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If you don't want to buy a rice cooker (I suggest Sanyo). Just any old pot with a cover, if you don't have a cover you can use foil to cover it (old college trick). It's not rocket science.

I would add that the pot should be oven proof in case you want to use if for rice pilaf.

A good rice pot is heavy with a lid that fits well. It's as easy as that.

Ours is a cast aluminum pot from SE Asia. It works perfectly, and can sometimes be found at an Asian market.

I've always thought a rice cooker was a rediculous item. Mom's made rice on the stove for about 65 years. She's gonna be 70. It is easy enough for a kid to cook.

I have a 2 quart corning ware casserole dish that I use to make rice in the microwave, now rice made on the stovetop is slightly better a little nuttier but the microwave is more consistent and well a lot easier I just pop it in when I start chopping for a stir fry and don't have to think about it.

I cook for one or two, and I use my 2 quart saucepan with great success. It does have a good lid. It's also my saucepan of choice when I'm making sauce of any type. My favorite rice-cooking tip is to add a small bit of kombu (seaweed) to the rice while it cooks-- it helps keep the rice from bubbling over the edge of the pan.

I used to use a cheap non-stick pot that has a lid with a little gadget that you can open up to vent a bit of the steam (which also helps with the bubbling over).

My Korean-born mother insisted on buying me a small rice cooker, though. So I use that now. I like it better than the pot.

I have the Cooks Illustrated recommended Calphalon contemporary 2.5 quart Short and Saucy pot that I love for rice (and about a billion other things!) It's hard anodized/non-stick, cooks evenly, and a dream to clean!

http://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-Contemporary-Nonstick-2-Quart-Saucepan/dp/B0000936JZ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1204079506&sr=1-1

These are great suggestions, but may I suggest getting a quality rice cooker (zojirushi) and using that instead of some of your pots! recent, upscale, digital rice cookers have all sorts of functions. you'd be surprised what you can make!

I'm throwing out my rice cooker, too. I frequently make pilaf style rice rice dishes, which require use of a pot anyway at the beginning.

The funny thing about rice is that everyone thinks they make Great rice. Well, I eat at a lot of my friends houses and most people Over cook it!

Good Rice cookers are the best, but make sure you stay Away from Non-stick!
(remember it is non-stick, so it doesnt stay On the pan either! yum.)

Hey bobcatsteph3 -
I wonder if Cooks Illustrated has any Sponsers?

Hmmm, maybe Calphalon?

Naaa, couldnt be.

I got a pressure cooker. Brown rice in 20 minutes (versus 40). Yay!

I have a rice cooker and love it (and have used it for, OMG, 9 years; time flies!); and a pressure cooker, and lots of pots...

Nothing compares with the rice cooker for ease of use. I eat a lot of rice, so it makes good sense for me to have one. I also second the pressure cooker (if you want mixed beans and rice, or brown rice).

But, my dear sis, doesn't have either of these and also eats a lot of rice... and she doesn't have a special pot or anything. just uses anything with a lid that won't let the steam out. sometimes a big pot, sometimes a suacepan

so, in my opinion, rice is one of those things that is super flexible and does not need a fancy, special pot or pan or appliance. don't bother. I mean, people have been cooking rice for how long? without these gadgets?

Wow! You guys are great - I didn't realize my question had been posted and I have been super busy this last week so yay! A nice midnight surprise.

My trusty rice cooker has been with me a long time and I had never really been successful with doing stovetop rice before, but now since my non stick insert is so scratched that it's not non-stick anymore - it's time to convert back to the traditional ways of making rice. Thanks so much for the suggestions. I think a nice set of pots in the recommended sizes will fit in my tiny kitchen better than a one use rice cooker.

Thank you :)