Multi-purpose kitchen appliances are always a big hit because they make the most of the space they occupy.
Rice cookers are one of our favorite kitchen appliances for this reason.
Besides making rice, some models can handle other cooking tasks.
Here are 18 ideas for compatible rice cookers and multicookers. Check your model’s supported programs and use its recipes: a basic rice-only cooker is not suitable for every dish below.
1. Quinoa
Quinoa is a pseudo-grain that you can cook like most other grains. It has similar nutritional quality, is gluten-free, and is a good source of protein and fiber.
You can easily cook it in a rice cooker. To make quinoa, rinse it several times till the water runs clear.
Use the quinoa-to-water ratio, capacity and program in your model’s approved recipe.
To add extra flavor to quinoa, you can use herbs, seasonings, and other flavoring ingredients.
2. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a breakfast staple suitable for people of all age groups. It’s nutritious without too many calories. You can make oatmeal in a rice cooker.
To cook oatmeal in the rice cooker, place the required amount of oatmeal and water in the rice cooker. Switch on the power supply and let it cook till done.
Use only the type of oats specified by the cooker’s recipe. Steel-cut, rolled and instant oats need different amounts of water and cooking times.
3. Mac and Cheese
An unconventional but effective way to cook mac and cheese is in the rice cooker.
Use a pasta recipe approved for the cooker, including its water amount and program. Do not assume Steam or Cook is suitable for foaming pasta.
Open and stir only when the approved method permits it; never open a pressurized cooker mid-cycle.
When the pasta absorbs all the liquid, add cream cheese and milk and stir well. Wait for it to melt and mix thoroughly. Top with grated cheddar cheese.
4. Risotto
Risotto is rice cooked in broth. You can prepare it using a rice cooker.
The main benefit of preparing risotto in a rice cooker is that you don’t have to constantly stir it as you do on the stovetop.
Choose short-grained rice like arborio rice for the best results. Begin by sauteing the aromatics in olive oil or butter.
Sauté in the cooker only if it has an approved sauté or browning function. A Quick Rice program is not automatically a sauté setting; otherwise use a separate pan.
Add it with the rice, broth, and vegetables if any to the rice cooker.
Close the lid and let the device do the rest of the work. You can add cheese or herbs at the end if your recipe includes it.
5. Porridge
Since a rice cooker is typically used to make rice, you can use this appliance to cook porridge as well.
Porridge also needs a suitable program and capacity limit because it can foam and boil over. Follow the specified water amount as well.
Use the porridge quantities and water line in your model’s manual rather than multiplying a regular-rice ratio.
Leave it to cook till the porridge has a medium or thick consistency.
6. Steamed Vegetables
If your rice cooker has a handy steam basket, you can use it to steam chopped vegetables while your rice cooks.
Simply add the chopped vegetables to the basket and insert it above the rice pot.
The steam from the liquid used to cook rice will help the vegetables soften and cook properly.
7. Steamed Fish
Just like you can steam vegetables in a rice cooker, you can do the same for fish too.
Place the cleaned fish in the steam basket and insert it into the cooking pot. You can simultaneously cook it with rice in the base of the pot.
Alternatively, use the approved steaming program with water in the pot. Check fish reaches 145°F, ground meat 160°F and poultry 165°F; reheat cooked leftovers to 165°F. A completed rice cycle does not confirm those temperatures.
8. Steamed Dumplings
An easy way to steam dumplings is using the rice cooker basket. Insert it above the rice and water in the pot.
The steam and moisture from the water used to cook rice will help the dumplings cook.
Check the dumpling package or tested steaming recipe; size, filling and whether they are frozen affect the time. The rice finishing does not prove a raw filling is cooked.
You can also use the steam basket of the rice cooker to reheat dumplings stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
They will achieve just the right texture and be soft and delicious.
9. Boiled Eggs
Boiling eggs in a rice cooker uses gentle heat to cook the eggs.
For this method, place the eggs in the steamer tray and place them inside the rice cooker pot with water.
The steaming water will cook the eggs without breaking the shell.
Follow a tested steaming time and check that the whites and yolks are firm. Results depend on egg size, starting temperature and the appliance.
We recommend plunging the cooked eggs with the shell into an ice bath immediately after the cooking time to keep the texture intact.
10. Soup or Broth
For soup or broth, sauté aromatics on the stove or with the cooker’s approved sauté function, then use its soup or slow-cook instructions.
Next, stick all the vegetables, meat, and remaining ingredients in the rice cooker with the required water.
Follow the approved soup recipe’s program, time and lid instructions. Verify any meat or poultry reaches its safe internal temperature.
11. Stews
You can easily make a hearty stew in the rice cooker by adding all the ingredients and setting the rice cooker to the appropriate setting.
Since stew is a versatile dish, you can adjust the seasonings and ingredients to suit your preferences.
Stay nearby and follow the manual’s supervision and fill-limit instructions. Thick or foamy mixtures can spill over.
12. Chili
You can make chili in a rice cooker, though the process is different from cooking it on the stove.
If the rice cooker has a sauté or browning setting, use that to brown the meat. Then, follow the recipe for adding aromatics, canned or fully cooked beans, tomatoes and water. Do not add raw dried kidney beans to an unspecified slow-cooking or rice cycle.
Use a manufacturer-approved chili recipe and the specified program rather than assuming a rice cycle is suitable. Verify the meat’s safe internal temperature with a food thermometer; bubbling or thickness is not a safety check.
13. Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a traditional Louisiana Creole dish with rice, meat, and vegetables cooked in a large pot.
The rice absorbs all the spices and flavors of the other ingredients and becomes extra-flavorful and delicious.
Use a model-approved jambalaya or mixed-rice recipe, not a chili program by analogy.
The meat and aromatic ingredients are cooked first before being added to the rice and cooking it in the rice cooker till all the moisture is absorbed.
14. Paella
Paella is a Spanish dish that is traditionally made in a large, shallow pan.
It allows the rice to cook thoroughly and develop the signature crispy crust called the Socarrat.
While you can replicate the process in the rice cooker, only certain special cookers are capable of creating the crust of burnt rice.
Nonetheless, you can make a simple and delicious version of paella in a rice cooker.
15. Mashed Potatoes
An easy way to make the perfect mashed potatoes is using the rice cooker.
Use the cooker’s approved steaming or potato instructions, with the specified water amount and capacity.
Once the potatoes are soft, drain them safely and transfer them to a separate bowl before mashing so you do not damage a coated inner pot.
Add cream or milk and whisk the potatoes together. You can add salt and aromatics at the end.
16. Poached Fruit
If you are looking for a quick and easy fruity dessert, poached fruit is an easy solution for your needs.
The rice cooker will cook the fruits gently and make them tender without losing their natural flavors.
Use a poached-fruit recipe approved for your model. Thick syrups and honey can scorch, so do not improvise with undiluted sweeteners.
Follow that recipe’s liquid amount, program and supervision instructions.
You can experiment with the recipe by adding different aromatic spices to enhance the flavor of the dish.
17. Rice Pudding
Different variations of rice pudding are served all over the world as desserts.
Make rice pudding only with a recipe approved for your model. Milk can foam or scorch, so do not simply replace all the water in an ordinary rice cycle.
Follow that recipe’s program and timing; a regular rice cycle is not a substitute for these instructions.
Don’t forget to add sugar or any other sweetener to the cooking liquid.
You can top the pudding with chopped nuts, saffron, cinnamon powder, or any other garnish of your choice.
Further Reading: Rice Cooker vs. Crockpot | Rice Cooker Not Working? – 6 Reasons and Their Solutions
18. Cakes and Pancakes
Specialty rice cookers come with a “Cake” function. If this is present in your rice cooker, you can easily make pancakes, cakes, and even bread in a rice cooker.
The cooking time and temperature will depend on the recipe. You can also make chocolate cake, sponge cake, or even cheesecake in a rice cooker.
To make cake in a rice cooker, prepare the cake batter as usual.
Follow the model’s Cake recipe for the batter quantity and pan. Some models bake directly in the inner cooking pot; do not insert a separate cake pan unless the manual permits it.
The texture can differ from an oven-baked cake. Follow the model’s tested recipe and doneness check.
