Hearty, versatile, and satisfying, it’s hard to imagine another ingredient more integral to our weekly cooking routine than rice. Available in a whole host of unique and delicious varieties, the sky is well and truly the limit when cooking with rice. However, achieving perfectly cooked rice every time can be challenging, especially on hectic days. That’s where rice cookers come in. Convenient and reliable, rice cookers are an essential kitchen tool in any home where rice is on the menu. So join Mahatma® Rice as we take you through the ins and outs of cooking with a rice cooker, along with some exciting rice recipe inspiration to boot.
How do you use a rice cooker?
First off, let’s get down to brass tacks and look at how to cook rice in a rice cooker. The process of cooking rice requires little more than rice and water. You bring the water to the boil and add the rice and cook until it has absorbed the water and is soft in texture and ready to eat. Sounds easy, right? Although the process of cooking any variety of rice is relatively straightforward, there are still potential pitfalls. Not getting the rice-to-water ratio right or boiling it for too long can cause rice to stick to the bottom of the pot or come out mushy. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. However, one way to ensure your rice comes out perfect every time is to use a rice cooker. Rice cookers control all the conditions during the cooking process, ensuring your grains are evenly cooked throughout for precisely the right amount of time. Although it may not significantly alter the cooking time of rice, it does make the process easy and stress-free, giving you one less thing to think about when preparing your favorite rice dishes.
Advantages of Using a Rice Cooker
Although cooking rice on a stovetop is a perfectly acceptable way to prepare rice, it’s not without its risks. Regulating temperature can be tricky depending on the stovetop you’re using. Rice cookers avoid any potential fluctuations in temperature that are more difficult to detect on a stovetop. Whereas rice on a stovetop requires monitoring, the easy settings of a rice cooker free you up to focus on the other components of the meal you’re cooking.
Should you rinse rice before cooking it in a rice cooker?
The important thing to remember about using a rice cooker is that the process is essentially the same as cooking rice on a stovetop. Therefore rinsing rice is still an important step in the cooking process, as it removes excess starch and ensures your rice comes out as it should.
How long does rice take in a rice cooker?
Rice cookers are programmed to detect the changes in temperature and water level throughout the cooking process, adapting the cook time according to these changes. Generally speaking, rice cookers take slightly less time to cook rice due to the optimal control of the key conditions during the cooking process. Rice-to-water ratios remain the same as per the stovetop method, however rice cookers work with more efficiency, speeding up the cook time in the process.
Rice Cookers Vs. Rice Steamers
You may be wondering, what’s the difference between a rice cooker and a rice steamer? While rice cookers use a combination of heat and steam to cook rice, steamers exclusively use steam. Therefore, the cook time for a rice steamer will be longer than that of a rice cooker. Rice steamers are great for cooking soft, sticky rice used in dishes such as sushi or sweet and sticky rice desserts.
Rice Cooker Recipes
Now that we’re up to speed on the benefits of using a rice cooker, let’s put this innovative kitchen device to good use with some classic rice recipes for all the family.
Rice Cooker Coconut Rice
If you’re looking to add some tropical flair to your rice meals, try our Easy Coconut Rice. A recipe tailor-made for the rice cooker, simply gather Mahatma® Jasmine Rice and the rest of your ingredients together and leave your rice cooker to work its magic!
Tuna Tartare Made Easy
Impress your fellow diners with something flavorful and pleasing to the eye. This Tuna Tartare with Rice and Avocado is a delightful dish for lovers of seafood. Ready in just 15 minutes, you can make this dish even easier by preparing Mahatma® Sticky Rice in the rice cooker. The result? A unique seafood and rice dish that will dazzle your loved ones.
Can’t get enough of tuna recipes? Try this Tuna and Avocado Poke Bowl. Packed with nutritious ingredients like fluffy Mahatma® Basmati Rice, avocado, tuna, sesame seeds, gherkins, and ginger, it’s a quick and easy meal that’s loaded with nutrients.
Rice Pudding Hack
If you’re looking to whip up a sweet and creamy rice pudding dessert for your family, then using a rice cooker is a great way to save on prep time. How about trying your hand at this Tres Leche Rice Pudding recipe? It’s a delectable Latin American take on a much-loved dessert. What’s more, if you’ve got a rice cooker at hand, it will make the process a whole lot easier.
Make Meal Prep Fun
Cooking for the ones you hold dear is one of life’s most enduring pleasures. At Mahatma® Rice, we believe that food is all about expressing yourself and having fun. That’s why we say #playwithyourfood. Get creative in the kitchen and bask in the glory of your creations. For more expert advice and irresistible new recipes, be sure to drop by our blog to find out what we’ve been cooking!
