Using a rice cooker can help the layperson cook rice to perfection—that is, soft but not too sticky. The device regulates the cooking time and temperature based on the type and amount of rice you’re cooking for consistent results every time, says Marilyn Matsuba, marketing manager of Zojirushi America Corporation, which manufactures rice cookers. It’s not sorcery—it’s science: When you add rice and water to a rice cooker, the machine raises the temperature to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. This creates steam that’s captured under the lid which cooks the rice. Yes, it’s easy-peasy, but you still need to get the rice to water ratio just right. While a popular ratio is 1:1, which can work just fine, expert rice cookers agree there’s a better way—and not just because your rice to water ratio should be different depending on what kind of rice you’re cooking. (Tougher grains such as brown rice require more water to soften the bran while options like basmati just happen to absorb more moisture than say, jasmine or long-grain rices, Matsuba says.) Cookbook author and chef-consultant Hiroko Shimbo says using a 1:1 rice to water ratio when preparing long-grain rice in a rice-cooker comes out very well, but lacks the “super fluffiness found in Indian take-out rice.” Her ideal ratio is 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons rice to 1 cup of water—so just a bit more water than rice. Also key to her technique is pre-rinsing and drying the rice, which rids it of excess starch that can contribute to stickiness. Here are rough guidelines for larger quantities of white or brown rice, according to Shimbo: Because not everyone wants to start doing math every time they get a craving for rice, some rice cooker models provide a measuring cup for rice and water fill lines for different rice varieties. “Everybody likes the ‘finger’ or ‘knuckle’ method to measure water, but we cook tons and tons of rice when developing our rice cookers to ensure that the rice comes out perfect every time,” says Matsuba. The recommended ratios stand true when subbing broth for water—liquid is liquid. When incorporating cooked beans, dried fruit, or spices, it’s best to use a mixed rice setting on your rice cooker for a longer preheat time and lower cooking temperature, Matsuba says, since this will help the extra ingredients to absorb water and prevent burns. Regardless of how you plan to serve your rice, it’s best enjoyed when cooked correctly–so try the ratios above to hone your technique before your next rice feast. Next, easy fried rice recipes!
