In recent years, thousands of affluent Chinese tourists have snapped up high-end rice cookers in Japan ... part of an effort to burnish the "Made in China" label. Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP ...

Now, I keep a dedicated rice cooker in my kitchen and I can see why ... and the machine excels at both. I’ve made brown rice a few times and even tested out quinoa and farro to much success.