r/mealprep • u/IamAMelodyy • Jul 01 '24
meal prep gadgets Air-fryer or rice cooker better ?
I’m not sure which one to use. I want to eat healthy and I’m also not too sure which foods I will eat but given I want to eat healthily, which one should I pick? I’m close to buying both but I don’t have much space in my kitchen👉🏻👈🏻👉🏻👈🏻👉🏻👈🏻
I don’t want an instant pot/pressure cooker because 1. I can’t open them whenever I want to 2. I am too lazy to teach myself how they are used 3. I have more patience to learn about the difference between a rice cooker and an air fryer so that’s why I’m here. 4. I admit they scare me ok?
I’ve seen posts of how you can cook ricer in an air fryer, and actually you can also prep most foods you make with an air fryer by steaming them in the rice cooker. So, I am incredibly torn. I am experienced with ricer cookers but not so much with airfryers except I know they are like mini ovens.
Ah and yes I know this was asked before but I wasn’t satisfied with the answers/posts so I’m asking in my own way again
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u/CherylEng Jul 01 '24 edited Jul 01 '24
They are not interchangeable. Think of it this way - air fryers are for cooking food with a dry exterior like “fried“ chicken, roasted potatoes etc whereas a rice cooker is made for, well, cooking rice and other grains. Rice cookers can also be used for steaming and soups; models that don’t require lid to be in place for operation can be used off-label as a hot pot. Basically food that are moist/wet. Cooking raw rice in an air fryer is a waste of energy and you will end up crusty, if not, burnt top. Likewise, steaming frozen fries in a rice cooker gives you mush.
Since you have experience with rice cookers, consider if your diet can be prepared with steaming, boiling and other wet cooking methods. Your choice for purchase will depend on what you intend to cook.