Cooking wild rice can feel like a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be! If you’ve got a rice cooker, you’re already halfway to a delicious meal. In this article, I will discuss the best methods for cooking wild rice in your rice cooker.
Wild Rice: What Makes It Special?
Wild rice isn’t actually rice. It’s a water grass seed, and it has a nutty flavor with a chewy texture. Because it’s different from regular white or brown rice, it requires a unique cooking method. Knowing the right setting on your rice cooker can make all the difference between a perfect dish and a soggy mess.
Preparing Your Wild Rice: Rinse Before Cooking
Before you toss wild rice into the rice cooker, give it a good rinse. Rinsing removes excess starch and dirt, leading to a cleaner, tastier final product. Think of it like giving your rice a bath: nobody likes a dirty dinner!
The Right Ratio: Water To Wild Rice
One of the key elements to cooking wild rice is the water-to-rice ratio. A good starting point is 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of wild rice. This might seem like a lot, but wild rice absorbs a considerable amount of water during cooking. Keep this in mind to achieve that delightful texture!
Selecting The Right Setting For Wild Rice
Most rice cookers come with options for white rice, brown rice, and sometimes even a “multigrain” setting. But for wild rice, you’re aiming for that brown rice setting. To explain, the brown rice setting typically cooks for about 45 to 90 minutes, which is just about right for wild rice. It allows for the proper steam levels needed for wild rice to expand fully and become tender.
Monitoring The Cooking Process: Is It Done Yet?
While rice cookers are fantastic for letting you set it and forget it, it’s wise to check the wild rice as it nears the end of its cooking time. You’re looking for grains that have split open and are tender to the bite. If they aren’t quite there, add a little more water and let it cook a bit longer. However, avoid the urge to add a lot of water and cooking it for so long that it turns into a starchy mess.
Flavoring Your Wild Rice
Once your wild rice is cooked, you can take it up a notch! Consider adding a pinch of salt, a splash of olive oil, or tossing in some herbs. Want more of a flavor punch? Try sautéing some onions or garlic before adding them to the rice cooker. It’s like adding a secret ingredient that elevates the dish!
Pairing Wild Rice With Other Foods
Now that you’ve mastered wild rice, it’s time to enjoy it! This nutty grain pairs well with roasted vegetables, grilled meats, or even as a hearty salad base. Just imagine a plate filled with vibrant colors and textures. Sounds delicious, right?
Aroma Rice Cooker For Wild Rice
You can probably use an Aroma digital rice cooker that has a brown rice setting to cook wild rice.
For instance, the Aroma ARC-914SBD is a cheap digital rice cooker that has a button for cooking brown rice. You can read my Aroma ARC-914SBD review for an overview of this digital rice cooker.
Zojirushi Rice Cooker For Cooking Wild Rice
If you want to get a Zojirushi rice cooker for cooking wild rice, then you will need a model that has both a brown rice menu setting and enough cooking capacity to accommodate the extra water needed when cooking wild rice.
For example, the Zojirushi NS-TSC10/18 is a popular fuzzy logic rice cooker with a brown rice setting. The brown rice cooking function might take at least 90 minutes to finish cooking the rice, so it should work well for wild rice. To learn more about this rice cooker model, please read my Zojirushi NS-TSC review.
Conclusion
Using the brown rice setting on your rice cooker can turn wild rice from daunting to delightful. With the right ratios, settings, and a sprinkle of creativity, you can serve up a fantastic dish every time. Embrace the rich flavors and unique textures of wild rice in your cooking today!
Image by Andrea Rodriguez from Pixabay.