Your rice cooker can prepare complete meals and side dishes that go well beyond its namesake grain. So what can i cook in a rice cooker besides rice? Quite a lot, actually. From breakfast to dinner, this small appliance handles soups, stews, pasta, and even cake.
Most people treat a rice cooker like a one-trick tool. That is a mistake. Once you learn a few basic methods, it becomes one of the most useful pots in your kitchen.
Why A Rice Cooker Works For So Many Foods
A rice cooker does two simple things very well. It heats food at a steady temperature and it shuts off when the water runs out or the timer ends.
That steady heat is perfect for anything that cooks in liquid. Think oatmeal, beans, soups, and steamed vegetables. The auto shut-off means you can walk away without burning dinner.
You do need to know a few limits. Food sticks if you cook without enough liquid. Strong smells can linger in the pot. And you should never deep fry in one.
What Can I Cook In A Rice Cooker Besides Rice
Here is a full list of dishes you can make in a standard rice cooker. Most work in both basic and fuzzy-logic models.
Breakfast Dishes
Breakfast is the easiest meal to make in a rice cooker. You set it before you shower and eat when you are done.
- Oatmeal with milk, water, or a mix of both
- Steel-cut oats, which take longer but cook evenly
- Grits or polenta
- Hard-boiled and soft-boiled eggs
- Steamed egg custard with soy sauce
- Quinoa porridge with fruit
For oatmeal, use a 1 to 2 ratio of oats to liquid. Add a pinch of salt. Stir once halfway if your model allows it.
Soups And Stews
Soups are a natural fit. The pot holds heat well and the lid keeps liquid from escaping.
- Chicken and vegetable soup
- Lentil soup
- Split pea soup
- Tomato soup
- Miso soup, added at the end so it does not boil
- Chili with ground beef or turkey
- Beef stew with small chunks of meat
Brown any meat in a pan first for better flavor. Then add everything to the cooker and let it run one or two cycles.
Pasta And Noodles
You can cook pasta in a rice cooker, though it takes a little care. Use plenty of water so the pasta does not stick.
- Add pasta and enough water to cover it by two inches.
- Set the cooker to cook. Stir every few minutes.
- Test for doneness a minute or two before the package time.
- Drain and add sauce.
Instant noodles, ramen, and mac and cheese also work well. So do rice noodles for stir-fry night.
Beans And Legumes
Dried beans take a long time on the stove. A rice cooker handles them with less watching.
- Black beans
- Pinto beans
- Chickpeas
- Kidney beans
- Black-eyed peas
Soak them overnight first. Then cook with three times their volume of water. Add salt only at the end, since salt slows softening.
Steamed Vegetables And Proteins
Most rice cookers come with a steamer basket. Use it for quick, healthy sides.
- Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots
- Green beans and snap peas
- Corn on the cob
- Dumplings and bao buns
- Fish fillets with ginger and scallions
- Chicken breast cut into thin strips
Add about a cup of water to the pot. Put the food in the basket. Steam for 10 to 15 minutes.
One-Pot Meals
This is where the rice cooker shines. You toss in raw ingredients and get a full meal.
- Rice and beans with sausage
- Chicken and rice with frozen vegetables
- Salmon and rice with soy sauce
- Jambalaya with smoked sausage and shrimp
- Congee, or savory rice porridge
- Bibimbap-style bowls
Layer foods that need more time at the bottom. Keep delicate items like shrimp on top and add them near the end.
Desserts And Baking
Yes, you can bake in a rice cooker. The moist, even heat works well for soft cakes and puddings.
- Sponge cake and pound cake
- Banana bread
- Brownies
- Rice pudding
- Steamed fruit cake
- Cheesecake, cooked in a water bath
Grease the inner pot well. Pour in the batter. Run two or three cook cycles until a toothpick comes out clean.
Other Useful Things
A few extra jobs worth knowing about:
- Poaching eggs for breakfast sandwiches
- Making yogurt on the warm setting
- Reheating leftovers without drying them out
- Boiling water fast for tea or instant meals
- Melting chocolate over low heat
Tips For Best Results
Follow these rules and your food will turn out right almost every time.
- Add more liquid than you think you need. Dry food burns.
- Stir during cooking when the recipe allows it.
- Do not fill past the max line. Starchy foods foam and overflow.
- Let the pot cool before cleaning. Soak it with warm water first.
- Keep a separate inner pot for savory and sweet dishes if you can.
- Check your manual for settings. Some models have a soup or steam mode.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
New users often run into the same problems. Here is how to skip them.
- Using too little water with pasta or beans
- Adding dairy at the start, which can curdle
- Cooking strong-smelling foods and not airing the pot after
- Leaving food on warm for hours, which dries it out
- Frying in oil, which is not safe in most models
Final Thoughts
Your rice cooker is a small oven, steamer, and soup pot in one. It saves counter space and it saves time.
Start with oatmeal or a simple soup. Then try pasta, beans, and a one-pot chicken dish. Before long, you will use it more than your stove.
The key is liquid, timing, and a little patience. Get those three right and the machine does the rest of the work for you.