Tefal 3682.15 > Reviews > Nice Rice!

Author's product rating:   

Performance	Excellent
Ease of use	Very easy
Durability	Satisfactory
User's Manual	Good
Value for money	Excellent

Advantages:	So easy to use
Disadvantages:	None so far !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I received the Tefal 3.2l Classic automatic rice cooker as a present from my Mum - Good old Mum!

To be honest, whenever I thought about the concept of a rice cooker, I thought, "What's the point?" Surely a saucepan or a microwave would cook rice just as well? Every friend I asked agreed with this theory - they all seem to either boil rice in a saucepan on the hob or in a microwave.

So it was with trepidation that I first tried out my new rice cooker one lunchtime, to make a risotto. I thought, mistakenly, that you could only cook plain rice in this new gadget, but the instruction leaflet contains recipes for risottos, pasta, steamed vegetables and fruit.

My rice cooker looks much like a slow cooker, with a non-stick internal bowl plus a basket that sits inside the bowl. The basket is used for steaming fruit and veg, it is not required to cook rice. The lid has a clear section, so you can see what's happening, and the cooker comes complete with a serving spoon and a measuring cup. The bowl and basket are dishwasher safe. When serving the rice, there is a holder for the lid on one of the handles, and a little magnetic 'condensation cup' underneath to catch the steam that runs off the lid when it is off.

In a nutshell, you use the cup to measure out rice into the bowl. So far, so good. Then, you pour cold water into the bowl to the level required - it is clearly marked on the side of the bowl. After adding salt, you put on the lid and switch it on - and that is it! There is a sensor inside the cooker that weighs the rice and water and calculated the cooking time. When that cooking time is up, it automatically switches to 'keep warm' mode. The rice cooks perfectly, doesn't overcook and stays warm, which is great if you have guests.

I made a mushrrom risotto, which involved putting the above ingredients into the bowl, plus mushrooms, onion, olive oil and ham. It took 16 minutes and was lovely.

Last night, after finding myself with a glut of pears, I steamed them in the basket with a little sugar and cinnamon. The cooking time was automatic and they kept warm until we were ready to eat them. I'm not sure how long rice would keep warm in the cooker - I'll update this review should I have cause to find out.

The rice cooker cost £39.99 from Allders, but I'm sure it could be found at a cheaper price elsewhere. It was easy to use, easy to clean and I can see me using it regularly in the future.