7 Things you didn’t know you could cook in a rice cooker

Angela Goh

18 May 2017

The ultimate food hack starts with your humble rice cooking appliance.

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Oats
Few things beat a simple, warm bowl of oats first thing in the morning. But with all the rushing around to get showered, dressed, and looking presentable, finding time to keep a watchful eye on a bubbling pot of oats is easier said than done. Luckily, your trusty rice cooker makes the perfect bowl that you’re craving first thing. Just add 1 part oats to 1 3/4 parts liquid, a pinch of salt, and any fruits/nuts/flavourings you want, and cook on the standard rice setting. Perfect every time!
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Quinoa
Just like your rice cooker makes a great bowl of oatmeal, it also takes brilliant care of other grains like quinoa. With the same cooking requirements as rice, it’s as easy as adding 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water, and cooking it on the standard rice setting. To make things more interesting, substitute chicken or vegetable stock for water, and add some herbs and spices towards the end.
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Perfect ‘boiled’ eggs
Everyone has their own way to make the ‘perfect boiled egg’, but if you’ve tried just about all of them and still can’t get the perfect yolk, maybe the rice cooker is for you! If your rice cooker comes with a steaming basket/platform, pop it in and put the eggs on top. Add about a cup of water, turn the cooker onto steam, and await your perfectly gooey eggs. About 7 minutes is perfect for a runny yolk, but your mileage may vary. Pro-tip: shock the eggs in a bowl of ice water to make them super easy to peel.
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Chocolate truffle cake
A sucker for a decadently moist, sinfully sweet chocolate truffle cake, but no oven in sight? Imagine your delight when you find out that your trusty rice cooker is capable of creating something that rivals, if not outshines, a silly, overrated oven. Yes, you can make chocolate cake in a rice cooker! The icing on the cake is that it can all be done in a single bowl, minimising your washing up time and maximising your cake eating time.
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Risotto
A rice based dish cooked in a rice cooker? We know, not the adventurous entry you were expecting on this list. But if you’ve ever cooked risotto the traditional way, you’ll know how much of a pain it is to stand there constantly stirring and slowly pouring stock, always scarred that it will catch and burn and ruin all your hard work. So why bother, when you can just chuck everything in, press go, and come back when it’s all done? Hey, if it’s good enough for Wolfgang Puck, it’s good enough for us!
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Mac & cheese
Mac & cheese has always been the ultimate crowd-pleaser when it comes to kids. Cheese and pasta, what’s not to like? That said, whipping up a batch of cheesy goodness as a busy parent is easier said than done, especially with young ones running in and out of the kitchen asking when it’ll be ready. The trusty rice cooker, once again, comes to the rescue! This brilliant one-pot solution will have dinner ready in no time.
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Frittata
Though you don’t get the lovely crunch you get with an oven-backed or stovetop frittata, a rice cooker frittata is certainly passable, and not to mention a lot easier with only one dish to clean up at the end. The great thing about frittatas is that you can chuck in any vegetables lingering around in the fridge, and you’re guaranteed something delicious.

Don’t have easy access to a microwave or stove? Your rice cooker to the rescue! Yes, your standard electric rice cooker can make all sorts of meals for you, not just steam your white rice. From cooking a batch of deliciously healthy quinoa to turning out a ridiculously moist chocolate truffle cake, you’ll be wondering why you never thought to Google these cooking hacks earlier!

Head up to the gallery to check out how you can make your life easier in the kitchen.

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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