{"id":29749,"date":"2021-09-23T04:17:19","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T04:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/?p=29749"},"modified":"2022-09-29T06:40:34","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T06:40:34","slug":"rice-cooker-or-air-fryer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/rice-cooker-or-air-fryer\/","title":{"rendered":"Rice Cooker or Air Fryer [Which Would I Buy?]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Should you buy a rice cooker or an air fryer? If I was to buy only one of these, which of these would it be? Here I weigh up the options and compare the two products to help you decide (plus answer some FAQs).<\/em> If you scroll to the bottom you’ll find my cheat sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The basic difference between a rice cooker and an air fryer is the cooking method and types of meals you can prepare. It depends on the model how many functions<\/strong> are on offer. Both air fryers and rice cookers can have multiple uses. They are versatile in that respect and both come with presets<\/strong> to make life easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main use of a rice cooker<\/strong> is to cook rice and other grains. It uses moist heat. You’re able to also steam vegetables and fish. Some function as slow cookers and some have cake and yoghurt. settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Air fryers deep fry foods<\/strong> without oil using dry heat<\/a> though adding oil gives crispier results for some foods, as I explain elsewhere<\/a>. Air fryers can roast, grill, bake, and dehydrate food. Reheating food<\/strong> is a popular use of air fryers because the food stays crisp unlike how it becomes soggy with microwave reheating. Air fryers aren’t promoted as rice cookers, but they can be used to cook rice…see below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Yes, it takes about \u00bd hour to cook uncooked rice in an air fryer preheated to 360\u2109 using a cake baking basket (vs a pizza pan – see below). <\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s not as straightforward as with a rice cooker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With an air fryer you preheat the unit. Meanwhile boil water in a kettle or other water cooker.<\/strong> You’ll need to work out the rice to water ratio yourself and then add the required amounts to the pan. Cover and wrap the cake basket with aluminum foil before setting the timer and running the appliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Compare this with a rice cooker, where you simply add the rice and then cold water up to the mark inside. Then simply shut the lid and select the controls for the particular rice setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the different features in some detail. You’ll find a quick comparison in my cheat sheet at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In choosing an air fryer size, you might want to factor in your family size, food you wish to prepare, energy consumption<\/a>, and price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bigger the size in wattage the more energy you will use and higher the price of the unit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the air fryer uses a fan to force hot air around the food in the cooking process, this fan creates a sound. Compare this to the relative quietness of a rice cooker. The good thing is that not all air fryers are as loud as others. I wrote an article on the noise output from air fryers<\/a>, where you can find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This will vary with size and make. Both an air fryer and a rice cooker are small appliances and so would use low energy relatively speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don’t recommend it. So, unless designed for it…no, you can’t deep fry foods in a rice cooker. This article covers what to do if you burn the bottom of your rice cooker<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Air fryers are fairly compact and thus portable. Rice cookers can vary in how compact they are. Some are quite bulky. I compared the dimensions in my article on the popular brands of rice cookers,<\/a> where you’ll find more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll find inexpensive air fryers just as you will with rice cookers. Price will vary depending on the brand, the size, and the features included (as indicated in the table below). The multifunctional rice cooker\/pressure cooker types are the ones you can expect at the higher end of the scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as far as the best versatility for price, my take is an air fryer has the advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Air Fryer 1500watts<\/strong><\/a>
available at Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
The Aroma Rice Cooker<\/strong><\/a>
available at Amazon <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nUses of air fryer vs rice cooker <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can you cook rice in an air fryer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Air Fryer Accessories<\/strong><\/a>
available at Amazon\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nChoosing an air fryer versus a rice cooker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to choose air fryer size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Energy consumption<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here’s how to work out the electricity drawn by any appliance:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Can you fry foods in a rice cooker?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bench space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Price<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Comparison table – air fryers ranging from around $50 up to about $150<\/h4>\n\n\n\n