Do Japanese rice cooker actually cook more rice than most of the American brands in a single batch? I am wondering because of a problem I had New Year's Eve. I have a decent sized American rice cooker/steamer that is fine for about 2 cups (dry weight) at a time and I have learned to adjust the water for the type of result I want. But it will boil over if I try to put any more in it, thought it looks like it should handle much more.

However, while I was on a run to the grocery store, a friend from Tokyo who had never used it tried to make 7 cups in it - and with not nearly enough water! Fortunately I got home before the water came to a boil and managed to salvage things. I am still wondering whether he just never cooked his own rice before, or if his cooker is pressurized or something to accomodate more rice per batch.

It really depends on the rice cooker - but it sounds like the one you have may just be really cheap and not at all decent. The standard amount of water required for a regular rice cooker is up to the first joint of your little finger above the rice - and half that for a pressurized cooker (as the water does not escape).

7 cups though is a LOT for even a regular household Japanese one. Most at up to 5 cups. There are 10 cup versions, for large families, but I`d say 5 is standard. Smaller ones for singles tend to be 3 cup.

not being american; and not understanding how the whole cup measurement thing works with cooking; how much; approximately is one cup of (long grain for example) rice in grams or Ounces? :confused:

A Japanese cup for rice is 180cc/ml. I only refer to it as "cup" because I use a little cup that came packaged with my rice cooker.

Ok! so in that case, i can tell that my cooker can do up to 8 "cups" :)

that's pretty good i think; at the moment i use just about 1 'cup' per person (depending on how much we want / need)

i'm gonna get some onigri moulds soon; i have questions about veggie fillings.. but i'll put them in the Onigri thread xD

just one question; how is it that vinegar helps rice to stay sticky? does it just not dry out / evaporate like water? (i need a wooden bowl to mix in... it works better apparently)

I eat both long and short grain rice. You can get the short grain rice from any local supermarket or even some corner shops ;).

if you're in Japan or (i guess) most other Asian Countries...

it's a little harder for those if in Europe and the USA...

I live in UK and it is very easy for me to find rice LOL. Perhaps it's because England is more multi-cultural compared to other nations. I can usually find ingredients for Indian, Chinese or Japanese food quite readily, supermarkets are usually stocked with a wide range of stuff here.

P.S. YOUR SIG IS V.FUNNY HAHA :)

I'm in the UK too.. maybe i'm not in the right towns :p

the Chinese Supermarkets are pretty good though, it's just hard to find specific things sometimes as the people who work there don't always speak English
(also, am i the only one who finds it amusing to see "normal" things like honey and peanut butter on the shelves amongst the random stuff like *tried to think of the weird stuff I've found in these stores... fails[damn I'm tired :( * )

and yes, it is funny. and sadly true. it is why i have it as my Sig :p

I bought this cool Japanese tea set from a Chinese shop haha, they had butter and stuff like that there too lol. I guess they will display whatever sells right? :).