Home » Misc » Air fryer and rice cooker

Air fryer and rice cooker


How to Decide What to Buy

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). If you scroll to the bottom you’ll find my cheat sheet.


Air Fryer 1500watts
available at Amazon


The Aroma Rice Cooker

available at Amazon

Uses of air fryer vs rice cooker

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 are on offer. Both air fryers and rice cookers can have multiple uses. They are versatile in that respect and both come with presets to make life easier.

The main use of a rice cooker 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.

Air fryers deep fry foods without oil using dry heat though adding oil gives crispier results for some foods, as I explain elsewhere. Air fryers can roast, grill, bake, and dehydrate food. Reheating food 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.

Can you cook rice in an air fryer?

Yes, it takes about ½ hour to cook uncooked rice in an air fryer preheated to 360℉ using a cake baking basket (vs a pizza pan – see below).

It’s not as straightforward as with a rice cooker.

With an air fryer you preheat the unit. Meanwhile boil water in a kettle or other water cooker. 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.


Air Fryer Accessories

available at Amazon

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.

Choosing an air fryer versus a rice cooker

Here are the different features in some detail. You’ll find a quick comparison in my cheat sheet at the bottom of the page.

How to choose air fryer size

In choosing an air fryer size, you might want to factor in your family size, food you wish to prepare, energy consumption, and price.

The bigger the size in wattage the more energy you will use and higher the price of the unit.

Noise

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, where you can find out more.

Energy consumption

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.

Here’s how to work out the electricity drawn by any appliance:
  1. Wattage X the number of hours per day = A
  2. A ÷ 1,000 = Answer as daily kilowatt-hour (kWh)

Can you fry foods in a rice cooker?

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.

Bench space

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, where you’ll find more info.

Price

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.

But as far as the best versatility for price, my take is an air fryer has the advantage.

Comparison table – air fryers ranging from around $50 up to about $150
ItemTypeShop*
Cosori Air Fryer
11 Presets
5.8 qt
Shake reminder
1500W		View!
Ninja Air Fryer
Best for simplicity
4 qt
4 functions inc dehydrate
Ceramic nonstick
1500W		View!
Ultrean Air Fryer
Cheapest
4.2 qt
Compact
1500W		View!
Ultrean Air Fryer
Best for large family
6 qt
7 presets
1700W		View!
Ninja Air Fryer
Dearest
5. 5 qt
Ceramic nonstick
5 functions inc dehydrate
1750W		View!
*at Amazon. Cheapest/Dearest: of the range here as at Sep 23, 2021

Benefits

What are the benefits of cooking with an air fryer? The obvious upside of cooking with an air fryer is that you can enjoy deep fried food without the high fat or oil content.

What are the benefits of using a rice cooker? Modern rice cookers give you the options of preparing GABA, nutritional grains, and yoghurts at home. I wrote about the types of grains in my article on cooking brown rice in a rice cooker. Examples include GABA function and germinated brown rice.

Dry heat vs wet heat cooking method

An air fryer uses the dry heat cooking method versus the moist heat type used by a rice cooker. Meaning, water is not a medium needed to cook the food, unlike with a rice cooker. Water creates a moist environment and the wet heat or steam is part of the cooking process of a rice cooker. An air fryer uses uses hot air (dry heat) to cook the food.

The following explains how an air fryer works.

How does air frying work?

Air fryers work by fanning hot air and creating a convection effect, just like a conventional oven, to brown and crisp the food. The process needs at least 320 ºF heat. This technology involves a heating element with a fan to circulate the heat. Think of it as more of a mini oven than a fryer.

It’s not as fast as conventional deep frying, but air frying limits the need for oil or fat.

Finally my cheat sheet: Rice cooker vs air fryer

Bottom line

There are several factors to consider if you are torn between buying an air fryer or a rice cooker. In any case it comes down to personal preferences. It’s why I put together the cheat sheet and I hope it helps. My take is that if you want versatility, and price is a concern, an air fryer may be the best option. The condition then is whether you enjoy the type of foods an air fryer can cook vs those possible with a rice cooker.

FAQs

Can an air fryer be used as a rice cooker?

Yes an air fryer can be used as a rice cooker. You can cook raw rice, but you will need to boil the water first and work out the water to rice ratio. I explain more in a section in this article.

What should I look for when buying a rice cooker?

When buying a rice cooker, look for whether it has a timer, a warmer, or an auto off switch. What material is the inner pot made of? Are you happy with Teflon coated types? Also, do you want to use it for other functions? See my buying guide for more deciding factors.

Can I reheat rice in air fryer?

You can reheat rice in an air fryer. An easy way is to use a cake pan for the rice. Preheat the appliance to 320℉ for 3 min. Then add the rice and fry for 10 min if frozen, 8 if not. Spray or drizzle some oil over the rice and mix. Increase heat by 40º and fry for extra 5 min. Stir and serve. I found this at Fast Food Bistro.

report this ad

Instant Pot® Duo Crisp™ + Air Fryer 6-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker

One (1) Year Limited Warranty

 

This One (1) Year Limited Warranty applies to purchases made from authorized retailers of Instant Brands Inc. (“Instant Brands”) by the original appliance owner and is not transferable.  Proof of original purchase date and, if requested by Instant Brands, return of your appliance, is required to obtain service under this Limited Warranty.  Provided the appliance was used in accordance with the use & care instructions, Instant Brands will, in its sole and exclusive discretion, either: (i) repair defects in materials or workmanship; or (ii) replace the appliance.  In the event that your appliance is replaced, the Limited Warranty on the replacement appliance will expire twelve (12) months from the date of receipt.  Failure to register your product will not reduce your warranty rights.  The liability of Instant Brands, if any, for any allegedly defective appliance or part will not exceed the purchase price of a comparable replacement appliance. 

 

  1. What is not covered by this warranty?
  2. Products purchased, used, or operated outside of the United States and Canada.
  3. Products that have been modified or attempted to be modified. 
  4. Damage resulting from accident, alteration, misuse, abuse, neglect, unreasonable use, use contrary to the operating instructions, normal wear and tear, commercial use, improper assembly, disassembly, failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance, fire, flood, acts of God, or repair by anyone unless directed by an Instant Brands representative.
  5. Use of unauthorized parts and accessories.
  6. Incidental and consequential damages.
  7. The cost of repair or replacement under these excluded circumstances. 

 

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, INSTANT BRANDS MAKES NO WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS OR REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY STATUTE, USAGE, CUSTOM OF TRADE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLIANCES OR PARTS COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS, OR REPRESENTATIONS OF WORKMANSHIP, MERCHANTABILITY, MERCHANTABLE QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR DURABILITY.

 

Some states or provinces do not allow for: (1) the exclusion of implied warranties of merchantability or fitness; (2) limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts; and/or (3) the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages; so these limitations may not apply to you.  In these states and provinces, you have only the implied warranties that are expressly required to be provided in accordance with applicable law.  The limitations of warranties, liability, and remedies apply to the maximum extent permitted by law.  This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state or province to province. 

 

Product Registration

 

Please visit www.instantpot.com/support/register to register your new Instant Brands™ appliance. Failure to register your product will not diminish your warranty rights. You will be asked to provide the store name, date of purchase, model number (found on the back of your appliance) and serial number (found on the bottom of your appliance) along with your name and email address. The registration will enable us to keep you up to date with product developments, recipes and contact you in the unlikely event of a product safety notification. By registering, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the instructions for use, and warnings set forth in the accompanying instructions.

 

Warranty Service

 

To obtain warranty service, please contact our Customer Care Department by phone at 1-800-828-7280 or by email to [email protected]  You can also create a support ticket online at www.instantpot.com/support.  If we are unable to resolve the problem, you may be asked to send your appliance to the Service Department for quality inspection.  Instant Brands is not responsible for shipping costs related to warranty service. When returning your appliance, please include your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and proof of the original purchase date as well as a description of the problem you are encountering with the appliance.

 

June 15, 2021

multicooker or convection oven? — tips on how to decide

There is an opinion that a slow cooker and a convection oven are almost the same thing. But in practice, these are two completely different devices, each with its own strengths. In order not to be mistaken and buy something that you will really use, let's take a look “by the bones” how multicookers differ from convection ovens. And, of course, we will conclude what to choose - a slow cooker or an air grill.

Multicooker - what is it

Simply put, this is a smart pot + oven or advanced rice cooker with a whole host of extra features.

What the slow cooker can do: boil, fry, deep-fry, stew, simmer, steam, bake and reheat. In addition, in this advanced saucepan there are functions for preparing yoghurts, jams, soups and borscht, jelly, dough, pizza and much more.

Multicooker consisting of:

Thanks to this device, the temperature, humidity and pressure at the optimum level for cooking is maintained inside.

Multicookers can have from 5 to 70 cooking modes, but most often there are 10-20 of them. Fully automatic, such as "rice", do not require any additional movements. And for semi-automatic, for example, "baking", you need to manually set the time. nine0003

See also: How to choose a multicooker?

Some of the programs consist of several steps in which you have to mix the food or add an ingredient. In this case, the multicooker informs the hostess about this with a sound signal. And the “multi-cook” mode allows you to program your own recipe for a dish.

A multi-cooker that promises to replace a pressure cooker, steamer, oven, deep fryer, frying pan, yogurt maker and even an air grill. But the main strong point of the device is still crumbly cereals, delicious pilaf and stewed dishes of vegetables and meat. But baking is her weak point. nine0003

Benefits of the multicooker

1. A variety of dishes that are easy to make with the multicooker. With it, you can easily add new recipes to your menu. For the same reason, the device is ideal for summer cottages or housing that does not yet have kitchen appliances.

2. Even those who do not know how to cook, in a slow cooker, the dish will turn out tasty and balanced. According to a given program, she herself will set the desired temperature, reduce or increase it when necessary, and turn off in time.

3. What makes a multicooker so good is that it cooks at a set time. We poured cereal in the evening, set a timer, and in the morning you get a ready-made breakfast. Or put food in the morning - after work, come to the hot soup.

4. If there is a pressure cooker mode, it will take less time to cook familiar dishes than if you use a conventional stove. With a slow cooker, it is easier to organize a table for suddenly arriving guests.

5. Milk porridge will not escape and the soup will not boil away, as the lid closes tightly and some models have a moisture trap. nine0003

6. The non-stick coating prevents food from sticking to the bowl, making it easy to clean.

7. Can be cooked without adding oil or fat, ideal for dieters or those seeking a healthy diet.

8. When the dish is ready, the multicooker does not turn off completely, but slightly warms the dish so that it does not cool down. It is very convenient if relatives are late for dinner.

9. Advanced multicookers are controlled via an app from a smartphone.

What is an air grill

If a slow cooker is a smart pot, then an air grill is a convection oven.

What an airfryer can do: fry meat, bake and smoke fish, bake flour, cook first, make roast in a pot, dry, roasted seeds, and sterilize containers for preservation.

All the culinary magic in the convection oven takes place in two main areas.

A special type of convection oven is the lid without bowl. Such a universal convection grill can be put on heat-resistant dishes of a suitable diameter or a slow cooker with a removable lid.

More expensive and functional models have touch controls. The main mass of air grills is controlled mechanically - by rotary switches. Usually there are two of them: a thermostat and a timer. You can also select low, medium or high blowing speed. nine0010
Useful information: How to choose an electric oven for your home?

Although there is a lot to cook in this unusual oven, the convection oven is the best for meat and fish. Cutlets, meatballs, grilled chicken, steaks, kebabs, whole and portioned fish, as well as side dishes of baked vegetables, that is, the grill menu - these are its trump cards. Cheesecakes and casseroles, as in the case of a slow cooker, without getting used to it, are best left for the oven.

Advantages of air grill

1. The oven offers a wide range of culinary delights. Thanks to the device, you can pamper yourself with barbecue and all kinds of grills, regardless of the weather, the presence of a barbecue and firewood.

2. Convection preserves nutrients in foods. This method of cooking makes the dishes fried on the outside, but soft and juicy in the middle.

3. The convection grill helps with preparations for the winter: it can be used without a dryer and it is easier to prepare jars for twists.

4. You can cook directly in the dish you are going to serve in, eg heat-resistant pots. In addition to heat resistance, there are no requirements for it - use ceramics, metal and glass. nine0003

5. The volume of many convection ovens can be increased using special expansion rings. This is useful when you need to bake a whole bird.

6. Thanks to its spaciousness, several levels of racks and the ability to place dishes, several dishes can be cooked at the same time. Meat and garnish perfectly get along in the air grill.

7. No oil or fat needed - food will cook just fine without them. This is a big plus for health care.

8. If you cook meat on the grates that come with the kit, it will turn out to be even more dietary, since even its own fat will drain to the bottom. At the same time, the taste will not suffer: in the grill, the dishes are even tastier than in other kitchen appliances. nine0003

9. Some convection ovens have a self-cleaning function: just pour warm water with detergent into the flask and wait until the appliance cleans itself.

2 in 1 multicooker and convection oven

In a conventional multicooker, the heating element is located at the bottom of the housing. But there are models equipped with an additional heating element and a fan in the lid - multicookers with an aerogrill function.


Little life hack: you can assemble the 2 in 1 device yourself. As already mentioned, a compatible universal grill can be purchased with a multicooker with a removable lid. nine0010
If you have used an electric oven, you know that when there is heat from both the bottom and the top, you can bake well. Therefore, a multicooker with an aerogrill function does a better job with pies and casseroles than these two devices separately. Yes, and other dishes are obtained in a special way.

See also: How to choose a pressure cooker for the kitchen?

Please note: advanced saucepans come with heating elements on three sides: bottom, top and side. You can recognize a multicooker with such a triple system of heating elements in the description by the inscription "3D heating". This is not a slow cooker with an air grill, as there is no convection, but it’s also a good option. nine0003

Differences between a multicooker and an air grill

Price comparison

How much a multicooker costs depends on the set of functions and programs. The price of this smart pan ranges from 600 to 6600 hryvnia.

Now about how much a good air grill costs. The cheapest are universal air grills, that is, lids without a flask: Redmond RAG-241 - 1199 hryvnia, Redmond RAG-240 - 1200 hryvnia. The device in a flask will result in an amount of up to 1500-2000 hryvnia.

For more functional sensory grills or air fryers, you will have to cook 3000-4000 hryvnia. But there is probably no point in spending more than 2,000 hryvnias on this item.

Where a multicooker is found at such prices, and where to buy an air grill, you can follow the links to these products. nine0003

So what to choose: a slow cooker or an air grill?

advantages and what to choose from them

There is an opinion that a slow cooker and an air grill are almost similar. However, both devices have significant differences and perform strictly defined functions. Combines their ability to significantly facilitate a person's life and the "ability" to cook. Having decided to please yourself with such a “smart” technique, you should first figure out what exactly you need. Let's explore the features of the multicooker and air grill together with you. And we will decide what is still the most rational to acquire. nine0003

Contents

Read also What is a blender for and how to choose it

What is a multicooker

This kitchen appliance is most common. A large number of functions that the multicooker performs, the compactness of modern models and the affordability of the cost have made it especially popular.

External description

The slow cooker is a small saucepan. It can be made of metal or heat-resistant plastic. Generally speaking, a slow cooker is a “smart” pan, according to some comments, an improved rice cooker. nine0003

The device consists of the following elements:

At the same time, it has a large number of functions that the hostess needs. nine0003

For ease of use, the multicooker should be correctly placed in the kitchen. And the place for it is selected taking into account the available electrical outlets. You can learn how to correctly place sockets in an apartment from the following article on our website.

What can a multicooker do?

This household appliance has many talents:

With so many convenient features, it can be used to speed up all the cooking processes in the kitchen. The slow cooker is a great time saver!

The multicooker can have from 5 to 70 cooking modes. However, most often there are about 10-20 of them. There are fully automatic modes. They do not require your participation. For example, cooking rice. And semi-automatic: in them, the time is set manually. Usually it's baking. nine0003

Additional features

Some models are more advanced. They offer the preparation of yogurts, replace the pressure cooker, frying pan, oven. They can successfully replace the air grill.

However, the trick of the multicooker is the preparation of crumbly delicious cereals, pilaf, stewed vegetables and meat. But baking is a weak point.

What are the advantages of the multicooker

Using the multicooker is very easy. Thanks to a large number of programs, you can not be at a loss with cooking. Cooking simple dishes does not waste your time at all: just set one program. nine0003

More complex dishes need to be prepared in a slow cooker with your participation. The equipment itself will inform you with a sound signal when you need to add ingredients or mix the contents of the containers. The introduction of new dishes in the daily menu will diversify the diet.

Multicooker is an excellent solution for summer cottages or newly built homes. It will successfully replace kitchen appliances that have not yet been purchased.

Additional advantages of the multicooker should be considered:

  1. Some dishes can be cooked at exactly the right time. So, in the evening, filling the cereal with water, in the morning you will get a delicious crumbly porridge. Or, having come home from work, “get” a hot fresh soup.
  2. If necessary, you can cook and cook dishes in an accelerated mode. The similarity of a multicooker with a pressure cooker will help.
  3. With its help it is easy to organize a table for unexpected guests.
  4. The bowl is easy to care for thanks to its non-stick coating. Products never stick to it. nine0019
  5. Milk porridge and soup will not “run away” from the container. After all, the lid closes firmly and hermetically. Some models are equipped with a moisture collector.
  6. Constant temperature maintenance. When the dish is completely cooked, the device does not turn off completely. It maintains the set temperature. A handy feature when you have to wait for delayed relatives.
  7. Most modern models can be controlled from a smartphone.

These advantages made the multicooker popular and in demand. nine0003

Read also How to choose an electric grill for an apartment or house? And also sterilize the container for canning.

Design features and main functions

The air grill performs its functions with the help of the following design:

  • glass bowl. A metal grate of a certain height is installed in it. The components of the future dish are laid out on it. Or heat-resistant containers with ingredients;
  • cover that houses the control panel and heater. Warm air circulation ensures food preparation.

An unusual version of the air grill - a lid without a flask. It can be put on a heat-resistant container of a suitable diameter. And cook meals in it.

Ease of cooking and ease of operation are the main advantages of the airfryer.

The most winning dishes for this device are all kinds of variations with meat and fish. Casseroles and cheesecakes are best left to cook in the oven.

Strengths of the Airfryer

The advantages of the device should be considered the ability to quickly cook dishes for homemade preparations. As well as the following advantages:

  • the use of special expansion rings will allow you to cook bulky dishes. For example, bake a whole bird or game carcass; nine0019
  • cook immediately in the dish in which the dish will be served on the table. The requirements for it are minimal: dishes can be made of glass, ceramics, metal;
  • due to the peculiarities of convection, it is possible to preserve the nutrients of the products. Dishes are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
  • several levels of the device make it possible to cook several dishes at once;
  • dishes can be made dietary. For example, bake meat on a wire rack so that its fat drains into a pan; nine0019
  • container is easy to clean. More modern models have a self-cleaning function. To do this, water with detergent is poured into the flask.

This device is also perfect for anyone who loves to cook. And pamper yourself and your loved ones with delicious food.

Learn more