Rice Cookers & Steamers

Rice Cookers make it easy to perfectly cook large and small quantities of rice and keep it warm for a while. Using a supplied measuring cup simply add the amount of rice to cook into the bowl, add a measured amount of water that corresponds to the rice (manufacturers will include instructions on the rice to water ratio recommended for the model) and turn the cooker on. Sometimes it can take a little trial and error for the right ratio especially if you're cooking other grains like quinoa, brown or black rice.

The Rice Cooker will then boil the rice until all the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked. When it's ready the machine should automatically flip the switch to a Keep Warm mode.

Cooking times vary depending on the model, type of rice and the volume being cooked. Rice Cookers generally take longer than old fashioned Cooktops boiling in a pot but more consistently produce superior cooked rice without overboiling or burning. The results are great even when cooking large quantities which is harder to achieve in Cookware like pots and pans.

Despite the singular focus implied, Rice Cookers are well suited to a variety of cooking. Cooking rice in stock or broth makes it much more flavoursome, and adding coconut milk instead of water produces creamy coconut rice. Dishes like risotto and rice puddings are easy well suited recipes with many Rice Cookers including a steamer basket for veggies, dumplings, boiled eggs and more.

Rice Cookers can also be great for cooking other grains like quinoa or barley, with many models now available including specific settings for specific grains like Nutribullet or Breville. Using split peas and lentils, Rice Cookers can also be used to cook dahl, and some models like Panasonic's even have specific settings for sticky rice, jasmine rice or bread. Throw in some oats for easy oatmeal and porridge or for an easy breakfast treat try pancakes, poach pears and make cinnamon apples.

Some pasta dishes like mac and cheese can also be made in a Rice Cooker. Search online and find a wealth of Rice Cooker recipes for frittatas, banana breads, cakes, and even meaty dishes like BBQ ribs.

Rice Cookers don’t just make cooking rice easy, they also keep it warm and ready to serve. Of course nothing lasts forever and eventually rice loses its texture and starts to spoil. If rice is left out too long bacteria grows and it'll become unsafe to eat.

Some Rice Cookers are better at preserving rice with the Keep Warm function than others. It’s important to follow the recommendations laid out by the manufacturer in the user manual. Some for example will say to not use the Keep Warm setting for longer than five hours, however double check that the temperature is hot enough for absolute safety. If the cooker is off or unplugged then rice will not be safe to eat after just 2 hours, so make sure it stays plugged in to eat it later.

If you have leftover rice the easiest and safest way to preserve it is by putting it in a sealed container and refrigerating it. Do this as quickly after cooking as possible and it will keep for 3 to 4 days. Never reheat rice more than once.

There are several things to look out for when shopping for a new Rice Cooker. Consider how much rice you're likely to be cooking at one time, then balance that against the size with that capacity and available Benchtop or storage space in the kitchen.

The cooking capacity of a Rice Cooker is usually measured in terms of how many cups of uncooked rice can be cooked at once. This will vary between 5 cups for smaller models up to around 10 cups for larger models. Note that these ‘cups’ are not necessarily a standard cup measure.

Rice Cookers can come with several ease of use features like non-stick bowls for easy serving and cleaning. Nice big sturdy handles make it easier to move to the dining table if full. Some models have a removeable power cord which can also make it easier to carry and be handy for table placement and storage. A lid with a strong enough seal will help stop starchy water spattering on to the benchtop and prevent rattling while cooking.