Let’s learn how to cook brown rice in a rice cooker properly by reading this article. This type of rice is vastly different from your normal white rice, leading to some significant changes in how to handle and cook it.
Brown rice is generally more nutritious than white rice. In return, cooking it to fluffy perfection is also more challenging. You may have an intuitive grasp of how to prepare white rice, but cooking brown rice requires a thorough guide for the best result. And that’s exactly what you will find here.
Why Is It Different To Cook Brown Rice?
Cooking brown rice is different because it retains the bran and germ layers, which make it tougher and require more time to cook.
Brown rice is also more nutrient-dense than white rice. Their bran and germ layers provide fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B6, making brown rice great for weight and blood sugar control.
However, these parts also make brown rice tougher and harder to cook and digest, especially for those with sensitive stomachs.
Tools for Cooking Brown Rice
Brown rice needs the same kitchen gadgets to cook as white ones, so you don’t have to prepare anything special, such as:
Ingredients to Cook Brown Rice
The ingredients to cook brown rice can’t get easier with below components:
Guide for Cooking Brown Rice in A Rice Cooker
With these instructions at your fingertips, you can cook brown rice perfectly with ease.
Step 1: Rinse The Rice
Portion out a suitable amount of rice with the measuring cup, then put it into the inner pot of the rice cooker or a bowl to rinse with clean water.
Gently move the rice with your hand and pick out any floating dirt. Drain the water to remove excess starch and contaminants.
Alternatively, pour the rice into a mesh strainer and rinse under running water. This method is effective but uses more water.
Repeat your chosen method 2-3 times. Avoid overwashing, as this can remove the nutritious outer bran layer and cause the rice to dry out.
Here is the secret tip: After washing the brown rice, soak it in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Don’t skip this step because doing so will significantly shorten the cooking time.
Step 2: Measure The Water
Rice texture depends on the water used. Less water makes drier rice; more water makes it moist and tender.
Usually, cook one part brown rice with two parts water. However, since this recipe involves soaking the rice to soften it, use a 1:1 water-rice ratio.
Since I cook 2 cups of rice, I go with 2 cups of water for a pot of perfectly fluffy rice that is neither too dry nor mushy. That means 270 grams of rice and 320 ml of water, respectively, in this case. Your measuring cup may have a different capacity; remember to follow the golden 1:1 ratio.
Step 3: Use The Rice Cooker
For safety purposes, dry the surface of the inner pot carefully with a towel before putting it back into the exterior pot.
You can skip this step, but adding ½ teaspoon of salt and a spoonful of olive or sesame oil enhances the taste and appearance of brown rice. These ingredients also make the rice less sticky, making the pot easier to clean.
Finally, close the lid and turn the rice cooker on. Leave it undisturbed for 45 minutes – 1 hour.
Step 4: Fluff The Rice
You can open the lid once the brown rice is ready, or let the rice cooker switch to “Warm” mode to keep it perfect until you’re ready to eat.
Using a rice cooker ensures the rice is perfectly cooked if you use the correct water-to-rice ratio.
Unplug the rice cooker, open the lid carefully to avoid steam, fluff the rice with a paddle or spoon, plate it, and serve with your favorite dishes.
Note
If you skip the soaking step, make sure that you use at least twice as much water and increase the cooking time by 15 – 30 minutes.
Brown rice is higher in fat and oil content than white rice, so it tends to spoil faster as well. If you don’t mean to eat cooked brown rice right away, don’t leave it at room temperature for too long. This food can last for 3 – 4 days in the fridge.
Fluffy Brown Rice Is Yours Now!
Cooking brown rice on the stovetop or other kitchen appliances may be a little bit difficult. But with a specialized tool like a rice cooker, this task isn’t intimidating at all. Now that you have my guide, having a bowl of warm, tender brown rice has never been easier.
Don’t forget to share this post with anyone struggling with cooking this type of rice. I’m sure they will appreciate your thoughtfulness very much. If you have something to ask, just type it down, and I will try my best to answer it. Feel free to share with me how well your brown rice goes, too!
How To Cook Brown Rice In A Rice Cooker
Equipment
- Rice Cooker
Instructions
- Choose a suitable amount of brown rice and rinse it with clean water 2-3 times.
- Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes. Measure the water and rice according to a 1:1 ratio.
- Put the inner pot into the outer pot, close the lid, and turn on the rice cooker. Add some salt and olive oil/ sesame oil for more flavors.
- Cook the rice for 45 minutes – 1 hour.
- When the rice is cooked, fluff it with a rice paddle, and serve.
Video
Notes
- This is a recipe for soaked brown, long-grain rice. If you use other types of rice or skip the soaking step, change the amount of water and cooking time accordingly.
Nutrition
Richie
Content Writer
Expertise
Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert
Education
Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam
Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.
Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.