VitaClay VF7900-3 Chef Gourmet 6-Cup Rice and Slow Cooker Pro, Brushed Stainless

by Vitaclay

Product Features

• 6-cup rice and slow cooker with computerized clay-heating technology
• All-natural clay cooking bowl; double-lid design creates micro-pressure cooking
• Settings for rice, whole grain/brown rice, sweet rice, and slow-cooked meals
• Brings food to a boil 4 times faster than conventional slow cookers
• Measures 14-3/8 by 10-5/8 by 9-5/6 inches; 1-year warranty

Product Details

• Item Weight: 11.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000NBUB14
• Item model number: VF7900-3
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,270 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Totally convenient and fully programmable, this easy-to-use 6-cup rice maker and slow cooker features innovative computerized clay-heating technology. Its all-natural clay cooking bowl, which rests on a cupped heating pad for uniform cooking, captures fresher flavor and uses 50-percent less energy. The slightly porous clay allows it to breathe during the cooking process, retaining moisture and essential nutrients, plus its unglazed surface means no nonstick chemicals coming in contact with food. Pre-programmed settings include perfect rice, nutritious whole grain/brown rice, sweet rice, and slow-cooked meals. The cooker quickly brings food to a boil--up to four times faster than conventional slow cookers--then reduces the heat to a simmer for the desired time, sealing in flavor. Other highlights include a 24-hour programmable timer and a double-lid design that creates micro-pressure cooking to maximize steaming quality. Perfect for busy professionals and families who want the healthy nourishment of a home-cooked meal, the rice and slow cooker measures 14-3/8 by 10-5/8 by 9-5/6 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

Product Description

THE MAGIC OF CLAY SLOW COOKING HAS NOW ARRIVED, WITH ELECTRIC ENHANCEMENTS. VitaClay¿ Chef Gourmet Rice and Slow Cooker Pro Cooking at a perfectly computerized balance of temperature brings out its extraordinary texture and flavor. The slightly porous clay is unglazed, allowing it to breathe during the cooking process, retaining moisture and essential nutrients. It is free of added non-stick chemical glazes, so no chemicals come in contact with your food. The VitaClay¿ Chef Gourmet Rice and Slow Cooker Pro is totally convenient and fully programmable, thanks to innovative computerized clay heating technology. The all-natural clay cooking bowl rests on a cupped heating pad, which promotes uniform cooking. Double lids design creates micro-pressure cooking to maximize steaming quality for tender and flavorful food. When it comes to slow Cooking, the VitaClay¿ Chef Gourmet Rice & Slow Cooker Pro truly lives up to its gourmet name. It is just like when Gourmet chefs prepare items that are to be simmered. They rapidly bring the contents up to temperature, then reduce the heat to simmer ¿ this process seals in the flavor and retains the texture. VitaClay¿ Chef Gourmet Rice & Slow Cooker Pro QUICKLY brings to a boil four times* faster than any of conventional slow cookers, then it reduces the heat to simmer for the desired time ¿ it's like having an automatic gourmet chef right in your kitchen! Natural Zisha clay, the legendary secret behind the new VitaClay¿ Chef, was formed over thousands of years by cleansing rainfalls that scrubbed the mountains in southern China, releasing minerals into lakes and forming huge beds of Zisha, known as the Pride of China. Pre-programmed settings include perfect rice, nutritious whole grain / brown rice, sweet rice and healthy, delicious slow-cooked meals. Perfect for busy professionals and families who want the healthy nourishment of a home-cooked meal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good rice cooker without chemical "non-stick" coating, May 6, 2008

By 

Oakland Mama (Oakland CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: VitaClay VF7900-3 Chef Gourmet 6-Cup Rice and Slow Cooker Pro, Brushed Stainless (Kitchen)

We've been trying to minimize the chemicals in our family's diet, but for a long time we just ignored the rice cooker (which we use almost daily due to my daughter's wheat/gluten intolerance) as there didn't seem to be any alternatives to the Teflon-style non-stick coating. So we were very excited when we read about this product.

I was nervous at first about the shine and smell of the clay pot (that it might not be as non-toxic 100% clay as they claim). I both spoke and emailed with the manufacturer/owner/creator, but due to language issues I didn't get a clear answer. Luckily I live near a ceramics supply store, so I took it down to get their opinion. They confirmed that the shinny clay was not glazed (i.e. that might have chemicals), but had a "slip treatment" (i.e. basically clay in lots of water put on like a glaze) and then probably buffed out for shine.

In terms of function, it's comparable to other hi-tech rice cookers. The fuzzy programming isn't quite as good as our old one, but it works fine (i.e. you can set the timer to a start time, not an end time like our old one). You do need to mop up the water from the top and lid after cooking the rice. And the clay pot doesn't clean up quite as easily, but it still cleans really well.

Overall, it's all totally worth it to not have to worry about serving additional chemicals with the rice!!!

UPDATE: after using it for over six months, I still definitely recommend it.

UPDATE 5/10/09: after using it for over a year, I STILL definitely recommend it. We did break the lid, but contacted the manufacturer [...] and ordered a new one.

UPDATE 5/5/10: Still going after more than two years of 5+ times a week use! We've had some intermittent fuzzy logic issues (kept cooking when was supposed to be warming), but it only happens once in a while. I know someone commented about mold issues, FYI we NEVER store it closed, i.e. we keep it on the counter with the hinged top open so it always can dry out. Plus I wipe down the inside of the top lid when I take the rice out as it can get really wet.

UPDATE 5/7/11: still going after more than three years of 5+ times a week use. Sometimes it forgets to stop cooking, but otherwise it's great. We broke another lid and pot (little kids in our house), but it was easy to get replacements. And we still leave it open and never have any issues with mold.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful!, December 29, 2007

By 

Eve (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: VitaClay VF7900-3 Chef Gourmet 6-Cup Rice and Slow Cooker Pro, Brushed Stainless (Kitchen)

My husband and I have loved this rice cooker from the moment we made our first batch of rice. We purchased it because we avoid nonstick coatings as much as possible, and we try to go "natural" when we can.

I searched high and low for a cooker without a nonstick pot, and imagine my surprise when I found one at my favorite marketplace -- Amazon.com!

It makes excellent white rice (we use the Japanese kind), and cleanup is a breeze. I haven't tried the slow cooker cycle yet, but I've made brown rice with good results.

Once, I cooked a packaged medley mix that contained brown rice, wild rice, barley and some other things, and the kernels were a little too firm inside when I served it. However, I discovered later that the portion I had left in the pot had softened to just the right texture. I think in the future I'll let some "harder" things sit on the warming cycle for a while instead of serving immediately.

I guess even a great cooker like this one can't be expected to know how to time every crazy combination!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an ideal product, September 12, 2009

By 

maison verte - See all my reviews

I have looked for a rice cooker that is made of clay and doesn't have ANY coating on. I also would like having a rice cooker could do more jobs rather than just cooking regular rice. This is the exact one I found.
I use it almost every day for regular rice, brow rice, yam, sweet rice, steam vegetables, stew, herbal soup, bean soup, etc. It is fast and keeps warm for several hours, with a timer to remind you. It is just perfect.
It is easy to wash by hand.