I bought a rice cooker in college because my stovetop rice was either crunchy or glue. For two years, I used it for exactly one thing: rice.

Then my roommate’s Japanese grandmother visited. She made pancakes in it. Pancakes. I stood there watching batter bubble up against the nonstick bowl, feeling like an idiot.

It’s a steamer, not just a rice machine

A rice cooker works by heating liquid to boiling, then switching to “keep warm” when the liquid is absorbed. That’s basically a steamer with a brain. Once you see it that way, the possibilities open up.

Cleanup tip: fill the bowl with water and a drop of dish soap right after serving. The residual heat loosens everything. By the time you’re done eating, a quick wipe is all it needs.