Use a rice cooker for great results every time.
An automatic cooker takes the guesswork out of preparing rice. These versatile appliances often have settings for brown rice as well as white, and some can be used to steam vegetables or even prepare oatmeal. With an automatic rice cooker, you can measure in the rice and water and then continue with the rest of the meal. The time lets you know when the rice is perfectly cooked, and many machines include a warming feature in case you aren't quite ready to serve the rice.
Instructions
1. Measure the rice and pour it into the automatic rice cooker. The cups packaged with rice cookers are usually a different size than a standard U.S. measuring cup. Unless your recipe specifies measurements in "rice cooker cups," use your own measuring cup.
2. Rinse imported rice to remove harmful pesticides, herbicides and contaminants. To rinse the rice, run tap water into the rice cooker bowl and stir the rice around with your hand. Slowly drain the water from the bowl, keeping your hand at the bottom to keep the rice in the pot. Repeat the process until the water comes out clear in the bowl. Put the pot back in the automatic rice cooker.
3. Measure cold water into the rice cooker on top of the rice. A good rule of thumb is to use the same amount of water as rice, plus 1/2 cup. So if you are using 1 cup of uncooked rice, you would use 1 1/2 cups of water.
4. Add a bit of salt, butter or oil to the rice, if desired. Wipe the outside of the automatic rice cooker clean and make sure every rice grain is in the water and not on the side of the bowl.
5. Cover the rice cooker and plug it in. Turn the machine on and start the cooking cycle.
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