As someone who loves making traditional Japanese rice cakes and mochi at home, I was thrilled to discover the Tiger Corporation SMJ-A18U 10-Cup Rice Cake and Mochi Maker. This high-quality appliance has a number of great features that make it perfect for creating delicious and authentic Japanese treats.
One of the standout features of this mochi maker is the dimple non-stick inner container. This ensures that the mochi or rice cake mixture does not stick to the sides of the container during the cooking process, making it easy to remove the finished product. The short impeller is perfect for making mochi, while the long impeller is great for making miso.
In addition to the two impellers, this mochi maker also comes with a 6 oz. measuring cup and steam plate. These accessories make it easy to measure out the right amount of rice and water and to steam the finished product. Additionally, the wooden rod can be used for flattening mochi after pounding, which is a key step in the traditional mochi-making process.
While there are some things that are not immediately apparent from the product description, I found that the cooking timer, when finished, will buzz loudly until you push the stop button. Additionally, the unit does not automatically start pounding the rice when the cooking timer goes off. Instead, you must push the stop button to stop the cooking timer, then push the pound button. Once the pound button is pushed, the unit will not stop pounding until you push the stop button. There is no built-in timer, so you must set an independent timer to stop the machine at a specified time.
Overall, I really liked using the Tiger Corporation SMJ-A18U 10-Cup Rice Cake Mochi Maker.
One thing that really impressed me about this mochi maker is how easy it is to clean. As sticky as mochi is, this unit is relatively easy to clean in hot water. I found that if I picked off most of the mochi at the start, it cleaned up with a sponge, soap, and hot water. Hardly any mochi stuck to the bowl, and I never had to wash the bowl in hot water – usually wiping it out with a rag was enough. Additionally, the lid doubles as a ‘pan’ that you can dump your mochi in or use to form a mochi cake if you’re doing blocks.
Another great feature of the Tiger Corporation SMJ-A18U 10-Cup Rice Cake Mochi Maker is the fact that it comes with a wooden rod that can be used for flattening mochi after pounding. This is a key step in the traditional mochi-making process and it really helps to have this tool included.
There’s no doubt that it has made the process of making mochi and other traditional Japanese treats much easier and more convenient. While it is a bit pricey compared to other rice cookers, I believe it is worth the investment for anyone who is serious about making authentic Japanese rice cakes and mochi at home.
If you are looking for a high-quality mochi maker that is easy to use and produces excellent results, I highly recommend the Tiger Corporation SMJ-A18U 10-Cup Rice Cake Mochi Maker. With its non-stick container, multiple impellers, and convenient accessories, it is the perfect tool for anyone who loves traditional Japanese cooking.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dimple non-stick inner container | A bit pricey compared to other rice cookers |
| Short impeller for mochi, long impeller for miso | Takes up counter space |
| Comes with 6oz measuring cup and steam plate | |
| Wooden rod included for flattening mochi | Loud buzzing sound when timer finishes |
| Easy to clean | No built-in timer for pounding process |
| Great for making authentic Japanese treats |
Despite a few minor drawbacks, I highly recommend the Tiger Corporation SMJ-A18U 10-Cup Rice Cake Mochi Maker. It is a smart machine that is easy to use and produces perfect mochi every time. I really appreciate that it comes with a measuring cup, steam plate, and wooden rod for flattening the mochi. It’s also great to have a non-stick container that is easy to clean. If you are looking for a high-quality mochi maker that is reliable and produces excellent results, I highly recommend this machine!
- Dimple non-stick inner container
- Short impeller for Mochi
- Long impeller for Miso
- 6oz measuring cup and steam plate includes
- Wooden rod can be used for flattening Mochi after po
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