Perfect Rice

Rice cookers are very versatile appliances.  They can steam vegetables, seafood and chicken, boil eggs, and cook oatmeal and other cereals and grains.  A rice cooker can either shut off or keep the food warm after it has finished cooking.

Rice cookers save time and effort because a pot on the stove does not have to be watched closely—usually they include an alarm that can be set for a time increment.  This appliance does not take up much space, and some of them come with detachable electrical cords for portability.  For convenience, low-effort cooking, and as a starter kitchen appliance, it is hard to beat a rice cooker!

Chopping mats or cutting boards are an important part of food preparation and cooking.  There are many variables in chopping mats and cutting boards, and which are best are a matter of debate.  Some cooks prefer wood materials, others synthetic.  Thickness, size (not only of the mat or board, but of the kitchen itself), shape, style, and cost are all factors to consider when choosing your chopping mats or cutting boards.  Some like the styles that fit over a sink or that have grooves around the edges to catch excess juices from the food, while others do not.

Many cooks feel it is more sanitary and healthy to use separate mats for chopping meats and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination.  This is up to the individual cook.  Whatever you prefer, there are chopping mats to be found to suit your culinary likes and dislikes.