Put This Versatile Appliance to Work in Your Kitchen.
If you have never used a rice cooker before, have no fear! These things are absolutely miracle workers in the kitchen. Rice cooker meals are the new globalized wonder for everything from Asian dishes to fusion to beans and rice. The number of meals you can craft with a rice cooker are endless.
That said, and speaking from experience, these things can be intimidating for the uninitiated. Before we dive into this Preparedness Mama guide, let’s start with a story.
I purchased a rice cooker several years ago. It’s a real beauty, and by no means overly pricey. Mine is $30 on Amazon, so imagine the savings you can earn by cutting down on Chinese and Indian takeout! I can count on it to make perfect rice – every time.
However, the rest of the time it sits on a shelf in the garage looking – well…forlorn. There must be something else to do with it, but until I started doing a little research, I was lost. What else can this thing do besides cook rice?
First, let’s start with the benefits to meals you can prepare with a rice cooker. There are several benefits to using a rice cooker daily.
- With your rice cooker churning away in the corner, you free up stove-top space. This matters especially on busy cooking nights and cuts down on stress if you’re cooking with your partner.
- Keeps the kitchen cooler on hot days. Remember, aside from a little steam out the sides, the rice cooker is electric. This means no gas fire, crazy boiling water, or excess heat.
- No fuss. Just pour in the water and wait for your food to finish.
- The rice cooker keeps your food warm until you’re ready to serve. There’s no need to worry about burning on the bottom either. This thing is smart.
- It turns out that a rice cooker is a versatile appliance for every kitchen. It can do a lot more than you think.
The rice cooker intuitively cooks until all the water has been completely absorbed by your grain, and then it switches itself over to its “warming” setting to keep your dish warm until you serve.
Because of the machine’s tight seal, rice cookers lose less liquid to evaporation, so using a slightly smaller amount of water, rather than more, is always a better idea. (this tip from our friends at the Whole Grain Council)
Now that you have a better sense of the benefits of a rice cooker, you might be more inclined to go pick one up. But the question still remains, what can I actually do with this besides just… cook rice? That’s where we come in. Here is our guide for 13 other less obvious things you can make in your rice cooker.
1. Quinoa and Other Grains
Once I got a little adventurous, the first new thing I cooked in my rice cooker was quinoa. Quinoa is one of the healthiest grains out there. The seeds are jam packed with protein, vitamin b, and fiber. It has the same cooking requirements as white rice, so it’s a natural progression.
In fact, all kinds of grains (and seeds like quinoa) can be cooked in a rice cooker. They are usually cooked at a ratio of 1 cup grains to 2 cups water. Try substituting liquid vegetable or chicken stock for the water as a flavorful addition.
You can also just sprinkle in some dry stock to juice up the quinoa or other grains. Want more ideas on meals you can prepare alongside your rice cooker-ready quinoa. Our friends at Greatist have a comprehensive guide to 50 (yes, 50!) great quinoa recipes and combinations.
2. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is… well, this is technically a grain, but it deserves its own category. Our food blogging friend at “Thanks for the Food” uses her rice cooker for morning oatmeal. “The only downside to oatmeal, and especially the steel cut variety, is that it can take a while to cook on the stove and tends to boil over, making a huge mess – which can be just another annoying hurdle during a hurried morning routine. Making oats in the rice cooker eliminates all that fuss.” I completely agree. Another advantage to cooking oatmeal in the rice cooker is that you’ll spare yourself a lot of clean up time. It’s easy to get the grains stuck to the sides and bottom of the pan from overcooking. Not so with a rice cooker. Most rice cookers have a removable cooking surface that makes cleaning even smoother.
3. Dried Beans
One of my favorite side dishes is black beans and rice, Those beans are hard to cook on the stovetop without making a huge mess. Now that I have a rice cooker, it feels like beans and rice were born for this cooking top. Here’s a recipe from Desumama for Cuban Black Beans & Rice in a rice cooker. Soak the beans overnight and add to the cooker – half beans, half water, and you’re good to go. If you prefer a little cajun style of cooking, this delicious gourmet beans and rice meal uses kidney beans instead.
4. Yogurt
This one might surprise you, but you’ll find that this list is full of surprises. Rice cookers are more versatile than you thought, right? And we’re only at #4… I’ve been making yogurt in my crockpot the past month or so, and it turns out that you can use a rice cooker too.
Our blogging friend at Insunee has more thoughts on the yogurt opportunities afforded to rice cooker owners. “I have a crock pot, and most people don’t. How will the crockpot-less enjoy fresh, homemade yogurt?” Don’t miss the detailed instructions at Knifing, Forking, Spooning. One key detail to note is that if your rice cooker uses a metal cooking interior, you should swap it out for a ceramic bowl. This will ensure that you get a smooth and consistent yogurt.
5. Bread
If you are lacking an oven and you love fresh homemade bread, the rice cooker may be your new best friend! Essentially, all you need are your standard bread ingredients like flour and yeast. Of course, being a rice cooker, a decent amount of water is in order.
Be sure and stop by The Fresh Loaf and see her tutorial for rice cooker bread to get more tips. It looks fantastic and easy to make. Problem solved! You can also spice up your bread or turn it into cheesy bread, a delicious variant that’s also possible in a rice cooker! The sky’s the limit. Also consider adding seeds, other grains, or fruits into your bread to make it even more healthy.
6. Banana Bread / Sweet bread
Sweet breads, for those unfamiliar, are a dessert delight across dozens of cultures. The term can refer to certain types of tender meats, but in this case we’re talking about bread that is literally sweet.
The most common examples of this are extra sugary breads or fruity varieties like banana bread. Many sweet breads can be made in a rice cooker. This delicious recipe for banana bread rice cooker meal is a must-read.
This is also terrific if you substituted applesauce, or pumpkin and spices. All that’s essentially required here is flour, baking powder and soda, eggs, and the fruit you want to use, along with some sugar and salt. You will wow your friends by whipping banana bread out of a rice cooker. Sometimes the best things arise when and from whence we least expect it.
7. Banana Pudding
If you are looking for something sweet to make in a rice cooker, this is it. The consistency of this banana pudding is exactly like traditional bread pudding. The caramel sauce brings it to over the top good.
Be sure and see how Baking Makes Things Better makes this creative Banana Pudding. There’s no reason to feel limited by just banana pudding. Just like with yogurt, you can make any type of traditional pudding in the rice cooker.
8. Vegetable Frittata
Did you know you could cook eggs in a rice cooker? This recipe from Just Bento looks to be a keeper. It is basically a frittata using eggs and summer vegetables. It even uses the rice cooker bowl as a mixing bowl.
While it doesn’t get browned and crusty on the outside as with an oven-baked or stovetop frittata, it turns out really nice and fluffy-creamy in texture. It’s a great all-in-one recipe that has protein, carbs and vegetables.
9. Steamed Vegetables
We use our rice cooker every Thanksgiving for Brussels sprouts. There are people in the family who cannot stand the smell of them cooking, but the rest of us don’t want to give up our favorite vegetable. The solution is the rice cooker – in the garage.
All you have to do is place water in the bottom of the pan and place the steamer basket on top. Set for 15-20 minutes and you have your favorite vegetable, without taking up valuable stove-top space on busy cooking days. Plus there’s no grumbling from the Brussels sprouts haters!
10. Rice Cooker Ribs
This recipe for rice cooker ribs from Domestic Diva Katie looks easy to make. In fact, it is cooked completely in the cooker – no stovetop needed. The sauce is created with brown sugar, Worcestershire Sauce and dark beer. Yum!
If you choose to go for a DIY experimental approach to cooking meat, remember the general rules. Aim for low temperature and a long period of time. If you want to keep it on the safe side, get a meat thermometer.
11. Roasted Pork
Cooking meat in 1 pound portions is even possible in a rice cooker. This recipe for rice cooker roast pork is a really tasty rice cooker meal that will definitely impress your family and friends.
The directions call for turning the meat over several times to ensure it doesn’t sear too much. You should also tie up the meat to maintain its juiciness while cooking. If you want to keep it extra tasty, marinate the meat for at least several hours in the fridge before cooking. This goes great with rice or rice noodles.
12. Spiced Pears
Cooking pears in a rice cooker is a mix between steaming and poaching. We followed this recipe for rice cooker spiced pomegranate pears from Nicko’s kitchen and they turned out fabulously, so the idea of cooking pears in a rice cooker isn’t so far fetched.
You can convert this recipe to apples, pomegranates, or try different juice combinations to make your own rice cooker meal creations.
13. Cake
We’ve hit the jackpot for cake recipes with this chocolate cake rice cooker meal from the cooking deities at Food.com. If you are looking for an easy to make and delicious (plus low cleanup threshold) dessert, this is it. You’ll find everything from marble cake to cheddar cheese cake to walnut butter cake online, all doable in a rice cooker. Small kitchen people, you now have no excuse.
Feel like we’re leaving some good ideas out? Share your favorite rice cooker recipes in the comment section below. If you want to class it up with an upgraded rice cooker, see all kinds of Rice Cookers on Amazon. You’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you and your family. What will you cook next in your rice cooker?
Shannon says
I have also used it for egg noodles- turn it off right when it starts to boil.
Pamela @ FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com says
Now these ideas make it worth having a rice cooker. Just for rise seems a bit silly to have another appliance in a small kitchen. Thank you for the list.
Jennifer says
These are great ideas. I’m always trying to be creative in the kitchen and use different appliances. I would never have thought to try most of these. However, I’ve cooked chicken in my rice cooker for years. It steams it perfectly. I’ve also cooked the rice and chicken at the same time in the rice cooker, they finish at the about the same time. I add my spices or seasonings before hand. I just add about a cup extra water.
Shelle says
Thanks for the add extra water tip Jennifer. I would not have thought of that.
Jade Xi says
These are some great, creative recipes. Thank you. Like Jennifer, the only other thing I’ve cooked in my rice cooker was chicken. This has given me the confidence to try some more combinations.
Gabriel says
Great ideas! I’ve bought a rice cooker and now i’m looking for ideas what to make with this amazing machine! Thank you for sharing
praveen says
Good one
Catherine Relfe says
I never cook hard boiled eggs any other way now. I have an oval rice cooker, I put in 1 cup of water and anywhere from 1 to a dozen eggs and it shuts off when it’s done. The eggs are easy to peel. I also do stuffed peppers, they are soooo easy.
Shelle says
Good to know Catherine! I have the hardest time with peeling hard boiled eggs and I’m going to give this a try. Do you just put it on the white rice setting?
Mikey says
I’ve bought a new rice cooker as a Christmas present for my wife. We both loved the article, amazing ideas!
urbanvegan says
Just the article I was looking for. I’ve been on the look out for some new ideas to throw into the rice cooker for my family. I’m going to try some of your suggestions – thanks again!
Tammy says
Has anyone ever tried grits?
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Franco Moiso says
Ribs and Roasted Pork in a rice cooker? This is something I have to try to believe.
Donna S says
Great ideas, I have a reason to dust off my rice cooker, but $#13 Cake seems to need an invite, any ideas about that
Julie says
Can you make coconut rice in the rice cooker?