How to Use Rice Cookers

A rice cooker takes the guesswork out of making rice at home. It doesn't matter if you are cooking white or brown rice, a rice cooker promises perfect rice every time you use it. Many cookers also include a steamer basket so that you can steam other vegetables and seafood in the cooker while you are cooking the rice to go with the meal.

Things You'll Need

• Rice cooker
• Rice
• Water

Instructions

1. Place the desired amount of rice into the rice pan of the rice cooker. Most models come with a measuring cup. Further, 2 cups of uncooked rice is generally enough for four people.

2. Measure twice the amount of water into the rice pan. If you used 2 cups of rice, you will need 4 cups of water. Some pans will have markings on the inside of the pan to show you how much water you need for various amounts of rice.

3. Place the rice pan in the rice cooker.

4. Close the lid of the cooker and plug the electric cord into an electric outlet.

5. Press the "Cook" or "Power" button on the rice maker.

6. Watch for the light on the rice maker to go out or switch to the "Keep Warm" mode if your model has that feature. Once the rice is done, it is ready to eat.

Tips & Warnings

• The stay warm feature available on some models of rice cookers allow you to cook the rice several hours before it is needed. Most rice cookers will allow you to cook anywhere from 1 cup to 8 cups of rice at a time. To use the steamer basket alone for steaming vegetables, fish or seafood, place at least 2 cups of water in the rice pan, add the filled steamer basket and turn the machine on. It will go to off or warm automatically when the steaming process is complete.

• Never attempt to force the lid open on a rice cooker while the machine is operating. The steam from a rice cooker can cause severe burns, always open the lid facing away from your hands or face.