Once you’ve decided that you’ll try cooking rice today, there are some things you need to know about. You may think cooking rice is simple and you wouldn’t be wrong, one simply has to add water and heat it up, right? This statement is only correct to a degree, as there are some factors that can distinguish an ‘okay, average’ rice to an ‘amazing, wow!’ It’s these factors that turn cooking rice into a fine art. Some of these factors include temperature, timing, utensils used and the rice-to-water ratio. To aid you with these difficulties, there are many utensils on the market, among which are pressure cookers and rice cookers. But which one is better? This article will inform you of the differences between a rice cooker and a pressure cooker, as well as explaining how to cook rice in pressure cooker and how to cook rice in a rice cooker, whilst delivering great results, without your finished product being overcooked, undercooked, burnt or sticky.
Two Methods of Cooking Rice
There are two different methods of cooking rice that a pressure cooker is suitable for whereas the rice cooker is only suitable for one. The first method involves cooking your rice with a precise, measured amount of water until all of it is absorbed. This can be a bit of a hassle as opposed to the second method which is to drain the water off of the rice after cooking. On the other hand, this method will retain optimal nutrition in the finished product. Both of these methods have their pros and cons.
The method that involves draining the water gives you more room for error, as you won’t be having to meet precise measurements. But the downside to this is that you will lose a considerable amount of your nutritional values during the drainage process as some nutrition will be lost in the water.
Returning to the pressure cooker vs rice cooker debate, it is important to note that a pressure cooker is suitable for both these methods, whereas the rice cooker is only suitable for the first method, with measured amounts of water. Mentioned below is how to cook rice in a pressure cooker.
Cooking Rice with Two Cookers: Rice Cooker vs Pressure Cooker
Important Notes
There are three types of pressure cookers, these being electronic, stove-top, and canner pressure cookers, though the one to cook rice with is the electronic pressure cooker. The other two types are designed more so to cook meat and other foods. Attempting to cook rice in a stove-top or canner pressure cooker will result in a soft, mushy finished product – almost as if the rice is overcooked or burnt.
When cooking rice in an electric pressure cooker we’ll first need a cup to measure out the water ratios. It doesn’t really matter what kind of cup, as long as we stick to the same one for measuring consistent water ratios.
Different types of rice will require different amounts of water, varying from just over one cup to up to three cups of rice to water ratio. It’s extremely important to know how much water you need for your specific type of rice.
How to Cook Rice in Pressure Cooker?
After measuring your desired quantity of water, ensure the three ‘pressure’ dots are aligned on the pressure valve, add the rice, then water to the bowl. You can add salt to the water if preferred. Set the pressure cooker to ‘manual cook’ for three minutes on high pressure. Once the three minutes are up, allow the rice to stand for ten minutes and absorb the remaining water.
After waiting for 10 minutes, release the remaining pressure manually by adjusting the pressure valve from ‘pressure’ to ‘steam’ to do a quick steam release. Once the steam is released and you’ve de-pressurized your pressure cooker, remove the lid and fluff up your rice with a fork. The rice is now ready to be served and enjoyed. The texture should now be just right, not sticky or dry.
How to Cook Rice with a Rice Cooker?
To ensure rice isn’t sticky, dry, undercooked or overcooked, people opt for a rice cooker. Some may consider this better than the alternative pressure cooker.
With this method, you’ll need 1½ cups of water per cup of rice, unless otherwise specified for the type of rice you are using. Start by adding your rice into the pot and pour this water into the rice cooker. You can add salt into the water to taste if you want. Add the water to the pot and put it in the rice cooker, then secure the lid. Press the switch on your rice cooker and simply wait for it to finish cooking. It can take up to 10 minutes. It’s important to note you should not stir or uncover the rice during the cooking process.
Rice Cooker vs Pressure Cooker – Who Wins?
Now you know how to cook rice both in pressure and rice cookers, but which one should you purchase? All in all the benefits of using a rice cooker over an electronic one aren’t that significant. As previously mentioned, electronic pressure cookers are capable of using both rice cooking methods, as well as a wide range of other everyday food items to the perfection, whereas rice cookers cook rice exclusively. We’ve found that both types of pressure cookers are beneficial tools in the kitchen, although an electronic pressure cooker will probably see more use.
Rice Cooker vs. Pressure Cooker – Which One Is Right for You?
In conclusion, a cook specializing in rice may prefer to opt for a rice cooker. But as an everyday household item, a pressure cooker may be better since you’re likely to find yourself getting a lot more use out of it cooking a variety of other items, and it’s also possible to cook rice using different methods with a pressure cooker.
As a final tip for cooking rice, after the cooking process, add a small piece of butter or olive oil to bring out a bit more flavor in your dish and ensure your rice is non-sticky and has a perfect texture.
