Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
General Cooking (rec.food.cooking) For general food and cooking discussion. Foods of all kinds, food procurement, cooking methods and techniques, eating, etc. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
|||
|
|||
Help on Cooking Brown Rice (Rice Cooker)
I purchased a rice cooker last night, and immediately wanted to use it
to prepare a nice brown rice-based meal. The cooker is an Oster, and cost $30. I would have sprung for a fancier one, but the Target I went to only had a few options, and this was the most expensive one they had. Odd, because online they have choices that go all the way up to $250 (I wasn't going to spend $250, but I might have done $125). So, first attempt: I combined 1 cup of plain, organic, short-grain brown rice with 1 cup of chicken broth, 1 cup of water and a little bit of sausage (maybe 1/3 cup). Threw it all in the pot and flipped the switch (there is only one setting). About 30 minutes later, the cooker flipped into "keep warm" mode, and I opened it up. The rice was burned on the bottom a little, and still pretty crunchy (like it was burned but underdone?). It still tasted good, but I had to throw some of it away--enough that I was still hungry. Second attempt: I figured I didn't put enough water in the first time. This time I added 1 cup of broth and ~1.5 cups of water, plus the sausage (a little more this time), and added some salt and pepper (slightly too much as it turned out). This time I let it all soak for 20 minutes before turning it on. The result was tasty, but still a little too crunchy. The bottom wasn't burnt, but some of the rice definitely browned a bit on the bottom of the pan. Perhaps I should have stuck to making JUST the rice in water on the first few runs, and perfect that technique before getting more daring. But, hey, I was hungry. So, my questions: 1. Would the sausage affect the way the rice came out? 2. Does cooking rice with broth vs. water make a difference? 3. Should the rice "puff up" like white rice does (it didn't)? 4. Do you think I need to add MORE water? Everything I read says 2 cups water for 1 cup brown rice. 5. Is it possible to add TOO much water? 6. How long should I soak the rice before cooking? 7. Should I wash the rice (or is that the same as soaking)? 8. Would a better rice cooker (one with, say, fuzzy logic) make this an easier experience for someone who knows very little about food and cooking? I am not interested in methods of cooking brown rice in the microwave or on the stove top. If I had to do it that way, I probably never would. Thanks very much for any help! Phil |
|
|||
|
|||
"Phil Sandler" > wrote in message
om... See intersersed answers > So, my questions: > > 1. Would the sausage affect the way the rice came out? No, or at most a very minor effect. > 2. Does cooking rice with broth vs. water make a difference? No > 3. Should the rice "puff up" like white rice does (it didn't)? No > 4. Do you think I need to add MORE water? Everything I read says 2 > cups water for 1 cup brown rice. If by "crunchy" you mean the rice was undercooked, yes. > 5. Is it possible to add TOO much water? Yes. But rice cookers work by sensing when the water is almost all gone and then switching into warm mode - so too much water would result in mushy rice. > 6. How long should I soak the rice before cooking? Soaking is not needed. > 7. Should I wash the rice (or is that the same as soaking)? Yes. With white rice washing helps remove starch leading to a less sticky result. With brown rice the starch is not a problem but washing is a good idea simply for cleanliness. > 8. Would a better rice cooker (one with, say, fuzzy logic) make this > an easier experience for someone who knows very little about food and > cooking? It's possible - but you should be able to get decent results with any rice cooker once you have figured out the details. Be aware that old stale rice can affect the results. -- Peter Aitken Remove the crap from my email address before using. |
|
|||
|
|||
"Phil Sandler" > wrote in message om... >I purchased a rice cooker last night, and immediately wanted to use it > to prepare a nice brown rice-based meal. > Though I have never cooked brown rice in a rice-cooker, the only way I ever get good white rice using a rice cooker is to abandon my tendency to measure the water, and use the markings on the side of the unit. I measire the rice portion, rinse the rice until water runs clear, then add liquid up to the mark shown for the amount of rice I used. When it makes the change from "cook" to "warm", I fluff the finished rice with a pair of large, stiff chopsticks and replace the lid. Did you read the instructions for making rice with your particular rice-cooker? |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Cooking brown basmati rice | General Cooking | |||
Rec:Wild Rice with Dried Cherries and Scallions made in a rice cooker | General Cooking | |||
Brown Rice in a Slow Cooker? | General Cooking | |||
zojirushi neuro fuzzy rice cooker for thai sweet rice (+ mango) | General Cooking | |||
cooking brown rice in presto cooker | General Cooking |