Something smells good in your kitchen and it’s all thanks to your rice cooker , isn’t it ?
A rice cooker is a small compact yet an effective tool to help you cook , as the name clearly gives away , rice at all times . The rice cooker is made up of three sub components :
- Non stick inner bowl : It is made of non stick material so that rice does not stick to the inner parts of the body .
- Thermostat control : It is present on the outer part of the body so that the rice is not over cooked or under cooked . They both don’t taste good, trust me !
- Heating Element : You can’t actually cook something without heating anything up . A heating element is the most essential part for any electrical appliance in your kitchen that helps you make stuff you and your stomach , both appreciate .
So how do you actually use one of these ?
Well , the steps mentioned below would help you :
- Measure the amount of rice that you want to be cooked .
- Wash the rice with clean water to remove excessive bran and starch .
- To achieve rice which is evenly cooked , make sure that you spread it all over the inner body evenly .
- Add the correct amount of water for the rice to be cooked .
- After covering the lid , set the temperature settings to “WARM” .
- Keep the lid closed for 10 – 15 minutes for optimum quality .
- Make sure any condensed steam runs back into the inner bowl .
- Stir and serve the rice hot . Stirring helps in freeing up any rice grains that might be stuck together .
Steps to wash rice grains :
- Pour Your Rice in the Bowl
- Pour water over the rice
- Use hands to stir the rice
- Pour out starchy water.
- Rinse and repeat the process 5 – 6 times
But you might come across one simple problem even if you follow the most perfect recipe to cook the simplest of all items , i.e. , rice !
So what do you think the problem is ? Well , it’s quite simple actually , the rice cooker over boils . Why does this happen ? Can we do something to prevent it? Did you lose your money when you bought this machine ?
The answers are to your welfare , honestly .Let’s answer our questions one by one .
So , why does our rice cooker over boil?
It is primarily because of the fact that rice contains huge amounts of starch . As soon as you plug in your rice cooker to an electric source , the heat is supplied to the inside of the machine . With the upraise in the temperature of water inside the container , the boiling water mixes with the starch in the rice grains , creates large bubbles and expands beyond the capacity of the rice cooker .The bubbles are large and foamy and keep on expanding with the rise in temperature , and hence can cause the rice cooker to boil over .
Another popular reason for any rice cooker to boil water is the amount of water poured in it along with the rice . Excess amounts of water in the basin of the machine can upset your rice cooker just like uncooked rice can upset your guests . A huge amount of water along with excessive starch in the rice is a bad combination for you and for your rice cooker as well .
How do we solve this problem ?
The solution isn’t too difficult to understand , right ? The problem was caused due to excessive water in the first place , so why not just change that and add less water . It sounds good , but it might not help you always .
Different types of rice require different cooking time and different amounts of water which should be used to cook them . Other problems are reducing the amount of water might lead to undercooking of the rice . So , let us dig into carefully thought and more meaningful solutions . They are listed below !
- Choosing the right rice : We now know that any rice which has large quantities of starch can cause your rice cooker to over boil . So , to prevent this , we need to choose the right quality of rice to put into our cookers . Choosing the right brands of rice which contain less amounts of starch is important . Some of the are :
- Long grain white rice
- Jasmine
- Basmati
- Washing the rice before cooking : As mentioned earlier in the article , washing the rice is the first and foremost step to cook it , no matter how you do it . Excessive amounts of starch can be rubbed off rice grains with proper and thorough cleaning . It also helps to remove dust particles and other stuff that might be mixed with the rice grains .
- Quantity of the rice cooker : A rice cooker comes in various sizes and depending on the size of your wallet , you might choose the one best suitable for you . But , if your budget isn’t a factor , buying a big size rice cooker can solve the problem of over cooking , even if you add more water , knowingly or unknowingly .
Imagine that you are already cooking a tasty dinner when you notice a strange sound from the kitchen, unexpectedly. You’ve already got a pot which is boiling over. Typically, this sound means that the water either enters the stove or the flames.
How many times have you experienced this? Do you feel like it is a nuisance? And that you would like to find a way to stop it somehow? You’re at the perfect place. Keep reading to find out! I will provide you with a detailed description of how to avoid such situations, and therefore avoid all the mess.
They are easy to use at home, they spare everyone’s efforts, and usually, you prevent the rice from being trapped or burnt to the bottom of the container. As for having beautifully textured rice every day, these are also completely effective.
How Do Rice Cookers Work?
Rice cookers direct rice through the following four stages: Being immersed in water, Cooking, Steaming and Resting. The core feature of the equipment consists of:
- A central element
- An internal food preparation pan
- An electric heating plate
- A thermal sensing device
- A few knobs
The method to make the grain cook is straightforward. The water heats at 100ºC (212°F), which does not get extremely hot until it hits a constant boiling. The heat will be constant, as long because there is liquid in the container. When the rice soaks up all the water in the pan, the temp begins to increase.
The rice cooker detects this transition and will, therefore, turn to a warming process or simply turn off. The rice has stopped cooking at this period and has reached the rest duration.
History of the Rice Cookers
For those of you who have been using rice cookers for a long time, but do not know how it evolved over the years, here is a quick outline. Rice has been the Japanese diet’s main food grain for centuries. But cooking rice was a painstaking process. For this reason, a heavy cast iron or earthenware pot was installed on a wood-burning cooker. This was called a kamado. Handling the temperature of a kamado obligated both talent and vast tradition. To prepare a meal correctly it had to be utilized correctly.
It’s no mystery that rice is the most prestigious meal all over the world, and that is why humans perfected many unique methods to cook their favourite rice. Toshiba eventually came up with a rice cooker edition. This was their first rice cooker and became a success with consumers immediately. For this rice cooker, the way of cooking rice was subtly different.
Since then, the rice cooker technology evolved and became better with each year that passes. Timers and LCDs are among the several technologies that rice cookers have in recent models. And there’s no doubt that a cooker with rice is a perfect time-saver. The amount you spend for one relies on how picky you are with your food, as well as how much you like your cooker’s appearances.
What Causes All the Mess
Rice cookers do spillover or overflow occasionally. That could be quite unpleasant because that naturally leaves our food sticky and, therefore, can impact the consistency of the food. But what causes this?
Most people assume rather that the rice cooker is the issue. But on the other hand, the major cause of rice cookers spilling over is linked to the grain. Rice cookers spill over if the rice being prepared has an abundance of starch. Rice is starchy and it is impossible to stop it.
Large amounts of starch can be taken down from rice to prevent boiling over all of the cookers. If the rice that is prepared in a rice cooker has excessive starch, the boiling water combines with the starch and begins to produce huge, soapy, frothy bubbles. These bubbles travel to the cooker exterior and trigger it to boil too much.
Another common explanation for boiling water in any rice cooker is the volume of water placed with the grain inside it. Excess water can disturb your rice cooker in the device’s basin as much as badly cooked rice can annoy anyone’s visitors. A massive volume of water in the grain alongside increased starch is a terrible combo for both your cooker and yourself.
What is the Solution?
It’s not too difficult to comprehend the remedy. The issue was induced by extra water, so why not fix it to incorporate lesser water. This sounds fantastic, but it may not necessarily support you. Some concerns are that the volume of water that may allow the rice to undercook. If you use less water than usual, the rice may not cook properly.
Specific rice varieties need specific cooking duration and distinct quantities of water to prepare. I will provide you with more constructive and thoughtful remedies.
Rinsing the Rice Before Cooking
This step is the very first essential element to cook rice, no matter how you prepare it. It also helps eliminate particulate matter and other substances that could be grouped with rice grains. With good and extensive washing, unnecessary quantities of starch may be washed off the rice grains.
But, I would recommend you to first recognize the rinsing impact on starch. The starch can allow rice grains to cling around each other if left unrinsed, causing a gloppy texture. While preparing steamed rice, wash it initially to eliminate the starch and make rice that is clump-free and smooth. One big rinsing consequence is the elimination of starch that adheres to the surface of the grain of rice.
That being said, if you are making a creamy dish such as risotto, or a sticky dish such as rice pudding, you need the starch to get the accurate taste. Rinsing vigorously should strip the starch and keep you with a soupy platter.
Steps to Wash Rice Before Cooking
Rinsing rice before cooking is no biggie, but it is an important step to follow. Let us take a look at the steps of washing the rice grains thoroughly.
Step 1: Toss the rice into some kind of utensil. You can use a big pot with capacity for the grain to cook. Alternatively, you could use a specific strainer that filters rice, that has tiny holes so that the water collects and flows gradually.
Step 2: Prepare the bowl with water from the tap. Immerse the rice into the water. I would suggest that you use approximately more than two times as much water as rice. It would work until the rice is filled with water.
Step 3: Stir the rice and water using clean palms. Do this around the rice for around one minute. This will brush the starch away from it. Use gentle force to prevent the grains of rice from dividing.
Step 4: Drain the liquid using the palm of your hand, so that you can grab any slipping rice. Lean the pot with the water to spill away. Throw the water and everything that has surface-floated. Because rice is not light it must drop to the utensils’ surface. If the water felt messy or opaque, milky white, then, with the next container of water you could even reiterate that method.
Step 5: At this period, several cooks may be content to move on to prepare the rice. However, Japanese and other Asian customs place great emphasis on carefully cleaning the rice to ensure a fine texture. The next phase in that method is to polish the grains of rice against one another. Curl your fingertips into a loose fist and softly punch the rice at a comfortable pace. Move the bowl between the punches and simply move the wet rice all around the bowl, grinding down it against itself gently.
Note: Starchy water could be saved and used for hair. People claim that using rice water strengthens your hair, makes it shine and helps strengthen long hair. It is also abundantly used as a thickening agent while making sauces. You could save the extra rice water and use it for several recipes. As long as the water contains no dirt or pesticides, make sure to reuse it.
Step 6: (Optional) Soak up the rice. Move the moist rice for draining to a mesh sieve. If you prefer, let it sit there for a minimum of 30 minutes. This allows the rice moisture time to soak in the middle of the grain, thereby guaranteeing a once cooked uniform finish. And you’re done! Voila!
Selecting the Perfect Type of Rice
We already know that a certain rice brand that has significant amounts of starch will over boil the rice cooker. And, to eliminate this, we have to pick the best rice standard to use in our cookers. It is essential to choose the correct rice products that include minimal starch. Generally, basmati rice, long-grain white rice and jasmine rice are said to have less amount of starch in them.
Size of the Rice Cooker
A rice cooker is available in multiple capacities. If your expenditure is not a concern, purchasing a large size rice cooker will fix the issue of overcooking, even though you intentionally or inadvertently add additional water. Depending on your budget, you can select the one that suits you better.
How to Cook your Rice Flawlessly
Now that you know how rice cookers work and why they boil over, let me guide you about how to cook your rice flawlessly. Rice is a favourite part of our entire lunch. Everywhere on the planet, rice is used to some point in the food culture of that area. It gets watery at times, during rest it stays to the base of the bowl. Preparing rice, however, should not be difficult.
Add the right quantity of rice and water to your cooking pot. A reasonable assumption would be to use two cups of water for every cup of rice, and if you’re preparing a bigger quantity you can quickly expand. A few rice cookers may recommend a different proportion so don’t hesitate to check your guidebook and try it the first few occasions you use it.
If you like less soggy rice, wash it before transferring it to your cooker. For brown rice, this is not essential, as it does not contain the elevated starch amount as white rice does. When it’s already a tad bit damp it’s safe to toss the grains into the cooker. It won’t interrupt the preparation cycle.
Close the lid and ensure it’s safe and protected to hold all the heat that’s generated within the cooker. Switch on the cooker. White rice takes about eighteen to twenty minutes while brown rice can require approximately forty-five minutes. Many versions of rice cookers will have timer adjustments. If this is the scenario, you should check your user guide to check the time for various varieties of rice that it recommends.
When the cooker detects it has hit the perfect temperature, it shuts off. You will hear a beeping sound at this moment, the lock release button or something that helps you recognize your rice is ready. If the rice has stopped cooking, let it rest for ten minutes in the cooker. It will give it a better-finished texture. Open the rice cooker and eat as you please.
Since this convenient device cooks your rice at the right temperature, it’s even simpler to tidy than to prepare a meal with it. Some rice that is sticking to the surface of the cooker is quickly washed or rinsed off. This needs no scratching or extra rubbing.
In conclusion, we discussed why rice cookers are boiling over but, most significantly, what you’re doing to ensure this won’t be happening again. We made it to the end of this blog post and I listed all the widespread solutions to handle your rice cooker overboiling issue. I provided you with a checklist on how to cook rice precisely at any time. So, you can enjoy that delicious rice avoiding any sort of complaints. Make sure that each time you cook, fluffy rice is made.
With this , we have reached the end of this article and I have mentioned all the common ways to solve your problem of over boiling of rice cookers .
Hope you have a great meal !