Prep Time: 2 mins Cook Time: 45 mins
Total: 47 mins Yields: 6
Discover the ultimate convenience of cooking wild rice with a rice cooker! Imagine effortlessly preparing this wholesome and nutty grain without any guesswork or constant monitoring. With a simple rinse, a press of a button, and a bit of patience, you’ll unleash the natural flavors and delight in perfectly cooked wild rice. I love this hands-off approach that helps me to save time, and relish the consistent results that a rice cooker guarantees.
As a European, I didn’t quite understand the need for a rice cooker at home, but nowadays I know that Asian households know better. This is a quick win for busy families who love to eat nutritious homemade food.
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Why use a rice cooker for wild rice?
Cooking wild rice in a rice cooker offers a fool-proof method of cooking perfect fluffy and sticky rice at home. With wild rice, you simply cannot pretend the same texture as the other rice varieties but achieving the perfect cooked wild rice can even be more challenging especially when you’re busy preparing the main dish and other side dishes.
In a nutshell, this is the reason why you should use a rice cooker to cook wild rice:
- Easy preparation: Simply rinse the wild rice, add it to the rice cooker, and add water.
- Hands-off cooking: Once you start the rice cooker, it takes care of the cooking process automatically. You don’t need to monitor the stove or adjust the heat.
- Consistent results: Rice cookers are designed to cook rice evenly, ensuring that the wild rice is cooked to perfection with a consistent texture throughout.
- Time-saving: While wild rice generally takes longer to cook than white rice, using a rice cooker allows you to set it and forget it. You can attend to other tasks while the rice cooks.
- Set it and walk away: Rice cookers often have timers or delay features, allowing you to set a specific time for the rice to start cooking. This is perfect since wild rice always requires more time to cook.
- Keep warm function: Many rice cookers have a keep warm function that automatically activates after cooking. It keeps the wild rice warm and ready to serve for an extended period without overcooking or drying out.
- No risk of burning: Rice cookers provide a nonstick cooking environment, minimizing the risk of burnt rice.
- Easy cleanup: Rice cooker pots are often nonstick, making cleanup a breeze.
Still not convinced?
If for any reason you still delaying buying a rice cooker, then you can cook rice in a microwave, on the stove, using Instant Pot, using a slow cooker or steaming.
How to cook wild rice in a rice cooker
- Rinse the wild rice: Measure the desired amount of wild rice and rinse it thoroughly under cold water. Rinsing helps remove any impurities or debris.
- Soak the wild rice (optional): While not necessary, soaking the wild rice for a few hours or overnight can help reduce the cooking time and improve its texture. If you choose to soak, place the rinsed wild rice in a bowl and cover it with water. Let it soak for the desired duration, then drain before cooking.
- Add the rice and water to the rice cooker: Transfer the rinsed or soaked wild rice to the rice cooker pot. Add the appropriate amount of water according to the rice cooker’s instructions or the desired rice-to-water ratio. As a general guideline, use 2 to 2.5 cups of water for every cup of wild rice.
- Season (optional): If desired, you can add seasonings like salt, herbs, or spices to enhance the flavor of the wild rice. Stir them into the water and rice mixture.
- Start the rice cooker: Close the rice cooker lid and select the appropriate setting for wild rice or the closest option available. If your rice cooker has a timer or delays feature, set it accordingly.
- Cook until tender: Allow the rice cooker to complete its cooking cycle. The cooking time may vary depending on the rice cooker model and the quantity of wild rice. Typically, wild rice takes longer to cook compared to white rice, usually around 45 minutes to 1 hour or more.
- Let it rest: Once the rice cooker finishes cooking, let the wild rice sit in the cooker for a few minutes with the lid closed. This resting time allows the rice to absorb any remaining moisture and ensures a fluffier texture.
- Fluff and serve: Open the rice cooker lid and fluff the wild rice gently with a fork or rice paddle. Serve it as a side dish, as a base for other ingredients, or incorporate it into various recipes according to your preference.
I also suggest consulting your specific rice cooker’s instructions for any additional guidance or recommendations on cooking wild rice.
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How to Cook Wild Rice in a Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cups wild rice
- 2 1/2 cups filtered water
Instructions
- Measure the wild rice (2 cups for 6 portions) and add to the pot that comes with the rice cooker.
- Rinse the wild rice thoroughly under cold water to remove any impurities or debris. See note below if you would like to soak overnight.
- Transfer the rinsed or soaked wild rice to the rice cooker pot. Add the appropriate amount of water according to the rice cooker's instructions or as a general guideline, use 2 to 2.5 cups of water for every cup of wild rice.
- Optionally season with salt, herbs, or spices to enhance the flavor of the wild rice. Stir them into the water and rice mixture.
- Close the rice cooker lid and select the appropriate setting for wild rice or the closest option available. If your rice cooker has a timer or delays feature, set it accordingly.
- Allow the rice cooker to complete its cooking cycle. The cooking time may vary depending on the rice cooker model and the quantity of wild rice. Typically, wild rice takes longer to cook compared to white rice, usually around 45 minutes to 1 hour or more.
- Once the rice cooker finishes cooking, let the wild rice sit in the cooker for a few minutes with the lid closed. This resting time allows the rice to absorb any remaining moisture and ensures a fluffier texture.
- Fluff and serve: Open the rice cooker lid and fluff the wild rice gently with a fork or rice paddle.
- Serve it as a side dish, as a base for other ingredients, or incorporate it into various recipes according to your preference.
Notes
- Optionally you can soaking the wild rice for a few hours or overnight can help reduce the cooking time and improve its texture. If you choose to soak, place the rinsed wild rice in a bowl and cover it with water. Let it soak for the desired duration, then drain before cooking.
