Secret Rice Cooker Hack Makes Family Dinner in Indiana Too Easy

Despite their name, rice cookers are versatile kitchen appliances that can make more than just plain white rice.

Six years ago, I was living in a small one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen setup smaller than most people's bathroom vanities. The stove barely worked, so I relied on my microwave most days. I was also broke and had little money for extra kitchen appliances. Fortunately, however, I was gifted a rice cooker one day, which I've used every week for the past six years. However, what I didn’t know until just recently is that it can make other meals too.

How Does a Rice Cooker Work?

Let's start by explaining how these little contraptions operate. According to Food Network, rice cookers work by using a combination of heat and moisture. When you add rice and water to the inner cooking bowl and hit the start or "cook" button, the device's heating element will activate. Eventually, your water is brought to a boil, which cooks your rice. But how does it know to shut off when it's done?

Why Your Rice Cooker Won't Burn Your Food

Most rice cookers are fairly basic, complete with just a simple on and off switch. The rice cooker I have actually has a "cook" and "warm" button. Once the rice absorbs all the water, the temperature inside the pot will start to rise beyond 212°F. Sensors in the cooker actually detect this and automatically shut off or switch to warm mode. Most rice cookers take between 20 to 30 minutes to cook white rice.

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Rice Cookers Can Make Other Dishes

Since rice cookers essentially operate like a hotplate, you can make quite a few different foods. Mac and cheese is a popular go-to dish outside of rice, but for more protein, there are other options. If you're a bit timid about stepping out of your comfort zone, there are plenty of videos available online to help you out.

Rice Cookers Can Easily Make Breakfast Dishes

I recently saw a reel of a guy who made a scrambled egg dish using only his rice cooker. He dumped all the ingredients in the pot, turned it on, and soon had a delicious breakfast that required minimal effort. All he had to do was remove the lid and serve it. This example definitely inspired me to experiment more with my rice cooker in the near future.