I recently bought a 3 cup model by Panasonic. I didn't spend a lot, just got a basic model in case I didn't find it useful. I really like it because you 'set it and forget it', and get perfect rice. When I made rice on my cooktop, I had to check several times to make sure it was at the right temp - seems it was either too high and boiling or too low and just sittin' there. Then there were times I'd overcook it and have to start over.

They have models where you can cook rice and steam veggies or other items at the same time, and also 'fuzzy logic' models. I really really wanted this one, it's so cute! But the price....yikes!!!

Linked below is what came up on the Amazon search so you can see what's available and read some reviews. Not sure what your budget is, but #3 looks like a good choice if she wants a larger model with the steam basket.

Here is a link that might be useful: clicky

I have an electric rice cooker/vegetable steamer but I really only use it for steaming eggs, instead of boiling them.

I've had an electric rice cooker/veggie steamer for years.
I love it; it always cooks the rice perfect and keeps it warm for hours. It's great for steaming veggies too. I have a Rivil. My MIL gave it to us for Christmas one year.

Linda P

I have one and I love it for the same reasons weed listed. I've had it for four years.

I have one that also steams veggies--asparagus always comes out perfectly--but it doesn't warm the rice. The warmer feature is nice because you can leave the rice in it until you're ready to eat--I know people who leave it in all day. However, mine has components that are all dishwasher safe, which I think a lot of the cookers that are warmers do not have.

Another handy thing about it is that instructions for water/rice and water/veggie ratios and cooking times are printed on the back of the appliance itself, so if you lose the instruction manual you can still use it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Black and Decker Rice Cooker

I've several vegetarian friends and all own a rice cookers and use it all the time.

Michelle

I love my rice cooker. It has a steamer basket that I sometimes put in there and add frozen veggies after the rice has been cooking for awhile. They come out perfect. I found putting them in at the beginning was too long.
I can't help with brands because I get different ones over here.
Lisa

I have a Krups model that is both rice cooker and vegie steamer. Before that, I had a Black & Decker...but it died after about 5 years. I use the thing for both.

One thing about Krups - they were very easy to deal with when I needed service. My machine was stored in the garage before our kitchen remodel - I grabbed it off the shelf, and the glass lid went crashing to the floor of the garage, shattering itself into a million pieces. I called Krups and paid $10 for another lid, but I had it in 2 days.

I'm not sure about the smartness of glass lids for this reason - but I prefer them to the plastic lids you find on other brands. My B&D had an aluminum lid.

DonnaR/CA

How useful it is will depend on how often she eats. rice and other stemaed grains. Some people buy them and they sit in the garage; I use mine at least once a week.

We had a bare-bones one for many years. I think it was a Salton. It died after long service and we replaced it with a similar model from Black and Decker that lasted maybe two months. For some reason, I HATE cooking rice, so I really wanted a good cooker. I shoved my inner penny pincher aside (I'm known in my family for never buying anything for myself) and went for a Zoji with fuzzy logic. It was pricey, but it is worth every penny we paid for it. It makes perfect rice every time (and pretty darn good oatmeal and polenta, too).

Here is a link that might be useful: here's the one I have -- and I like this vender, too

Here is the one I have.....Zojirushi NS-TGC10 Micom 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Steel
My DDIL is Japanese and when my DS and his family moved back to Tokyo last month, I got their rice cooker. Seems like it cooks too hot there.
I love it! But it doesn't steam veggies so I use my old one for them.
Cooks rice perfectly and keeps it warm for a long time.
But I never would have bought one that costly.

I have one and love it -- I just dump the ingredients in and don't have to watch it or worry about it being overdone- it switches off automatically once it's done and clicks over to the "warming" setting. Love it.

Here is a deal from Amazon if anyone is interested but you have to hurry. It's 59.99.

Here is a link that might be useful: Special deal

I have one and I love it - I have a Zojirushi. DH insisted on getting one after he lived in Japan and had one there. I'm not big on a bunch of specialized small appliances (I just don't have room) but I really like this one.

I also bought one at Costco for $25 for my lake cabin. It works fine too but it's larger. I sometimes use it for a package of Thai rice mix - it's too big for one package. The smaller Zojirushi (5 cup) is large enough for us. The Costco one was 10 cups I think.

It's great because you can just make it whenever you want and it keeps it perfect until serving time. Plus it makes it perfectly every time - no muss - no fuss.

Does anyone have a rice cooker that they have had good results making brown rice in? My rice cooker makes great white rice, but only so so brown rice.

The one I have does have a brown rice setting but I haven't used it yet. It makes great Japanese short grained rice.
Zojirushi NS-TGC10 Micom 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer