470001 Sun Dec 16 13:14:05 -0800 2007 11 41 Cookware 0 3213066 I've seen this thread, which is very helpful. It seems to be the top choice for higher-end cookers. I'm looking for a model for around $50, with maybe a six-cup capacity. Any rec's? Thanks! Sun Dec 16 13:14:05 -0800 2007 77061 bear 1 3214026 Zojirushi Sun Dec 16 19:47:30 -0800 2007 3213066 139589 ATaleOfFiction 2 3520816 I bought a Zojirushi (don't know the exact model but it was top of the line) - BUT it was not close to $50 (more like $200+ discounted). I use the rice cooker all the time so paying that was no problem. Funny thing is I have an old cheap rice cooker in storage that I had before - and I was not careful with it so it is all scratched up and makes crispy rice (browned). I have a Japanese friend that stayed with me and she told me that they buy special rice cookers to brown the rice like that - and all I did was to mistreat it. Sun Mar 23 20:05:45 -0700 2008 3214026 152425 cacruden 1 3222805 Try to find a asian market or appliance store in your area. Tiger is a good medium priced brand but your budget might be too low for an electronic/fuzzy logic type cooker although that's what you want to get. Wed Dec 19 12:58:35 -0800 2007 3213066 45073 RichardM 1 3222965 A quick peruse of Amazon's rice cooker options says that RichardM is correct: $50 is too low to get a fuzzy logic cooker. I think it's also right to say that's the best kind, but it's going to cost you more than $100 to get any sort of fuzzy logic cooker. As for brands, we've been very happy with our 5 cup Sanyo model. Wed Dec 19 13:42:31 -0800 2007 3213066 80141 ccbweb 2 3223604 I agree that the fuzzy logic rice cooker works well. I have a Zojirushi and I like it fine. Its strength for me is that it can cook brown rice, as well as white, and can handle "porridge," meaning risotto. If bear only cooks white rice, a less expensive cooker should be fine for her. Wed Dec 19 17:34:36 -0800 2007 3222965 134265 sueatmo 1 3223039 For your price range, based on my experiences with a Panasonic (National) I recommend a Panasonic. I saw a 5.5cup rice cooker for ~$35 at a local store a few weeks ago. Looking at Amazon today, they have that cooker for ~$30. My rice cooker is ~25 years old, used 15-20 times a year, and is not fuzzy logic. Wed Dec 19 13:56:13 -0800 2007 3213066 13661 Alan408 2 3223715 Cool. I'm looking to get a rice cooker not to make rice, I can do that very well, but to use for sous vide cooking with a PID controller. I need one with a mechanical switch as opposed to an electronic switch. Wed Dec 19 18:19:30 -0800 2007 3223039 89493 scubadoo97 3 3226303 scubadoo - I would think a rice cooker is a bit small for sous vide. Perhaps you might want to think about buying one of those restaurant grade electric steam pans (about eighty bucks). They hold a full hotel pan and use a heating element to heat the water in the reservoir. I've always thought about adapting one to use for sous vide but never got around to doing it. Although, I think with a thermocouple, a Fuji PID and a plug you could easily adapt the PID to the heating element. I would explore it more but I've just ordered 4 thermal circulators from PolyScience to play with! Thu Dec 20 13:47:55 -0800 2007 3223715 84765 onocoffee 4 3226771 Ono, I have been looking at this product. http://auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=44 For home use a good sized rice cooker would do the trick. 4 TC from PolySc is some serious bucks. Thu Dec 20 16:24:23 -0800 2007 3226303 89493 scubadoo97 1 3225157 We've had the small Panasonic for years now (it definitely can do six cups) and it works great for all kinds of rice. At Pearl River Trading I think it's $30 or less. Thu Dec 20 08:47:02 -0800 2007 3213066 151349 tinarina 1 3523975 Zojirushi makes low-end National-style models, as well as the pricier Neuro Fuzzy(love those names!)models. Have both types and love 'em--totally bomb-proof and worth the extra $. Mon Mar 24 17:56:56 -0700 2008 3213066 16382 Kagemusha