Rice plays a pivotal role in Asian cuisine, and its appeal is on the rise globally. It’s starting to win over individuals who typically don’t prepare it. If you’re considering experimenting with it, here are the fundamental steps for cooking rice in a steamer in the absence of an Asian rice cooker.
A rice cooker will do the job, but you’ll want to use it for less delicate grains and more common ingredients like brown rice. No amount of expensive taste can make up for an undercooked grain. Some products can handle a higher temperature (for example, the regular brands of rice cooker will rise to about 200 F), but other basic rice cookers are even better at the delicate rice; around 200 degrees F, according to the Wall Street Journal. The vast majority of rice cookers on the market use a controlled heat system, so it’s generally easier to control.
Depending on the brand, you may be able to adjust the temperature either through the dial on the side or a knob on the top. You want a pretty medium temperature.
What you need to get started
You can cook rice in a rice cooker, of course, but rice cooker recipes can be more complicated than necessary and, let’s be honest, who’s got time for that? To help get you started, we’ve put together a list of recipes for people who want to try their hand at cooking rice in a steamer. You can use these simple and straightforward recipes as a starting point for experimenting with steaming rice in a pot.
You’re about to learn how to make rice in a rice cooker, but if you have more time, this Instant Pot cookbook ($7, Amazon) might help you get the most from your rice machine. Besides the basic methods you’ll find in the book, the author outlines a number of more involved recipes.
Steaming rice in a pot
Like other grains, rice can be cooked in a water bath in a separate pot from the pot of boiling water, although steam cooks rice a little faster. Stirring rice as it cooks in the steamer can help cook all the top layers and keep the grain bright and crisp. Steaming rice in a pot just makes things simpler and easier, since you don’t have to worry about cooking the rice all the way through before placing it in the rice cooker.
Cooking rice in a pressure cooker:
With the stovetop method, you don’t have to deal with any of the excess heat or preheating the pot that’s required by pressure cooker rice, which can be a big plus for some. Unlike the stovetop method, steaming your rice in a pressure cooker takes very little time at all to cook.
How to season your rice
To season your rice, gently boil it until it releases all of the water it can hold. If you haven’t boiled your rice yet, give it a few minutes to release as much water as possible. Steaming rice will help to release some of the starch and fructan, which are two components of the grain. Once the rice is cooked, you can throw the contents in a rice cooker or sauté them in a skillet. Steaming your rice releases the starch and fructan, but it also changes the flavor. Be sure to taste your rice before adding any seasoning. If you think the flavor is too strong, add less of it.
Rice water temperature
To cook rice in a rice cooker or on the stove, you’ll want your rice to be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. To test the water temperature, put your rice in the microwave for five minutes.
