Customer Reviews

Panasonic SR-W06PA Rice Cooker, White

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Some thoughts about the Panasonic SR-W06PA three cup rice cooker which I bought last month.

It does a fine job with all kinds of rice, including long grain brown. The unit is simple, logically and well designed and only has one switch: on/off. Clean up is easy enough, especially if you soak the inner container for awhile before swabbing with a sponge.

There is no warming function after the rice has cooked -- the unit gives a quiet chime and powers off. This has not been a problem for me but if you want to keep rice warm in the middle of a meal, just switch the unit "on" for two minutes and turn it off. Alternatively, buy a more expensive cooker.

To re-heat left-over rice, use the steaming plate and put the rice on top of it. This works far better than trying to revive cold rice with a microwave oven and only takes a few minutes. The steamer works very well for vegetables -- would be worth having it just for that alone.

The cooker cooks one to three cups of dry rice -- more than enough for four people (probably six). The unit is small and compact in size (a 7" circle -- 9" counting handles -- that is 8" high with lid on) and easy to store.

Be aware that a "cup" measure (included) is actually about 6 ounces in volume. That still makes far more rice than I can eat at one sitting. I'd recommend buying a plastic or wood rice paddle (not provided) -- a wooden or nylon spoon would do -- to protect the non-stick coating.

The only product glitch is a printing error in the instructions. The user is told to add one cup of rice and one cup of water. Skeptically, I tried using one and a half cups of water and had to steam the resulting under cooked rice (but even that mistake turned out pretty well). The correct proportions are 1 rice to 2 water -- just like mom told you.

The instructions also tell you to soak the rice before cooking, something most European Americans do not do. Though I do soak my rice, it is not necessary to do so to produce satisfactory results.

I've been eating more brown rice since I bought the steamer because its so easy to make now. If you think cooking rice on the stovetop is easy, try a rice cooker. Just put the rice, water and a pinch of salt in and turn it on. No timing, no fiddling with the heat, and perfect results every time.

I have had good luck with Panasonic products in the past -- good value and reliability for the money. This rice cooker
appears to be no exception.
/end/

Received it today, immediately washed, then set up a pan of white long grain rice, it cooked, it sat for the suggested 15 minutes, pan of rice was good. Then set up a pan of brown rice, it cooked, it sat for 15 minutes, brown rice was good. Both required far different cooking times, both worked on the only setting (on/off) available. Knew from some reviews and comments here and elsewhere that these ricers tend to sputter and overflow, so I watched on the white rice, uncovered a few times to lower bubbling brew, that worked, but it didn't make this a set and forget appliance. So I topped the cover with a terry towel as much to accept the escaping steam and rice residue as anything. That worked admirably. When I set up the brown rice, I didn't watch, immediately covered the top of the rice cooker with the terry towel and forgot about it. No overflow, no gummy mess, the solution to any supposed sputtering. I like the cooker, the rice is good. I have no problem recommending it after two pots tonight. Now, if it lasts, I have certainly found an inexpensive appliance that takes up a very small amount of counter space, will probably be kept out for rice and steaming vegetables (the plate is too small, will probably use a folding steamer or glass bowl inside the pot). It's sleek, attractive, works, a good product for the money.

I purchased this unit after becoming convinced I cooked too much rice to do without one anymore. Still, being within a strict budget, I didn't want to drop $80 to $100 on a unit. The Panasonic SR-W06PA has proven a very worthwhile purchase.

I cook all types of rice, from white rice, to long grain, to my favorite eight-grain mixture, and this cooker does them all very well. And, since I live in a very small apartment, the small size of the cooker greatly adds to its appeal, since I have plenty of counter space left to work on.

You'll really want a small plastic spatula to scoop rice off the non-stick surface, but the unit does clean up easily. I typically let it soak for about five minutes with a soapy water, then rinse and wash with a sponge.

I would have liked the vegetable-steaming tray to have a bit better design (I have to use a fork to get under the handle and lift it out), but vegetables always steam well. Also, the cooker tends to boil over a bit, so if I'm cooking larger quantities of rice (1.5 cups, for instance), I often set the cooker in a pan or on a plate to save myself some cleanup time.

I use my cooker multiple times per week and have found it an invaluable addition to the kitchen.

Since we do eat alot of rice, and I find cooking rice on the stovetop a pain, I decided to purchase this rice cooker. I was skeptical at first because I didn't want another useless appliance taking up space in our tiny kitchen...but I read the reviews on this one and decided to just buy it. I had never used one and I wanted something easy to use, not too big, and not expensive. I am VERY pleased with this rice cooker. It is small, yet cooks plenty of rice, it is a cinch to use (only one button), and the price is right. I also did the 1 cup rice to 2 cups water as the other reviewer stated and the rice came out PERFECT...I didn't even soak the rice like it says to do and the rice was still great. I will never cook rice on the stovetop again!

I received this as a gift from my mother and I love it. I wanted a rice cooker for so long, but I didn't want to spend $100 for one. This cooker makes my short California Sushi Rice, Jasmine Rice, and Basmati Rice. I have not tried plain brown or white, but I believe it would work just as well.

It doesn't do that well as a vegetable steamer. Very small basket, could hold maybe one vegetable?

This little cooker should have been exactly what I wanted. It is small, with just enough capacity for two or three servings, and does a fairly good job of not under/overcooking the rice. However, and this is the most disappointing aspect of the cooker and the reason it only gets two stars from me, the lid doesn't fit tightly AT ALL. As a result, even with only one cup (!!) of water in the bottom of the cooker, the rice and water boil over and bubble everywhere, creating a sticky, hot, ricy film over everything within eighteen inches' radius of the cooker. Definitely dangerous if there happen to be children exploring the counter, or if you are close and not paying attention. I have rectified it by wrapping the perimeter of the lid with wet paper towels to make a tighter seal, but I would not recommend this cooker to anyone who isn't fond of "fixing" brand-new appliances.

I agree with the other reviews that the instructions that came with the device are incorrect with regard to the water:rice ratio. Furthermore, as noted already by others, the lid does not fit snugly and the water will bubble up and out if you have it even half full. I did find that if I presoaked the rice it would not tend to bubble over as much, but who wants to presoak the rice for 30 minutes prior to cooking? After you add in the cooking time, it would be faster just cooking it on the top of the stove. But if you do presoak the rice and don't put that much in the device, it will turn out nicely cooked rice. I'm getting rid of mine, however, and getting something else.

After reading the online reviews I was a bit skeptical.. But I'm glad I bought this. This thing is awesome. In my area, you can't find sticky rice easily without going to a specialty shop. This rice cooker will make your rice sticky. Just rinse the rice until clear, follow directions: soak 30 minutes, press down the knob, let cool, and joila... turns out perfect.
I didn't even like rice until this. This cooker has proved a very useful item in my house. Thanks panasonic and amazon for the good price. I just hope it last a long time.

It's a nice ricecooker, small and simple. No timer. Little expansive comparing other brands for same size and features.

If you are having problems with rice bubbling and overflowing it is because you probably haven't rinsed it. This removes the surface starch from the rice and prevents frothing. It is a step that no Japanese housewife or grannie leaves out. The rice is always rinsed. The problem with the lid is not really a problem. It is designed to fit so it releases excess steam and the rice cooks properly. Remember that this is a Japanese invention and the instructions will reflect cooking rice in a Japanese fashion. It is also traditional to soak the rice for 30 minutes before cooking, as it is felt that this makes the rice tastier. I usually omit this step with no real consequence. Also the one cup water to one cup rice is the correct proportion for Japanese short grain rice (like Cal Rose or Kokuho Rose). You need less water for new crop rice at the beginning of the season as opposed to older rice. Also factor in the humidity in your area as this can make a difference in the cooked product.I live in a very dry northern climate so I add a quarter cup of water or so. Keep in mind the type of rice you are cooking and you will have endless pots of perfect rice with this appliance. I have a 25 year old basic rice cooker like this one and it's still going strong.