Using a high tech rice cooker is extremely easy. However the more you know, the better your rice will turn out for your family meal. Different types of rice need different amounts of water and each type can be flavored differently to ensure fluffy or sticky rice made to perfection. Basic rice is of course the easiest to cook, however the more flavorful rice varies between the more difficult rice such as Jasmine or Brown. Here are some tips for making amazing and perfect rice that is full of flavor and ready to go right out of the cooker.
Different rice means different amounts of water. Here are the main concepts between the rice and water ratio. Make sure though when using rice cookers, that you use the measuring cup that specifically comes with the rice cooker in order to get the ratio according to the cooker.
Types of grain include:
- Long Grain
- Medium Grain
- Short Grain
With each type of grain, comes the specific type of rice:
- White Rice
- Brown Rice
- Wild Rice
- Black Rice
- Jasmine Rice
- Basmati Rice
Also, with each type of grain, comes a different ratio of water necessity:
- Long grain white rice must have 1 and ¾ cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.
- Medium grain white rice must have 1 and ½ cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.
- Short grain white rice must have 1 and ¼ cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.
- Long grain brown rice must have 2 and ¼ cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.
- Jasmine rice must have 1 and ¼ cups of water for everyone 1 cup of rice.
- Wild rice must have 4 cups of water for everyone 1 cup of rice.
Knowing the different ratios for water, type of rice, and grain of rice is important to all the basics of cooking rice. Even with a high tech rice cooker, you still have to know how to program it correctly in accordance to these vary concepts. As simple as it sounds using the measuring cup that comes with the rice cooker ensures correct ratios because the rice cooker is expecting you to measure that way. If you use a different measuring cup that might actually make what you are placing into the cooker incorrect.
Always read all directions before using any type of rice cooker and the different types of rice. There may be little changes that must be made depending on what the goal for the rice is. For example sticky rice needs a different amount of water then fluffy rice. Adding flavor and making an entire meal out of your rice is entirely dependent on you and there is plenty of recipes on the internet for whatever needs the meal has. Make sure to have fun and explore options with your rice!