Slow cookers and rice makers

Lifestyle Parenting, Household Affairs and Cuisine corner
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Is there any room in the desi kitchen for slow cookers and rice makers?

I don’t get the need for either device.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

Good question Hinna.. I have considered buying a rice cooker .. but only coz people said rice comes out perfectly done in them .. but when i actually used it twice , I realized its pointless coz it wont let you cook for times when you have more then 6-7 people ! so I returned it immediately ..

So yeah I think it may have its use for people who work and have tight schedules ... but for the rest of us , specially for desi cooking the traditional pots are the best !

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

rice cooker is a life saver at the end of a long day for me.
slow cooker ... great for pot roasts, chilis, stews ... again ... its heaven to come home to a freshly made hot dinner.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

those who use slow-cookers, don't you feel nervous leaving an appliance running all day while no one is home?

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

Rice cookers work great for a family of up to 4-5 people.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

How long does it take to make rice in a rice cooker? I can easily make rice in 10-15 minutes on the stove top. And for slow cookers, you can't really boon the meat..

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

about 20-25 mins, but its not just about the time - its more like 'set it and forget it' kind of peace of mind. You can turn the rice cooker on, go and do some other chores and come back after 30 mins and rice is ready.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

I'm kind of nervous about leaving a small appliance on without me in the near vicinity. Last weekend the toaster broke out into flames while I was upstairs. The whole house was filled with smoke for a really long time. I think I'll just have to babysit my kitchen appliances :p

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

Rice cookers are way safer than toasters as there are no exposed elements or wires.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

@Hinna : My rice cooker gets rice ready in 15 mins. and as TLK said ... I use that time to do a quick stir fry or salad or shower or dishes etc without hovering over the pot....
also if you have yakhni n meat premade ... it makes one heck of a quick and yummy pulao.
you are right you cant bhoonify the meat ... but you can sear/fry the meat before adding to the cooker. Again, its convenient for people who spend of of their time outside of home. haleem turns out pretty good in a slow cooker!

@Runiner: I was afraid the first time ... but not since. you just have to make sure there is enough fluid in there. Also, a small slow cooker cooks at approx 70 watts, larger slow cookers tween 180-250 watts. thats the same as a light bulb (60 - 250 watts)!

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

I have to ask my wife to try that one day. That sounds yummy.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

I get some recipes from youtube, and the auntie uses a rice cooker to make pulao. It looks really good! I have heard of people even making biryani in a rice cooker - of course they make the salan separately, and then layer in the rice cooker. Seems pretty convenient to me!

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

We don't have one. We do have a slow cooker we use frequently though!

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

I have never used arice cooker but used the slow cooker to make Haleem recently. The bigger size is good enough for dawats and the haleem turned outreally well without much of the "ghota" used in traditional pots. People havce used it to make nihari and kheer as welkl, but I haven't done that.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

Thanks to Ehle's tip, yesterday I cut some celery, carrots and esparragos, layered them in rice cooker along with rice, and used store bought vegetable broth instead of water. It came out as pretty yummy rice pilaf.

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

:k:

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

I have a slow cooker, so far I've used it for nihari, haleem and firni.

All three have turrned out better than cooking them on the stove, and have been real time savers has it's meant I havent had to watch them, or worry about them catching on the bottom.

I'd love some other recipes though, if people would like to share :)

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Re: Slow cookers and rice makers

but it runs on electricity right? does it not sort of increase your electricity bills .. when the slow cooker runs for hours ?

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This is why my mum uses one..

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CB for us electricity is cheaper than gas, and it doesn't use much electricity. So is actually pretty cost effective.