The Rice That Brings Family Together

Every single time we cooked, whether it was with a wok, pots, or pans, there was always one other appliance that we used: the rice cooker. Using the rice cooker was inevitable. It's always in use in our household, and over the years, it's become worn and scratched.

The rice cooker is a staple in Asian households. It’s extremely convenient, as it is easy to use and frees up space. Operating a rice cooker can be done with very few steps: wash the rice, add the rice and water, press the start button, and then let it cook. 

Cooking can be a tedious and stressful task, especially when tending to multiple cuisines at once. That's where the rice cooker comes into play. You can take care of sophisticated dishes that you’re cooking without needing to stress about the rice. And when you hear the beautiful melody of the rice cooker, you know your rice is done. Additionally, with the rice cooker, you don’t need to take over as many kitchen items. With it being automated, you can leave it on the countertop on its own and forget about it. 

You pop up the lid and feel the warm soothing steam on your face. You gaze at the hot, fluffy, perfectly cooked rice, and suddenly your stomach is rumbling. 

That warm bowl of rice goes perfectly with every other dish that was served, such as sweet and sour chicken, katsu curry, tempura, and many more delicious meals. My personal favorite, red braised pork belly, combines so well with rice, especially with the rice soaking up the nice juice of the pork. 

It's the default food when you don’t know what else to eat. It’s the food that’s constant while everything else changes. Rice is not the main attraction, but instead enhances every other dish. It stays quiet, but is essential and reliable in so many Asian cuisines. When I was younger, I didn’t appreciate rice very much. I always took it for granted. But I now notice how much our family revolves around rice. Whenever I’m eating at restaurants or at parties, I always get disappointed when there’s no rice. It just doesn’t feel right. It feels like something is missing. 

Rice is so much more than just a food. When I look back on my fun memories of eating with my family, rice is always there. Rice is there on busy weekends, special occasions, quiet dinners, and holidays. It sits at the center, quietly tying each dish together. Even though everything around me changes, that warm bowl of rice constantly reminds me that home isn’t just a place - it’s a feeling, and sometimes it’s as simple as what’s on your plate.