300 Best Rice Cooker Recipes: Also Including Legumes and Whole Grains Paperback – Illustrated, July 28, 2011

I just bought my first-ever rice cooker (a very nice Zojirushi model). Since some of the reviews of this cookbook have been negative and completely without reasonable basis (giving it one star because so many others gave it five stars--what is the logic to that?!?!), I decided to wait to review it until I had time to study the informative portions of the book and could try a few recipes.My first three efforts included a risotto, a pilaf and a polenta. First, Lemony Risotto with Shrimp, pictured on the front of the book. I figured if it made the cover, it had to be good, and it was! Just the right hint of lemon along with a delicious, creamy risotto and perfectly cooked shrimp, all without the constant stirring usually required when making risotto. Next was Orange Pistachio Pilaf, made with plain old white rice. An easy and delicious side dish! Last was Polenta Primavera, a little more work, but a wonderful vegetarian entrée.Pros: The beginning pages of this book are worth the price alone. The author starts with a discussion of rice cookers in general. There follow pages of descriptions of various rices (I had no idea there were so many different kinds of rice!), grains, and legumes that can be cooked in your rice cooker. Along the way, she educates about the proper way to prepare these foods. For example, she states that all rices should be rinsed before cooking, except Arborio and Carnaroli, and she explains why.The index is very detailed and accurate. There are 2 small sections with color photographs tucked inside the book. There are recipes for breakfasts, desserts, and everything in between. Some of the recipes require a large-capacity rice cooker, and some require a unit that features fuzzy-logic. But most can be made in a medium size unit, even one that just has an on-off setting.Con: My only disappointment is that there are a number recipes where the only use of the rice cooker is to cook plain rice, and then use it with the recipe--such as a stir fry, cooked in a wok, and served over steamed rice. To me, that isn't a rice cooker recipe. But they look so good, I still give this cookbook five stars!

This book came quickly, in perfect condition at a terrific price. What else could you ask for? The recipes look delicious. Not only that, most are “doable”. What I mean by that is that the ingredients can be easily purchased or I already have them. Some books are loaded with ingredients that I never heard of. Those end up garbages or donated. This book will not.

I thought I was going crazy that I had to continue to look at the title. The only thing that mentions rice cooker is when you cook rice. Everything else was pans and bowls. The whole point of getting the book was to have a one in done pot recipes. Also, there is a lack of pictures; a few more than others. I will keep the book however, because I do like Asian and Mediterranean food. It looks like a great book for a Mediterranean diet. I would give it 5 stars, but the title is misleading.

While I've found a lot of recipes I can use, I may have found a bunch more if the book was actually dedicated to rice cooker recipes. A good chunk of the recipes are just making the rice and then a lot of side missions to add the rice to. I'm sure you could understand my confusion when I found the cornbread recips on page 171 that has nothing to do with a rice cooker. I was looking for recipes to dump into the rice cooker and this feels kinda like a bait and switch.

I'm brand new at cooking with my new rice cooker. It was a really great Christmas present. I started with making the Shrimp Jambalaya Salad with Wild Pecan Rice. It was even better the day after chilled. Just scrumptious! Then I wowed my husband with a perfectly made chicken risotto. I have to admit that I spent a lot of extra time in the aisles of the supermarket trying to locate many of these "new to me" ingredients. No fault of the author. I honestly didn't know the difference between arugula and spinach! Still half the fun in the learning process right? The folks I met in the store got a pretty big hoot out me. I started out asking what on earth was Crème Fraich'e anyway? (BTW, It wasn't on their shelf and this was a major chain). The Dairy manager passed me by nearly an hour and half later and laughed out loud at the same perplexed look I had as I neared my way to the register exhausted! Ready to rock and roll this weekend and make some more recipes. Yay for the possibilities ahead. A new way to enjoy eating without any of the guilt. I highly recommend this book.

This book is just awesome! So many ideas that I would have never thought of on my own.

After receiving this book I used a recipe from the book and it was a big hit

Really really good