With so many kitchen appliances to choose from, it’s easy to get confused, making it tough to zero in on what exactly you need in your kitchen. Now, you might wonder if these devices are interchangeable — if you can use one instead of the other — and if they can cook the same meals with slightly different settings.
Due to their classification as a single-use cooking device, there’s a common misconception that slow and rice cookers are similar. Let’s put the “can you use a rice cooker as a slow cooker” question to rest in this article. We’ll go over everything you need to know about using a rice cooker as a slow cooker, so read until the end.
Can You Use a Rice Cooker as a Slower Cooker
Rice cookers are an excellent solution for boiling different types of rice, including brown rice, plain rice, dry rice, white rice, jasmine rice, and raw rice. While rice cookers aren’t designed to be full-fledged slow cookers, you may use them as one.
The trick is to use a rice cooker on a warm setting, letting your meal simmer and slow cook over time. These cookers can even steam an entire meal.
Most rice cookers feature two cooking settings (cook and keep warm modes) to boil different rice varieties, while some later versions offer temperature control and slow cooking choices.
With that being said, you can prepare an entire pasta dish with its array of ingredients in the rice cooker. On the other hand, you cannot use a rice cooker as a substitute for a slow cooker if you’re preparing something that requires constant checking.
How to Use a Rice Cooker as a Slow Cooker
A rice cooker is almost always a feasible alternative if you don’t have a slow cooker or want to prepare smaller servings. Plus, it’s not limited, and you can use it to prepare various delicious dishes.
Here’s how to cook in a rice cooker instead of a slow cooker:
Fill the Rice Cooker Bowl
Fill the rice cooker halfway with your fresh ingredients. You can include meat, fruit, veggies, spices, and more. Calculate the quantities precisely and avoid overfilling the rice cooker.
Keep the rice cooker moist to avoid burning. If you use too much liquid, the flavor might not turn out how you intended it to. Plus, the moisture will evaporate from the cooker.
Make sure to close the lid and turn the rice cooker to its standard rice-cooking cycle after adding the ingredients.
Start the Rice Cooker and Boil According to the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Turn your rice cooker to its lowest setting. The idea is to cook the meal as you would ordinarily. Allow 20 to 30 minutes of cooking time — this is not a written-in-stone number, and your rice cooker can take longer to boil.
Reduce the Rice Cooker Temperature to a Slow Cook Setting as the Meal Begins to Simmer
Your rice cooker will automatically switch to the heating setting once it reaches a boiling temperature. As long as you don’t open the lid, selecting this option will help retain most of the heat.
Make sure it stays warm and simmers for some time. The warm or low settings may be the same on some rice cookers, so double-check!
Set the Rice Cooker on a Warming Setting for 45 to 60 Minutes
Check the food occasionally to ensure it doesn’t dry or boil more than necessary. Cook your food on the warm mode for as long as it takes. Note that you may need to increase the heat once or twice during the process.
Remove the Lid after an Hour and Check the Food’s Temperature
Check that everything is fully cooked. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, repeat the process described in the previous step.
If you’re using a basic rice cooker, you’ll have to experiment with different recipes to determine how long they need to simmer, but generally, you can use your rice cooker as a slow cooker. And if it includes a slow cooking function, even better!
What Types of Food Can You Cook in a Rice Cooker?
Smart rice cookers do more than their name suggests. Rice cookers can cook different types of food, including:
- Soybeans, pinto beans, and kidney beans (after soaking them first)
- Rice pudding, quick breakfast foods, and egg dishes
- Macaroni and cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Ground beef or pork roast
- Meats and vegetables
- Whole fish in a steamer basket packed with vegetables for a complete one-pot meal
Things to Consider
Here are some typical problems you may encounter when using your rice cooker as a slow cooker and ways to avoid them:
Food Can Be Overcooked and Dry
The most typical reason for this problem is a lack of moist heat in the pot. To keep your food hydrated, add additional cups of water.
Cooking Process
You’re adjusting the temperature a lot, and most of the time, the fluid content is boiling. This means you’ll need to modify your cooking style to compensate for this.
The longer your food takes to cook, the sooner you should add it to the rice cooker. For example, you can’t add your protein too early since it will overcook. If you want to eat something crunchy, like corn or peas, it should be added at the end.
Never Take a Long Break
Your cooking time in a slow cooker will differ from a rice cooker’s in that the slow cooker can be left unattended for several hours. You’ll have to check the rice cooker at least once every 15 to 20 minutes when cooking your favorite meal.
Endnote
Can you use a rice cooker as a slow cooker? Absolutely! For reasons beyond cooking the perfect rice, a rice cooker deserves a spot on your kitchen counter. Plus, there’s no reason why you can’t make your favorite dish in a rice cooker, just as you would in a slow cooker.
As long as you get the ratio of ingredients right and follow the steps mentioned above, you can enjoy delicious meals for as long as you can cook them! Be sure to visit All Great Appliances for new articles and recipes.
