it makes sense to know which appliance would work best and under what circumstances. While the rice cooker is an obvious choice when it comes to rice, the Crock Pot can prove to be a useful appliance under different situations too.
What is the difference between Rice Cooker Vs Crock Pot
Let’s find out the difference between Rice cooker vs Crock pot.
What is a Rice Cooker?
A rice cooker is a kitchen appliance that uses electricity to either boil or steam rice. Rice cookers came to being in the 1950s in japan made by Toshiba. The original rice cooker’s purpose was to make perfectly cooked rice. Still, the modern rice cooker has undergone several changes and improvisations to make a variety of foods.
It consists of a cooking bowl, a thermostat, and a heat source that is electrically powered. Nearly all rice cookers have a non-stick and detachable pot for easy cleanup. You can set it to warming temperatures of 150˚F and cooking temperatures of 212˚F. It is by maintaining a constant temperature of 212˚F that rice cookers can make such perfect rice.
Some of the types of rice cookers include;
There are several rice cooker types you can choose from including;
Standard Rice Cookers
Standard rice cookers are the traditional types of rice cookers with a few variations like a detachable power cord. Equipped with a thermal sensor, they can sense when the water is fully absorbed and shut off. However, they are only limited to making white rice.
Improved Rice Cooker
As the name suggests, they are improved versions of the standard rice cooker. They have slightly more options in that they can cook both white and brown rice. They also have basic steaming options for steamed vegetables. Unlike standard versions, they have timers fitted to them.
Multifunctional Rice Cookers
These versatile rice cookers offer more options than their predecessors. In addition to cooking a wider variety of rice like sushi rice, they can also make porridge, soft cereals, risotto, and steam fish and vegetables. They also have a timer and led functions to go complete with their modern look.
Induction rice cookers
This rice cooker will offer you the most cooking and heating options. In addition to warming options, they have an extended warming option to keep your food nice and warm. However, they are more expensive mostly under 200 dollars and use more power.
Benefits of Rice Cooker
- By maintaining a constant boiling point temperature, rice cookers can help you make perfect rice. Some even offer you an option to fluff it up if you want. You can also use rice cookers to steam vegetables and even make the perfect risotto without having to stir it like you would on a stovetop.
- You can set up the rice or cereal to cook, leave it and come back to find it prepared. If you did the same thing with a stovetop, you would quickly burn the food.
- Nearly all modern rice cookers will come with a warming option. You can leave your rice all night and come back to find it warm and perfect just the way you left it as long as you set it on warm. Some rice cookers can keep your food warm for more than twelve hours.
- Clean up is easier because of the non-stick insert pot made of ceramic or porcelain.
What is a Crock pot?
A crock pot is a type of slow cooker that uses electricity to cook as opposed to external heating sources. The word crock pot first came to being in the 1970s as bean cookers. With time though, crock pots have been redesigned and improved to be more diverse than traditional slow cookers.
Though not all, crock pots will have a surround heating unit to produce heat from both the bottom and the sides for even cooking. They are capable of temperature settings of a simmering low of 200˚F to a cooking high of 300˚F with some having a warming option.
Some of the types of crock pots
There are several types of crock pots you can choose from including;
Ceramic Crock Pots
As said before, these crock pots have a ceramic pot that sits on top of a surrounding heating system. You can remove the detachable ceramic pot for other functions, including cooking on a microwave or an oven.
You can even remove it and use it to serve food at the table or for thorough cleaning if you want. According to several manufacturers and tests, the ceramic used in crock pots will not have any toxins no matter the amount of temperature you subject to it.
Make sure that whatever ceramic insert you choose has been approved and proven not to contain any PBA.
Porcelain Crock Pots
Porcelain crock pots, on the other hand, will have a porcelain pot that sits on top of a surround heating system.
Given that porcelain is a pure clay product, it is highly recommended in cooking as it has no toxins and completely no metal leaching.
Porcelain is also denser and more durable than ceramic making it a better option for the kitchen.
Programmable Crock Pot
While not that known, programmable crock pots can be remotely operated no matter how far away you are.
You can even ask Alexa to change settings while you are on the go.
Benefits of Crock Pot
Some of the benefits of crock pots are;
- You can just set the food and go about your daily activities while your food cooks. You can even toss everything in the pot, go to sleep and wake up to a nicely cooked meal.
- Crock pots make it easy to keep healthy. Crock pots make one-pot meals, which tend to be healthy 90% of the time. Go ahead and check the recipes.
- You can easily keep crock pots clean. Since they are either porcelain or ceramic, all you have to do is wipe or rinse out the pot. That is it! No complicated cleaning is required.
- You can be sure of sumptuous meals. If you have ever taken time to notice, the more time food takes to cook, the tastier it will be. Meat cooked in a crock pot will be tender and lend its flavor to whatever meal you are making.
Rice Cooker Vs Crock Pot (Comparison)
Price Comparison
Rice cookers will cost you anywhere from $20 for a standard rice cooker to $200 for an induction rice cooker. Crock pots, on the other hand, will cost you anywhere from $29 for a basic ceramic crock pot to $199 for a programmable digital crock pot. Mostly rice cookers are cheaper than crock pots except the induction one.
Clean Comparison
Crock pots seem more comfortable to clean than rice cookers owing to the insert pot’s material. While rice cookers have non-stick pots, compared to crock pots, they are harder to clean as they need interactive cleaning.
Types of Food
When it comes to variety, crock pots can cook a broader range of foods than rice cookers. While high-end induction cookers can make risotto, rice, shrimp, and breakfast, A crock pot can do the same and more, including stews, chilies, and any slow cooker recipe. A detachable crock pot pot can also be used in a microwave, while a rice cooker pot cannot as it is metallic. On the other hand, while a crock pot cooks more foods, it cannot steam food while a modern rice cooker can.
Cooking Speed
While rice cookers are not the fastest cooking appliances, they are faster than crock pots. Crock pots might cook delicious foods, but they do so in a slow cooker sort of way. On the other hand, rice cookers deliver faster than stove-top pots but slower than instant pots.
Conclusion
A crock pot can do what a rice cooker can do, and a rice cooker can do what a crock pot cannot do. The choice between a rice cooker vs crock pot will depend on you and what your kitchen needs are. Either way, you will have an independent cooking appliance on your hands.
