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54 of 54 found the following review helpful:
 Great Rice Cooker for the Price ! Sep 29, 2009
By L. Yomtoob
I was considering buying a different rice cooker at twice the price, but bought the ARC-852 (a slightly smaller version of the ARC-856) instead when it was offered briefly at our local Sam's Club. I couldn't pass up the promise of "fuzzy logic" at well under $100, and it has not disappointed! It makes brown rice, long-grain white rice, short grain rice, sushi rice, calrose rice and every other variety of rice better than on the stovetop, and then keeps it warm until you're ready to eat. I've also made pilafs, paella, orzo, steamed vegetables and tofu, and other delicious meals in this rice cooker. However, I find that the real hidden value is in its ability to prepare perfect polenta without the stovetop mess. Here's how to do it: In the bowl of the rice cooker, sprinkle 1 part coarse grind cornmeal into 4 parts cold water or broth while stirring to prevent lumps. Add butter or margarine, finely chopped onion and garlic, and other seasonings to taste. Close the lid and run the rice maker on the porridge cycle, stirring briefly every 15 minutes or so (repeat the porridge cycle, if necessary to extend cooking time). When polenta is thick and creamy, top with pasta sauce and Italian sausage, chili and cheese, cuban black beans and guacamole, or a simple pat of butter and sprinkle of parmesan. Chill the leftovers in a loaf pan and pan-fry in slices the next day... Incredible polenta with very little effort!
The non-stick pan cleans up beautifully, no scrubbing required, and it stores easily: the cord retracts, and the steamer rack, utensils, and measuring cup fit neatly inside the rice cooker. All around a great value!
29 of 29 found the following review helpful:
We've had a wonderful long term relationship Apr 15, 2009
By J. Offenbach
I bought this when offered at a sale price, spent more than I'd ever spent on a rice cooker and I wish I'd bought one for my daughter, too, so she could get rid of the mediocre one I gave her when I replaced it with this Aroma ARC-896. In over two years of constant use, I have yet to be disappointed with the rice, grains or veggies prepared within. Because I store this atop a high cabinet, the handle aids me in moving it up or down. The little storage spot on the side for the paddle is attached but I never use it to hold the rice paddle. If I am preparing rice which is not for risotto, I use this cooker and it looks as new today as the day it came out of the box. It's easy to operate, comes with a nifty little manual, is easy to clean, lovely to store, and produces perfect rice each and every time, regardless of whether it's basmati, jasmine, red, black, white,brown, forbidden or fully exposed. I love this rice cooker and it has never given me mushy or burnt rice.
25 of 26 found the following review helpful:
work just like the big boy high $$ rice cooker Mar 04, 2009
By R. Cipriani
"Flo"
.Update 6/27/10: Chg's my star's to 5.....I have now had this unit for almost 2 yrs. I works just as well now as when I took it out of the box. Again, I must say I really like that Handle. I helps me place it just where I want without difficulty.I use it regularly for brown rice, barley, pasta, oatmeal and soup.. Still making sm cakes in it with Great success.. I live in a warm climate and this takes over for most of my summer cake baking.( made a lemonaide cake for the picnic)) We had a sm picnic last week and I made a wonderful pasta/shrimp salad that came out of this great cooker.. Yes I said a SALAD.. cooked the pasta w other ingred. on the bottom and steamed the shrimp on the steamer rack... thew in a bowl w a few other easy ingredient and into the frig. GREAT Success. It was a great side w a nice steak....Love this unit and would buy AGAIN TOMORROW if it ever kicks off...........
Well I have 2 rice cookers this one and one of the simple heat/warm ones..This one does wonders w brown rice and oats and I like that it can also do a soup function.. It works just as well at the very high priced models and also has a delay function that is great to do Steel Cut oats for breakfast. It is nice looking and has a easy to lift handle that make storing this item on a shelf easy..... for those of us that don't want it sitting on a counter all the time.
I have made several cakes in it and corn bread and all works very very well. Nice item to have and use regularly.....OH and it makes GREAT basmati rice tooooooo.........I usually add veggies to the steamer basket when doing the rice and have a several sides to go with my main meal... I have made pasta and meatballs in it and it works GREAT.
You won't be sorry if you pick this one up
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Excellent small rice cooker/steamer Nov 07, 2009
By The Science Chick
I'm so impressed. This is the third rice cooker I've tried and I'm so impressed. In addition to jasmine (white) rice and medium-grain brown rice, I've made polenta, steel-cut oatmeal, and macaroni and cheese.
The regular rice cycles combined with fuzzy logic processor make the best rice I have ever had: fluffy, with individual grains, with the right amount of "chew" and stickiness - even the brown rice. The warmer actually works as you'd expect: it keeps the rice (or other grain) hot, without cooking the heck out of it. I was very impressed with the polenta. I prepared this on the porridge cycle. After the first batch I realized I should stir once, about 15 minutes after starting the cycle. On the second batch of polenta, I got creamy, moist polenta of even texture. The oatmeal was a pleasant delight: nutty, rich, chewy, moist, not at all gloppy. I added raisins while it was warming for about 15 minutes.
The steamer is thorough but not sterilizing. This comes with a heavy steamer insert and a rice measuring cup. Really, a very impressive machine.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Very good product, but some flaws Mar 13, 2010
By James P. Crawley
I have used this product thus far to make great rice and fabulous, no-effort polenta. I have made standard white rice, basmati, jasmine, brown, aborio and wild rice, all with success. I have some criticisms, however. First, the instruction manual is not very useful. For the myriad of dishes that can be prepared in this rice cooker, the maker does not come with a single recipe, which I found very disappointing. Second, the inner liner is marked with rice and water levels for white rice only. If you want to make brown or wild rice, you must pull out the instruction manual for rice to water ratios. Third, the LCD display is very small and not backlit. Fourth, and I don't know it this is the same with all rice cookers, but it does take a good deal of time to make brown or wild rice. Two cups of brown rice take about 1 hour and 40 minutes to prepare.
On the plus side, the machine is very user friendly, and extremely easy to clean. As I stated at the outset, I am surprised at how good the polenta is in this machine. If you purchase this machine and do not know a lot of rice recipes, do yourself a favor a buy a good recipe book for rice cookers. Some of the better ones have recipes for all the dishes you can make in this machine, from cereals, to grains, to deserts, like applesauce or rice pudding.
Since getting the machine, we have eaten a lot more healthy grain dishes, which helps shed pounds, makes you feel satisfied longer and lowers cholesterol. This is a good machine, but just know that it comes with little guidance from the manufacturer.
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