**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews.

Though pressure cookers are fairly simple machines, there are still a couple of factors that you should look for before you purchase one to ensure that you are getting the most out of your money.

Here are a couple of features and benefits that you should consider when deciding which Instant Pot to buy:

conclusion

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Step 1: Planning your cooking

Set up your Instant Pot where you plan to use it. Most Instant Pots come with very similar accessories and might look slightly different depending on the model. If you are cooking a food item that has a button such as rice, you can use it to ensure your rice comes out the perfect softness and texture. Follow the Instant Pot instructions provided to balance the ratio of water to rice for the lightest rice you can imagine.

If your Instant Pot does not have a convenient button for cooking your food item and it is the first time you are using the pot, you will need to watch it to prevent accidentally burning your food and to make sure you reach the right consistency. Instant Pot instructions are available online with different recipes and cooking times.

Step 2: Cook Time, Temperature and pressure Settings

The cooking time and temperature depend on the type of food you are cooking and how you want it to turn out. You can follow the buttons and see how food turns out, but that is not very accurate. The most common buttons for an Instant Pot are:

If you’ve ever scalded the bottom of a pot of rice, wasting rice and creating messy cleanup for yourself, you know that the simple task of cooking rice (or cooking black rice) can sometimes be a real hassle. 

I cooked rice on the stovetop for more than 30 years before I got sick of inconsistent results and cleaning burnt-on remnants. I finally wised up and bought a rice cooker, and my life has been so much easier. Rice comes out perfect every time, and clean up is a breeze.

If you’re like me and you make rice at least two times per week, then you should invest in an Asian rice cooker. They make life easier, rice tastier, and save you time. Here’s a list of five awesome Asian rice cookers that I’ve found:

**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

Zojirushi is top on my list with this state-of-the-art rice cooker that makes multiple types of rice and porridge, has a setting to soak and steam rice, can toast rice with its “scorch” function, and uses induction heating for higher, more precise temperatures than conventional rice cookers.

All of Zojirushi’s newest rice cookers use what they call “fuzzy technology”, meaning that the cookers monitor the contents of the cooking pot and makes adjustments based on the type of rice and the temperature. Ladies and the gentlemen, the future of rice cookers has arrived.

The NP-NVC10 takes fuzzy technology to a whole other level; Artificial Intelligence-level. This cooker learns from your previous setting choices and tries to cook foods to your preferences. Basically, this rice cooker outsmarts humans (and conventional rice cookers) to make sure you get perfect food every time.

This rice cooker is made in Japan and comes in a metallic brown finish. The cooking pot has a non-stick coating, so clean up is easy. This Zojirushi model will make you wonder why all of your other small cooking appliances are so “basic”. And for around $$$ (on Amazon), it had better.

Tiger Corporation is based in Japan, where it ranks as as a top-name in rice cookers (along with Zojirushi). Tiger’s new 10-cup Micom cooker is made in Japan and features a sleek stainless steel and black finish. This rice cooker has technology similar to the Zojirushi “fuzzy logic”, so it is constantly monitoring your food to make sure it is cooking it at the right temperature.

It not only cooks your favorite types of rice, but it has a slow cooker function that allows you to cook soups and stews, porridge, and risottos. I get hungry just watching their video!

What really sets this rice cooker apart from others is that it has a synchronized cooking function (called “tacook”) that makes sure that all these features and functions work together to produce your complete meal at one time. If this doesn’t make your life easier, I don’t know what will!

Tips: I usually use slow cooker to make hot dogs, you can test.​ I think it is awesome.

The Tiger JAX-T18U-K sells for around $$ on Amazon.

The folks over at TheSweethome.com did hours of research to find the best rice cooker, including talking to Asian experts in rice making. Their final recommendation was this Hamilton Beach 7-cup model (it holds up to 14 cups of cooked rice).

This stainless steel unit looks more like a slow cooker than a rice cooker, but is said to make delicious Japanese rice that is comparable to models that are much more expensive. You can also make beans and pasta using its steam dish.

In terms of features and functions, the Hamilton Beach rice cooker, which is only $28.99 on Amazon, has a delay-start mode that goes up to 15 hours, warming function, a heat/simmer mode, and delivers a finished product faster than many of the more expensive cookers from Tiger and Zojirushi.

This rice cooker makes clean up easy with its non-stick, dishwasher safe cooking pot and a removable lid liner.

If you’re not looking for “futuristic technology” rice cookers, like the Zojirushi and Tiger at the top of this list, then this rice cooker is truly a great choice. It was the one chosen after hours of research, it simply makes great rice, and it does all of this at a bargain-level price. If it weren’t for those (admittedly very neat) “fuzzy logic” features, then this rice cooker would be at the top of the list.

Zojirushi makes our list again with this cooker that is made in Japan and is just the right size for a couple or small family. You can put 5 ½-cups of uncooked rice into this cooker, which will result in about 10 cups of cooked rice.

This cooker makes the following types of rice: sushi, brown, mixed, and porridge. It also has a steam function, so you can steam foods like fish and vegetables while cooking your rice (or just on their own).

Although there are a lot of buttons to play with on the front of this rice cooker, they lend themselves to the many features that I love, including: a delay timer (so your rice doesn’t start cooking too soon), a programmable beep to let you know when the rice is finished, and warming cycles that you can extend in case you’re not ready to eat yet. 

This rice cooker comes with everything you need to make great rice, including a spatula, spatula holder, and two measuring cups. It also has a retractable cord, so the entire unit can sit neatly on your countertop. This model sells for around $$ on Amazon.

Here’s something you don’t see often: a rice company that makes and sells their own rice cooker!

Lotus Foods’ 12-cup rice cooker got my attention over at Ezvid.com, where they ranked it the easiest rice cooker to clean, even though the inner pot is made from stainless steel and isn’t treated to be non-stick.

The use of un-coated stainless steel makes this a standout cooker because the pot won’t rust or tarnish, and food odors won’t be absorbed and transferred to other dishes. At around $, you’re paying for a higher-quality cooking material, but you are getting a unit with fewer features and functions. 

Don’t Knock It Until You Try It

There are plenty of rice cooker nay-sayers out there; people who think that rice cookers are a waste of money, and that cooking rice in a pot on the stovetop isn’t all that complicated. My experience is that I didn’t know what I was missing until I tried a rice cooker.

If you’ve never cooked rice in an Asian rice cooker before, I really encourage you to give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a much easier way to prepare a household staple.

Do you use a rice cooker to save you time and hassle? Did your rice cooker make it onto this list? Leave me a comment and share your rice cooking experiences.

**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

Microwaves have come a long way since they first hit the consumer market in the 1960s. Today, you can purchase a reliable microwave at any department or home goods store, some for less than $100.

The low price of these standard microwaves is partly because they are mass produced overseas, even though surveys show that 8 out of 10 American consumers want to buy items made in the USA, whenever possible.

While many appliance manufacturers have taken to making their microwaves in China and other Asian countries, you can still find microwaves made in the USA – and some snazzy ones, at that.

If you have a little more room in your budget, and you like the idea of a microwave that really stands out and has cool features, look no further than these 5 super cool microwaves.

Big Chill is a company out of Boulder, Colorado, and they make those colorful retro appliances that you see on television (like Monica’s refrigerator on Friends, only better.)

Big Chill’s only has one microwave model, the Retro, which is still made in their Boulder factory, and sells for around $600. It’s a 1,200-watt microwave with 1.6 cubic feet of space.

The retro microwave’s outer finish features a mix of stainless steel and another color, so it fits into today’s modern kitchens, as well as vintage-style kitchens. It comes with these little silver feet that give it a space-age look (although you can get it without the feet, if you’re planning to put it above your range).

The coolest thing about this Big Chill microwaveis that it comes in your choice of eight standard colors, like turquoise and buttercup yellow (standard colors are for the price already mentioned), or one of 200 custom colors (for an upcharge).

If you’re looking to spice up your kitchen with a colorful microwave, you’ve got to check this one out. It does everything a regular microwave does, it just looks cooler doing it.

Dacor is a kitchen appliance manufacturer that hails from Costa Mesa, California. They’re well-known for their “Microwave In-A-Drawer”product, which comes in three models that sell for around $1,400.

You can install these drawer microwaves under a counter or above a wall oven. We can’t help but love this concept; in the era of open concept, it just screams “modern kitchen”.

In terms of practical uses, the microwave-in-a-drawer is ADA compliant when installed under a counter, meaning it is accessible for persons with disabilities, in particular those in wheelchairs who can’t reach items on standard-height counters.

The unit features child safety locks, so you won’t have to worry about your little ones (or your pets) getting into it if you install it under the counter.

You obviously can’t just buy one of these Dacor models to replace your current microwave; a little re-modeling will need to be done if you don’t already have the right size space with electrical components built in. If you’re due for a kitchen remodel, though, you should definitely consider a Dacor microwave.

Wolf (part of Sub-Zero/Wolf) has locations in Madison, Wisconsin; Phoenix, Arizona; and Richmond, Kentucky.Wolf has been around for over 80 years and has a background in supplying quality commercial kitchen equipment.

They make three types of microwaves: standard swinging door, drawer, and drop-down door.The drop-down door microwaves look like a wall oven, and can be installed in a wall or under the counter, which makes for a great space saver.

A standout feature of the newest Wolf microwaves is the warming feature, which keeps foods at your desired ready-to-serve temperaturefor up to 90 minutes.

Wolf microwaves aren’t cheap; the drop-down door models start at around $1,700. At that price, you’ll get a quality, commercial-grade microwave with features that you won’t find on a less expensive consumer-grade machine.

Viking makes most of its products in Greenwood, Mississippi. The company has spent the last few years reinventing itself and the quality of its products (and has won a number of awards as a result).

Like Wolf and Dacor, Viking makes a drawer microwave that installs under the counter or in a wall. The control panel on their Undercounter DrawerMicro Oven looks just like the control panels on most wall ovens you’ll find in stores today, which is a nice change from your standard microwave design.

For $1,579, you get a sleek stainless steel drawer microwave with touch controls to open and close the drawer, child safety locks, a “warm” mode (up to 30 minutes), and a pretty impressive product warranty.

You might know the Amana brand for its consumer appliances, like refrigerators, ranges, and dishwashers, all of which are widely available at big retail stores throughout the United States.

What you might not know is that Amana makes a bunch of high-powered microwaves for commercial use. And most Amana commercial microwaves are made in Cedar Rapids, Idaho.

What makes these commercial microwaves so cool is that they look really basic on the outside, but have tons of high-powered programs that make cooking just about anything really easy. Check out this video to see how a huge bin of rice comes out perfectly cooked in just ten minutes (skip ahead to minute 1:00).

Amana also makes a model with a door that slides up , instead of out and to the side. This design is great for small restaurant kitchens, and keeps coworkers from the dangers of a swinging door!

While it’s true that most of us have no need for a commercial unit like these, we thought that these cool designs and features deserved a mention in our list of super-cool microwaves.

Not Your Mama’s Microwave Oven

It’s nice to see that these high-tech appliance makers have continued to make microwaves in the USA, even though labor is cheaper abroad. A recent stat says that US output has doubled over the span of the last 30 years, so maybe the tables are turning.

Although they are pricy, we think these microwaves offer some impressive alternatives to the standard countertop units that you find at the big department stores.

What do you think? Do you agree that these are some pretty cool microwaves?Would you consider buying one for your home? Leave a comment or point us to other cool microwaves that are made in the USA.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

http://stillmadeinusa.com/appliances.html

http://companyweek.com/company-profile/big-chill

http://www.b4usa.com/wolf-appliance-inc/

http://www.subzero-wolf.com/company/careers

Knives are undeniably one of the most useful tools in the culinary field. Whether you are trying to cook or eat, having a great knife by your side will surely make your cooking or dining experience a whole lot easier.

If you currently don’t have a set of knives in your kitchen, I’m sure you must have struggled with trying to slice or cut all sorts of foods into little bits and pieces. I mean, sure you could take apart pieces of food with a spoon and a fork in your hand, but it won’t look pretty, I assure you.

But hey, this is why you have ended up reading this article right? Because you want to get a fine set of knives that you and your family or guests can use whenever you whip up something good like a thick slab of steak. Luckily for you, this article will contain all the things you need to know in order to get the best knife set under $100 online.

**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

Ever tried slicing a piece of meat or chopping some vegetables with a dull knife? If you have, I’m sure you noticed how hard it was to penetrate the surface of the ingredient. Dulled out knives aren’t just a hassle to cook with, but can be really hazardous to use as well. In fact, there are more occurrences of cutting accidents that happen with dull knives than with sharp edged ones.

This is why it’s important to get a nice piece of cutlery that doesn’t easily get dull and can be sharpened without much effort. When looking for such knives, I can’t help but think about a certain brand, the Sabatier.

If you are currently looking for a new cutlery set or a new knife for your kitchen, I highly suggest checking out the knives under the Sabatier brand. Don’t know a thing about Sabatier knives? Read on and find out all you need to know in this Sabatier knives review article I have prepared below.

**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.