15 Dishes You Didn’t Know You Could Make in a Rice Cooker (Beyond Just Rice)
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A rice cooker is a useful kitchen appliance that takes the guesswork out of cooking grains, delivering perfectly cooked results with little effort. But did you know this handy appliance can do much more than just cook rice? From preparing one-pot meals and steaming vegetables to melting chocolate for desserts, the possibilities are surprisingly diverse. Here are 15 dishes you can whip up in a rice cooker that go far beyond rice—you’ll be amazed by its unexpected capabilities.
Oatmeal
Even the simplest rice cookers can make perfectly cooked oatmeal without the need for soaking beforehand. For 1 cup of old-fashioned oats, you’ll need 3/4 cup of liquid, while 1 cup of steel-cut oats requires 2 ½ cups of liquid. Select the porridge setting, which cooks your oatmeal slowly at a lower temperature, ensuring a creamy and delicious result.
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Pasta
Rice cookers are great for cooking all types of pasta, but they truly shine with smaller varieties like orzo and ditalini. Simply add enough water to cover the pasta by about 1/4 inch, then cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
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Beans and Lentils
If you love cooking hearty beans or lentils from scratch, your rice cooker will quickly become indispensable. It transforms your favorite legumes into the most satisfying, old-fashioned meals you’ve ever had!
Grains
Hearty grains like barley, quinoa, and millet turn out moist and fluffy when cooked in a rice cooker. For best results, soak the grains for at least an hour before cooking, and after cooking, let them sit in a warm setting for about 15 minutes.
Steamed Dishes
Steaming is a wonderfully healthy way to cook, preserving the nutrients in your food. Use your rice cooker to steam vegetables, fish, seafood, meat, and poultry. It’s a straightforward process: just add the recommended amount of water to the inner pot, place your food in a steamer basket, and start the cooker. You can even cook rice and steamed vegetables or fish at the same time for a complete meal.
Vegetables
Rice cookers are excellent for cooking all kinds of vegetables to crisp-tender perfection. Cooking times will vary depending on the type of vegetable, so check for doneness with a fork.
Fish
You might find that cooking fish comes out very well in a rice cooker. The process is similar to poaching.
Chicken
Skinless chicken breast comes out so beautifully in a rice cooker. Just make sure to marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
Dumplings
To cook dumplings, follow the usual steps for cooking rice by adding water, then place a steamer basket in the cooker. Arrange the dumplings in the basket and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re cooking frozen dumplings, add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Eggs
Fill your rice cooker with enough water to generate steam, then arrange the eggs in the steamer basket. Cook them for about 8 minutes for soft-boiled eggs, 10 to 12 minutes for medium-boiled, or 15 to 18 minutes for hard-boiled.
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Desserts and Baked Goods
Believe it or not, your rice cooker can whip up delicious desserts and baked treats. Popular rice cooker delights include muffins, brownies, puddings, and even cakes. Just remember to grease your baking dish to prevent sticking and use a toothpick to check for doneness.
Melt Chocolate
Use the “Keep Warm” function to melt chocolate to a smooth, velvety consistency in about 15 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning or seizing, as practice makes perfect!
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Stews and Soups
Your rice cooker can also create hearty, comforting stews and soups. Simply add the ingredients to the inner pot, select the “Soup,” “Porridge,” or regular “Cook” setting, and adjust the cooking time as needed. Many slow cooker recipes can be adapted for the rice cooker with a few timing adjustments.
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Yogurt
With a bit of practice, you can make delicious homemade yogurt in your rice cooker. Experiment with different types of milk and yogurt starters, but always use high-quality ingredients. Temperature control is crucial, so use the “Yogurt” or “Warm” settings for 6 to 8 hours.
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Reheating
Place food in your rice cooker’s inner pot to reheat it. Add a splash of liquid to refresh dry foods like grains or rice. Use the “Warm,” “Reheat,” or “Cook” settings, stirring halfway through for even heating.
Proofing bread dough
The warm, humid environment inside a rice cooker is ideal for proofing bread dough. Use the “Warm” setting and check periodically until the dough has doubled in size. To increase humidity, spray the inside of the lid with water before closing it.
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