Being in college is difficult, especially in the U.S.A. Between classes, extracurricular activities, working out, maintaining friendships, and trying to stay healthy while paying for school seems impossible!
However, the rice cooker offers a huge helping hand to the worn-out college student. If you’re tired of eating ramen and pizza, a rice cooker might be able to help!
We made a list of the top 5 and offer helpful insights on h
Can You Have a Rice Cooker In College?
Every college has its own regulations and requirements for the appliances permitted on campus. If you are staying in an on-campus dorm there are more restrictions than in an off-campus dorm. However, you should always be careful to check with your college administration before making a purchase.
Williams College in Maryland lists rice cookers as one of the many appliances forbidden on campus. The college sites fire hazards as the main concern driving the prohibition of rice cookers, and coffee makers, among numerous other devices.
This is not unique for William’s College, either. Other larger colleges such as Arizona State University also forbid most appliances in on-campus dorm rooms. However, rice cookers remain a favorite for college students for their convenience, affordability, and their compact size.
If you are in college and hope to do some of your own cooking, you should stay off campus. Some college students choose to stay in an off-campus college dorm which is typically less regulated.
However, make sure you check the off-campus house rules to guarantee your rice cooker won’t be confiscated. If you bring a rice cooker into a dorm that forbids them, you can also expect a fine, which varies in severity.
You can also opt to take college online or stay in a cheap apartment close to campus. Fortunately, most college communities have many small studio apartments that can accommodate you in college. In these situations, rice cookers make the perfect kitchen tool during these busy, complicated years of your life.
What Should You Look For In a Rice Cooker?
Rice cookers should have versatility and utility. This includes the size as well as the multiple capabilities of the machine. Additionally, you will want a machine that meets your space requirements and budget.
Rice cookers come in a variety of sizes, setting options, and personalizations. You should choose your machine based upon how you plan to use your machine and how much rice you usually use.
Price
Rice cookers can be as cheap as $40.00 for simple, smaller models. Or, they can cost over $300-$400.00 for a more complex, all-in-one unit.
For most college students, the smaller, cheaper units are more than adequate to accommodate simple meal preparation. However, the smaller units have several downsides that are not common for larger units.
Costly units usually last longer, have more capabilities for personalization and include a steamer. However, the cheaper units are perfect if you just want a convenient way to cook a cup or two of rice.
Portability
Although the ability to bring your appliances on the go may seem unnecessary, there are several benefits. Portable rice makers were designed to be brought camping, in an RV, or on a road trip.
It is easier to store and bring with you when you need to switch apartments or make the move from home. This makes it ideal for college students since they usually move quite a lot and can easily fit it back inside its box and pack it away in the trunk of their car.
Size
Size is an important factor for college students looking to make good use of minimal space. Since some dorms do not allow you to use rice cookers inside the dorm, you may need to use them in the common area. This makes space and size an even more important consideration.
While most expensive and versatile units can make up to ten cups of rice, smaller ones make between 1-3. However, unless you really love rice, a few cups at a time are more than adequate for the average person.
Capabilities
Although most rice cookers can cook quinoa, lentils, and other grains besides rice easily, there are some with more variety. Both small and large units can include a steamer basket which is one of the additions you should always seek out.
Customization is another key feature you should have in your rice cooker. Some rice cookers include only simple “start” and “open” buttons. However, Others will allow you to customize the temperature and keep your rice warm without burning it.
Maintenance
If you do not have easy access to a kitchen, you will want to make the cleanup experience as painless as possible. Most college dorms do not include a kitchen or easy access to a sink where cleanup can be done.
To keep cleanup simple, always make sure you buy a cooker with a non-stick pan. This will make cleanup so much simpler. Burnt rice further connects to the inside pot since it has large amounts of gluten and other sticky substances.
The Best Rice Cookers For College Students
1. DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot
The Dash Mini Rice cooker is the perfect, versatile, and space-saving device for any college student. Although meant for rice, it can easily be used for quinoa, oatmeal, and other convenience grains.
Additionally, it is portable, easily cleaned, and very affordable. With several color varieties, including blue, white, and pink, you can make it personalized and yours.
2. Aroma Housewares ARC-363-1NGB
The Aroma Housewares rice cooker is larger and more versatile than the Dash machine. This makes it ideal for cooking for yourself and guests.
The cooker used the steam from the rice pot to cook vegetables, meats, and other steamable foods. The stainless steel, non-stick pot, and easily cleanable lid makes cooking easy and effortless.
3. BLACK+DECKER Rice Cooker, 6-cup
Similar to the Aroma rice cooker, the Black and Decker is a larger rice cooker. It cooks up to 6 cups of cooked rice and can steam veggies and meats at the same time.
This rice cooker includes a non-stick tray, cooking pot, and is dishwasher safe. This makes cleanup and preparation easier and allows you to sit back while it does the cooking for you.
4. COMFEE’ Rice Cooker, Slow Cooker, Steamer, Stewpot, Saute All in One
The Comfee rice cooker is a somewhat unique variety on this list. It is an all-in-one convenience cooker and is especially ideal for college students living off campus with a bit more living space.
It includes the convenient steaming tray and timer features of the other rice cookers, but offers several other functions as well!
These include a pressure cooker for when you’re pressed for time, a slow cooker for when you want to start dinner in the morning while at class, as well as a sautee setting. The Comfee cooker offers ease, versatility, and functionality so you can get your day rolling.
5. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5-1/2-Cup
This is the most expensive option on our list, but this is for good reason. The Zojirushi rice cooker is sleek, convenient, and makes a variety of rice dishes to pique perfection.
Zojirushi features several rice cooking settings so no matter if you want white, brown, or jasmine, your machine will make it perfect! It has detachable parts and dishwasher-safe material so cleanup if a jiffy. Last, you can cook almost anything from rice, steamed foods, and even cake with the cake baking setting.
What Can You Cook in Your Rice Cooker?
Your rice cooker was specifically designed to cook course and hard grains such as rice, oatmeal, quinoa, and buckwheat. However, with the proper skills and setup you can also use your rice cooker to make pastries and one-pot meals.
There are several recipes online which give steps regarding how to make exotic dishes! However, we recommend you use your rice cooker for its intended purposes and try to avoid baking or cooking anything you’re unsure of.
Some of the best dishes to make in your rice cooker include:
- Chili
- Rice pudding
- Cinnamon baked apples
- Oatmeal
- Soups
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Shrimp and rice
Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, it gives a general idea of what types of foods you can make in your rice cooker. For the best results, we suggest you make more moist, wet foods than dry pastries.
One-pot meals, such as chili rice, chicken rice, and others of similar varieties, are super convenient for college students. They provide whole grains, proteins, and veggies all in one easy-to-make dish.