How to Cook With an Asian Rice Steamer

Making rice on the stove top requires constant observation--boiling water, adding rice, reducing the heat, checking to make sure it doesn't burn--and then forget about keeping it warm; once the burner goes off, the rice gets cold. An Asian rice steamer is truly "set it and forget it," and is the best and easiest way to make fluffy, delicious rice, perfect for use in sushi or as a side dish.

Things You'll Need

• Rice
• Steamer

Instructions

1. 

   Wash imported rice.

   Consider the type of rice being made and prep accordingly. The Washington Post states that the "general rule is to wash imported rices and not to wash domestic rices, which are well cleaned and dried before packaging. Imported rices have plenty of clinging starch left over from the processing." Give exotic rice a quick wash, either with a fine sieve or by rinsing and carefully pouring out the water without losing the rice. Some cooks argue against washing jasmine rice, believing it can rinse away some of the flavor.

2. 

   Add the water.

   Place the rice in the steamer and cover with water. The general rule is to use a 1-to-1 ratio, so for every cup of rice, add another cup of water. Make sure the rice is fully covered by the water and evenly spread across the pot of the steamer.

3. 

   Allow the rice to cook.

   Plug in the machine and set it to the cook function. Most steamers take approximately 20 minutes to fully cook rice. The machine will become hot while in use and steam will escape through a small hole in the lid, so handle with care to avoid burns. No maintenance is required while the rice cooks, unlike the stove top method. When the rice is done, most modern steamers will automatically switch to a "keep warm" mode, keeping the rice nice and hot.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a few drops of white vinegar to the water before cooking the rice. This makes it fluffier and less sticky.

• Don't serve the rice with metal utensils, which can scratch the inside of the cooker, which is usually coated in a non-stick material.

• Don't let kids play with the rice cooker, which can be dangerous.

References

• Thai Table: Rice Steamer Rundown
• Rice Steamer: Selection of Rice Cookers
• Food Good: Using a Rice Steamer

Resources

• Washington Post: How to Wash Rice