12 things you probably didn't know you could make in a rice cooker
- Rice cookers can cook more than just rice.
- The appliance can be used to make meals, like ribs, chili, or pizza.
- Rice cookers can also be used to cook other grains, like barley or quinoa.
- You can also prepare breakfasts like oatmeal or pancakes in a rice cooker.
Rice cookers are appliances designed to perfectly steam or boil rice. But despite what its name suggests, rice cookers are a versatile appliance that can actually be used to prepare a variety of foods.
From pizza to cake, read on for some dishes you might not have known you can make in a rice cooker.
It can be used to cook grains other than rice
You can use your rice cooker to cook quinoa or to cook barley. You just have to be sure to adjust the amount of water or broth you're using to cook the grains.
When it comes to making quinoa or barley, you typically have to add more liquids to your rice cooker than you normally would when making rice.
Try making fall-off-the-bone ribs in your rice cooker
Food blogger Domestic Diva's recipe for country-style ribs requires just a few ingredients including a bit of brown sugar and a dark beer that gives the ribs extra flavor.
And this recipe for ribs from Genius Kitchen only requires a rice cooker and six ingredients, including beer and olive oil.
You can make different forms of pizza in a rice cooker
You can follow this Tastemade recipe to make pull-apart pizza bread that utilizes premade biscuit dough. Or if you follow this recipe from Foodbeast, you can make a pizza cake that's fluffy and topped with pepperoni.
Poached pears aren't too difficult to make in a rice cooker
The poached pear recipe from the blog Jeanette's Healthy Living is loaded with flavorful ingredients like apple cider and pomegranate juice.
And over at the blog Push Button Kitchen, you can find a recipe for poached pears that have an added vanilla flavor.
Feed a crowd with fluffy pancakes that have been made using a rice cooker
When you make this sweet breakfast staple in a rice cooker, there's no need to worry about pouring batter onto a griddle and flipping your pancakes at just the right moment.
When following this recipe from the blog Kirbie's Cravings, you prepare pancake batter, pour it into the rice cooker, and let the appliance do the rest.
You can also add mix-ins, like chocolate chips or blueberries for a fun twist.
Making rice pudding in a rice cooker doesn't take long
This rice-centric dessert can be made in a pinch if you have a rice cooker. This recipe for rice pudding from chef Wolfgang Puck on the Chicago Tribune consists of less than 10 ingredients.
Throw some eggs and vegetables into a rice cooker to make a frittata
This frittata recipe from Genius Kitchen serves four and cooks in less than 15 minutes. Spinach, mushrooms, eggs, green onions, cheese, and spices add a boost of flavor to eggs and can make for a tasty frittata.
You can also try following other frittata recipes like the one from the blog Just Bento that includes hearty ingredients like potatoes, zucchini, and eggs.
Whip up some mac and cheese using only six ingredients
Requiring just a few ingredients and minimal kitchen prep, this recipe from The Washington Post's Dinner in Minutes column can result in a quick dinner.
The macaroni and cheese dish serves four and the only appliance needed is a rice cooker.
You can even make cake in a rice cooker
Blogger Shin Kim said one of her most popular recipes is the one for this carrot cake that's topped with creamy frosting and candied carrot ribbons.
And if you're looking to prepare an even simpler dessert, Spoon University has a recipe for a cake that can be made in a rice cooker using only four ingredients.
Make some hearty chili using just a few ingredients
If you're looking to make this hearty dish using only a rice cooker, the blog Kitchenability has a recipe for chicken chili that's loaded with protein.
And the blog Glue & Glitter has a meatless chili recipe that can also be made using only a rice cooker and a few ingredients, like pinto beans and carrots.
Steam fresh or frozen dumplings using the steamer basket attachment of a rice cooker
According to Our Everyday Life, a rice cooker can substitute for a bamboo steamer if you have the rice cooker's steamer basket attachment and follow a few simple steps.
Cook oatmeal in a rice cooker for a filling and warm breakfast
Cooking oatmeal in a rice cooker is the perfect way to get a warm breakfast without having to keep a close eye on a stove-top pot of oats.
The Kitchn and the New York Times both have some useful tips for making the perfect batch of oatmeal using a rice cooker.
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