Rice Cookers...Least amount you could make?

[lisaross]

i've been wanting a rice cooker...i just picked one up at Costco today..$29.99 for an Aroma Rice Cooker/Steamer! It says the LEAST amount you could cook is 2 cups (4 cups after cooked) this makes 10 cups (20cups cooked) it will mostly be used just for my family...2 adults 2 kids...just wondering if the smaller rick cookers make say 2 or 3 cups cooked! i will use it for company sometimes...

just wondering if the one i got is too big!

thank u

 

[Justsyd2]

That sounds about right to me. I cool down the leftover rice in the fridge, then freeze it for later use.

 

[TifffanyD]

I use an oster electric food steamer and only cook 1 cup at a time (I could probably half this)

 

[lisaross]

I didn't know you could freeze rice...when you want to use it again..do you defrost and microwave to get it soft? does it taste good after freezing??

That's sounds about right to me. I cool down the leftover rice in the fridge, then freeze it for later use.

 

[Justsyd2]

I defrost in the microwave or fridge, or just throw it into soup or what I'm cooking frozen. It tastes the same, and stays firm after freezing. There's really no difference at all. I portion it into small ziplocks, and just take out the amount I need at the time.

 

[lisaross]

Any easy recipes you can share with me?

i think i read you can make the white rice w/broth instead of the water??

what about brown rice...

 

[funnygarcia]

i've been wanting a rice cooker...i just picked one up at Costco today..$29.99 for an Aroma Rice Cooker/Steamer! It says the LEAST amount you could cook is 2 cups (4 cups after cooked) this makes 10 cups (20cups cooked) it will mostly be used just for my family...2 adults 2 kids...just wondering if the smaller rick cookers make say 2 or 3 cups cooked! i will use it for company sometimes...

just wondering if the one i got is too big!

thank u

I think mine is the same product and size. Leftovers are always a good thing with two teen boys at my house.

I use it for more than just plain rice. I've made a baked mac and cheese, sopa seca (basically spanish rice), hard boiled eggs (perfectly cooked), crazy cake (odd but okay) and a casserole rice dish (cooked the hamburger right in the rice cooker, added remaining ingredients, slap the lid down and ignore it).

I use broth/ bouillon sometimes for plain white rice.
Jasmine rice turns out beautifully (rinse rice 2 to 3 times first, the extra vitamins on rice sold in the US makes it gummy in a rice cooker) and haven't tried brown rice yet.

My one issue is the keep warm setting is too hot and tends to dry out/scorch the rice if kept more than 10- 15 minutes.

I like this book:
The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook

and found recipes here
http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=80457

 

[lisaross]

Can you share any "exact" recipes?

i was hoping to use the rice cooker using the warmer often...scorch the rice - does not sound too good!

I think mine is the same product and size. Leftovers are always a good thing with teens at my house.
But I use it for more than just plain rice. I've made a baked mac and cheese, sopa seca (basically spanish rice), hard boiled eggs (perfectly cooked) and a casserole rice dish (cooked the hamburger right in the rice cooker and then added remaining ingredients, slap the lid down and ignore it).

I use broth/ bouillon sometimes for plain white rice.
Jasmine rice turns out beautifully and haven't tried brown rice yet.

My one issue is the keep warm setting is too hot and tends to dry out/scorch the rice if kept more than 10- 15 minutes.

 

[RachaelA]

My mom got DH and I have a small red Oster rice cooker from Kohls a couple years ago that cooks 1 cup (2 cups once its cooked). I think it was 19.99.

 

[kellia]

How do you cook hard boiled eggs in it? I always cook those either too long or not long enough in the pan!

 

[funnygarcia]

Another place for simple rice cooker recipes..
http://www.sallyskitchen.com/index.html

For the eggs..
add some water to the pan
my rice cooker came with a steam tray, I plop the eggs in the tray.. slap the lid down, push steam (or cook if that is your only option) and wait about 15 minutes. Rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process (no green ring!).

Or if no steaming tray, just cover eggs with water as you do on the stove.

OR wash the eggs and place on top of your rice .. cook rice and egg at the same time.. dinner now, breakfast later.

 

[dznygurl]

I always refrigerate my leftover rice for "leftover night"...I use the steam tray and pour in a little water (maybe 1/4 cup) and put the cooked rice back in the rice cooker. Turn it on and within 10 minutes or so it is steamed and ready. Tastes just as good as when it was cooked fresh.

 

[lily28]

I bought my 3 cup rice cooker from walgreen for $9.99. it is sometimes cheaper with coupon. It cooks just as well as my mom's expensive japan made rice cooker. The only disadvantage is that is not nonstick surface. I also bought a small 11/2 cup rice cooker from kmart for $9.99 on sale with a nonstick surface. I take the small rice cooker with me when I travel to disney.

I always eat freshly made rice; rice that has been refrigerated tended to get hard. I only use left over rice to make fried rice.

 

[Nicolepa]

If you rinse your rice it will help with the scorch problem. Cover w/water and swoosh with your hand. When it gets cloudy pour that water out and do again. Depending on how much rice you are making you might have to do it a couple of times.

Also the more rice you cook at a time the less scorching you will have. I usually make a large pot and freeze the extras.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

We splurged on a Panasonic rice cooker for $130 last year, and it has honestly been the best kitchen purchase we have ever made. The minimum that it cooks is 1 cup (2 cups cooked). It holds the rice perfectly for up to 24 hours (just like a restaurant steamer), and is programmable.

That rice cooker has saved our life more times than I want to think about. It means that I can always have an easy meal (just set it before I leave for work to be done when I get home - stir fry a bag of frozen veggies, and dinner is done!). Also, my dog had a severe infection in the spring and almost died; for 2 weeks after he was released from the vet hospital he was on a strict diet of TONS of white rice mixed with low-fat cottage cheese. There is no way I could have kept up with the volume of rice that he was eating without the rice cooker! I am pregnant right now and white rice has become my staple food that I can always eat to combat nausea, so our rice cooker is constantly working. In fact, I just got it set so that I'll have rice for breakfast tomorrow morning. We usually cook more than we need; if I have extra, I put it in the fridge. Refrigerated rice makes great fried rice - I just stir fry some veggies (whatever I have on hand) and then add a splash of soy sauce and a splash of chicken broth, and then toss the rice in to heat for a few minutes. Delicious, and done in 5 minutes!

I also use my rice cooker to make perfect steel cut oats for breakfast (well.... when I'm not combating morning sickness!). I don't know if your rice cooker has a porridge setting, but if it does, try it out! Steel cut oats are normally so fussy, but ours turn out perfect every time, if you allow the oats to soak over night in the rice cooker before cooking them. I use these directions. Actually, the person who wrote this recipe has the exact same rice cooker that we do!

Ok, this post has basically turned more into an ode to my rice cooker than anything very helpful. Seriously, though, rice cookers are fantastic appliances, and you will find yourself using it more than you ever thought you would!

 

[lisaross]

ok my last question..how do you rinse the rice w/water..i tried my pasta strainer, but the rice falls through...i actually just put it on a splatter cover but i'm thinking there is an easier way? how do you rinse the rice b4 putting it in the cooker?

thanks

 

[lily28]

I wash the rice in the rice cooker, then turn the cooker slightly to the side and let the water out. do this a couple time. you don't need to remove all the water. then just the right amount of water to cook the rice