Top 5 Things a Rice Cooker Can Do Besides Cooking Rice

A rice cooker is more than a one-hit-wonder kitchen gadget. The rice cooker usage options available to chefs and amateurs alike make this tool truly mind-blowing. Here are Top 5: We are huge fans of kitchen appliances that help us cook wonderful meals with minimal efforts. We have been trying the various slow cookers and have been delighted with the results. A rice cooker ups the cooking game even more. Get ready to start living your best rice cooker life with these recipes!

5. Complete Breakfast Meal

Having one less task taken off your hands early in the morning is a blessing. Instead of spending valuable time watching food cook slowly, throw a few ingredients inside the rice cooker and let it work its magic while you get ready for the day.

Pancakes

You’re about to bake a new kind of pancake (pun intended). Follow this recipe to enjoy a piping-hot stack of pancakes early in the morning.

Ingredients: 

• Pancake mix

OR

• 2 Cups of all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 Teaspoons of baking powder
• 3 Tablespoons of white sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of melted butter or vegetable oil
• A Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 Cups of milk
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 Teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients in one bowl. Preheat the rice cooker for a few minutes, then choose “warm” or “pancake” option. Spray the inside of the rice cooker with non-stick spray or pat it with butter. When it starts to sizzle, add your pancake mix into the rice cooker.

Flip your pancakes from time to time.

You may notice that the pancakes rise a little more than they do in a regular pan. It’s normal.

Steamed Eggs

Everyone knows how to boil an egg. The question that remains is if one method works better than others. Our answer is yes. Here is the rice cooker version of boiled eggs that are much easier to peel.

Ingredients: 

• Eggs
• 2 Cups of water

Directions:

The Aroma 6-Cup is one of the rice cookers that works best in this case because it has a food steamer feature.

Add two cups of water in the rice cooker, and then put in as many eggs as you want in the steamer basket. The water does not need to cover the eggs in this case. Turn your rice cooker on and cover your eggs. Wait 25 minutes, then rinse your eggs in cold water. Peel the eggs and enjoy them.

Oatmeal

We’re going against the grain and owning it. If you are an advocate of warm oatmeal early in the morning, switch to a rice cooker. While it won’t speed up the process, it will make it foolproof.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup of regular oats
• 1 3/4 Cups of liquid of choice
• A Pinch of salt
• 1 Tablespoon of sugar or honey (optional)
• 1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Directions:

Mix the oats with the liquid and turn the rice cooker on. Choose the porridge setting. Leave it to cook and get back to it when you hear the beep.

4. One-Pot Meals

Whether you want to have all the kitchen tools to fully stock your kitchen or a few to whip up some simple recipes, a rice cooker can be a lifesaver.

Here are some yummy recipes no one would believe were cooked in such a small gadget.

Steamed Meats and Vegetables

Nothing but healthy food. Here is how you can make a steamed meat and vegetable dish.

Directions:

Put your vegetables and steamer in the rice cooker, and let them cook until they’re done. Cooking time varies from rice cooker to rice cooker, but here is a list with approximate cooking time and water needs different foods may require:

• Asparagus | Water: 1/2 cup | Steaming time: 8 minutes
• Beef | Water: 2 1/2 cups | Steaming time: 25 minutes
• Broccoli | Water: 1/4 cup | Steaming time: 5 minutes
• Carrots | Water: 1 cup | Steaming time: 15 minutes
• Chicken | Water: 2 1/2 cups Steaming time: 25 minutes
• Corn | Water: 1 cup | Steaming time: 15 minutes
• Eggplant | Water: 1 1/4 cup | Steaming time: 15 minutes
• Fish | Water: 2 cups | Steaming time: 20 minutes
• Pork | Water: 2 1/2 cups | Steaming time: 25 minutes

Cook your rice and steam the veggies and meat on top of it in the steamer. You will get yourself a complete meal right then and there.

Macaroni and Cheese

Update your college dorm recipes because the traditional Mac and Cheese is about to get an upgrade. This is comfort food at its easiest.

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 Chicken broth or water
• 1 Cup milk
• 2 Cups pasta
• 1 1/2 Cup cheese
• 1 Tablespoon of butter
• A Pinch of salt
• Vegetables cut in cubes (optional)

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in the rice cooker and switch it on to the cooking setting. Let it cook for approximately 25 minutes, and check on it once in a while. If you notice that there is scorching at the bottom because of the cheese, stir the mixture.

3. Desserts

All of us who have a sweet tooth know the struggle: we want to enjoy yummy treats without spending too much time in the kitchen. We tried no-bake desserts and fancy desserts that are easy to make. Now we’re ready for more. Here is how to take the no-fuss dessert challenge to the next level.

Banana Bread

A few basic ingredients + an awesome rice cooker make the best and moistest banana bread you’ll ever have.

Ingredients: 

• 3 medium- to large-ripe bananas
• 2 Cups of enriched white flour
• 1/3 Cup of softened butter
• 2 Eggs
• 2/3 Cups sugar
• 2 Teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 Teaspoons of baking soda
• A pinch of salt
• Cooking oil
• 1 Tablespoon of vanilla extract (optional)
• Chopped nuts or dried raisins  (optional)

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until they are well-incorporated in the batter and the bananas are well-mashed. You should have a thick and creamy consistency. Add the nuts and the dried raisins if you would like.

Coat the inside of the rice cooker’s pot with the non-stick oil, turn it on, and then pour the mixture in.

Cooking time depends on the rice cooker’s brand, but expect around an hour and a half for it to bake.

Poached Pears

Your rice cooker usage will sky-rocket after you discover this easy-peasy poached pears recipe.

Ingredients: 

• 3 Pears
• 1 cup of Wine
• 3 Cups of water
• 1 Cup of sugar

Directions:

Set the water, wine, and sugar to steam inside the rice cooker. Stir from time to time as it boils. The sugar will fully dissolve little by little.

In the meantime, peel the pears and cut them in half. Remove the seeds with a small spoon. Add the pears to the liquid and close the lid. Cooking time depends on the rice cooker’s brand, but expect around 50 minutes.

Chocolate Cake

If chocolate is your guilty pleasure, here is how to add to the plethora of rice cooker usage options and satisfy your chocolate cravings.

Ingredients: 

• 1 Cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup o cocoa
• 1 Cup sugar
• 2 Whisked eggs
• 1/3 cup of softened butter
• 1/2 cup of milk

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until they are all is combined. Grease the rice cooker, then pour the mixture in it. Turn your rice cooker on. Because the cake takes some time to bake, you will probably need to restart your rice cooker every time it turns off.

Test if your cake is done by inserting a toothpick or a wooden skewer inside the cake. If it comes out dry, your cake is ready.

2. Soups, Beans, Grains, and Hummus

Unveil your rice cooker’s hidden talents and learn how to make soups and cook beans and hummus using one kitchen appliance only.

Soups

Just like slow cookers do, you can make hearty and delicious soups with a rice cooker.

Here is the recipe for a delicious chicken soup.

Ingredients: 

• 6 Chicken filets
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 Cabbage
• 2 Celery stalks
• 1 Red pepper
• 2 Carrots
• 2 Cups green beans
• 4 Cups of chicken stock
• 1 Tablespoon of curry powder
• 1 Tablespoon of dry oregano
• A pinch of salt and pepper

Directions:

Chop the carrots, red pepper, celery stalks, and cabbage. Cut the green beans and mince the garlic.

Head to the rice cooker and grease the pot. Flatten the chicken filets at the bottom, then add all the vegetables on top of it. Take the chicken stock and add to it the curry powder, dry oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix it well. Add the mixture of the pot.

Close the lid and turn your rice cooker on. It will take about two hours to cook. Keep in the pot with the feature “warm” on if you aren’t serving it right away.

Beans

Bean there, never done that. Here is the simplest black bean recipe there is.

Ingredients: 

• 1 Cup of dried black beans
• 3 Cups of water
• A pinch of salt

Directions:

Place the beans in a bowl and cover with water. After it sits for a few minutes, discard anything that floats on the surface, and then drain the water.

Cover the beans again with water and let them soak for a minimum of 4 hours.

Drain the beans and put them in the rice cooker. Add 3 cups of water. Turn rice cooker on, on “porridge” setting. Keep on checking on it for an hour and a half, and add more water needed.

When cooked, drain and serve/use.

NB: Different beans have different cooking times. Black beans and baby white beans take about 1.5 hours to cook, brown lentils take almost 50 minutes, and soybeans take 3 to 4 hours.

Hummus

Treat yourself with homemade hummus. Perfect for a light and healthy snack. Plus, it’s so easy to make.

Ingredients: 

• 1 Cup of chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans
• 3 Cups of water
• Olive oil
• A pinch of salt
• Paprika (optional)

Directions:

Place the chickpeas in a bowl and cover with water. After it sits for a few minutes, discard anything that floats on the surface, then drain the water.

Cover the beans again with water and let them soak for a minimum of 4 hours.

Drain the beans and put them in the rice cooker. Add 3 cups of water. Turn rice cooker on, on “porridge” setting. Keep on checking on it for an hour and a half, and add more water needed.

When cooked, drain and purée the beans by running them in a food processor. Serve and add paprika and olive oil on top.

1. Bread

Rice cooker bread is a thing and we’re glad it is. Make it by following these steps.

Ingredients: 

• 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 Teaspoons of yeast
• 4 Teaspoons of sugar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons of softened butter
• 50 Ml of milk
• 160 Ml of water
• A pinch of salt

Directions:

Put the yeast in a cup with 1/4 cup of warm water. Add a pinch of salt and wait for a dozen minutes.

Mix in a bowl the flour, salt, sugar, milk, and yeast mixture after it has sat. Mix all the ingredients until you get a malleable and thick paste. Knead the dough into a ball for a good ten minutes. Add the butter little by little, and keep kneading until everything is homogenous.

Grease the rice cooker, put it on the “warm” setting, and let the dough ball sit inside of it.

After one hour, open the lid, work the dough a bit more, and let it sit again in the rice cooker for another hour.

When that time is done, bake for an hour on the “cooking” setting. Keep on turning the bread every half an hour to cook all sides. Remember: Cooking time differs from one rice cooker to another.

Now that you have discovered different rice cooker usage options and this gadget can be a be-all and end-all kitchen appliance tool, you are ready to start exploring all the other cooking opportunities a rice cooker can offer you.

To know which rice cooker works best for you, head to our review article by clicking “next”!