9 Surprising Recipes to Cook in Your Rice Cooker

Did you know how versatile a rice cooker can be and how you can cook different recipes in it? Gone are the days when this amazing appliance was limited to just cooking rice. Prepare to be amazed as we unveil a plethora of rice cooker uses, transcending conventional boundaries and revolutionising your kitchen experience. From serving up delicious one-pot meals to creating delectable desserts, a rice cooker is set to become your ultimate kitchen companion. 

What is a Rice Cooker? 

A rice cooker is a dedicated kitchen appliance designed to perfectly cook rice. It flawlessly cooks various types of rice, and its built-in thermostat also maintains the temperature and heat distribution, resulting in evenly cooked grains every time. 

The versatility of a rice cooker extends beyond rice, as it can also be used for steaming vegetables, making soups, and even baking cakes. Its simplicity and convenience make it an indispensable tool in modern kitchens.

9 Different Rice Cooker Uses You Didn’t Know

Rice cooker uses are not just restricted to cooking rice, here are some of the ways that you can use this unique appliance creatively. 

1. Bake a Cake Surprisingly, you can bake a cake using rice cooker recipes. Indian cuisines often include cakes baked with exotic flavours like cardamom and saffron. To bake a cake in the Rice Cooker, start off by preparing your cake batter as per your favourite recipe. Apply some butter or a non-stick spray on the inner bowl to prevent the cake from sticking. Pour the batter into the non-stick bowl and close the rice cooker with its robust stainless steel lid ensuring a secure fit. Set the rice cooker to its 'Cook' mode rather than 'Keep Warm'. Allow the cake to bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Enjoy your delicious, evenly baked cake.
2. Steam Fresh or Frozen Dumplings To steam fresh or frozen dumplings using a rice cooker, begin by filling the rice cooker pot with about one inch of water, making sure it doesn't touch the steamer basket. Next, place the steamer basket inside the pot and neatly arrange your dumplings in the basket, taking care not to let them stick or overcrowd. Once done, carefully remove the piping-hot dumplings and serve immediately. 
3. Cook Oatmeal For a healthy breakfast option, try cooking oatmeal in your rice cooker. To cook oatmeal in a rice cooker, add oats and water (or milk) according to your desired consistency. Stir in any sweetener or flavourings, close the lid, and press the 'Cook' to enjoy. 
4. Mac and Cheese Make delicious mac and cheese in your rice cooker. Add the pasta and water to the rice cooker. Ensure that you add enough water for the pasta to absorb. This way, you don’t have to strain the pasta. You can substitute water with a vegetable broth for an enhanced flavour. Once the pasta is cooked, switch the rice cooker to the ‘warm’ setting. Add your cheese, milk and seasonings when the pasta is hot. Stir until the cheese is melted and the consistency is to your liking.
5. Fluffy Pancakes Create fluffy pancakes using your rice cooker. Just whip up your favourite batter, pour it into the rice cooker, set it on 'cook' mode and wait for delightful pancakes to appear. Opt for a non-stick rice cooker so that you can take out your pancake without breaking it.
6. PizzaIf you are craving pizza, your rice cooker can come to the rescue. Prepare your dough by mixing all-purpose flour, yeast, sugar, salt, oil and water. Once the dough has risen, divide it into smaller portions and let these dough balls rise for another hour. Meanwhile, you can prepare your pizza toppings. Roll out your pizza dough into a flat circle large enough to fit into the rice cooker. Carefully place the rolled-out dough into the rice cooker. Allow the pizza base to cook first so that you can layer your sauce and pizza toppings on it. For a faster cooking time, consider cooking your toppings first. Once the pizza is ready, carefully take it out of the rice cooker and enjoy.
7. Steam Healthy Veggies Steaming your favourite vegetables is made much simpler with a rice cooker. Stack your choice of veggies in the steamer basket, fill the pot with water, and use the 'warm' mode for nutritious and beautifully cooked vegetables. Always remember to refer to the specific instructions provided in your cooker's manual for the recommended steaming settings.
8. Curries & Daals You can effortlessly cook your favourite meat or vegetable curries in a rice cooker. Allow your oil or ghee to heat in the rice cooker, temper your spices and add your vegetables or marinated meats and seasoning. Once the curry is cooked, you can turn off the rice cooker and serve. You can also cook daal, a staple in many Indian households, in a rice cooker. Simply boil the pulses with turmeric and salt and add the tempered mustard seeds, curry leaves, garlic, chillies, etc., once the pulses are cooked.
9. Soups You can also make soup in a rice cooker. You can prepare a meat stock by boiling the meat with whole spices and vegetables. Once the stock is ready, strain it to separate the meat and stock. Add the stock back to the rice cooker and add your desired soup ingredients such as shredded meat, diced vegetables, spices, sauces, vinegar, seasonings etc.

Why You Should Consider Investing In A Rice Cooker

A rice cooker offers a multitude of benefits:

• Timesaving

You don’t have to monitor the rice cooker as it turns off when the food inside it is cooked. While the rice is cooking, you can prepare other meals and potentially save on cooking times.

• Versatility

Although the name ‘rice cooker’ suggests that you can only cook rice, that is not case. You can use a rice cooker to make a cake, cook soups, stews and curries, steam vegetables, fish or meat or even cook a whole chicken.

• Ease of Use

The process of using a rice cooker is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is place the required ingredients in the rice cooker container, place the container in the cooker and turn it on.

• Warm Function

Most rice cookers come with a ‘warm’ setting. When the food inside the cooker is cooked, the appliance switches to warm mode. This mode keeps the food warm enough but does not overcook it.

• Portability

Rice cookers are relatively lightweight and highly portable. They are powered by electricity and can be operated from any room in the house. You may carry one with you while travelling as well.

• Easy to Clean

To clean a rice cooker, all you need to do is take out the container and clean it with soapy water like you’d clean any other utensil. Ensure the container is completely clean and dry before placing it back in the rice cooker.

How to Choose the Best Rice Cooker

Now that you’re aware of the plethora of recipes using rice cooker, consider getting one for your kitchen to make your life easier. Here’s what you need to consider:

• Capacity of Rice Cooker

Consider the number of family members to determine the required rice cooker capacity. For instance, the Harvest Pro Rice Cooker from Crompton has a 1.8 litre capacity and cook up to 1 kg of rice.

• Size of Rice Cooker

Rice cookers come in various sizes. Select one that can easily fit onto your kitchen countertop while being easy to store when not in use. Typically, as the size of the rice cooker increases, do does its capacity.

• Quality & Durability

If you’re going to cook often, your rice cooker should be long-lasting. Check the labels to find out the material used. Typically, aluminium and stainless steel pots tend to be relatively durable. Also, check the warranty and after-sales services to ensure easy maintenance and repairs.

• Accessories

Rice cookers may come with accessories like measuring cup, spatula, additional pot, etc. You can check the accessories that your preferred rice cooker manufacturer is offering on the manufacturer’s website, or you can check with the store associate.

• Cost of Rice Cooker

Undoubtedly, the cost of a rice cooker is one of the most important factors to consider. Typically, a high-end rice cooker with multiple functions can cost you more than a basic rice cooker with basic functions. Hence, choose a rice cooker that works best for you.

Takeaway

A rice cooker isn't just for cooking rice. Its versatile functionality allows you to experiment and make a wide variety of dishes easily including cakes, dumplings, oatmeal, and more. Understanding how to use a rice cooker to its full potential not only optimises your time and effort in the kitchen but also helps in preparing healthy and delicious meals. So don't just cook rice with your rice cooker, explore these different ways, and enjoy. 

Make quick and easy meals with Crompton’s rice cookers. You can opt for our Harvest Pro Non-Stick or Harvest ProLite Rice Cooker and ensure fresh and delicious meals, every time.