How do keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of my rice cooker?
Rice is notoriously sticky. That is why many rice
cookers come with non stick pans, so that the pot is easy to clean after use
and you can get all of the cooked rice out for your meal. However, many of
the less expensive varieties do not come with a non-stick pan, causing the
rice to nearly glue itself onto the pot and making cleanup extremely
difficult.
Here are several suggestions for how to get your
rice to stop sticking to the bottom of the pan.
·
Use Pam, Butter or Oil
Though greasing the pan can slightly alter the
flavor of your rice, it can make it very easy to remove any rice stuck to
the pan after cooking. With some of the more heavy duty rice cookers it is
possible for water to wash away some of the oils, but in general enough will
last to make serving and cleanup much easier.
·
Lower the Heat
It is not uncommon for rice to stick to the bottom
of a rice cooker when the heat is turned up too high, causing some of the
rice to melt onto the metal. You may need to adjust the heat of the device
to limit the amount of rice sticking to the sides.
·
Reduce Water Content
Another reason that rice sticks is because it is
receiving too much water. The more rice you are cooking at any given time,
the less the water/rice ratio is needed to effectively cook the rice. Try
reducing the water content slightly.
·
Adjust Rice Types
Though it may not be good for your meals, some
types of rice are more prone to sticking than others. For example, sticking
is a common problem with short grain rice and much less likely with long
grain. Brown rice may stick more as well.
·
Wash Residue Away
Many rice cookers do not come with their own
pre-wash feature. The residue that can be left on rice can cause it to be
sticky, so before you place the rice in the cooker, it may be a good idea to
wash the rice so that it is clean and ready to cook.
·
Soak the Entire Pan in Water
When the rice will not come off around serving
time, it is still easy to clean if you soak the entire pan in water
immediately after serving. The rice will loosen up dramatically, and should
easily wash away with a gentle sponging. Less than an hour is needed before
the rice will be easy to scrape away.
·
Change the Pan
In some instances, the rice cooker may come with a
detachable/removable pan for serving. In these cases, check to see if the
manufacturer offers a non-stick variety. If possible, replacing the pan
early will save you a lot of time and hassle, and the original pan can
always be kept as a backup in case you need to cook additional pots.
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