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Prep 5 minutesmins
Cook 20 minutesmins
Total 25 minutesmins
Learn how to cook rice in a rice cooker for perfect fluffy, steamed white rice every time! This rice cooker recipe is incredibly easy and versatile for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
When it comes to cooking rice, you can use a rice cooker, the traditional stove method, or even a microwave. In my opinion, using a rice cooker is the easiest and most foolproof method available. All you need to do is add the rinsed rice with water, set it, and forget it!
A rice cooker is a cooking appliance that consistently cooks fluffy, perfectly cooked rice. On average, most rice cookers will take between 20 and 30 minutes to cook white rice. The rice cooker works by bringing the water to a boil. As the water heats up, it gets absorbed by the rice. Once the rice absorbs all the water, the temperature in the pot will rise above 212°F (100°C). The rice cooker will detect this temperature change and either shut off or switch to a “Keep Warm” mode.
Types of Rice
There so many varieties of rice out there. This recipe will teach you how to cook white rice in a rice cooker.
Medium-grain rice falls between short and long-grain rice and has a medium starch content that is sticky yet fluffy. The most common medium-grain rice is risotto. You can make Thai green curry risotto or miso mushroom risotto with medium-grain rice.
Long-grain rice has a low starch content that leads to a light, fluffy, separate-grain texture when cooked. The most common long-grain rice is Jasmine rice. You can make shrimp fried rice, egg fried rice, or Thai fried rice with jasmine rice.
How to Make Rice in a Rice Cooker
Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to cook rice in a rice cooker.
Measure the rice and add it to the rice cooker pot.
Rinse the rice using cold tap water. Pour out the white water and repeat 2-3 times or until the water is mostly clear. Drain completely.
Add the filtered water, place the rice in the rice cooker, close the lid and hit start or cook according to your rice cooker’s manual instructions. Do not lift the lid until the rice is done cooking.
The rice cooker will notify you when the rice is done. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes before fluffing the rice with a rice spatula.
Expert Tips
Wash the rice: washing the rice will remove any excess starch on the rice ensuring the rice remains separate and not stuck together.
The ratio for white short, medium or long grain rice is 1 1/4 cup water to 1 cup rice. However this can vary slightly depending on the brand of rice and your preferences for softer or drier rice.
Drain completely. Before adding water, ensure that the rice is completely drained to prevent it from becoming overly mushy during cooking.
Let the rice rest for 10 minutes. After the rice cooker turns off or to “Keep Warm,” let the rice rest for a few minutes to allow the rice grains to absorb any remaining moisture and become more separate.
If the rice is too dry, after you cook it add 1-2 tablespoons of water into the pot and close the rice cooker for 5-10 minutes.
Storage Instructions
Let the rice cool to room temperature and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Reheat: The rice will dry out in the refrigerator the longer it is refrigerated. Sprinkle a few drops of water over the rice, cover it with a wet paper towel, and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warm.
Freeze: To freeze cooked rice, spread it in a single layer on a baking sheet to cool. Then transfer it into a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Pairing Suggestions
There are an endless number of ways to use pair rice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here are a few suggestions.
A rice cooker has the highest probability of consistently making perfect rice every time. It can also make rice in advance if it has a warming feature, which can keep the rice warm for up to 6 hours.
What is the ratio of water to rice in a rice cooker?
The ratio for white short, medium, or long-grain rice is 1 1/4 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. However, this can vary slightly depending on the brand of rice and your preferences for softer or drier rice. Some recipes call for a 1:1 ratio, which may be a good starting point to see if you prefer a drier rice.
How long can you keep rice in a rice cooker?
You can leave your rice on the keep warm setting in the rice cooker for up to 6 hours. However, the longer the rice is in the rice cooker, the more it may dry out, lose its flavor, and have an undesirable texture.
How does a rice cooker know when the rice is cooked?
Once the rice absorbs all the water in the rice cooker, the temperature will rise, and the rice cooker will sense this change and switch to the warming cycle.
Why do you need to let the rice rest in the rice cooker after it’s done?
Allowing the rice to rest in the rice cooker will allow any excess moisture to evaporate, enabling your rice to fully absorb the remaining water.
Learn how to cook rice in a rice cooker for perfect fluffy, steamed white rice every time! This rice cooker recipe is incredibly easy and versatile for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Measure the rice. Measure the rice with a traditional measuring cup and add it to the rice cooker pot.
Wash the rice. Rinse the rice using cold tap water. Use your hand to move the rice around and clean the grains. Pour out the white water and repeat 2-3 times or until the water is mostly clear. You can also wash the rice in a fine mesh sieve. Be sure to drain the water completely.
Cook the rice. Add the filtered water, place the rice in the rice cooker, close the lid, and press start or follow your rice cooker’s manual instructions for cooking. Do not lift the lid until the rice is done cooking.
Fluff and serve. The rice cooker will notify you when the rice is done. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Then open the lid and fluff the rice with a rice spatula. Be careful, the steam will vent out quickly.
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