Customer Reviews

Black & Decker RC436 16-Cup Rice Cooker, White

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My Salton rice cooker finally gave out after 8 years of use, and I replaced it with the Black & Decker Rice Cooker Plus. The good points are it is quite easy to use and can cook rice quite well. The disappointment to me is the cleanup.

Having used the Salton, I am accustomed to the starchy steam these types of cookers produce but I find this cooker to be messier than my Salton was. It "spits" all over its top, handles and even the surrounding coutertop are and floor (I have to line with paper towels to catch some of the sputter). I've tried rinsing the rice first and the performance was the same.

It is a big plus that the rice container itself is nonstick, but the lid takes some scrubbing, not just a light wash. I suppose this is a good value for the price I paid (under $30), but I think I may be upgrading soon to avoid that sticky mess.

This rice cooker works perfectly if you just follow its instructions. Ignore other reviewers' advice to follow instructions on the rice package and their complaints that it sprays slime all over your kitchen. The first is what causes the second. It sprays only if you use too much water, but if you follow the cooker's instructions (which use much less water than the rice's own instructions), the most mess you will ever get will be at the lid's vent hole - nowhere else.

I have made many batches using the maximum seven cups of uncooked rice, and the results have been perfect rice with no mess beyond the lid itself (which is NOT hard to wash, by the way) each time. It's true that the rice gets slightly toasty on the bottom of the pot, but practically all rice cookers do that, and the toasty part tastes good anyway.

UPDATE:

I am copying a comment here that I posted originally under another review and then copied under most of the other reviews that complain about the mess:

When I made my first batch of rice with this appliance, I took your advice and laid towels all over the surrounding counter and floor. I even made a little tent over the cooker itself to protect the ceiling! I also started with less than the maximum capacity: four measures of rice instead of the maximum seven. I was very surprised to find no mess at all, anywhere, just a pot of perfectly cooked rice.

Thinking that the problem might appear when cooking a larger amount, I worked my way up in stages to a full pot: five measures of rice the next time, then six, then seven, filling with water to the corresponding mark in the pot each time. I still got no mess at all, ever, just perfect rice.

Then I tried something different: I put in four measures of rice, but I filled the pot with water to the 5 mark. About 20 minuted later I had white rice-water spraying on everything within a couple of feet of the cooker.

As I was cleaning up the mess and the rice was still cooking, I noticed that what was happening was that the water was boiling up above the level of the rice in the pot and spraying out through the vent hole. But that only happened when I used more water than the instructions call for. When I used the correct proportions, the rice had already absorbed enough of the water by the time it boiled that there never was boiling water higher than the rice was, so it never even reached the vent hole.

Some other reviewers have recommended following the rice instructions instead of the cooker instructions, and that is why people get the mess. Since the instructions on the rice package call for much more water than the cooker's own instructions call for, if you follow the rice instructions you will get a mess every time. If people like moister rice than this cooker makes, then they should cook it somewhere else. It is not the appliance's fault if it makes a mess when users don't follow the instructions that come with it.

This model makes exceptional and easy rice. But whoever the idiot was that decided it needed a carb (hole) should be reprimanded. Previous models with a bubbling lid worked just fine and avoided having a starchy mess all over your counter and floor area. I suggest lining the surrounding counter with damp towels, and one on the floor as well before turning this messy machine on.

This cooker makes reliably great rice, and rather quickly. I have no complaints about its ability to cook rice. The problem is that it spews hot, starchy slime all over the place. It makes a gigantic mess. It's not worth it.

Just had the second one of these die after only 3 or 4 uses, same as the first. A false economy to go this cheap. I'll be looking for another brand.

After reading other reviews before purchase I learned I should follow the cooking directions on the rice package, not the recipe book. I have success with white and brown rice. For fluffy rice be sure to stir with the provided paddle at end of cooking, before leaving the rice to stay warm. Wash brown rice to avoid the boil over that can occur, which is messy to clean up! I cook less rice than this cooker claims to be able to cook. I don't think you could successfully cook the capacity claimed without boil over. I love that everything goes in the dishwasher for easy clean up.

Does cooking in about 20 minutes. When packing rice for Lunch it is easy to start cooking and go for bathing and come back to pack.

Sleek and good looking, does not occupy much space. Best value for the price and I got it with free shipping. Go for it.

First, there are some really wacky reviews here. According to some this cooker can do some appalling things. After having used this a few times I wonder what they are doing wrong. I can only conclude that they didn't follow the instructions. I will echo other reviewers: if you follow the instructions precisely it will perform superbly.

I don't really like rice and I never fix it for myself, but my dog has a sensitive G.I. tract (one of the and requires a full cup of rice with each meal in addition to his normal food. The rice works wonders. But it leaves me with the need to cook an enormous amount of rice on a persistent basis, so I decided to get this cooker. I find it incredibly convenient and easy to clean. There is zero mess, which leaves me confused about some of the other reviews. All I can say is that I follow the instructions pretty precisely and have had no problems of any sort. The inner container works as a superb storage unit for the refrigerator. The one thing that I do is take a piece of plastic wrap and cover the container with it. There is a small hole in the lid that allows steam to escape during cooking, but I wanted to plug it up to keep the rice from drying out in the refrigerator.

The only thing that I can add that is anywhere close to a negative comment is that when I make 14 cups it fills the container completely. If I tried to make 16 cups it would possibly exceed the storage capacity of the container and create some of the problems other reviewers have noted. So while I strongly recommend this cooker, I also recommend cooking no more than 14 cups. But I can't imagine many people needing that much.

So as long as you follow instructions but keep the amount just a bit below the recommended maximum this will be an outstanding rice cooker for almost anyone.

I have had this rice cooker for years. Now I purchased this one for my father (who is 82) because of the simplicity of use and ease of cleaning. It is just the best. It cooks up to 16 cups of rice. I would absolutely recommend it for anyone.

This is a great rice cooker! It's actually smaller than I thought it would be too, which is a good thing! My boyfriend and I have used it to make different amounts of rice and typically will have pot stickers in the steamer basket. We have never had ANY problems with it spitting up starchy mess everywhere. Why? Because we rinse our rice! You have to thoroughly rinse the starch off the rice or you'll end up with gummy rice and a mess on your counters. If you rinse it till the water is just slightly cloudy-clear you'll be just fine!

Don't let the mixed reviews affect your decision on this really great rice cooker. It does it's job very well!