Panasonic SR-TMB10 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker/Warmer, Silver
by Panasonic
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List Price: Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Panasonic SR-TMB10 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker/Warmer, Silver
Customer Review: What a disappointment
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this rice cooker to replace a 20 year old National rice cooker. Since Panasonic bought out National I had hoped that this would be of comparable quality but am not impressed. The plastic button and latching mechanism seem inferior. The inner lid seemed cheaper, but it took me a while to figure out why that mattered. (see below)
Having used rice cookers on an almost daily basis all my life, I knew that I wanted one that would cook rice (white or brown), would keep it warm without drying it out, and had a retractable cord. I didn't really want (or need) the fuzzy logic, timer, steamer, or cake cooking features, but I was seduced by the modern, attractive look.
This will cook up a decent pot of rice unattended. If you have never had a rice cooker before, this is a convenient step up.
However, the biggest downside to this cooker is that the keep warm feature stinks. The rice gets dried out, except for the rice immediately beneath the steam vent which becomes really mushy and gross as the condensation drips onto it. My old National prevented this problem by having a metal inner lid which was contoured to let the condensation drip evenly over the cooked rice keeping it evenly moist for up to 3 days.
I wanted to like this rice cooker, but it satisfies my needs so poorly that I am returning it.
Think about what you want from your rice cooker. If the keep warm feature is not important to you, you could save some money by buying a simpler cooker. If the keep warm feature is relevant, this is not the cooker for you.
I would also not recommend using the plastic steamer basket. You are exposing yourself to BPA (Bisphenol-A) by heating food in plastic.
Customer Review: Wow an electric Rice cooker/Steamer that won't burn the rice.
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife was born and raised in Japan so if anyone knows good rice it's her. I bought this for her and she has been so impressed. She loves the warmer function. She's even left the warmer on all night and the next day the rice was still perfect. Amazing!! It didn't burn it or dry it out. If you like perfect rice than this is just the cooker you need.Customer Review: Great Rice Maker
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great machine. Brown rice is why I bought this machine, and it has been perfect every time. The retractable cord is convenient, and the machine is easy to clean and use. Highly recommended.Customer Review: Best rice I've ever made
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used an older rice cooker for years (>15-20), the kind with just an on/off/warm switch that pops up to the warm position when the rice is done. It had an aluminum bowl big enough for 10 cups of rice, a metal steaming basket and a metal lid. I see some just like it still around by Salton and others. I was pretty happy except for a few things. The rice always stuck and dried out on the bottom unless I was making 3 cups or more. It was hard to clean because of this (soak to loosen, then scrub off the goo). And it couldn't handle smaller 1-2 cup loads very well.
This Panasonic model is even more of an improvement from that old style than I thought. The rice is fluffier and more tender than I ever made in the old cooker, and as good as the best I have had in Asian restaurants. It takes longer to cook, but if that is what it takes to make it more tender then it is worth it, especially with the extra timer functions (completely lacking from the simple on/off models) that allow you to set when you want it done hours ahead of time, and the nice beeper to tell you when it is done.
Here's a summary of all the things I like better about this cooker versus the older simpler style:
- better rice texture (the longer time is worth the results)
- audible beep alarm when its done (the old style would just click off, barely audible from the next room if the TV or music was on)
- timer to automatically start so the rice is done at a certain time (e.g.- set before you go to work)
- MUCH easier to clean. The teflon and slower cooking means I didn't have a single grain of rice that stuck. It all ended up on my plate. Just a very thin film of starch to wipe out of the teflon pot with no soaking or scrubbing.
- Hinged lid with drip catcher, so no more puddles on the counter when I lift off the lid.
- Storage slot for the rice paddle rather than laying it on the counter or a plate between scoops.
- Special setting for brown rice to cook longer (as well as soup, cake, steam, etc.). The simpler on/off models only have one setting.
- Retractable cord for easier storage.
I will be eating rice even more often now, and enjoying it more. I highly recommend this cooker.
Customer Review: How did I live without this!
Summary: 5 Stars
This cooker is awesome! I don't know how I ever lived without it and don't ever want to! So far I have only used the rice cooking and steaming functions both work great. Cooked my vegetables perfectly and once I got the water to rice ratio figured out the rice turned out amazing. Well worth every penny!