For the past few years, the Instant Pot has been the sweetheart of the one-pot cooking world.
But before it was the hot item on everyones registries, there was the humble rice cooker.
But dont let the name fool you: rice cookers cook more than just rice.
Boiled eggs:There areapproximatelya billiontechniquesformakingthe perfectboiledegg.
The rice cooker is another one.
Frittatas:Perhaps youprefer a frittatato boiled eggs?
Heres a recipe fromJust Bento.
Start the rice first and then insert the steaming tray with your vegetables/meats towards the end of the cycle.
Or try steaming fully cooked sausages on a bed of sauerkraut and potatoes (30-40 minutes cooking time).
This is the setting that youll leave your cooker on for most of the time.
To start out, place your ingredients in the rice cooker.
I usually guestimate the proportions.
After the normal rice-cooking setting cycle, change to the warming setting and leave for an hour.
you could cook just about any meat in the rice cooker this way, evenan entire chicken.
Mac and cheese:Creamy mac and cheese with minimal effort or stove-watching.
Endless adaptability and easy cleanup.
The rice cooker is the ideal vehicle forhomemade mac and cheese.
Seethis cooking time chartfromThe Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook, a book I highly recommend to every rice cooker owner.
Soups, stews, and chilis:Basically, just throw everything into the pot and see what happens.
As movie critic and apparent rice cooker expert Roger Ebertadvises:
Lets make some soup.
Throw them in the pot.
Add enough water to make it soup.
I have been known to start with a can of Health Valley or Pritkin soup and add fresh ingredients.
This watched Pot boils.
Click to Warm when the soup looks about right.
If it looks undercooked, add a little more water and keep going.
For example, dried beans first.
Even let them sit in water and Warm for awhile.
If youre in a hurry, throw them in and boil them.
The hell with them.
Never put in meat and chicken so soon it will overcook.
There are no rules.
You are Aunt Mary.
Like soup only with less water, Albert Einstein.
Anything soup-, stew-, or chili-like gets the same treatment.
Just be careful the whole thing doesnt overflow.
Otherwise, have fun with it.
So why not use it to maketapioca pudding.
Cheesecake:The rice cooker can mimic the oven when it comes to baked goods.
Hot chocolate:Want something to wash down that cake with?
Rice cookers are also great for makinglarge batches of hot chocolate.
Banana bread:Bake banana breadin the rice cooker in about an hour and a half.
Maybe the rice cooker deserves a permanent spot on your counter.
