How to Use a Rice Cooker, According to a Chef

If rice is a staple in your meal prep, you need a rice cooker. Not only will the appliance make your life easier and streamline your cooking process, but the device makes it nearly impossible to mess up cooking your rice. Think of a rice cooker as the bumpers on a bowling lane—it’s there to ensure your success. 

“The engineering behind a rice cooker is actually quite ingenious,” shares chef Eric Huang, founder of New York’s Pecking House. “The water in the pot keeps the temperature from exceeding the boiling point. When the thermistor reads a temperature higher than the boiling point of water, it means that all the available water has been absorbed or evaporated,” Huang explains. “This means your rice should be perfectly cooked with zero chance of it being burned or undercooked, so long as you measured the water correctly.”

To use a rice cooker correctly, all you really need is to rinse and measure your rice, measure the water precisely, press a button, and voila, perfect rice.

Here’s how to use a rice cooker, for the fluffiest rice every time.

What Is a Rice Cooker? 

A rice cooker is an electronic kitchen appliance designed to cook fluffy, steamy rice. Rice cookers vary in size (from a mini single portion rice cooker, to a family-size or even a restaurant-size rice cooker). Some multi-use culinary devices, like the Instant Pot, have a rice cooker setting to replicate how a rice cooker perfectly cooks rice. Rice cookers can also keep rice warm for several hours, which is helpful for families eating at different times, or meal planning for a future bite.

How to Use a Rice Cooker 

While most rice cookers are similar, always read the instructions for your rice cooker before operating it.

1. Rinse the rice: Measure your desired amount of rice and rinse it in a large bowl or mesh sieve until the water runs clear. You can reserve the starchy water for plants. 
2. Add rice to rice cooker: Pour the freshly rinsed and drained rice into the rice cooker.
3. Add water: Add your desired ratio of water to the rice cooker. Typically, short grain rice gets a 1:1 ratio of rice to water and long grain rice uses a 1:2 ratio of rice to water. Your rice maker may also have suggestions. Add a pinch of salt to the water, if desired. 
4. Cover and cook: Put the lid on the rice cooker, and press cook. Allow the rice to cook. 
5. Rest and fluff: Let your rice rest for a few minutes before opening the rice cooker, so the steam can circulate. Open the rice cooker and fluff with a rice paddle or fork before serving.  

Rice Cooker Tips

While rice cookers make cooking rice as easy as just a few steps, it’s important to execute those steps correctly. Here are a handful of tips to keep in mind when using a rice cooker at home.

Measure ingredients correctly

Don’t eyeball the rice and water—make sure to measure accurately so you have the correct ratio. As chef Huang noted, if the ingredients are measured incorrectly you could find yourself with either undercooked or burnt rice.

Always wash rice

Rinsing the rice before cooking is a non-negotiable for many, and with good reason. “Washing away the excess starch helps prevent your rice from becoming a congealed, goopy mass,” says Huang. “The balance of stickiness to individuality in rice is the devil in the details, and washing helps you find the sweet spot.” 

Know the correct water to rice ratio

The ratio of rice to water is key. “Each variety of rice has a slightly different water to rice ratio, and some are more forgiving than others,” Huang says. “Much like with your favorite plants, learn your favorite rices’ preferred water intake. Or you will create much sorrow.” 

Experiment with different aromatics

Rice cookers can do more than just cook plain rice. Huang suggests playing around with aromatics and fat to add flavor to the rice. Try adding chicken bouillon powder to the uncooked rice and water mixture with a bay leaf or a stick of cinnamon. Play around with your favorite flavors and mix-ins. Garlic, dried mushrooms, paprika, adobo seasoning, and more can all work in the rice cooker.

Be patient 

Being patient with your rice cooker can also reap benefits. “When the rice cooker sings its song to notify you it’s done cooking, let it sit for another 15 minutes if you can,” Huang says. “From personal experience, it feels like resting your rice allows the grains to reach their ideal state,” he adds. “If you start digging in right away, the rice is still very wet and prone to breaking and glopping. Allow the rice to cool down slightly and relax, add a knob of butter, and gently fold it in. You’ll have a rice dish worthy of eating entirely on its own, perhaps just with a sprinkle of fried garlic or furikake.”