My impulse buy of a 12 dollar rice cooker changed how I eat all week

I grabbed a tiny 3-cup rice cooker on clearance at Target for $12 last Saturday, mainly because my stovetop rice always turns into a sticky mess. I threw in some brown rice and frozen veggies, hit the button, and walked away for 25 minutes. It came out perfect and now I'm making big batches on Sunday to pack for lunches, which saves me from buying $8 salads at work. Has anyone else had luck with those mini rice cookers for meal prepping on a tight budget?

3 comments

3 Comments

chen.adam14d ago

Those little $12 rice cookers are workhorses, I've got one in my truck for quick lunch breaks. Throw in some beans or lentils with the rice and you've got a solid cheap meal.

mitchell.lee14d ago

I mean @chen.adam it's a rice cooker not a whole kitchen setup lol. You're acting like this thing can replace a stove or something.

shane_fisher3714d agoTop Commenter

Didn't I just see a video where some guy literally made a full lasagna in one of those things? Like he layered the noodles, sauce, and cheese right in the cooker and it came out perfect. I mean, I get that it's not the same as having a stove, but for a single dude or someone living in a dorm, those little machines can do way more than just rice. Maybe it's just me but I'd trust one of those $12 workhorses over a fancy air fryer any day.