If rice is a staple food source that you can never miss, why not set aside some of your money to buy a rice cooker? Although cooking rice using a pot is claimed to be able to produce fluffier grains of rice, the traditional method is actually too difficult and time-consuming. If using a rice cooker, all you need to do is measure the rice, put the rice in the rice cooker, add a little water, and turn on the rice cooker. Voila, you can also do other activities while waiting for the rice to cook! If you want to choose a healthier option, try eating brown rice instead of white rice. However, there are a few tips that you need to understand if you want to use a rice cooker to produce fluffier rice, especially since brown rice has a harder texture than white rice so it doesn't have as many fans. Read this article to find out, yes!
Ingredients
- 370 grams of brown rice (wash thoroughly)
- 750 ml of water
- Pinch of salt (optional)
For: 1-2 servings
Step
Part 1 of 3: Measuring and Washing Rice
Step 1. Measure the amount of rice you want to cook
To make the measuring process easier, take the rice using a measuring cup which is generally sold in a package with a rice cooker. For example, two people with a standard meal will generally eat two to three glasses of rice, while a larger meal will generally require six to eight glasses of rice. This measure will make it easier for you to determine the amount of water that needs to be added in order to produce really fluffier rice.
- Take the rice using a dry measuring cup to facilitate the process of measuring rice.
- For best results, cook the rice according to the portion you intend to eat, especially since heating leftover rice can spoil the texture and taste.
Step 2. Wash the rice using cold running water
First, place the rice in a small slotted sieve or sieve, then place it under running tap water to remove most of the starch that has stuck to the surface of the rice. The starch is what will make the rice texture sticky and lumpy when cooked. Therefore, wash the rice until the water that flows back is clear.
- Don't worry if the rice water is milky white. That's perfectly normal.
- Drain as much water as possible before cooking the rice.
Step 3. Transfer the rice to the rice cooker
Enter the rice that has been washed until clean into the rice cooker, and smooth the surface. If you want to cook a large amount of rice, make sure the rice is evenly distributed in the rice cooker so that it cooks more evenly.
Do not exceed the capacity of the rice cooker! If you have to cook more rice than the capacity of the rice cooker, do the process in stages
Part 2 of 3: Cooking Rice
Step 1. Add enough water
In general, you will need to add 50% of the recommended amount of water for cooking white rice. Therefore, if you've only used 250 ml (1 cup) of water to cook 185 grams of white rice, try using 1½ cups of water to cook 185 grams of brown rice. Remember, brown rice is tougher than white rice, so it needs to be cooked longer to keep it fluffier.
- In contrast to white rice, brown rice grains are still coated with wheat bran which has a hard texture but is very rich in fiber. As a result, brown rice has a harder time absorbing water and takes longer to cook.
- The amount of water added will greatly determine the duration of cooking the rice. If all of the water has been absorbed into the rice, the internal temperature of the rice cooker will increase. This increase in temperature causes the rice cooker to turn off and end the cooking process.
- Although it's not mandatory, try soaking brown rice for 20-30 minutes before cooking so that it has a fluffier texture when cooked. If you want to do this, use a dose of 250 ml of water for every 185 grams of rice.
Step 2. Turn on the rice cooker
Make sure the rice cooker is connected to electricity and ready to use. After that, press the “cook” button (cook), and let the rice cooker do its job to cook the rice automatically!
- Most rice cookers only have "cook" and "warm" settings.
- If your rice cooker has more complex settings, consult the user guide for the recommended settings for cooking brown rice.
Step 3. Let the rice sit for 10-15 minutes
Once the rice is cooked, let it rest for a while so that each grain of rice can reach the right consistency. In fact, not opening the rice cooker right away gives the rice a chance to absorb the remaining heat and reach the right temperature to eat. Therefore, do not open the rice cooker for at least 10-15 minutes after the rice is cooked!
- Undercooked brown rice will be hard and unpleasant when eaten.
- Don't ignore this stage. No matter how hungry you are, be patient and let the rice sit so that the texture and taste are more complete and perfect.
Step 4. Make the rice texture fluffier before eating
Stir the rice from the bottom of the rice cooker with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, and separate any lumps of rice that look like lumps. Safe! Now, you have a pot of fluffy brown rice ready to eat with a variety of vegetables, savory stir-fry, or delicious fried fish.
- Never stir rice in the rice cooker with a spoon or metal spatula. Be careful, doing so can scratch the inside of the rice cooker.
- If you eat rice every day, try investing in a "shamoji", a Japanese wooden rice spoon. In this modern era, shamoji are made of soft plastic which is specially designed for stirring and scooping rice.
Part 3 of 3: Cleaning the Rice Cooker
Step 1. Open the lid of the rice cooker
This step needs to be done to neutralize the internal temperature of the rice cooker and make it clean faster. As the hot steam comes out, the texture of the rice left in the rice cooker will begin to dry out, making it easier for you to clean.
- Do not clean the rice cooker if it is still hot. In other words, wait for the rice cooker to cool completely before cleaning it.
- The rice cooker should have cooled down by the time you finish eating.
Step 2. Clean the remaining dried rice
Use a rubber spatula or your fingers to remove any leftover rice that has dried on the bottom and edges of the rice cooker, then throw it in the trash. Try to clean up as much of the remaining rice as possible to make the next cleaning process easier.
- Generally, rice cookers have a nonstick coating which makes them very easy to clean.
- Again, avoid sponges or cleaning tools that have rough or sharp surfaces. Trust me, the effectiveness of the equipment is not worth the damage it will do!
Step 3. Clean the inside of the rice cooker with a damp cloth
First of all, wet a cloth with warm water. After that, rub the cloth into the inside of the rice cooker to remove any remaining dirt that has been bubbling up. Supposedly, the crust comes off easily afterwards! After that, dry the inside of the rice cooker naturally, then remove the lid and don't put it in until you need to cook the rice again.
- If the above methods don't work to remove all of the crust that's stuck to the inside of the rice cooker, try scrubbing the rice cooker with a soft bristled brush or green wool on one side of the dishwashing sponge.
- Prioritize safety by unplugging the power cord connected to the rice cooker before cleaning the rice cooker with water.
Step 4. Done
Tips
- Generally, you only need to spend 100 to 200 thousand rupiah to buy a rice cooker with a capacity of 1 liter or less. Regardless of the budget you have, try to buy a rice cooker with a trusted brand so that the process of cooking rice can be easier and faster, and provide guaranteed results.
- If possible, buy a rice cooker that has a special mode for cooking brown rice.
- For a fluffier rice texture, add a pinch of kosher salt or sea salt before cooking the rice.
- After taking the rice, close the rice cooker again so that the remaining rice in it does not cool and dry out.
- Always clean the inside and outside of the rice cooker thoroughly after use.
Warning
- Rice that is not washed properly can result in a sticky, lumpy texture of rice.
- Be careful, eating rice that has been left for a long time at room temperature or heated many times can make you experience food poisoning!
