Rice cookers

Are rice cookers not common in Britain? My housemate regularly scolds me for leaving the rice cooker on and unplugs it when the rice is cooked. She is a native Londoner and has traveled the worlds extensively with her band, so I don't understand her ignorance - and paranoia - about rice cookers. In school I met many students who would leave stews cooking in rice cookers and hotpots while they were away in class.

I have one!

Yes. In my student flat there were more rice cookers than residents!

I have one, but as it cooks rice in about 15 minutes, i would not leave it on all day while i was at work... that makes no sense.

I've travelled the world, lived in several different countries where I've used rice cookers and I'd never leave one on after the rice was done. The remaining rice just burns if you do, and it isn't good. Put the rice in the fridge when you're done! Rice harbours all kinds of bacteria when it is left out.

Maybe the OP is talking about the type of rice cookers that keep the rice quite hot after it's cooked. These are pretty common in asian households so that fresh hot rice is available at all times. I've never heard of them burning the rice but I've never personally used one.

I do agree that cooked rice is not safe to leave out: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/20/food-for-fort

Maybe the OP is talking about the type of rice cookers that keep the rice quite hot after it's cooked. These are pretty common in asian households so that fresh hot rice is available at all times. I've never heard of them burning the rice but I've never personally used one.

Yes, I have that sort. There's a 'warm' setting so it doesn't keep cooking the rice, but just keeps it ready to eat. Having said that, I rarely use it that way, unless it's just a 10-15 minute period while waiting for the rest of the meal to be ready.

Very true about certain households (and restaurants) having warm rice available for quite some time. Thanks!

I leave my slow cooker on while I am out during the day. Some of those rice cookers are so advanced that they cook the rice and go to a warming stage. I have had a rice cooker and found it to be a waste of time, a pan on the job works better for me.

I have had a rice cooker and found it to be a waste of time, a pan on the job works better for me.

For just the two of us, I prefer a pan as well. But if I'm making rice for a large group, I use the rice cooker.

My housemate (and house owner) bought the rice cooker as she thought I was burning the regular pots. Truth is, they were cheap pots whose bottoms overheated too quickly. I'd been cooking rice stews for a while now and never had this problem.

I have a rice cooker that has a 'keep warm' function - not too sure I'd leave it unattended, though, but that's true for me with most appliances because of the potential fire risk.