Black and Decker Rice Cooker

One of the most well-known makers of kitchen appliances in the world is Black and Decker. Rice cooker units are one of the many kinds of appliances they produce. They tend to be in the low to mid price ranges but are reliable machines without being expensive. Don't expect their cheaper units to be spectacular just because they are made by B&D, but you can generally trust their products to do what they are supposed to without breaking down.

One example of a budget Black and Decker rice cooker is the RC3406 "6 cup rice cooker". I wrote that in quotation marks because a lot of people misunderstand that to be 6 cups of uncooked rice, but in reality that means 6 cups of cooked rice, so it is really much smaller than people expect. This rice cooker really only makes enough for one or two people, so this will not be sufficient for cooking large family meals. But in terms of use and quality of rice, this is pretty darn good for such an inexpensive one. Its inside pan is non-stick, and it is even dishwasher safe, which makes it easy to wash. And it has an auto-warm function to stop the cooking but keep the rice warm once it has finished. It also features stay-cool handles and lid, so you won't burn yourself when you pick it up to move it. This is a pretty good little rice cooker for the price of $17.99-$24.99. Just remember that it's small.

A somewhat higher priced Black and Decker rice cooker is the RC-866 24 cup rice cooker and steamer, which sells for $39.99-$44.99. This is about 4 times the size of the RC3406, so this one is suitable for larger families. But again, be aware that 24 cups means 24 cups of cooked rice, not uncooked, so it may be smaller than you envision it. This cooker gets some mixed reviews, but most people seem to be satisfied with the quality of rice. Some people have complained about starch leaking out onto the counter. This can be partially dealt with by placing a towel underneath the rice cooker. It features a steamer basket which is good for preparing fish, vegetables, etc. It also has an auto-warming function that keeps your rice ready for hours after cooking.

These machines are your basic, reasonably-priced rice cookers. They are affordable for the average household and provide good rice without a lot of hassle. But don't expect top-of-the-line Zojirushi quality, since you do indeed get what you pay for. These are a good value, but not the best out there.