It was a blog post that inspired his newly released cookbook, The Pot and How to Use It, a book devoted to the subject of rice cooker cookery. The Pot and How to Use It is a funny kind of cookbook made up of Ebert's philosophies about cooking and health, his blog entries, and recipes generated in the comments section of his blog. It's a slim volume designed to get you acclimated to using your rice cooker for more than just rice, along with plenty of Ebert's prose to keep you thoroughly entertained while you cook in The Pot. Enter here to win a copy. More

Our gift-guide marathon continues. Still looking for that special something? Try our full complement of lists. —Ed. Zojirushi 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker: Not only does this model have a larger 5-cup capacity, but it also comes with more features than the 3-cup model. White rice can be set to be "regular," "softer," or "harder." Sweet (glutinous) rice and semibrown rice are additional options. This model also happens to be the only Zojirushi rice cooker that's equipped with the "reheating cycle." Available online at cooking.com, $194.95 Bamboo Steamer: Those who have only steamed with stainless steel racks or inserts will appreciate the difference a bamboo steamer makes. Wicking off excess moisture, the wood naturally absorbs the droplets of water that... More

In her article about rice cooker cooking, Julia Moskin refers to a bread recipe "from a popular television show about a superhero’s quest to develop a 'national loaf' for Japan." Her description missed a few key bits of information: the television show is Yakitate!! Japan, the superhero is Kazuma Azuma, and it's the best and strangest show you will ever watch about a bread making competition. Here's a video of the rice cooker bread tutorial that appeared at the end of episode 27. You can also read the directions at wikiHow.... More

amazon.com I loved Julia Moskin's story in yesterday's New York Times about "rice cooker cooking," but c'mon, Julia—after you tell us that older rice cooker models are easier to cook in because their controls are easier to override, shouldn't you have told us which rice cooker we should buy? Serious eaters want to know. Can anybody help me out here? Related Rice Cooker FAQ Rice Cooker Cooking: More Than Just Rice... More

Thinking of buying a fancy rice cooker but don't know which kind to get? Over at Just Hungry Maki Itoh posted a great FAQ about rice cookers regarding size, features, and price.... More