Does anyone cook brown rice in a rice cooker?

[jennifermaria]

Hi all,

I'm Asian and grew up eating rice, and the only way I've been taught to make rice is with a rice cooker. Once I started eating brown rice, I learned to make it on a stove, but it takes SOOOO much longer and I can never get my results to be as consistent. I'd love to be able to use a rice cooker to make my brown rice, but every time I've tried, I've ended up with sticky goo spilling out of my rice cooker, making a mess on my granite counters!

Has anyone been able to successfully make brown rice in a rice cooker? If so, (1) what kind of rice cooker do you have and (2) how much water do you use and do you cook it for a certain amount of time or let the rice cooker determine that for you?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jdawnc]

I have a Osler Rice Cooker. It has a brown rice setting an cooks it beautifully. It does take longer but there is a timer setting on it to do in the morning and have it ready in the evening. I use about 1/3 cup more water then when I cook white rice.

 

[elsie3]

I have a Hitachi bare-bones rice cooker which we received as a wedding present and has been going strong for 15 years. It has no settings--just turn it on and push the button down. I cook nothing but brown rice, and it always turns out fine. The brown rice takes longer than white--about 45-50 minutes. I use a ratio of a little less than double the water. So if I'm cooking 2 cups rice, I'll use about 3 3/4 cups water. I don't like my rice soggy at all. This is for medium grain Nishiki brown rice. If I'm cooking something like Lundberg's wild brown rice mix, I need more water. You might have to play with the rice-to-water ratio a bit.

By the way, cooked brown rice freezes quite well and is fast to defrost in the microwave. This sometimes helps when you need a quick meal and don't have time to wait for the brown rice to cook. I tried instant brown rice once--it was disgusting.

Hope this helps,

 

[kathryn]

Most rice cookers or steamers come with directions on how to do brown rice (it takes more water and more time than the white stuff).

 

[bitmover]

That's the only way I cook it -- unless I'm using the pressure cooker! My rice cooker has a brown rice button on it, but as I recall, a previous model did not but the rice cooker still knew when it was done.

 

[jennifermaria]

Thanks, guys! Maybe it's just time to replace my rice cooker and get a new one. It's had its day LOL. Come to think of it, when I made regular white rice in it, that also resulted in a goopy, sticky mess on my counter, so it may do that, regardless of the type of rice.

I think I may get this Osler rice cooker with the brown rice setting! Thanks for the tip!

Jennifer

 

[janie1234]

Hey, Jennifer. I'm Asian (Pacific Islander) and I figured out how to make brown rice in a rice cooker. This is for short grain rice. Soak it overnight in water it softens the husk and comes out perfect everytime. I'll usually get it ready the night before with the rice and water and then first thing in the morning I push the button. This is for short grain rice. Give it a try. Hope it works.

 

[jennifermaria]

Thanks, janie1234! I will do that . Any idea if I can do the same with brown basmati rice (which is long grain)?

I ended up going with the Aroma digital rice cooker with multiple settings (including one for brown rice). $40 and change at Target--can't beat it .

 

[janie1234]

Thanks, janie1234! I will do that . Any idea if I can do the same with brown basmati rice (which is long grain)?

I ended up going with the Aroma digital rice cooker with multiple settings (including one for brown rice). $40 and change at Target--can't beat it .

Wow what a deal! I don't think it will work for basmati or jasmine rice, . . . .it might turn to mush but if your thinking sushi give the soaking meathod a try and let me know how it works.

 

[Shadowpup]

I have a Zojirushi, and I love it! It does brown rice, mixed rice, long grain, quinoa, and steel cut oats. I haven't used it for gaba or sweet rice, but it has those settings also. Very easy and always perfect, as long as I measure the ingredients... There are two timers, so you can set this to have dinner/breakfast ready for you; and it has a keep warm feature that I've had go as long as two hours without any burning or drying.

I use a two to one ratio - twice as much water as rice/oats.

 

[jennifermaria]

I'm testing my new rice cooker now--very excited! I'm such a geek .

It also doubles as a food steamer, so I can steam veggies. I already had a steamer basket that goes into my stock pot, but I'll probably use this one more often, since it's got a built-in timer.

Pretty good bargain at $40, since the multi-setting ones usually cost $100+.