Rice cooker

[Judy in Texas]

The Aliner forum on Yahoo is talking about using a rice cooker for preparing camp meals... that is should not be considered just for cooking rice. Roger Ebert (of Siskel and Ebert movie review fame) just published a (sort of ) cook book extoling the virtues "The Pot": http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2008/11/the_pot_and_how_to_use_it.html. It's made even more interesting because he has to eat through a feeding tube now. Does anyone use a rice cooker for preparing meals? If so, please share your recipes - successes and failures alike.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

What a fun post he wrote -- thanks for linking to it.

I have a rice cooker somewhere, and I never quite got the hang of it. There was always a thin crust of rice at the bottom of the pot. Then I forgot I had it and got a Kitchen Kettle, which looks like pretty close to the same thing, except that it's got a temp gauge. I'd initially thought I'd put it in the camper, but then I got into Dutch oven cooking.

...see a trend here? Fickle, I know.

I'd love to hear others' experiences with the rice cooker, since I know it's still around here somewhere...

 

[Judy in Texas]

The people on the aliner site are using rice cookers to:

> brown the partially cooked microwave bacon and then scrambling eggs in the leftover grease
> grill sandwiches
> bake the "just add water" cornbread, muffin, brownie mixes
> cook small frozen pizzas (defrosted first)

Should be fun to experiment.

 

[liv luvs disney]

I have a plastic rice cooker (from Pampered Chef) that is used in the microwave. I never cooked rice in it, but I made a many a cake in it.

 

[Judy in Texas]

I experimented with my rice cooker last night for the first time. I tried the Betty Crocker Warm Delights Hot Fudge Brownie mix recommended on the aliner site. It's a 1-2 serving mix meant to be fixed in the microwave. I made it in the rice cooker instead (not knowing what I was doing). I watched it though the glass lid and could see the bubbles start to break the top surface. Shortly after the red light turned off I used a small spatula to get it out of the pot. I think it turned out as good as if it were cooked in the microwave. I then tried generic biscuit mix with a bit more water than called for. I used two spoons to smooth in out in the bottom of the pot about 1/3 of an inch thick. When the light turned off, I flipped it over and turned the heat back on. After a minute or two I took it out and smeared it with butter. It was OK enough. It needed something else - garlic if it were with a meal, strawberry jam if it were a snack. So far so good. Guess I need to try cooking rice in it.

 

[des1954]

I may have to try oatmeal. I LOVE oatmeal! But first, I need to dig around in my garage to find my rice cooker. I relegated it to the appliance dungeon in my garage because the rice cooker sucked at cooking .....RICE!! I never thought about using it to cook other items.

Thank you, Judy, for expanding our culinary horizons and guiding our imaginations to think of new and improved ways to use our rice cookers!!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Judy, I think Food TV's Alton Brown would be thrilled to see an appliance being diversified like this!

I'm curious, though -- why did it come up on that forum? Is it as a space-saving kind of thing (having something multitask)?

I'm with Deb; I think I may have to dig mine out and give it another chance at life. I love steel-cut oatmeal, but because it cooks so long, I always forget about it on the stove.

 

[des1954]

Judy, I think Food TV's Alton Brown would be thrilled to see an appliance being diversified like this!

I'm curious, though -- why did it come up on that forum? Is it as a space-saving kind of thing (having something multitask)?

I'm with Deb; I think I may have to dig mine out and give it another chance at life. I love steel-cut oatmeal, but because it cooks so long, I always forget about it on the stove.

Yes, this would make Alton proud!! I'll let you know how my steel-cut oatmeal comes out. It's cooking right now. Want the recipe?

1 C Steel-Cut Oatmeal
2 C Water
Put in rice cooker before you go to bed & let the oats soak overnight. When you get up in the morning, turn on your rice cooker and go about your other business. They will be ready by the time you're done showering and getting dressed.

That's what the recipe said. I'll let you know, so, come back here in a little while for the results.

 

[des1954]

I'm back!!

The oatmeal took about 10 minutes to cook. It came out a very thick "blob", but once I mixed it with a little milk, splenda, and cinnamon, it was great!! Enough for 4 people.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

You're handling both the fishing *and* the cooking reports this morning? Lotta work for a Saturday!

We're finally having cool mornings here, so I'm definitely trying your rice cooker oatmeal -- thanks!

 

[Judy in Texas]

I'm curious, though -- why did it come up on that forum? Is it as a space-saving kind of thing (having something multitask)?

Exactly. Aliners are small and some don't have kitchens.
Quoting from that forum "Another rice cooker success! I used a half-package of apple crisp topping, mixed it with soft margarine, and sprinkled it over peeled sliced apples in the *ungreased" rice cooker. Quick and delicious! It would be easy to prepare your own dry ingredients for a topping (flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, oatmeal) and keep it on hand with your other dry goods. Just add the soft margarine and apples. I've been out with the Alite for 2 weeks, and the rice cooker is the only cooking appliance I used (besides an electric hotpot). I even used it to cook the macaroni for mac 'n cheese.

> Breakfast: blueberry muffin mix, microwave bacon, omelet
> Lunch: hot ham and cheese sandwich
> Dinner: individual frozen pizza, Ramen noodles with canned chicken, or mac 'n cheese
> Dessert: apple crisp"

Note that the Aliner Alite mentioned is very small - under 400 pounds, 6 feet wide and 10 feet long, including tongue. It is advertised and towable by any vehicle.

 

[Pinkee77]

Great idea! I use a rice cooker all the time - usually brown rice because it seems to cook faster and it comes out perfect every time.

Deb, I'm going to have to try cooking oatmeal in it.

Thanks for posting this.