It's SO easy in the Instapot. But then.. I don't have a rice cooker.

BUT the instapot can be use for other things as well.

Much better rice in a rice cooker, IMO. At least it is much better in a Zojirushi-- that is the only rice cooker I have ever used. If he isn't going to use the instant pot for any other function, it certainly takes up a lot of space in an apartment kitchen. I would suggest maybe a smaller (3 cup) Zojirushi (that size works great for just he two of us) and The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook. It's a great book, because it tells you how to cook other grains and all sorts of other things in a rice cooker.

We have an electric pressure cooker that we use often, but never for rice or grains. The Zojirushi is brilliant at cooking those just right every time.

I would do the rice cooker because it’s easier to use, less intimidating, and likely a lot smaller

Agree: Zojirushi rice cooker--they are the best-- and you can get them for smaller servings.

So, our Zojirushi makes great rice, but the steam is a mess. Is it just ours?

If he'll just be making rice, the size and expense of the instant pot doesn't make a lot of sense.

Thanks for all the feedback. I had a feeling people who know the way the Zoji performs would prefer its rice. I will go with that.

Bpa- mine never makes a mess. Have you cleaned the steam hole?

Hmm, I'm sure we did. It started with the first time. The steam from the steam hole seemed to carry some starch? Or something from the rice. It just seemed that the steam was sticky to clean up after settling on the counter afterwards. We used it a lot, but haven't used it in about a year now.

bpathome,

My rice cooker spews starchy steam through the steam hole when I make a big batch of rice in it. I have taken to putting a tea towel under the rice cooker to speed clean up.

I love my aroma cooker for making rice. I have not tried it in my pressure cooker.

I make my rice in the microwave. It is whole grain rice though. I boil the water then as required I use double the water to rice and microwave on high for 25 minutes. I find that is the easiest for me for cleanup and steam and rice sticking problems. Nephew says it is just the same as his rice cooker in texture and flavor. I wouldn't know because I don't have a rice cooker or an instant pot. I'm sure most people would prefer the rice cooker to the microwave but I prefer the microwave.

I bought him a Zoji rice cooker, this way when he calls and says, "Maaahhh, my rice is too XYZ," I will know what I am dealing with" :)