Cooking perfect rice used to be a daunting task, especially in large batches. Grabbing the wrong kind of rice or misjudging the water-to-rice ratios were two of the biggest causes of unevenly cooked, sticky and burnt dishes. But with the advent of electric rice cookers, anyone can make perfectly fluffy and tasty white or brown rice without any guesswork. Aroma Rice Cookers offer users a lot of control over their rice, allowing you to make perfectly fluffy rice with ease.
What You Need to Know About Sticky Rice
Sticky rice, also known as glutinous or sweet rice, consists of short-grain varieties with a higher starch content than other cultivated grains. The starch acts as a kind of glue, and when cooked, gives the rice its characteristic chewy, gummy consistency. While popular in some Asian cuisines, sticky rice should not be confused with long-grain white or brown rice.
Sticky rice is often used in desserts, such as mochi, and is also a popular accompaniment to savory dishes. It is usually steamed, but can also be boiled or cooked in a rice cooker. When cooked, sticky rice is often served with a variety of sauces, such as soy sauce, fish sauce, or chili sauce. It can also be used to make sushi, dumplings, and other dishes.
Preparing Rice for an Aroma Rice Cooker
For best results, always rinse your rice several times before cooking. Rinsing removes the outer layer of starch that could otherwise lead to sticky rice. Don’t use too much water when rinsing, just enough to rinse away visible excess starch.
Once the rice is rinsed, measure out the desired amount of rice and place it in the inner pot of the rice cooker. For every cup of rice, add 1.5 cups of water. If you are using a different type of rice, such as brown rice, you may need to adjust the water-to-rice ratio. Once the rice and water are in the pot, close the lid and turn the cooker on.
Measuring the Right Amount of Rice
An Aroma Rice Cooker comes with a cup used to measure the right amount of rice. It holds just over half a cup of uncooked rice. One cup of uncooked white rice makes approximately three cups of cooked rice so measure carefully. When using brown rice, the ratio is slightly different and one cup of uncooked rice yields about two to two-and-a-half cups of cooked rice.
It is important to note that the amount of cooked rice will vary depending on the type of rice you are using. For example, long grain white rice will yield more cooked rice than short grain white rice. Additionally, the amount of water used to cook the rice will also affect the amount of cooked rice. For best results, use the measuring cup that comes with the Aroma Rice Cooker to ensure you are using the correct amount of rice.
Making Sure the Water to Rice Ratio is Balanced
For perfectly cooked and fluffy rice, you need to make sure you have the right ratio of water to rice. While aromas cooking instructions specify a set ratio, it can vary slightly by type of rice and personal taste. For white rice, a ratio of two parts water to one part rice is usually best, while for brown rice it should be about one and a half parts water for every one part of rice.
Tips for Cooking Perfectly Fluffy Rice in an Aroma Rice Cooker
Once you’ve prepared the rice and measured it correctly, it’s time to actually cook it. To ensure your rice doesn’t become sticky, there are a few important steps to follow: Grease the inner bowl before adding in the ingredients, stir the ingredients during the cooking process if necessary and let the finished product rest a few minutes after cooking.
Greasing the Bowl Before Adding Rice
Before you add your pre-measured ingredients to an Aroma Rice Cooker, it’s important to grease the inside of the bowl with a bit of oil or butter. This will help prevent the finished rice from becoming too sticky and sticking to the bottom of the bowl.
Stirring the Rice During the Cooking Process
After setting the Aroma Rice Cooker to cook mode, you may have to stir the ingredients a few times during the cooking process. This will help evenly distribute all the moisture and prevent your finished product from becoming sticky.
Letting the Rice Rest After Cooking
Once your Aroma Rice Cooker has finished cooking and automatically switched off, leave it alone for another few minutes before fluffing up the cooked rice with a spoon or fork. This step is extremely important, as it will ensure that the grains don’t stick together and remain fluffy.
How to Clean Stuck-On Rice from an Aroma Rice Cooker
No matter how careful you are about preventing your rice from sticking, accidents can still happen. If your Aroma Rice Cooker has batches of sticky or burned food on its inner surface, take a few minutes to clean it up. Start by detaching the inner bowl from the cooking base. Use warm water and dishwasher soap to scrub away any food residue, then dry both pieces before reassembling.