Electric Rice Cookers

This masterpiece of electrical ingenuity completely simplifies the cooking of rice, that quintessential task at the heart of Thai cuisine. You measure the rice into the pot, rinse, swish, and drain it well, and then add the proper amount of water, easily measured on the side of the pot. Then press a button and you are free—free to chop, free to fry, free to call your beloved sister in Seattle and chat until you hear a graceful “ping.” This sound means that perfectly delicious rice awaits you. How does it know? Magic, surely, very good magic. Get a big one, 5 to 10 cups, because it will also make a diminutive 2 to 3 cups should you so desire, as well as a party-sized batch when you want that. I like to cook too much rice for a given meal, as it reheats so nicely and can easily become fried rice or rice soup.