Many of you know that my husband is half Japanese. Suffice to say, he likes rice. When we first got married we invested in a very nice (and very expensive) rice cooker that made perfect rice, both white and brown, and then kept it warm for hours. It was a lovely thing to have. However, once I researched more about the aluminum pan with the nonstick coating on it inside the rice cooker, I sadly put it away, only to be dusted off when using for large crowds.
I considered getting a stainless steel rice cooker, however my mother-in- law had one that kept burning out because it took so much more energy to heat the stainless steel bowl. Hopefully they’ve improved that function, but I was still unsure of whether or not I wanted to invest in one.
So, I was quite happy to hear that the company Vitaclay has developed a rice cooker and slow cooker dual that uses a natural clay pot inside. The clay pot is made from unglazed Chinese Zisha Clay. It’s so wild! The outside it so high tech looking, and then you open it up, and there is a traditional clay pot inside. It’s the old meeting the new.
Not only is the clay a better choice toxicity-wise, it actually helps keep food moist and flavorful. When Good Housekeeping conducted a side-by-side comparison of beef stews made in slow cookers, the stew made in the Vitaclay cooker won.
“This one-of-a-kind product is called a slow cooker but actually cooks under moderate pressure so that it heats and cooks very quickly. It automatically shifts to a keep warm setting where it maintains food at an ideal temperature for up to 20 hours. Of all the beef stews we tasted, the VitaClay’s was tops.”
Advantages of the Vitaclay rice cooker/slow cooker:
- Natural, nontoxic clay pot
- No aluminum or nonstick
- Clay is naturally nonstick
- The Vitaclay Chef, 8 cup rice cooker and slow cooker that I tried out has different settings for slowing cooking, rice (brown, white, sweet, reheating rice), so that you get exactly what you need each time.
- Heats up significantly faster than a slow cooker
- Cooks twice as fast as a slow cooker and then keeps everything on “warm” until you eat.
- Uses less energy as a slow cooker
- Makes wonderful rice
The only disadvantages I’ve found so far in my testing is that clay is a little more sensitive than metal pans. You do have to make sure that you don’t temperature shock it. I was relieved to find out that you can buy a replacement pot for a good price if something were to happen to it. My only other complaint is that I’d love for it to be larger. It works great for feeding my family of 4, but I’d love to be able to put large pots of stew in a clay cooker.
All-in-all, I’ve found the Vitaclay cooker a very deluxe rice cooker and slow cooker. This is what I’ve tested so far in it.
Beef stew (twice): Both times the meat came out tender and flavorful. I was surprised at how much better the meat texture and flavor was when compared to my beef stew made on the stovetop. That’s why I did it again. It was just so good. I was lazy and didn’t even brown the meat before dumping it all in and it still came out great.
White Rice (twice): I did one batch of sticky white rice (or sweet) and another of Jasmine white rice. I rinsed according to their directions and it came out amazing! Just perfect, with the right amount of tenderness and firmness. It wasn’t too dry or too wet. One batch of the rice got a little stuck on the bottom of the pot, and a little bit browned. I was able to scrap it off easily when cleaning. The next had just slight sticking problems. I could be doing something wrong, or perhaps I should just expect a little bit of sticking. Regardless the rice was yummy.
I plan on trying a batch of soaked brown rice and quinoa as well. We will see how it goes!
But here’s the good news! Vitaclay is giving away another VitaClay Chef Gourmet Rice N’ Slow Cooker Pro – 8 Cup (makes 16 cups of rice, and has a 4.2 quart size capacity). This sweepstake is live until Friday, 11/25/11. Winner will be announced on Saturday, 11/26. Here’s how to enter.
To enter you must live in the US.
*To enter simply leave a note below sharing why you would like to win.
*To get an extra entry, sign up for my RSS feed or my email updates, and then leave a separate comment telling me you’ve done so. (If you already do so, leave a comment letting me know).
I will use random.org to pick a winner! The winner will have 48 hours to contact me after it is announced. If they do not, I will pick a new winner. If for whatever reason the winner is disqualified, than I will also pick a new winner.
Thanks Vitaclay for a great giveaway!
Disclaimer: I received a review item for this giveaway.
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Laurie
oh, to be able to make yummy rice in it !!
Jill Schadt
I have always wondered if there was a non-stick, toxin free rice cooker around for purchase. This is great!
Angela
I’ve been without a rice cooker for a long time and ,honestly, I miss using it. I just haven’t wanted to use anything with thaose non-stick coatings. The Vitaclay seems like a perfect solution!
Katrina
This would be very helpful, since I am trying to go gluten free and rice is one of the often used alternatives.
Elizabeth R
My mom has one and loves it. I am green with envy and would love to have one in my kitchen!
Elizabeth R
I follow you in my google reader using an RSS app on my phone. 🙂
Abbie
I love that it would take the place of the slow cooker and a rice cooker.
Rachel (Hounds in the Kitchen)
My husband also love rice and can’t manage to cook it. I would love to have a cooker like this!
Tara
Would love to have the combo slow cooker/rice cooker, especially since my current rice cooker is aluminum/non-stick, and I’m starting to learn more about why that is BAD!
marcia
That looks like a great product. It would be nice to stop using the aging piece I have.
marcia
I already subscribe, isn’t that prize enough :o)
Vicky
I never use a rice cooker would like to try, it looks like a very good one.
Katrina
I would love to try this awesome product! We use our slow cooker all the time and I have actually been wanting to get another because it is always in use making broth or soups or what not. I got rid of our rice cooker earlier this year because of the non stick surface and have not had the money to get another good one. This is the first I have heard of the Vitaclay and I am super excited about it! Please pick me random picker! 🙂
Theresa
I have been resisting slowcookers/ricecookers, but I was eyeing this one. I feel like the clay is VERY traditional (I love my baking brick!) and I know that with a baby and a toddler that it will come in rather handy!
PLEASE BE ME!
Jody Klingebiel
I would love to win a vitaclay rice cooker, becuase I used one for the first time last winter, and it was THE MOST AWESOME meal i ate! The meat was tender, the vegetables and rice cooked well, but it was infused with the flavors of the meat and herbs…and dang it, it was just tasty! And anyways, it was my ex-girlfriends cooker, and obviously, she took her vitaclay cooker with her when we broke up this summer. So now that winter is here, I would love to come home to a yummy meal in my new Vitaclay cooker!!
Krissa
I would love to win this…I don’t have a rice cooker and I love that it can be used as a rice cooker and slow cooker too.
Michelle
My family loves rice and we currently have a plastic/microwavable rice cooker. It works reasonably well but am now becoming aware of the issues surrounding the use of plastic. A clay cooker would be the answer to my prayers. 🙂 Best of luck to all
Cheri
We love rice and slow cooked meals! What a great giveaway, thanks!
Cheri
I follow your rss feed.
Katie
I would love to have a clean, safe, natural rice cooker. I’m incorporating rice in my diet after being on the GAPS diet for over 2 yrs. I do not know how to cook grains lol!
Melinda
I need a new slow cooker, so this would be an awesome addition. I had looked at rice cookers a couple of yrs ago and couldn’t stomach the nonstick coatings, so gave up.
Cindy W
I use my worn-out rice cooker at least once or twice a day. Diagnoised a year ago with cancer, I use it to make oatmeal and brown & wild rice. I was looking to buy a stainless steel rice cooker as replacement, but this sounds even better! (Happy to say my cancer is almost gone too!)
elaine
Can’t afford a replacement for my worn out ricecooker or my slowcooker right now ,so this would be a wonderful gift.
Jeanelle
We’ve been looking for an aluminum free rice cooker. This looks great!
Catt
I would really love a ricecooker and slowcooker that does not have a nonstick coating on the insert. I think the marriage of clay pot cooking with modern technology is brilliant. Thanks for the chance!
jani
I love my rice cooker, but the clay pot intrigues me… also, how cool to have a rice cooker and slow cooker in one machine!
I once had a bread machine that had a rice cooking function as well as jam making setting! I miss that baby.
Ruth
This looks like such a great rice cooker / slow cooker combo! I would love to win one.:-)
Lisa @ Livanu Wellness
Thank you for this review! I have had my eye on the VitaClay but wasn’t 100% sure of the origins of the clay. No matter the outcome of this giveaway, I’m highly likely going to get myself one of these!
Lisa @ Livanu Wellness
I signed up for your email updates.
Daisy
I would love to win this! I’m always trying to move away from my less-than-healthy cookware, and we eat a lot of rice, so this would perfect!
Daisy
I’ve signed up for your email updates!
Rosita
My husband and I have been looking for a rice cooker without non-stick coating. This would be perfect.
Ava L.
Hi Ms. Harris!
My name is Ava and I’m 13! I’ve been following your blog
with my mom for the past few months. It’s terrific! I really
would love to learn to cook rice with this non-toxic pot!
I would use it to make tons of rice and then I could feed our whole
family. I also think my mom really deserves this – she works so hard
to feed all of us. If you get to read this comment, thank you so much!
Love,
Ava
Jen
I would love to win this! One of my friends had a Taiwanese roommate, who eventually bought her a rice cooker. And was then nice enough to give us each a huge bag of good rice. Whenever I want some yummy rice, I do a trade off with my friend – give her a cup of rice, and she gives it to me cooked the next day. If I won this, I would actually be able to enjoy the rice when it was freshly cooked!
Jen
And I follow you in my google reader!
Tina
I have always wanted a rice cooker This one would be great!
Lenita Wall
I’d love to cook rice in something healthy without goof-ups! (burnt rice smells the whole house up for a long time!)
Mandy All
This looks so versatile! We have very little storage space in our kitchen, so a multi-use appliance would be great!
Mandy All
I subscribe via RSS
Jenine
It’s been a few years since our last rice cooker died. And we still think of it fondly. The slow cooker twist is brilliant!
Jenine
A second msg as I ‘ve just signed up for email updates. Thanks!
P.S. I hear that Roger Ebert wrote a book about cooking all sorts of things with a rice cooker. I’ll have to see if I can find it.
amy
That looks fabulous! My family would love this!
jani
I subscribe to your posts.
PamV
I have been looking for quite a while for a rice cooker that didn’t have the non-stick coating. This will be on my Xmas list. I’m already on your fabulous e-mail list.
Carolyn Y
What a wonderful idea! I would love to try this with our family.
Veronica
I’m a student and a stay-at-home mother to two wonderful and hungry children. I make healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday 98% of the time. I’m always looking for fast healthy recipes and products that make cooking easier like the super awesome Vitaclay rice cooker and slow cooker. My heart skipped a beat when I read there was a giveaway for this product. I’m keeping my fingers crossed to win the Vitaclay rice cooker and dreaming of all the delectable meals I will make with it!
Maria
This would be so healthy to use and a joy to win!
Maria
And I also receive email updates 🙂
Lisa
Our family loves rice and would love to have a new method of cooking rice.
Jessica
Oh I would love to win this. I have been wanting a rice cooker for some time.
Jessica Olson
Brittany
I’d love to win a rice cooker. We eat rice pretty frequently, but I have such a hard time cooking it to perfection on the stovetop.